The main causes of upper airway obstruction
| Causes of upper airway obstruction | No. of patients | Ratio (%) |
|---|---|---|
| All patients | 82 | 100 |
| Laryngeal cancer | 24 | 29 |
| Pharyngeal cancer | 20 | 24 |
| Cancer of other primary sites | 7 | 9 |
| Infections | 16 | 20 |
| Bilateral vocal cord paralysis | 13 | 16 |
| Laryngo-tracheal stenosis | 2 | 2 |
A comparison of the risk factors in all patients before and during the COVID-19 outbreak in Slovenia
| Risk factor | Overall | Before the outbreak of COVID-19 | During the pandemic of COVID-19 | p value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| All patients | 82 | 41 | 41 | |
| Patients | ||||
| Age (years) mean, range | 66.8 (28–97) | 64.8 (28–91) | 68.8 (42–97) | 0.172a |
| Male sex | 62 (76%) | 31 (76%) | 31 (76%) | 1.00c |
| Body weight (kg) mean, range | 73.5 (35–143) | 71.9 (35–143) | 75.2 (43–110) | 0.512 a |
| Body height (cm) mean, range | 172 (150–185) | 172 (150–185) | 173 (152–183) | 0.933a |
| Body mass index (kg/m2), mean, range | 25.4 (12.7–37.6) | 24.2 (12.7–37.6) | 27.6 (19,4–35,5) | 0.178a |
| The upper airway obstruction | ||||
| Respiratory distress duration (days), median, range | 6 (1–180) | 10.5 (1–90) | 3 (1–180) | 0.373b |
| Causes of acute airway obstruction | 0.826c | |||
| Laryngeal cancer | 24 (29%) | 12 (29%) | 12 (29%) | |
| Pharyngeal cancer | 20 (24%) | 8 (20%) | 12 (29%) | |
| Other cancers | 7 (9%) | 5 (12%) | 2 (5%) | |
| Inflammation | 16 (20%) | 8 (20%) | 8 (20%) | |
| Vocal cord paralysis | 13 (16%) | 7 (17%) | 6 (15%) | |
| Laryngotracheal stenosis | 2 (2%) | 1 (2%) | 1 (2%) | |
| Multiple causes | 22 (27%) | 11 (27%) | 11 (27%) | 1.000c |
| Respiration space (mm) mean, range | 2.3 (1–5) | 2.5 (1–4) | 2.2 (1–5) | 0.635a |
| Symptoms | ||||
| Dysphagia | 26 (32%) | 12 (29%) | 14 (34%) | 0.635c |
| Trismus | 6 (7%) | 5 (12%) | 1 (2%) | 0.101d |
| Pain | 19 (23%) | 8 (20%) | 11 (27%) | 0.432c |
| Stridor | 0.504c | |||
| Inspiratory | 31 (38%) | 17 (42%) | 14 (34%) | |
| Biphasic | 1 (1%) | 0 | 1 (2%) | |
| Previous treatment | ||||
| Surgery | 14 (17%) | 5 (12%) | 9 (22%) | 0.379d |
| RT | 11 (13%) | 5 (12%) | 6 (15%) | 1.000d |
| CRT | 11 (13%) | 5 (12%) | 6 (15%) | 1.000d |
| Surgery | ||||
| Re-TS | 4 (5%) | 0 | 4 (10%) | 0.116d |
| Cricothyrotomy | 6 (7%) | 3 (7%) | 3 (7%) | 1.000d |
| Surgeon specialist | 68 (83%) | 34 (83%) | 34 (83%) | 1.000c |
| Time-dependent aspect of TS | 0.806c | |||
| Emergent | 59 (72%) | 29 (71%) | 30 (73%) | |
| Urgent | 23 (28%) | 12 (29%) | 11 (27%) | |
| Duration (hour) median, range | 0.75 (0.25–2.50) | 0.75 (0.25–2.5) | 0.88 (0.25–2) | 0.546b |
| Anaesthesia | 1.000d | |||
| Local | 5 (6%) | 2 (5%) | 3 (7%) | |
| General | 77 (94%) | 39 (95%) | 38 (93%) | |
| Duration (hour) median, range | 1.50 (0.75–3.25) | 1.5 (0.75–3.25) | 1.75 (1–3,25) | 0.198b |
