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PubMed2001

Bedside tracheostomy in the intensive care unit: a prospective randomized trial comparing open surgical tracheostomy with endoscopically guided percutaneous dilational tracheotomy.

OBJECTIVES: Objectives of the study were 1) to analyze the complication incidence and resource utilization of two methods of bedside tracheostomy and 2) to define selection criteria for bedside tracheostomy. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective randomized trial in the setting of a tertiary care center at a university hospital. METHODS: One hundred sixty-four consecutive intubated patients selected for elective tracheostomy were enrolled. One hundred patients met selection criteria for bedside tracheostomy and were randomly assigned to either open surgical tracheostomy (50) or endoscopically guided percutaneous dilational tracheotomy(50). The remaining 64 patients received open surgical tracheostomies in the operating room. Main outcome measures were 1) perioperative and postoperative complication incidence and 2) resource utilization. RESULTS: Patients meeting our selection criteria for bedside tracheostomy had a significantly reduced perioperative complication rate compared with those who failed to meet these criteria, and subsequently underwent tracheostomy placement in the operating room (5% vs. 20%, P less than or equal to.01). No statistically significant difference was found in the perioperative complication incidence between the two methods of bedside tracheostomy. However, percutaneous tracheostomy placement at the bedside resulted in a significant increase in postoperative complication incidence (16% vs. 2%, P <.05) and incurred an additional patient charge of $436 per bedside procedure. CONCLUSIONS: This investigation prospectively confirms the safety of bedside tracheostomy placement in properly selected patients. Complication incidence and resource utilization are defined for two methods of bedside tracheostomy. The results of this study confirm that open surgical tracheostomy represents the standard of care in bedside tracheostomy placement by providing a more secure airway at a markedly reduced patient charge. These findings will aid in the development of protocols and pathways for surgical airway management in critically ill patients to maximize cost-effective, high-quality care.

Adult↗

PubMed1997

Percutaneous tracheostomy: a cost-effective alternative to standard open tracheostomy.

Percutaneous tracheostomy was initiated as an alternative to open tracheostomy at our institution in December 1993. To assess safety, operative time, and cost, a comparative analysis of percutaneous and open tracheostomies was performed. A retrospective evaluation of all patients who underwent percutaneous tracheostomy (P) from December 1993 to March 1996 was completed. Patients were evaluated for indications for tracheostomy, length of operation, morbidity, and cost. The results were compared with patients who underwent open tracheostomy (O) during the 12 months prior to introduction of the percutaneous technique. Tracheostomy was performed percutaneously in 74 patients and by a standard open technique in 109 patients. Indications for tracheostomy included: chronic ventilator dependence (P, 49 vs O, 58); airway protection (P, 19 vs O, 42); laryngeal dysfunction (P, 2 vs O, 7); and facial trauma (P 6 vs O, 2). The length of operation was 21 +/- 6 minutes and 46 +/- 21 minutes for percutaneous and open tracheostomy, respectively (P < 0.05). Perioperative morbidity occurred in 2 patients (3%) following percutaneous tracheostomy compared to 10 patients (9%) following open tracheostomy (P > 0.05). The mean operating room costs per patient were $1093 and $1370 for percutaneous and open tracheostomy, respectively. Percutaneous tracheostomy is a safe procedure that can be performed in less time and at a lower cost than standard open tracheostomy.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2026

Comparison of Adult Tracheostomy Outcomes Before and After Implementation of a Dedicated Tracheostomy Team.

