Tracheomegaly as a Potential Predictor of Severe Tracheal Damage in COVID-19 Patients on Long-Term Mechanical Ventilation

Abstract

Tracheomegaly (TM) is a rare appearance that is radiologically defined as an excessive enlargement of the tracheal diameter. We present a comprehensive analysis of tracheal diameter measurements and TM incidence in patients admitted and treated due to COVID-19 pneumonitis and its association with possible respiratory complications. In this retrospective study, we included 1015 patients divided into three groups: 383 patients treated using mechanical ventilation (MV), 132 patients treated using high-flow ventilation (HFV), and 500 randomly selected patients using nasal catheter (NC) oxygenation. The tracheal lumen diameter was measured continuously using a chest X-ray, and the cuff/trachea (C/T) diameter ratio was calculated. We detected TM in 71 patients (18.54%). Regression analysis showed statistical significance in MV patients for the trachea diameter at the level of the cuff, maximal trachea diameter and C/T diameter ratio, and days on MV. Respiratory complications showed a significant association with the C/T diameter ratio. The C/T diameter ratio was shown to be a reliable potential predictor of the occurrence of respiratory complications. The results of the study highlight the importance of the early detection and prevention of TM in COVID-19 patients on MV using a chest X-ray and measurement of the C/T diameter ratio.