Early tracheostomy could reduce recovery time in critical COVID-19, say researchers The ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), is primarily a severe pulmonary disease that can be fatal in a significant minority of cases. It leads to respiratory insufficiency in a larger number of patients, who have to be put on mechanical ventilation. A new study by researchers at the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, USA, reports the findings of a study on the safety of tracheostomy of critically ill patients and the feasibility of decannulation in most survivors. The researchers view this as a means to improve care in these patients.