•At this moment, the world lives under the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak pandemic.•Tracheostomy represent an essential procedure due the increasing admission in ICU departments.•Tracheostomy recommendations ...are needed to ensure the safety of healthcare workers.
At this moment, the world lives under the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak pandemic. As Otolaryngologists - Head & Neck Surgeons, we need to perform and participate in examinations and procedures within the head and neck region and airway that carry a particularly high risk of exposure and infection because of aerosol and droplet contamination. One of those surgical procedures in demand at this moment is tracheostomy due the increasing ICU admissions. This review of international guidelines for tracheostomy in COVID-19 infected patients, aims to summarize in a systematic way the available recommendations: indications, timing, technique and safety measures for tracheostomy, from all over the world.
Patients in ICUs frequently require tracheostomy for long-term ventilator support, and the percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy (PDT) method is preferred over surgical tracheostomy. The use of ...ultrasound (US) imaging to guide ICU procedures and interventions has recently emerged as a simple and noninvasive tool. The current evidence regarding the applications of US in PDT is encouraging; however, the exact role of US-guided dilatational tracheostomy (US-PDT) remains poorly defined. In this review, we describe the best available evidence concerning the safety and efficacy of US-PDT and briefly delineate the general principles of US image generation for the airway and of US-PDT procedures.
Tracheotomy: clinical review and guidelines De Leyn, Paul; Bedert, Lieven; Delcroix, Marion ...
European journal of cardio-thoracic surgery,
09/2007, Volume:
32, Issue:
3
Journal Article
Peer reviewed
Open access
Tracheotomy is a commonly performed procedure. The Belgian Society of Pneumology (BVP-SBP) and the Belgian Association for Cardiothoracic Surgery (BACTS) developed guidelines on tracheotomy for ...mechanical ventilation in adults. The levels of evidence as developed by the American College of Chest Physicians (ACCP) were used. The members of the guideline committee reviewed peer-reviewed publications on this subject. After discussion, a proposal of guidelines was placed on the website for remarks and suggestions of the members. Remarks and suggestions were discussed and used to adapt the guidelines when judged necessary. The different techniques of tracheotomy are described. The potential advantages and disadvantages of surgical and percutaneous tracheotomy versus endotracheal intubation are discussed. An overview of early and late complications is given. Low-pressure, high-volume cuffs should be used. The cuff pressure should be monitored with calibrated devices and recorded at least once every nursing shift and after manipulation of the tracheotomy tubes. Inspired gas should be humidified and heated. Regarding the timing of tracheotomy there are not enough well-designed studies to establish clear guidelines. Therefore, the timing of tracheotomy should be individualised. In critically ill adult patients requiring prolonged mechanical ventilation, tracheotomy performed at an early stage (within the first week) may shorten the duration of artificial ventilation and length of stay in intensive care. Percutaneous dilatational tracheotomy (PDT) appears to be at least as safe as surgical tracheotomy (ST) as measured in terms of peri-procedural complications. With PDT, less wound infection is observed. When PDT is compared to ST performed in the operating room, PDT is less expensive, reduces the time between the decision and the performance of tracheotomy and has a lower mortality rate. Different techniques of PDT are discussed. We recommend performing PDT under bronchoscopic guidance. Because of its technical simplicity and short procedure time, the modified Ciaglia Blue Rhino technique is advocated as technique of choice. PDT should be considered the procedure of choice in elective non-urgent tracheotomy. There are some relative contraindications for PDT, but with growing experience, they become less frequent.
Abstract Objective The most common indications for tracheotomy in pediatric patients include upper airway obstruction, prolonged ventilator dependence, and hypotonia secondary to neurologic ...impairment. In this study we review the indications for tracheotomy within our patient population over the last 11 years. Methods We conducted a retrospective chart review of consecutive patients undergoing tracheotomy at a tertiary care pediatric hospital from January 2000 to April 2011. We evaluated patient age, sex, pre-operative and post-operative diagnosis, and direct laryngoscopic and bronchoscopic findings. Patients were divided into six groups based on their indication for tracheotomy. In order to assess changing indications for tracheotomy over time, we compared an early (2000–2005) and a late (2006–2011) patient group. Results We had complete data available on 158/165 patients (95.8%) who underwent tracheotomy from 2000 to 2011. There was no significant difference in mean age between the early and late groups (4.73 ± 6.0 years vs. 3.6 ± 5.5 years, p = 0.26). There was a change in the most common indication for tracheotomy between the early and late groups, with upper airway obstruction becoming more common in the late group and significantly fewer patients undergoing tracheotomy for prolonged ventilation in the late group (33/76 (43%) vs. 23/82 (28%), p = 0.05). More patients underwent bronchoscopy at the time of tracheotomy in the late group (52/82 (63%) vs. 28/76 (37%), p = <0.01). Conclusion A review of our pediatric tracheotomy experience demonstrated a change in the most common indication for tracheotomy between 2000 and 2011. In our patient population, there was a significant decline in the number of tracheotomies performed for prolonged intubation and an increasing number of patients who required tracheotomy for upper airway obstruction.
