IMPORTANCE We report 2 new cases of tracheal cartilaginous sleeve and perform a systematic literature review of all documented cases of this condition. We aim to increase awareness of this anomaly and provide recommendations for both intraoperative and postoperative management of patients with tracheal cartilaginous sleeve undergoing tracheostomy. OBSERVATIONS We studied the clinical records ...

BACKGROUND The influence of percutaneous tracheostomy on ventilator-dependence and clinical outcomes has been investigated in a number of studies. However, except for the variations during the procedure, the impact of tracheostomy on gas exchange has been scarcely explored. We investigated the effect of tracheostomy on respiratory function in a cohort of ICU patients. METHODS In this retrospe...

BACKGROUND The study aims to highlight common indications as well as outcome of treatment among patients with tracheostomy in Ilorin, North-Central Nigeria. METHODS A review of clinical records of all patients with tracheostomy over a period of ten years (2002-2011), using the Theatre, Ward, ICU and the emergency register after approval from the ethical review committee. Data retrieved includ...

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the outcome of patients who have undergone a tracheostomy in a multidisciplinary intensive care unit (ICU) and to determine the difference between an early and late tracheostomy. DESIGN AND METHODS All patients who had tracheostomy in the ICU of The Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex, Trinidad and Tobago, over a five-year period were retrospectively analysed. Data re...

Introduction Tracheostomy is commonly performed in critically ill patients with the objective of increasing comfort and shortening the duration of sedation, mechanical ventilation, and intensive care stay [1]. As the percutaneous technique has become widely available, the earlier use of tracheostomy has become commonplace [2,3]. Consequently, there is ongoing debate about the benefits of early ...

BACKGROUND Some pediatric patients receiving therapeutic aerosols undergo tracheostomy, and others who are tracheostomized continue requiring inhaled therapies upon decannulation. It is unknown whether a dose adjustment is required. Different devices are available for facial and tracheostomy delivery, and in some instances, the assisted technique is used. We hypothesized that the change from fa...

BACKGROUND Tracheostomy wounds are commonly encountered in children but rarely reported. Relatively few treatments are available or have been investigated to manage this problem. Healing times for pediatric tracheostomy wounds are often unpredictable and protracted. Recent use of maltodextrin gel (MD) and a silver alginate sponge (AG) at our institution has demonstrated expedited healing and in...

Tracheostomy is a life saving procedure and many patients are discharged with permanent tracheostomy tubes. We report the rare occurrence of a fractured tracheostomy tube migrating into the tracheobronchial tree and highlight the clinical manifestations of this uncommon complication that carries the potential risk of fatal respiratory obstruction.