Prognosis prediction of the mean tracheal air column area in COVID-19 patients

Abstract

Aim: SARS-CoV-2 infection frequently affects the lungs, it can also cause severe inflammation in the lower respiratory tract, leading to tracheal damage. We aimed to investigate the relationship between the mean tracheal air column and COVID-19.
Material and Method: Chest computed tomography scans of COVID-19 patients treated in an intensive care unit between June 1st, 2020 and October 1st 2022 were retrospectively evaluated. The air column area of the trachea was measured and the effect of the values obtained on mortality and length of stay in the intensive care unit for patients COVID-19 was examined.
Results: We found that an increase in the mean tracheal air column increased mortality by 1.218 times. We also determined that an increase in the mean area of the tracheal air column increased the length of stay in the intensive care unit. Furthermore, we showed that advanced age and an increase in the length of stay in the intensive care unit were factors that increased mortality.
Conclusion: Tracheomegaly is a poor prognostic factor in COVID-19 disease and is easily diagnosed with CT.

Keywords

• COVID-19
• computed tomography
• trachea
• prognosis

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