OBJECTIVE: (A) Determine patient and institutional factors associated with increased length of stay (LOS) and complications of tracheostomy, (B) Develop data-driven quality improvement in tracheostomy care. DESIGN: Mixed methods protocol used cross-sectional survey assessing institutional trends in tracheostomy-specific care. Retrospective chart review compared tracheostomy patient outcomes prior to and during implementation of a multidisciplinary tracheostomy care team and standardized guidelines. PARTICIPANTS: Patients undergoing tracheostomy from January 2019 to December 2021 at a tertiary hospital. METHODS: Patient factors, procedure type and indication, tracheostomy tube size, management timeline, insurance, and disease severity using Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II) score were analyzed for associations with LOS and adverse events. Multivariate analyses controlled for APACHE II score and payer source. LOS and complications were compared between patients before and during implementation of multidisciplinary tracheostomy care team and standardized guidelines. RESULTS: Three-hundred and eighteen patients met criteria with a 21.7% complication rate, average LOS of 24 days (SD = 28.523), and median LOS post-tracheostomy of 14 days (IQR 7, 29). Departments without standardized protocols had greater LOS (F[1,316] = 28.706, P < .001]) and complication odds (OR = 2.92, P = .015, 95% CI[1.231, 6.930]). Larger tracheostomy tube size was linked to increased LOS (β = .253, t(314) = 4.741, P < .001, 95% CI[4.137, 10.081]). Delays from ventilation discontinuation to cuffless tube exchange and decannulation correlated with increased LOS (β = .406, t(184) = 6.321, P < .001, 95% CI[.928, 1.771]); (β = .554, t(129) = 7.625, P < .001, 95% CI[1.008, 1.715]). When focusing on a single department, comparing 2019 patients to 2021 patients (pre- and post-guideline and care team), overall, LOS decreased from 33.08 to 30.83 days (P = .586). When excluding patients discharged on a ventilator, the 2019 group had average LOS of 37.938 days versus 33.41 days in 2021 (P = .344). CONCLUSIONS: Standardized tracheostomy care guidelines and multidisciplinary care teams are critical to improving institutional outcomes. Data-driven approaches to quality improvement ensure efficient and targeted methods to improving patient care. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4.

Humans↗

PubMed1999

Tracheostomy in cardiosurgical patients: surgical tracheostomy versus ciaglia and fantoni methods.

BACKGROUND: Patients requiring prolonged mechanical ventilation are not uncommon in a cardiosurgical intensive care unit. Elective tracheostomy is considered the airway treatment of choice in these patients. METHODS: To evaluate different techniques for tracheostomy, we prospectively investigated 120 patients who had conventional open (n = 40), minimally invasive percutaneous dilatational (n = 40), or translaryngeal (n = 40) tracheostomy techniques. The main areas of investigation included oxygenation index (partial pressure of arterial oxygen divided by fraction of inspired oxygen), complications, infection, and cost. RESULTS: The oxygenation index decreased in almost every patient, regardless of the technique used, but the extent of decrease was significantly lower in both minimally invasive techniques compared with the conventional method. Overall complication rate was 12.5% both in open tracheostomy and in percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy, whereas no complications occurred in translaryngeal tracheostomy procedures. Bacterial contamination of the tracheostomy site was found in 35% of the open tracheostomies, whereas no infection was seen in percutaneous dilatational or translaryngeal tracheostomies. In terms of costs, PDT ($506) and TLT ($362) were both much cheaper than open tracheostomy ($699). CONCLUSIONS: Percutaneous dilatational and translaryngeal tracheostomies are safe and cost-effective procedures that can be done easily at the patient's bedside and thus are attractive alternatives to conventional surgical tracheostomy in long-term airway access in a cardiosurgical intensive care unit.

Adult↗

PubMed1991

Comparative clinical trial of standard operative tracheostomy with percutaneous tracheostomy.

OBJECTIVE: To compare percutaneous tracheostomy with conventional operative tracheostomy. DESIGN: Randomized clinical trial. SETTING: The medical and surgical critical care units of a large, tertiary-care, private hospital. PATIENTS: Twenty-five male and 21 female translaryngeally intubated patients with respiratory failure, in whom tracheostomy was indicated on clinical grounds, were randomly assigned to one of two groups. INTERVENTIONS: The 24 patients in group 1 underwent conventional operative tracheostomy, and the 22 patients in group 2 underwent percutaneous tracheostomy. One patient in group 2 required tracheostomy on three separate occasions during a prolonged hospital stay. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Patients were examined daily throughout their hospital stays for adverse events related to the tracheostomy. In all patients who survived until decannulation, plain tomography of the trachea was performed within 3 days of decannulation. Repeat physical and tomographic examinations were performed 6 and 12 wks later. Fifty-eight percent (14/24) of the operative tracheostomies were associated with at least one complication, compared with 25% (6/24) of the percutaneous tracheostomies (p less than .05, 95% confidence interval 7% to 59%). Predecannulation problems were more frequent in group 1 patients than in group 2 (46% vs. 13%, respectively; p less than .01, 95% confidence interval 9% to 57%), as were later sequelae (88% vs. 27%; p less than .05, confidence interval 26% to 96%) in survivors. Group 1 patients were more likely to have multiple complications, and their complications tended to be more serious. CONCLUSION: In this study, percutaneous tracheostomy appeared to be superior to the conventional operation.

