Results
The median procedure length was 20 minutes, ranging from 15~29 minutes. The total period of airway loss was approximately 30 seconds. The massive thick tracheobronchial secretions were found after incision of the trachea in case 2, case 3, case 5 and case 13. Complications attributable to open tracheostomy, were not observed in our study. By April 17, 2020, out of fourteen patients on prolonged mechanical ventilation, five patients (cases 1-3, case 5 and case 8) achieved successful weaning in the follow-up period, and one patient (case 4) has been incompletely liberated (Table 1). Three (case 7, case 9 and case 10) had died (Table 1). No related medical staff was diagnosed with COVID-19 in a follow-up period of at least two weeks after surgeries, evidenced by absence of symptoms and negative result by polymerase chain reaction testing of a nasopharyngeal sample.