COVID-19 survivorship: How otolaryngologist-head and neck surgeons can restore quality of life after critical illness.

Mortality from COVID-19 has obscured a subtler crisis - the swelling ranks of COVID-19 survivors. After critical illness, patients often suffer post-intensive care syndrome (PICS), which encompasses physical, cognitive, and/or mental health impairments that are often long-lasting barriers to resuming a meaningful life. Some deficits after COVID-19 critical illness will require otolaryngologic expertise for years after hospital discharge. There are roles for all subspecialties in preventing, diagnosing, or treating sequelae of COVID-19. Otolaryngologist leadership in multidisciplinary efforts ensures coordinated care. Timely tracheostomy, when indicated, may shorten the course of intensive care unit stay and thereby potentially reduce the impairments associated with PICS. Otolaryngologists can provide expertise in olfactory disorders; thrombotic sequelae of hearing loss and vertigo; and laryngotracheal injuries that impair speech, voice, swallowing, communication, and breathing. In the aftermath of severe COVID-19, otolaryngologists are poised to lead efforts in early identification and intervention for impairments affecting patients' quality of life.

Introduction

December 7, 1941, “A day that will live in infamy” marked the attack on Pearl Harbor – a day of massive, catastrophic loss of life. December 2020 witnessed similar loss of life with each day of the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. This mortality represents the tip of the larger iceberg of COVID-19 survivorship. Even with the promise of widespread vaccination, the aftermath of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection can be crippling, particularly for those who have a severe course of illness requiring mechanical ventilation in an intensive care unit (ICU) [1]. Otolaryngologists play important roles in COVID-19 survivor care and have engaged with the pandemic response from investigating early symptoms of olfactory and gustatory loss to decisions around tracheostomy, airway interventions, and rehabilitation [2].

Post-intensive care syndrome (PICS)

To provide optimal care for patients, Otolaryngologists need to understand COVID-19 survivorship after critical illness. PICS encompasses a spectrum of physical, cognitive, and/or mental health impairments experienced by patients after ICU stay that can be long-lasting barriers to resuming a meaningful life [3]. For some post-ICU impairments, a longer duration of critical illness is associated with greater impairment [4]. Timing of tracheostomy is therefore a key consideration [5]. Over 80% of patients requiring mechanical ventilation manifest residual impairments (Fig. 1 ), many directly relevant to otolaryngology and potentially lingering for years after hospital discharge (Fig. 2 ) [6].

Fig. 1

Key reminders for Otolaryngologists-Head and Neck Surgeons along the road to intensive care recovery. Offering tracheostomy to avoid prolonged intubation may mitigate the severity of PICS. After intensive care unit stay, patients will often encounter complex cognitive, mental health, and physical impairments, many related to otolaryngology expertise.

Abbreviations: PICS, post-intensive care syndrome; ICU, intensive care unit.

Image credit: Larynx/trachea image. This work, “Anatomy of the Larynx,” is a derivative of “BodyParts3D by BodyParts3D, © The Database Center for Life Science used under CC Attribution-Share Alike 2.1 Japan. “Anatomy of the Larynx” is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Fig. 2

Role of Otolaryngologist-Head and Neck Surgeons in COVID-19 survivorship.

Abbreviations: PTSD, post-traumatic stress disorder.

Patients who survive ICU stays often face profound debilitation–with muscle weakness, memory loss, anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Specifically, prolonged ventilation promotes patient frailty, which can require a very long period of rehabilitation. Laryngotracheal injury impairs voice, swallowing, and breathing. A year after ICU discharge, 34% of patients over age 50 have cognitive impairments similar to a moderate traumatic brain injury; a quarter demonstrate cognitive decline similar to mild Alzheimer's disease [7]. The joy that families experience when their loved ones survive is often replaced by grim realization that the road to recovery is long and arduous. Otolaryngologists are capable of providing timely diagnosis, education to patients and families, and specialized interventions (Table 1, Table 2 ).

Table 1

Delineation of otolaryngology domains related to COVID-19 survivorship.

Abbreviations: ICU, intensive care unit; PTSD, post-traumatic stress disorder.

Table 2

Otolaryngology symptoms related to COVID-19.

