UNLABELLED Percutaneous dilational tracheostomy (PDT) is frequently performed in the intensive care unit to prevent the long term complications associated with prolonged endotracheal intubation. OBJECTIVE To report the analysis of our experience with percutaneous dilation tracheostomy. STUDY DESIGN A prospective documentation of 40 patients who received percutaneous dilational tracheostomy ...

The present study investigated the role of removal of upper airway and lung vagal afferents in the respiratory-related evoked potential (RREP) response to inspiratory occlusions in two patients with a tracheostomy, who had undergone double lung transplantation (DLT). The patients were 1.5 and 3 months post-DLT and surgical placement of the tracheostomy. RREP recordings in response to inspirator...

BACKGROUND When to extubate the endotracheal tube is controversial in patients with depressed mental status. The use of the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) with score 8 or above as a criterion for extubation by many investigators is questionable. METHODS A total of 133 consecutive patients (M/F: 86/47; age: 71 ± 17 years) admitted to the respiratory care center (RCC) of the hospital were enrolled. T...

A patient who had a permanent tracheostomy needed to be anaesthetized for thoracotomy. Anticipated difficulty with airway and lung control did not occur following successful intubation via the tracheostomy with a Robertshaw double-lumen tube.

BACKGROUND Tracheostomy has long been implemented as means of a surgical airway in patients with upper airway obstruction and patients requiring long-term mechanical ventilation support. Temporally, surgical tracheostomy may be performed in an emergent fashion, as in the “slash” tracheostomy, but also as an elective procedure, commonly in patients undergoing resection of the mandible, floor of ...