FSSA projects

COVIDTrach: the outcomes of mechanically ventilated COVID-19 patients undergoing tracheostomy in the UK

Executive summary

Introduction

COVIDTrach is an interdisciplinary contemporaneous audit of COVID-19 positive patients that undergo tracheostomy during the course of their illness in the UK.

The NHS is in a unique global position to pull together equivalent data across hospitals and specialties to answer some of the questions that are pertinent to our colleagues worldwide.

The COVIDTrach dataset will allow analysis of different methods of tracheostomy, indications and accepted parameters for tracheostomy, immediate complications related to the procedure, long term outcomes for these patients as well as the rates of COVID-19 infection in staff following tracheostomy.

This endeavour is supported by major bodies that represent anaesthetists, ITU doctors, and all surgical specialties in the UK.

Aim

The aim of COVIDTrach is to establish the clinical outcome of patients diagnosed with COVID-19 and mechanically ventilated who undergo tracheostomy to expedite ventilator weaning

The full project protocol can be found here:

• COVIDTrach Protocol  

Data Collection

Anonymised data input is via a secured REDcap database

There are two available links for data entry:

• BAOMS
• ENT UK

Instructions on data entry 

• Data input instructions 

Patient identifiable information should be held locally and entered and saved in this format.

• Patient data/study identifier 

This will allow future follow up data collection, this may be as part of a centrally run data analysis project with approval to access identifiable patient data.

Publication and dissemination of results

The COVIDTrach project aims to deliver useful clinical information to those working on the frontline as soon as possible. Initial analysis will be disseminated via specialist organisations in the first instance.

Any future publications in peer reviewed journals will include corporate authorship for data contributors.

Oversight

Data governance and security has been approved by University College London (UCL).  Data is held in a secure server by UCL.

This project has a multidisciplinary steering committee: