Long-term alterations in the upper airway as a result of a late tracheostomy due to COVID-19. An approach from physiotherapy (Atena Editora)

Abstract

During the pandemic caused by COVID-19, what is the highest rate of episodes of respiratory failure requiring mechanical ventilation was recorded to date within critical areas, with prolonged periods of hospitalization. Minimize contagion as much as possible, leading to dismissing strategies that shorten the days on mechanical ventilation. Tracheostomy is valued for reducing mechanical ventilation time, favoring weaning, lowering the mortality rate, and avoiding upper airway lesions. However, few healthcare centers were able to generate strategies that promote early uncoupling between patient and ventilator. This fact could explain the appearance of pathological signs such as cord dysplasia, stenosis, granulomas, and dysphagia that alter phonation processes. swallowing and respiratory Aspects such as a brief and timely diagnosis, generation of physiotherapeutic strategies that are validated, with favorable repercussions and together with a multidisciplinary team specialized in dealing with this problem could address this population and prevent these sequelae from becoming a red flag for the health system. We present a brief description of what is documented to date on the repercussions of the airway in post-COVID-19 patients.