During a 6-month period from October 2000 to March 2001, we analysed the indications, methods, waiting period and complications following a tracheostomy at the General Intensive Care Unit (GIGU) of Hospital Kuala Lumpur. There were 49 tracheostomies performed during this period. Thirty of them were performed in the GICU using the percutaneous dilatational method while 19 were performed elective...

BACKGROUND It is not clear whether the benefits of tracheostomy remain the same in the population. This study aimed to better examine the effect of tracheostomy on clinical outcome among prolonged ventilator patients. METHODS Data were from the medical claims data in Taiwan. A total of 3880 patients with ventilator use for more than 14 days between 2005 and 2009 were identified. Among them, 6...

Introduction: Radical laryngeal surgeries for extensive laryngeal and hypopharyngeal tumors often require a permanent tracheostomy, which has an immense impact on the quality of life of patients. A minimally invasive technique such as transoral laser microresection (TLM) followed by radiotherapy can preserve the functions of the voice and swallowing. The aim of this study is to evaluate the ro...

Percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy is a common procedure in intensive care. This updated Danish national guideline describes indications, contraindications and complications, and gives recommendations for timing, anaesthesia, and technique, use of fibre bronchoscopy and ultrasound guidance, as well as decannulation strategy, training, and education.

Knowing when to change a tracheostomy tube is important for optimal management of all patients with tracheostomy tubes. The first tracheostomy tube change, performed 1-2 weeks after placement, carries some risk and should be performed by a skilled operator in a safe environment. The risk associated with changing the tracheostomy tube then usually diminishes over time as the tracheo-cutaneous tr...

Tracheostomy tube fracture resulting in airway obstruction is a relatively rare but serious complication. We report the case of a 48-year-old man whose tracheostomy tube fractured and became lodged in the right primary bronchus. Recommendations are made for tracheostomy care to help prevent similar complications in patients with an indwelling tracheostomy tube.

OBJECTIVE Early post-sternotomy tracheostomy is not infrequently considered in this era of percutaneous tracheostomy. There is, however, some controversy about its association with sternal wound infections. METHODS Consecutive patients who had percutaneous tracheostomy following median sternotomy for cardiac operation at our institution from March 1998 through January 2007 were studied, and c...