• Artur Sousa, Teresa Nunes, Rosa Roque Farinha, and Teresa Bandeira.
• Interno do internato complementar de pediatria do Hospital de Santa Maria / Resident, Paediatrics, Hospital de Santa Maria.
• Rev Port Pneumol. 2009 Mar 1; 15 (2): 227-39.

UnlabelledDespite advances in non-invasive ventilation techniques, tracheostomy is still indicated in children with serious airway obstruction or with the need for long-term ventilation. Alternatives should be studied before deciding to tracheostomise as complications exist, despite the simple procedure. The aims of this study were the identification of tracheostomised children followed in a tertiary care paediatric department, the characterisation of primary disease, the indications leading to tracheostomy and any complications. We present a case review of tracheostomised children followed in our department. Sixteen tracheostomised children were followed, median age of 4.5 months, neuromuscular disease - 5, cerebral palsy - 3 and pulmonary or airway disease - 7. Indications were long-term invasive ventilation - 12, subglottic or tracheal stenosis - 3 and laryngomalacia - 1. The most frequent complications found were persistent bacterial colonisation, accidental decannulation and obstruction. There was a tracheostomy- related death in 1 child.Outcome9 children maintained tracheostomy, 5 were successfully decannulated and 2 children died while on tracheostomy. Tracheostomised children usually have complex disease that requires a multidisciplinary team and should be followed-up at a specialised reference centre.

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