Adult↗

PubMed1997

Hypercarbia during tracheostomy: a comparison of percutaneous endoscopic, percutaneous Doppler, and standard surgical tracheostomy.

OBJECTIVE: Tracheostomy is one of the most commonly performed surgical procedures in the critical care setting. The early use of tracheostomy as a method of primary airway management has been proposed as a means to decrease pulmonary morbidity and to shorten the number of ventilator, intensive care unit, and hospital days. We set out to (1) determine whether hypercarbia occurs during tracheostomy of the critically ill patient and (2) determine the extent to which the partial pressure of carbon dioxide in arterial blood (PaCO2) rises during percutaneous endoscopic, percutaneous Doppler, and standard surgical tracheostomy. DESIGN: Prospective, open clinical trial. SETTING: Surgical intensive care unit and operating room in teaching hospitals. PATIENTS: During mechanical ventilation, patients underwent either percutaneous endoscopic (PET), percutaneous Doppler (PDT), or standard surgical tracheostomy (ST), based on surgeon preference. Arterial blood gas readings were obtained approximately every 4 min throughout each procedure. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: All tracheostomies were successfully performed. No serious complications (including hypoxia) occurred during the study. Significant (p < 0.05 vs PDT and ST) hypercarbia (maximum delta PaCO2 24 +/- 3 mmHg) and acidosis (maximum delta pH -0.16 +/- 0.02) developed during PET. The changes in PaCO2 and pH during PDT (maximum delta PaCO2 8 +/- 2 mmHg; maximum delta pH -0.07 +/- 0.02) and ST (maximum delta PaCO2 3 +/- 1 mmHg; maximum delta pH -0.04 +/- 0.01) were markedly less pronounced. CONCLUSIONS: Continuous bronchoscopy during percutaneous tracheostomy contributes significantly to early hypoventilation, hypercarbia, and respiratory acidosis during the procedure. Percutaneous tracheostomy, when performed using the Doppler ultrasound method to position the endotracheal tube, significantly reduces CO2 retention when compared to PET. Because of a possible rise in intracranial pressure, the potential for hypercarbia should be considered when choosing the method of tracheostomy in the critically ill and/or head-injured patient, where hypercarbia may be detrimental. If PET is to be performed, steps to minimize occult hypercarbia, such as using the smallest bronchoscope available, minimizing suctioning during bronchoscopy, and minimizing the length of time the bronchoscope is in the endotracheal tube, should be undertaken.

Acidosis↗

PubMed1995

Deglutitive aspiration in patients with tracheostomy: effect of tracheostomy on the duration of vocal cord closure.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Deglutitive aspiration in patients with tracheostomy has been attributed to impaired laryngeal movement, loss of protective laryngeal reflexes, and uncoordinated laryngeal closure. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of tracheostomy on the duration of deglutitive vocal cord closure. METHODS: Using concurrent videoendoscopy, respirography, and submental electromyography, deglutitive vocal cord closure and its temporal relationship with deglutitive apnea was compared between patients with tracheostomy and normal volunteers. RESULTS: Between-group comparison showed that the duration of vocal cord adduction/abduction in patients with tracheostomy was significantly shorter than that of normal volunteers (P < 0.05). Contrary to normal volunteers, in patients with tracheostomy, 5-mL water swallows significantly increased the duration of vocal cord adduction/abduction compared with that of dry swallows (P < 0.05). In addition, in patients with tracheostomy, deglutitive apnea and submental electromyography were not coordinated with vocal cord kinetics. CONCLUSIONS: Although the vocal cords close completely during swallowing in patients with tracheostomy, their duration of closure is significantly shorter compared with normal volunteers. Coordination of deglutitive vocal cord kinetics, apnea, and submental electromyography is altered in patients with tracheostomy. Contrary to normal controls, duration of deglutitive vocal cord closure in patients with tracheostomy is modified by the presence of liquid bolus.

Adult↗

PubMed1998

Percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy versus conventional surgical tracheostomy. A clinical randomised study.

