Methods
This systematic review was conducted according to PRISMA guidelines. The literature search was performed on PubMed, MEDLINE and Cochrane Library including keywords: tracheotomy, tracheostomy, COVID-19, novel coronavirus, and SARS-CoV-2. Studies included were published between January 1, 2020 and May 24, 2020. Our inclusion criteria also encompassed societal guidelines, expert consensuses, recommended protocols, surgical checklists and papers sharing surgical experiences in tracheotomy in COVID-19. All other papers, such as those discussing perceptions and medical training, were excluded. An English language restriction was applied as well. Abstracts were independently reviewed, and for those studies fitting the inclusion criteria on the basis of the title and abstract, the full-text was retrieved and reviewed. Reference lists were also examined for any additional relevant studies not identified through the former search. A flow chart diagram of the search strategy and study selection is provided in FigureĀ 1.