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The number of cases with novel coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) infection is increasing every day in the world, and India contributes a substantial proportion of this burden. Critical care specialists have accepted the challenges associated with the COVID-19 pandemic and are frontline warriors in this war. They have worked hard in streamlining workflow isolation of positive patients, clinical management of critically ill patients, and infection prevention practices. With no end in sight for this pandemic, intensive care unit (ICU) practitioners, hospital administrators, and policy makers have to join hands to prepare for the surge in critical care bed capacity. In this position article, we offer several suggestions on important interventions to the ICU practitioners for better management of critically ill patients. This position article highlights key interventions for COVID-19 treatment and covers several important issues such as endotracheal intubation and tracheostomy (surgical vs PCT), nebulization, bronchoscopy, and invasive procedures such as central venous catheters, arterial lines, and HD catheters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Tracheostomy is among the common procedures performed in the intensive care unit (ICU), with percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy (PDT) being the preferred technique. We sought to understand the current practice of tracheostomy in Indian ICUs. Materials and methods: A pan-India multicenter prospective observational study, endorsed and peer-reviewed by the Indian Society of Critical Care Medicine (ISCCM), on various aspects of tracheostomy performed in critically ill patients was conducted between September 1, 2019 and December 31, 2019. The SPSS software was used for the statistical analysis. Cross tables were generated and the chi-square test was used for testing of association. The p value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Out of 67 ICUs that participated, 88.1% were from private sector hospitals. A total of 923 tracheostomies were performed during the study period; out of which, 666 were PDT and 257 were surgical tracheostomy (ST). Coagulopathic patients received more platelet transfusion [p = 0.037 with platelet count (PC) < 50 × 109, p = 0.021 with PC 50-100 × 109] and fresh frozen plasma transfusion in the ST group (p = 0.0001). The performance of PDT vs ST by day 7 of admission was 28.4% vs 21% (p = 0.023). The single dilator technique (60.4%) was the preferred technique for PDT followed by the Grigg's forceps and then the multiple dilator technique. Fiberoptic bronchoscope (FOB) and ultrasonography (USG) were used in 29.3% and 16.8%, respectively, for guidance during tracheostomy. Most of the PDTs were performed by a trained intensivist (74.2%), whereas ST was mostly done by an ENT surgeon (56.8%). Percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy resulted in less hemorrhagic (2.6% vs 7%, p = 0.002) and desaturation complications (2.3% vs 6.6%, p = 0.001) as compared to ST. The duration of procedure was shorter in the PDT group (average shortening by 9.2 minutes) and the ventilator-free days (VFD) were higher in the PDT group. The cost was less in PDT by approximately Rs. 13,104. Conclusion: Percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy, especially the single dilator technique, is preferred by clinicians in Indian ICUs. The incidence of minor complications like hemorrhagic episodes is lower with PDT. Percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy was found to be cheaper on cost per patient basis as compared to ST (with or without complications). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To examine the safety and complications associated with percutaneous tracheostomy (PT) in critically ill coagulopathic patients under real-time ultrasound guidance. Materials and methods: Coagulopathy was defined as international normalized ratio (INR) ≥1.5 or thrombocytopenia (platelet count ≤50,000/mm³). Neck anatomy was assessed for all patients before the procedure and was characterized as excellent, good, satisfactory, and unsatisfactory based on the number of vessels in the path of needle. Percutaneous tracheostomy was performed under real-time ultrasound (USG) guidance, with certain modifications to the technique, and patients in both groups were assessed for immediate complications including bleeding. Results: Six hundred and fifty-two patients underwent USG-guided PT. Three hundred and forty-five (52.9%) were coagulopathic before the procedure. Ninety-nine patients (15.2%) had an excellent neck anatomy on USG scan, and 112 patients (62 in coagulopathy group vs 50 in noncoagulopathy group, p value 0.386) had an unsatisfactory neck anatomy for tracheostomy. A total of 42 events of immediate complications were noted in 37 patients (5.7%). No difference was seen in the rate of immediate complications in both groups (5.8% in coagulopathy group vs 5.5% in noncoagulopathy group, p value 0.886). The incidence of minor bleeding in coagulopathic patients was 14 patients (4.1%) and 7 (2.3%) in those without coagulopathy, and this difference was not statistically different (p value-0.199). In the subgroup analysis of patients with significant coagulopathy and unsatisfactory anatomy, no difference was observed in the incidence of immediate complications. Conclusion: This study shows the efficacy and safety of real-time ultrasound-guided PT, even in patients with coagulopathy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aim: Critically ill patients on mechanical ventilation undergo tracheostomy to facilitate weaning. The practice in India may be different from the rest of the world and therefore, in order to understand this, ISCCM conducted a multicentric observational study "DIlatational percutaneous vs Surgical tracheoStomy in intEnsive Care uniT: A practice pattern observational multicenter study (DISSECT Study)" followed by an ISCCM Expert Panel committee meeting to formulate Practice recommendations pertinent to Indian ICUs. Materials and methods: All existing International guidelines on the topic, various randomized controlled trials, meta-analysis, systematic reviews, retrospective studies were taken into account to formulate the guidelines. Wherever Indian data was not available, international data was analysed. A modified Grade system was followed for grading the recommendation. Results: After analyzing the entire available data, the recommendations were made by the grading system agreed by the Expert Panel. The recommendations took into account the indications and contraindications of tracheostomy; effect of timing of tracheostomy on incidence of ventilator associated pneumonia, ICU length of stay, ventilator free days & Mortality; comparison of surgical and percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy (PDT) in terms of incidence of complications and cost to the patient; Comparison of various techniques of PDT; Use of fiberoptic bronchoscope and ultrasound in PDT; experience of the operator and qualification; certain special conditions like coagulopathy and morbid obesity. Conclusion: This document presents the first Indian recommendations on tracheostomy in adult critically ill patients based on the practices of the country. These guidelines are expected to improve the safety and extend the indications of tracheostomy in critically ill patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]