3.7 Outcomes and Mortality
14-day follow-up data was available for 24 patients; we also present average times to each outcome measure for the whole study group with a median (IQR) follow up time of 11(6 -16) days (Tab 1 & Fig 2). 
 We performed subgroup analysis of patients who underwent tracheostomy on day <14 (14 patients) vs ≥14 (37 patients) since intubation. Statistical analysis did not show significant difference between follow-up times. Moreover, outcomes including stopping sedation and ventilation, discharge from ITU and decannulation did not differ.
The mortality rate is presently 3.9% (2/51). Deaths occurred on day 9 and 14 post tracheostomy.  The cause of death was ventilator dependant respiratory failure for both; one patient was on ECMO at the time of death.