(Author, year)	Method	Sample Size	Tracheal injury	Pneumomediastinum	Laryngeal injury	Dysphonia	Dysphagia	SSNHL	Vertigo	Intralarbyrinthine hemorrhage	Tinnitus	Headache/encephalopathy	Gustatory disorder	Olfactory disorder	Psychosomatic
(Abou-Arab, 2020) [27]	CS	2	++	++	−	−	−	−	−	−	−	−	−	−	−
(Bassi, 2020) [28]	CS	1	+	+	−	−	−	−	−	−	−	−	−	−	−
(Bertone, 2020) [29]	CS	1	−	−	+	+	+	−	−	−	−	−	−	−	−
(Buselli, 2020) [30]	CS	1	−	−	−	+	−	−	−	−	−	−	−	−	+
(Chern, 2021) [14]	CS	1	−	−	−	−	−	+	+	+	−	−	−	−	−
(Chirakkal, 2020) [31]	CS	1	−	−	−	−	−	−	−	−	+	−	−	−	−
(Filatov, 2020) [32]	CS	1	−	−	−	−	−	−	−	−	−	+	−	−	−
(Koumpa, 2020) [33]	CS	1	−	−	−	−	−	+	−	−	+	−	−	−	−
(Lamounier, 2020) [34]	CS	1	−	−	−	−	−	+	−	−	+	−	−	−	−
(Lang, 2020) [35]	CS	1	−	−	−	−	−	+	−	−	+	−	−	−	−
(Wali, 2020) [36]	CX	5	1	5	−	−	−	−	−	−	−	−	−	−	−
(Brugliera., 2020) [37]	COH	50	−	−	−	−	90%	−	−	−	−	−	−	−	−
(D'Ascanio, 2020) [15]	COH	44	−	−	−	−	−	−	−	−	−	54%	59%	−	−
(Fiacchini, 2020) [8]	COH	30	33%	33%	−	−	−	−	−	−	−	−	−	−	−
(Hajikhani, 2020) [38]	SR	3739	−	−	−	−	−	−	−	−	−	−	49%	61%	−
(Kaye, 2020) [39]	SY	237	−	−	−	−	−	−	−	−	−	−	−	73%	−
(Lechien, 2020) [40]	EPI, MI	702	−	−	−	27%	−	−	−	−	−	−	−	−	−
(Lechien, 2020) [41]	EPI, MI	417	−	−	−	−	−	−	−	−	−	−	88%	86%	−
(Ozcelik, 2020) [42]	OBS	116	−	−	−	−	21%	5%	6%	−	11%	−	41%	38%	−

CS=case study, COH=cohort, SR = systematic review, SY=survey, EPI = epidemiologic, MI = multi-institutional, CX = case series, OBS=observational study, SSNHL = sudden sensorineural hearing loss. (Representative studies)

Airway injury

There is growing awareness of device-related pressure injuries and trauma that may arise in COVID-19 patients, resulting in lasting functional impairment. Laryngotracheal injuries include posterior glottic stenosis with resultant vocal cord immobility, vocal fold edema, or posterior glottic ulcerations. More distally, cuff injury may cause subglottic and/or tracheal stenosis. In one study of COVID-19 patients intubated more than 14 days, 14 of 30 (47%) patients had transmural tracheal erosion resulting in pneumomediastinum, pneumothorax, and tracheoesophageal fistulas [8]. Laryngeal injury is linked to duration of intubation [9], size of endotracheal tube, and difficulties with endotracheal tube insertion. Intubation can be more challenging due to reduced visualization or personal protective equipment that impedes communication. Otolaryngologist input into optimal tracheostomy timing and multidisciplinary care may decrease laryngeal injuries and expedite both early diagnosis and intervention [5].

Voice and swallowing

Dysphonia and dysphagia are common impairments associated with weakness and deconditioning of aerodigestive muscles; acute laryngotracheal insults might exacerbate such impairments [2]. Dysphagia is much more common than dysphonia in COVID-19 patients; it may be associated with otolaryngologic symptoms—dyspnea, ear pain, facial pain, throat pain, or nasal obstruction. Aspiration pneumonia, a complication of dysphagia, is among the main reasons for hospital readmissions and mortality post-ICU, highlighting the importance of laryngeal and dysphagia evaluation (e.g., using flexible endoscopic evaluation swallowing).

Hearing loss and vertigo

Neurologic involvement is common in COVID-19. Although literature is limited, neurotological manifestations including ataxia, dizziness, imbalance, tinnitus, and sensorineural hearing loss have been observed [[10], [11], [12], [13]]. Intralabyrinthine hemorrhage –similar to pulmonary and cerebral microhemorrhages attributed to COVID-19 associated coagulopathy– may be responsible for persistent hearing and balance disturbances [14]. Awareness of inner ear symptoms is paramount to prompt screening and timely management with oral and intratympanic steroids. Patients with persistent balance disturbances in addition to cognitive impairment are at significant risks for falls and might benefit from vestibular therapy.