This case report presents a 65-year-old woman with multiple complications during a revision tracheotomy including subcutaneous emphysema and a pneumothorax. Management of her airway was complicated ...by a history of recurrent follicular B-cell lymphoma associated with extensive cervical lymphadenopathy. We detail the importance of heightened clinical awareness and the use of intraoperative safety adjuncts when performing revision tracheostomies.
To determine survival among critically ill children when caregivers decline tracheostomy placement.
Retrospective cohort.
All children (<18 years) obtaining a pre-tracheostomy consultation at a ...tertiary children's hospital between 2016 and 2021 were included. Comorbidities and mortality were compared between children of caregivers that declined or agreed to tracheostomy.
Tracheostomy was declined for 58 children but was placed for 203 children. After consultation, mortality was 52% (30/58) when declining and 21% (42/230) when agreeing to tracheostomy (p < 0.001) at a mean of 10.7 months (standard deviation SD: 16) and 18.1 months (SD: 17.1), respectively (p = 0.07). For those declining, 31% (18/58) died during the hospitalization within a mean of 1.2 months (SD: 1.4) while 21% (12/58) died at a mean of 23.6 months (SD: 17.5) after discharge. Among children of caregivers declining tracheostomy, older age (odds ratio OR: 0.85, 95% confidence interval CI: 0.74-0.97, p = 0.01) and chronic lung disease (OR: 0.18, 95% CI: 0.04-0.82, P = .03) were associated with lower odds of mortality but sepsis (OR: 9.62, 95% CI: 1.161-57.43, p = 0.01) and intubation (OR: 4.98, 95% CI: 1.24-20.08, p = 0.02) were associated with higher odds of mortality. Median survival after declining tracheostomy was 31.9 months (interquartile range IQR: 2.0-50.7) and declining placement was associated with increased mortality risk (hazard ratio HR: 4.04, 95% CI: 2.49-6.55, p < 0.001).
When caregivers declined tracheostomy placement, less than half of critically ill children in this cohort survived with younger age, sepsis, and intubation associated with higher mortality. This information offers valuable insight for families weighing decisions pertaining to pediatric tracheostomy placement.
3 Laryngoscope, 133:3602-3607, 2023.
The objective of this article is to evaluate the appropriate timing of tracheostomy in patients with prolonged intubationregarding the incidence of hospital-acquired pneumonia, mortality, length of ...stay in intensive care unit (ICU) and duration of artificial ventilation. The study included published articles yielded by a search concerning timing of tracheostomy in adult and pediatric patients with prolonged intubation. The search was limited to articles published in English language in the last 30 years (between 1987 and 2017). For the 690 relevant articles, we applied our inclusion and exclusion criteria and only 43 articles were included. 41 studies in the adult age group including 222,501 patients and 2 studies in pediatric age group including 140 patients met our criteria. Studies in adult age group were divided into three groups according to the methodology of determining the cut off timing for early tracheostomy, they were divided into studies that considered early tracheostomy within the first 7, 14 or 21 days of endotracheal intubation, while in pediatric age group the cut off timing for early tracheostomy was within the first 7 days of endotracheal intubation. There was a significant difference in favor of early tracheostomy in adults’ three groups and pediatric age group as early tracheostomy was superior regarding reduced duration of mechanical ventilation, with less mortality rates and less duration of stay in ICU. Regarding hospital-acquired pneumonia, it was significantly less in adult groups but with no significant difference in pediatric age group (3 patients out of 72 pediatric patient with early tracheostomy had pneumonia compared to 11 patients out of 68 with late tracheostomy). Studies defining early tracheostomy as that done within 7 days of intubation had better results than those defining early tracheostomy as that done within 14 or 21 days of intubation. In conclusion, early tracheostomy within 7 days of intubation should be done for both adults and pediatric patients with prolonged intubation.
Background
Tracheostomy formation is one of the most commonly performed surgical procedures in critically ill intensive care participants requiring long‐term mechanical ventilation. Both surgical ...tracheostomies (STs) and percutaneous tracheostomies (PTs) are used in current surgical practice; but until now, the optimal method of performing tracheostomies in critically ill participants remains unclear.
Objectives
We evaluated the effectiveness and safety of percutaneous techniques compared to surgical techniques commonly used for elective tracheostomy in critically ill participants (adults and children) to assess whether there was a difference in complication rates between the procedures. We also assessed whether the effect varied between different groups of participants or settings (intensive care unit (ICU), operating room), different levels of operator experience, different percutaneous techniques, or whether the percutaneous techniques were carried out with or without bronchoscopic guidance.
Search methods
We searched the following electronic databases: CENTRAL, MEDLINE, EMBASE, and CINAHL to 28 May 2015. We also searched reference lists of articles, 'grey literature', and dissertations. We handsearched intensive care and anaesthesia journals, s, and proceedings of scientific meetings. We attempted to identify unpublished or ongoing studies by contacting manufacturers and experts in the field, and searching in trial registers.