| ASA classification | 0.952c | |||
| II | 6 (7%) | 3 (7%) | 3 (7%) | |
| III | 44 (53%) | 23 (56%) | 21 (51%) | |
| IV | 16 (20%) | 9 (22%) | 7 (17%) | |
| Unknown | 10 (20%) | 6 (15%) | 10 (25%) | |
| Mallampati classification | 0.810 c | |||
| I | 7 (9%) | 5 (12%) | 2 (5%) | |
| II | 10 (12%) | 6 (15%) | 4 (10%) | |
| III | 13 (16%) | 7 (17%) | 6 (14%) | |
| IV | 14 (17%) | 7 (17%) | 7 (17%) | |
| Unknown | 38 (46%) | 16 (39%) | 22 (54%) | |
| Mouth opening | 0.207d | |||
| Inadequate | 7 (9%) | 6 (15%) | 1 (2%) | |
| Adequate | 34 (41%) | 18 (44%) | 16 (39%) | |
| Unknown | 41 (50%) | 17 (41%) | 24 (59%) | |
| Hyo/thyromental distance | 1.000c | |||
| Insufficient | 5 (6%) | 3 (7%) | 2 (5%) | |
| Sufficient | 35 (43%) | 21 (51%) | 14 (34%) | |
| Unknown | 42 (51%) | 17 (42%) | 25 (61%) | |
| Endotracheal tube type | 0.072c | |||
| Wire | 32 (39%) | 18 (44%) | 14 (34%) | |
| Straight | 4 (5%) | 4 (10%) | 0 | |
| Curved | 7 (8%) | 2 (5%) | 5 (12%) | |
| Unknown | 39 (48%) | 17 (41%) | 22 (54%) | |
| Orotracheal intubation | 0.043d* | |||
| C-MAC laringoscope | 7 (9%) | 1 (3%) | 6 (15%) | |
| Laryngoscope | 60 (73%) | 35 (85%) | 25 (61%) | |
| Unknown | 15 (18%) | 5 (12%) | 10 (24%) |
A comparison of the risk factors in patients with HNC before and during the COVID-19 outbreak in Slovenia
| Risk Factor | Overall | Before the Outbreak of COVID-19 | During the Pandemic of COVID-19 | p value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| All Patients | 51 | 25 | 26 | |
| Patients | ||||
| Age (years) mean, range | 66.2 (28–88) | 64.6 (28–88) | 67.8 (42–87) | 0.374 a |
| Male sex | 44 (86%) | 22 (88%) | 22 (85%) | 1.000d |
| Primary site | 0.365 c | |||
| Laryngeal cancer | 24 (47%) | 12 (48%) | 12 (46%) | |
| Pharyngeal cancer | 20 (39%) | 8 (32%) | 12 (46%) | |
| Other cancers | 7 (14%) | 5 (20%) | 2 (8%) | |
| Invasion of subsites | ||||
| Glottis | 21 (42%) | 13 (52%) | 8 (31%) | 0.124c |
| Supraglottis | 32 (63%) | 16 (64%) | 16 (62%) | 0.856c |
| Subglottis | 11 (22%) | 6 (24%) | 5 (19%) | 0.743d |
| Trachea | 2 (4%) | 1 (4%) | 1 (4%) | 1.000d |
| Hypopharynx | 13 (26%) | 3 (12%) | 10 (39%) | 0.052d |
| Oropharynx | 16 (31%) | 10 (40%) | 6 (23%) | 0.193c |
| Oral cavity | 8 (16%) | 4 (16%) | 4 (15%) | 1.000d |
| Respiration Space (mm), mean, range | 2.4 ± 1.5 (1–5) | 3 ± 1.7 (1–4) | 2.2 ± 1.5 (1–5) | 0.714 b |
| Previous treatment | ||||
| Surgery | 8 (16%) | 3 (12%) | 5 (19%) | 0.703d |
| RT | 10 (20%) | 4 (16%) | 6 (23%) | 0.726d |
| CRT | 8 (16%) | 4 (16%) | 4 (15%) | 1.000d |
| Surgery | ||||
| Time-dependent aspect of TS | 0.806 c | |||
| Emergent | 34 (67%) | 16 (64%) | 18 (69%) | |
| Urgent | 17 (33%) | 9 (36%) | 8 (31%) | |
| Orotracheal intubation | 0.047d* | |||
| C-MAC | 7 (14%) | 1 (4%) | 6 (23%) | |
| Laryngoscope | 38 (74%) | 22 (88%) | 16 (62%) | |
| Unknown | 6 (12%) | 2 (8%) | 4 (15%) |