Taste and smell

New-onset taste and smell disorders are well-recognized symptoms of COVID-19, affecting over 60% of patients [15,16]. SARS-CoV-2 entry is mediated via Angiotensin Coverting Enyzme 2 (ACE-2) and Transmembrane serine protease 2 (TMPRSS-2) receptors present throughout the olfactory cleft, with associated inflammatory disruption of the nervous system via nasal olfactory fibers [17]. Symptoms often persist for 4–6 weeks, affecting patients' overall quality of life [[18], [19], [20]]. While early studies demonstrate a high rate of spontaneous resolution, the residual 10% with persistent olfactory dysfunction underscore the tremendous need for improved treatment options [21]. Rhinology expertise in post-viral olfactory disorders is critical for the continued development of objective screening measures and treatments for these debilitating sequelae [22].

Multidisciplinary care

In the acute phase of illness, preventative measures to minimize risk of airway injuries, such as endotracheal tube cuff pressure monitoring, airway assessment, and proactive identification of underlying causes of dysphagia or dysphonia, may reduce long-term complications (Fig. 3 ) [23,24]. Otolaryngologists can partner with the multidisciplinary critical care team, including speech-language pathologists, nurses, respiratory therapists, and intensivists, to guide timely diagnosis and treatment of airway injuries (Fig. 4 ) [25].

Fig. 3

Clinical courses of patients with COVID-19. A. Prototypical course of severe COVID-19, B. Progressive multiorgan failure, C. Protracted critical illness requiring extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), D. Relapsing course requiring readmission. Other survivorship streams also depicted.

Fig. 4

Multidisciplinary engagement in care of patients with COVID-19 during and after intensive care unit stay.

Implications for the future

Data science, machine learning, and biosensor technology will play increasingly prominent roles in patient care, ranging from early detection of physiological indicators of disease to timing for tracheostomy and other interventions to diagnosis and treatment of laryngotracheal injury or other manifestations of PICS. Prospective data registries, such as RegENT (www.entnet.org/content/reg-ent-1) and Global Tracheostomy Collaborative (www.globaltrach.org), provide platforms for data collection and analysis, risk adjustment, or future clinical prediction [1,26]. Otolaryngologists play a critical role in multidisciplinary efforts to facilitate high-quality recovery care and to improve COVID-19 patients' quality of life.

Funding support

Financial support for this review was provided by R01 DC018567 01 (Alexander T. Hillel) on the pathogenesis of laryngotracheal injury; R01 NIH 5-R017433 (Martin B Brodsky, Vinciya Pandian, and Dale M. Needham), on laryngeal injury post-extubation in intensive care unit settings; R01 DC14547 05 (Anil Lalwani), on intracochlear delivery of therapeutics across round window membrane; and K23 HL138206, (Ann Parker) a pilot feasibility randomized clinical trial to improve psychological and physical impairments in acute respiratory failure survivors.

Disclosures

Dr. Brodsky receives royalties from MedBridge, Inc.

Dr. Hillel is a consultant for Ambu and has a sponsored research agreement with Medtronic.

Dr. Rassekh was a collaborator for a Drexel University grant and patent pending for Biocontainment device (ABCD) which was assigned to University of Pennsylvania; Consultant/Speaker-Medtronic.

Dr. Needham is currently, or previously, a consultant to Haisco-USA Pharmaceuticals, Novartis Pharma (Switzerland), and GlaxoSmithKline (UK), and is a principal investigator on a NIH-funded, multi-centered randomized trial (R01HL132887) evaluating nutrition and exercise in acute respiratory failure, for which Baxter Healthcare Corporation has provided an unrestricted research grant and donated amino acid product, and Reck Medical Devices has provided an equipment loan to two study sites.

CRediT authorship contribution statement

Declaration of competing interest

The authors discern no conflicts of interest; however to ensure to uncomprehensive disclosure, we list the relationships above.

Author name	Contribution
Vinciya Pandian, PhD, MBA, MSN, ACNP-BC	Conceptualization; Data curation; Formal analysis; Methodology; Writing - original draft; review & editing.
Martin B. Brodsky, PhD, ScM, CCC-SLP	Conceptualization; Data curation; Writing - original draft, review & editing.
Emily P. Brigham, MD	Conceptualization; Data curation; Methodology; Writing - review & editing.
Ann M. Parker, MD, PhD	Conceptualization; Data curation; Writing - review & editing.
Alexander T. Hillel, MD	Data curation; Formal analysis; Methodology; Writing - original draft; review & editing.
Joshua M. Levy, MD, MPH	Data curation; Formal analysis; Methodology; Writing - original draft; review & editing.
Christopher H. Rassekh, MD, FACS	Conceptualization; Writing - original draft; review & editing.
Anil K. Lalwani, MD	Conceptualization; Writing - original draft; review & editing.
Dale M. Needham, MD, PhD, FCPA	Conceptualization; Data curation; Formal analysis; Methodology; Writing - review & editing.
Michael J. Brenner, MD, FACS	Conceptualization; Data curation; Formal analysis; Methodology; Writing – review & editing; supervision; review & editing.