Selection criteria
We included randomized and quasi‐randomized controlled trials (quasi‐RCTs) comparing percutaneous techniques (experimental intervention) with surgical techniques (control intervention) used for elective tracheostomy in critically ill participants (adults and children).
Data collection and analysis
Three authors independently checked eligibility and extracted data on methodological quality, participant characteristics, intervention details, settings, and outcomes of interest using a standardized form. We then entered data into Review Manager 5, with a double‐entry procedure.
Main results
Of 785 identified citations, 20 trials from 1990 to 2011 enrolling 1652 participants fulfilled the inclusion criteria. We judged most of the trials to be at low or unclear risk of bias across the six domains, and we judged four studies to have elements of high risk of bias; we did not classify any studies at overall low risk of bias. The quality of evidence was low for five of the seven outcomes (very low N = 1, moderate N = 1) and there was heterogeneity among the studies. There was a variety of adult participants and the procedures were performed by a wide range of differently experienced operators in different situations.
There was no evidence of a difference in the rate of the primary outcomes: mortality directly related to the procedure (Peto odds ratio (POR) 0.52, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.10 to 2.60, I² = 44%, P = 0.42, 4 studies, 257 participants, low quality evidence); and serious, life‐threatening adverse events ‐ intraoperatively: risk ratio (RR) 0.93, 95% CI 0.57 to 1.53, I² = 27%, P = 0.78, 12 studies, 1211 participants, low quality evidence,and direct postoperatively: RR 0.72, 95% CI 0.41 to 1.25, I² = 24%, P = 0.24, 10 studies, 984 participants, low quality evidence.
PTs significantly reduce the rate of the secondary outcome, wound infection/stomatitis by 76% (RR 0.24, 95% CI 0.15 to 0.37, I² = 0%, P < 0.00001, 12 studies, 936 participants, moderate quality evidence) and the rate of unfavourable scarring by 75% (RR 0.25, 95% CI 0.07 to 0.91, I² = 86%, P = 0.04, 6 studies, 789 participants, low quality evidence). There was no evidence of a difference in the rate of the secondary outcomes, major bleeding (RR 0.70, 95% CI 0.45 to 1.09, I² = 47%, P = 0.12, 10 studies, 984 participants, very low quality evidence) and tracheostomy tube occlusion/obstruction, accidental decannulation, difficult tube change (RR 1.36, 95% CI 0.65 to 2.82, I² = 22%, P = 0.42, 6 studies, 538 participants, low quality evidence).
Authors' conclusions
When compared to STs, PTs significantly reduce the rate of wound infection/stomatitis (moderate quality evidence) and the rate of unfavourable scarring (low quality evidence due to imprecision and heterogeneity). In terms of mortality and the rate of serious adverse events, there was low quality evidence that non‐significant positive effects exist for PTs. In terms of the rate of major bleeding, there was very low quality evidence that non‐significant positive effects exist for PTs.
However, because several groups of participants were excluded from the included studies, the number of participants in the included studies was limited, long‐term outcomes were not evaluated, and data on participant‐relevant outcomes were either sparse or not available for each study, the results of this meta‐analysis are limited and cannot be applied to all critically ill adults.
The role of tracheostomy in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is unclear, with several consensus guidelines advising against this practice. We developed both a dedicated airway team and coordinated ...education programme to facilitate ward management of tracheostomised COVID-19 patients. Here, we report outcomes in the first 100 COVID-19 patients who underwent tracheostomy at our institution.
This was a prospective observational cohort study of patients confirmed to have COVID-19 who required mechanical ventilation at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham, UK. The primary outcome measure was 30-day survival, accounting for severe organ dysfunction (Acute Physiology and Chronic Health APACHE-II score>17). Secondary outcomes included duration of ventilation, ICU stay, and healthcare workers directly involved in tracheostomy care acquiring COVID-19.
A total of 164 patients with COVID-19 were admitted to the ICU between March 9, 2020 and April 21, 2020. A total of 100 patients (mean standard deviation age: 55 12 yr; 29% female) underwent tracheostomy; 64 (age: 57 14 yr; 25% female) did not undergo tracheostomy. Despite similar APACHE-II scores, 30-day survival was higher in 85/100 (85%) patients after tracheostomy, compared with 27/64 (42%) non-tracheostomised patients {relative risk: 3.9 (95% confidence intervals CI: 2.3–6.4); P<0.0001}. In patients with APACHE-II scores ≥17, 68/100 (68%) tracheotomised patients survived, compared with 12/64 (19%) non-tracheotomised patients (P<0.001). Tracheostomy within 14 days of intubation was associated with shorter duration of ventilation (mean difference: 6.0 days 95% CI: 3.1–9.0; P<0.0001) and ICU stay (mean difference: 6.7 days 95% CI: 3.7–9.6; P<0.0001). No healthcare workers developed COVID-19.
Independent of the severity of critical illness from COVID-19, 30-day survival was higher and ICU stay shorter in patients receiving tracheostomy. Early tracheostomy appears to be safe in COVID-19.