BACKGROUND: As no clinical randomised studies have previously been performed comparing complications with the Ciaglia Percutaneous Dilatational Tracheostomy Introducer Set (PDT) and conventional surgical tracheostomy (TR), we designed a study with the aim of comparing the efficacy and safety of the two techniques. METHODS: Sixty patients selected for elective tracheostomy were randomised for either PDT (30 patients) or TR (30 patients). All patients had general anaesthesia and were ventilated with 100% oxygen. Furthermore, lidocaine with epinephrine 1% (3-5 ml) was used for local analgesia and to minimise bleeding during the procedure. RESULTS: The median time for insertion of the tracheostomy tube was 11.5 min (range 7-24 min) in the PDT group and 15 min (range 5-47 min) in the TR group (P<0.01). Complications during the procedure were cuff puncture of the endotracheal tube in 5 cases in the PDT group. Minor bleeding was encountered in 6 cases in the PDT group as opposed to 24 cases in the TR group (P<0.01), major bleeding in none versus 2 cases, respectively. In 8 cases in the PDT group, increased resistance to insertion of the tracheostomy tube was met by further dilatation. During the post-tracheostomy period, complications occurred with minor bleeding in 2 cases in the PDT group as opposed to 9 cases in the TR group (P<0.05), and major bleeding was encountered in 1 case in each group. Minor infections were encountered in 3 cases in the PDT group as opposed to 11 cases in the TR group (P<0.01). Major infection was encountered in none versus 8 cases, respectively (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that the percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy technique performed with the Ciaglia Introducer Set is effective, safe and superior to conventional surgical tracheostomy as immediate complications as well as complications with the tracheostomy tube in situ are fewer and of less severity.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2003

Complications of tracheostomy performed in the ICU: subthyroid tracheostomy vs surgical cricothyroidotomy.

BACKGROUND: The morbidity of surgical tracheostomy performed in critically ill patients is not well-known. Accordingly, the aim of this prospective study was to determine the incidence and severity of complications associated with subthyroid tracheostomy and cricothyroidotomy when performed in the ICU. METHODS: Over a 2-year period, individual consecutive patients who were undergoing an elective tracheostomy were studied. Attending physicians elected the timing and technique of the tracheostomy. All procedures were performed at the bedside. A complete laryngeal examination was performed before ICU discharge, prior to decannulation, and 6 months after the tracheostomy. RESULTS: A tracheostomy (subthyroid, 86 patients; cricothyroidotomy, 32 patients) was performed in 118 of 1,574 patients (mean [+/- SD] age, 54 +/- 18 years; 79 men, 39 women; mean APACHE [acute physiology and chronic health evaluation] II score, 19 +/- 2). No deaths could be attributed to the tracheostomy procedure, and 40 complications occurred in 36 patients (30%), with a similar incidence in both groups (subthyroid group, 30 of 86 patients; cricothyroidotomy, 10 of 32 patients; p = 0.9). The severity and timing of complications were comparable between groups. CONCLUSIONS: In the present series, the incidence and severity of complications associated with conventional subthyroid tracheostomy and surgical cricothyroidotomy performed in the ICU were similar. The bedside cricothyroidotomy, which is technically easier to perform, represents a valuable alternative to conventional tracheostomy in the management of critically ill patients.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1991

A prospective comparison of a percutaneous tracheostomy technique with standard surgical tracheostomy.

A prospective non-randomized study was undertaken to compare, in intensive care patients, the safety and utility of a percutaneous tracheostomy technique performed at the bedside with a surgical tracheostomy technique performed in the operating room. During a 21 month period, 153 percutaneous tracheostomies were performed. Complications occurred in 6 patients (3.9%). Secondary wound haemorrhage occurred in 4 patients and primary wound haemorrhage occurred in 2 patients. During the same period, 74 surgical tracheostomies were performed. Complications occurred in 14 patients (18.9%) which included tracheal obstruction, haemorrhage, pneumothorax, wound infection, wound breakdown and one death. In comparison to surgical tracheostomies, percutaneous tracheostomies were rapidly and easily performed at the bedside and were associated with significantly fewer complications.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2000

Ultrasound-guided percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy: a safe method to avoid cranial misplacement of the tracheostomy tube.

