• Spike Briggs, Jonathan Ambler, and David Smith.
• Department of Anaesthesia, Southampton General Hospital, Southampton, Hampshire, United Kingdom. dr.spike@virgin.net
• J. Cardiothorac. Vasc. Anesth. 2007 Feb 1;21(1):76-80.

ObjectiveThe purpose of this study was to assess current practice of performing tracheostomies in critically ill cardiac surgical patients, to establish complication rates, and to identify areas of this clinical practice that could be improved.DesignRetrospective observational study.SettingA cardiothoracic intensive care unit in a teaching hospital.ParticipantsThe most recent series of 100 tracheostomies performed in patients admitted to the intensive care unit.InterventionsPercutaneous or surgical tracheostomy for respiratory management.Measurements And Main ResultsA total of 95 patients had 1 tracheostomy performed. One patient had a tracheostomy performed twice, and 1 patient had a tracheostomy performed 3 times; these repetitions were caused by recurrent respiratory failure. The median time from tracheal intubation to tracheostomy was 5 days (range, 1-23 days; interquartile range, 4-8 days), and median period between insertion and decannulation was 20 days (range, 2-77 days; interquartile range, 12-25 days). The most common reason for insertion was an anticipated long weaning time (55%) followed by insertion after failed extubation (32%). The Ciaglia percutaneous dilational technique was used for 89% of tracheostomies, whereas surgical techniques were used for 8%. The most common complication was either complete or partial obstruction of the tracheostomy tube (24%) followed by infection of the tracheostomy site in 18% (17/94) and bleeding at the time of insertion (11%).ConclusionThe percutaneous dilational technique of tracheostomy was used predominantly in this unit. The median time from tracheal intubation to tracheostomy was 5 days. The most common complications were bleeding at the time of insertion, obstruction of the tracheostomy tube, and stomal infection.

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