Pediatric bedside tracheostomy in the pediatric intensive care unit: six-year experience
Karapinar, B.ül.; Arslan, M.T.; Ozcan, C.şk.
Turkish Journal of Pediatrics 50(4): 366-372
2008
ISSN/ISBN: 0041-4301 PMID: 19014051 Document Number: 619650
In this study, we evaluated the experience of a single center pediatric intensive care unit in pediatric bedside tracheostomies performed during a six-year period. Thirty-one bedside tracheostomies were performed on 31 patients aged 2 months to 18 years. The major indication for tracheostomy was prolonged ventilator dependence. Twenty-two complications, 6 major and 16 minor, were observed in 18 patients. Early complications were observed in 5 patients and all were managed immediately without serious outcomes. Ten patients died during the study period and only one death was directly related to the tracheostomy; the remaining 9 patients died due to their underlying disease. Eleven patients were successfully decannulated, 12 patients were discharged home with their tracheostomies and 5 of these 12 patients required home ventilation. Although children who required tracheostomy had a high overall mortality (32.3%), the prognosis of these patients depends primarily on the underlying medical condition.