OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS After concurrent chemoradiation for head and neck squamous cell cancer, patients with laryngeal incompetence may not recover function. We assessed variables predicting tracheostomy dependence as a measure of poor laryngeal function after chemoradiation. STUDY DESIGN Retrospective METHODS Analysis of 109 patients treated with chemoradiation for locoregionally advanced l...

For decades, the standard technique for tracheostomy was the open, surgical technique. However, during the past 20 years, the use of percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy has been increased and shown to be a feasible and safe procedure in critically ill patients. The purpose of this report is to review the percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy technique, describe the role of bronchoscopy as g...

Tracheostomy is a commonly performed intervention with several benefits in the treatment of patients with chronic respiratory failure. Percutaneous dilational tracheostomy techniques have allowed bedside tracheostomy placement in the modern intensive care unit. Percutaneous dilational tracheostomy can be safely performed by interventional pulmonologists, medical intensive care physicians, and s...

Background: Percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy (PDT) is increasingly popular within intensive care units for patients who need prolonged ventilatory support. Significant complications are rare. Case presentation: Our patient suffered tracheal ring fracture and early tracheomalacia following this procedure. These complications are demonstrated in our accompanying video. Conclusion: Contrary ...

Objective. The purpose of this study was to review inpatients undergoing tracheostomies at a tertiary care pediatric hospital in a 24-month period and to identify the indications, comorbidities, hospital course, patient complexity, and predischarge planning for tracheostomy care. The goal was to analyze these factors to highlight potential areas for improvement. Study Design. Case series with c...

Tracheostomy is a common surgical procedure, and is increasingly performed in the intensive care unit (ICU) as opposed to the operating room. Procedural knowledge is essential and is therefore outlined in this review. We also review several high-quality studies comparing percutaneous dilational tracheostomy and open surgical tracheostomy. The percutaneous method has a comparable, if not superio...

A tracheostomy tube decreases the ability of the patient to communicate effectively. The ability to speak provides an important improvement in the quality of life for a patient with a tracheostomy. In mechanically ventilated patients, speech can be provided by the use of a talking tracheostomy tube, using a cuff-down technique with a speaking valve, and using a cuff-down technique without a spe...

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS To describe the reasons for hospitalization and characteristics of children with preexisting tracheostomy and to compare hospital utilization between children with and without tracheostomy. STUDY DESIGN Retrospective cohort study. METHODS Children with tracheostomy were selected in the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project Kids' Inpatient Database 2009 using Internat...

OBJECTIVE Tracheostomy remains one of the most commonly performed surgical procedures in adults with acute respiratory failure and identifies a patient cohort which is among the most resource-intensive to provide care. The objective of this concise definitive review is the synthesis of current knowledge regarding tracheostomy practice in this context. DATA SOURCE Peer-reviewed, English langua...

Tracheostomy can lead to various complications, one of which is ectopic air in different compartments the body. Here, we present a rare case tracheostomy-induced air: combination subcutaneous emphysema, pneumomediastinum, and pneumoperitoneum. This also presents literature review on some common mechanisms responsible for pneumomediastinum following tracheostomy mechanism pneumoperitoneum pneumo...