The aim of this investigation was to evaluate the role of ultrasonography in avoiding cranial misplacement of the tracheostomy tube and tracheal ring fractures during percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy (PDT). The tracheas of 26 consecutive ICU patients who had undergone PDT but who later died were removed en bloc at autopsy. The tracheas were opened along the membranous portion and the condition of tracheal rings and the site of tracheostomy macroscopically evaluated. The patients were divided in two groups: group A with 15 patients who underwent "blind" PDT and group B with 11 patients who underwent ultrasound-guided PDT. In five (33%) patients from group A, autopsy revealed that the tracheostomy tube was placed between the cricoid cartilage and the first tracheal ring (cranial misplacement) and in six (43%) patients a fracture of one tracheal ring was found. Cranial misplacement of the tracheostomy tube in patients from group B was not found (P < 0.05) and four (36%) patients had a broken tracheal ring (P = NS). The authors maintain that by using ultrasound-guided PDT cranial misplacement of the tracheostomy tube may be entirely avoided.

Autopsy↗

PubMed2000

Percutaneous tracheostomy: ciaglia blue rhino versus the basic ciaglia technique of percutaneous dilational tracheostomy.

UNLABELLED: Percutaneous dilational tracheostomy (PDT), according to Ciaglia's technique described in 1985, has become the most popular technique for percutaneous tracheostomy and is demonstrably as safe as surgical tracheostomy. In 1999, an extensively modified technique of PDT was introduced, the Ciaglia Blue Rhino (CBR; Cook Critical Care, Bloomington, IL), that consists of one-step dilation by means of a curved dilator with hydrophilic coating. To compare CBR with the basic technique of PDT, we performed a prospective, randomized trial in 50 critically ill adults. Twenty-five of these patients had PDT, and 25 had CBR. Average operating times were <3 min for CBR (range: 50-360 s) and <7 min for PDT (range: 4-20 min; P<0.0001). Tracheostomy was successfully completed in all patients. When CBR was performed, 11 minor, nonlife-threatening complications were noted: nine fractures of tracheal cartilage and two short periods of intraoperative oxygen desaturation. During PDT, seven complications occurred, of which three were potentially life-threatening: two injuries to the posterior tracheal wall, one pneumothorax, two tracheal cartilage fractures (P< 0.05 vs CBR), one case of bleeding, and one short episode of intraoperative oxygen desaturation. Regardless of whether PDT or CBR was performed, oxygenation was not significantly affected, and there was no infection of the tracheostoma. Based on our data, we conclude that new CBR is more practicable than PDT. No life-threatening complications occurred during CBR. IMPLICATIONS: To assess practicability and safety of the Ciaglia Blue Rhino (Cook Critical Care, Bloomington, IL)-an extensively modified technique of percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy-50 critically ill adults on long-term ventilation underwent either new Ciaglia Blue Rhino or percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy in a prospective, randomized clinical trial.

Adult↗

PubMed2002

Surgical tracheostomy versus percutaneous dilational tracheostomy in patients with anterior cervical spine fixation: preliminary report.

STUDY DESIGN: A prospective, randomized study. OBJECTIVES: To compare the incidence of perioperative and early postoperative complications of surgical tracheostomy (ST) vs. ultrasound-guided percutaneous dilational tracheostomy (PDT) in patients with anterior cervical spine fixation (ACSF). SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: The patients with ACSF after acute spinal cord injury often require tracheostomy. Surgical tracheostomy is burdened with relatively high incidence of peristomal infections, and, recently, ultrasound-guided PDT is proposed in patients with ACSF. METHODS: Sixteen adult patients who underwent tracheostomy after acute spinal cord injury and ACSF were analyzed. The patients were randomly assigned to two groups: eight patients (six males; age range, 24-59 years) who underwent ST and eight patients (seven males; age range, 19-47 years) who underwent ultrasound-guided PDT with dilational forceps technique. The incidence of peri- and early postoperative complications was followed up, as well as the stoma infections and the duration of the procedure. RESULTS: Not one patient from either group had any major perioperative complication of tracheostomy. In each group, there was one case of prolonged bleeding, which stopped spontaneously inside 24 hours. In two patients (25%) from the ST group, purulent infection of the stoma was verified during subsequent treatment at an intensive care unit. The average time of ST was 21 +/- 7 minutes; the average time of ultrasound-guided PDT was 8 +/- 6 minutes (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Our preliminary data demonstrate that ultrasound-guided PDT as regards to complications is at least equally safe as ST; at the same time, it is much quicker method, probably with less late infections of the stoma, which could be an important advantage in patients with ACSF.

Acute Disease↗

PubMed1995

Percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy: an alternative approach to surgical tracheostomy.

Percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy (PDT) offers a nonoperative alternative to patients needing an elective tracheostomy. The technique associated with PDT is essentially a progressive dilatation using blunt-tipped dilators for the placement of a tracheostomy tube. We retrospectively compared patient charges and operating time for 18 PDTs and 18 surgical tracheostomies. Our analysis suggests that percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy is a cost-effective alternative to the open procedure for elective tracheostomy.

Fees and Charges↗

PubMed2003

[Percutaneous dilatative tracheostomy versus conventional surgical tracheostomy: a retrospective trial].

BACKGROUND: In this retrospective study we compared endoscopically controlled percutaneous dilatative tracheostomies (PDT) with conventional surgical tracheostomies as a bedside procedure and in the operating theatre. PATIENTS: Between 1998 and 2000 we performed 360 tracheostomies electively, 152 in PDT-technique (42 %) and 208 (58 %) with the conventional procedure. Referring to the PDT-technique 74 % (n = 112) were performed at the bedside and 26 % in the operating theatre. The conventional tracheostomies took place at bedside in 53 % (n = 110) and in the operating theatre in 47 % (n = 98) of the cases. The complications were divided in 5 groups with special interest if the operation took place in the operating theatre or as a bedside procedure. RESULTS: In general the rate of complications in the PDT group was 33 % (50/152) versus 22 % (46/208) referring to the conventional group. Referring to the PDT group the rate of complications were 35 % (39/112) at the bed site procedure and 28 % (11/40) in the operating theatre. The complication rate for the conventional group was 27 % (30/110) as a bedside procedure versus 16 % (16/98) in the operating theatre. Significant differences were found for the PDT with an increase of tubal obstructions (p = 0.007). For the conventional tracheostomy we found a significant increase of wound infections (p = 0.006). There was significantly higher postoperative hemorrhage if the procedure was done at bed site. CONCLUSION: PDT and conventional tracheostomies have different complications. The higher risk of postoperative hemorrhage for bed site procedure has to be considered.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2002

[The tracheostomy-sphincter procedure - case report of a modified tracheostomy].

BACKGROUND: For an adequate speech production after tracheostomy patients are dependant on a temporary closure of the stoma. This closure can either be done manually or by the use of various tracheostoma valves. The tracheostomy-sphincter procedure, which is introduced in this case, allows the voluntary constriction of the stoma. METHODS: This case describes the treatment of a paediatric patient with laryngeal stenosis. During tracheostomy formation, an artificial muscle-sphincter was created, using the sternohyoid muscle (strap muscle). RESULTS: Postoperative contractile movements were possible, which were improved by special exercises. After 3 months the complete closure of the tracheostoma was achieved. CONCLUSIONS: The establishment of a tracheostomy-sphincter can be carried out during tracheostomy and allows the patient to speak without the use of a device. Tracheobronchial secretions can be cleared via the pharynx by coughing.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1996

Introduction of a new tracheostomy exchange device after percutaneous tracheostomy in a patient with coagulopathy.

Presented is a case of a 22-year-old male bone marrow transplant recipient who developed severe methotrexate-induced oropharyngeal mucositis and respiratory insufficiency caused by sepsis. Coagulopathy and severe thrombocytopenia precluded surgical tracheostomy; however, dilatational percutaneous tracheostomy was performed uneventfully. The tracheostomy tube was later changed using a newly developed exchange device permitting intraprocedural oxygenation and stomal redilatation. We conclude that severe thrombocytopenia and coagulopathy are not an absolute contraindication for percutaneous tracheostomy and that the new tracheostomy exchange device optimizes airway management and safety during this procedure.

Adult↗

PubMed1997

Problem in tracheostomy patient care: recognizing the patient with a displaced tracheostomy tube.

There are times when a tracheostomy tube slips out of the trachea. A displaced tracheostomy tube can occur in any patient but is frequently seen in the patient with a full neck. In the overweight patient or patient with a full neck, the tracheostomy tube must pass through a greater amount of soft tissue. Because of this, a smaller portion of the tube is actually within the lumen of the trachea. When the patient coughs excessively or moves the head, the tube can easily slip out of the trachea and into the interstitial tissues of the neck. If the patient has complete obstruction of the upper airway, a displaced tracheostomy tube will result in immediate respiratory distress and can lead to respiratory arrest. If the patient has an intact or at least a partially open upper airway, the displaced tube may not cause an immediate problem. Therefore, displacement of the tracheostomy tube may not be obvious in the patient with a partial airway.

Cough↗