CRITICAL CARE Comparison between single-step and balloon dilatational tracheostomy in intensive care unit: a single-centre, randomized controlled study

Methods. Consecutive patients admitted to the ICU of the Emergency Department (Careggi Teaching Hospital, Florence, Italy) from January 2009 to October 2009, aged .18 years and with an indication for percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy (PDT), were enrolled. Exclusion criteria were infection/injury/malignancy of the neck, thyroid gland hypertrophy, severe head injury with uncontrolled intracranial hypertension, and coagulopathy. Patients were randomly assigned to undergo PDT using either the Ciaglia Blue Rhino (n1⁄435) or the Ciaglia Blue Dolphin technique (n1⁄435). Groups were compared according to tracheal puncture, tracheal tube placement time, procedure-related complications, and bleeding.