The number of infected and critically ill patients rose to a record high between July and September 2021 in Japan, with rampant transmission of the delta variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus during the fifth wave of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The increase in the number of critically ill patients was associated with a dramatic rise in the number of tracheostomies performed for patients on prolonged mechanical ventilation. We analyzed the data of 14 COVID-19 patients who underwent tracheostomy between August 2021 and September 2021. Eleven of the patients were men, and three were women. The average age was 48 years, and the average BMI was 30.8; four subjects had a BMI of ≥30, one had a BMI of ≥25 but <30, and eight had a BMI of <25. The procedure was performed in the operating room in 12 cases and in the ICU in 2 cases. To prevent infection, all the healthcare workers participating in the operations wore personal protective equipment, including an N95 mask and a face shield. The interval from the onset of COVID-19 to tracheostomy ranged from 21 to 46 days. None of the healthcare workers participating in the surgery contracted COVID-19. Where possible, performing a tracheostomy at 14–21 days or later after symptom onset in patients with COVID-19 can reduce the risk of infection in healthcare workers.
