Subjects: All patients in the three medical ICUs who were intubated and mechanically ventilated for acute respiratory failure were screened and included if they were: >18 years old, projected to need mechanical ventilation >14 days, and had an initial APACHE II score >25. Specific exclusion criteria were established to ensure the safe performance of percutaneous tracheostomy (anatomical factors...

BACKGROUND The study evaluated reliability and outcomes of percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy (PDT) performed via Griggs' method in the intensive care unit. MATERIAL AND METHODS We examined 78 patients who underwent bedside PDT in the intensive care unit (ICU). Demographic characteristics were recorded. In addition, ventilator-related pneumonia, duration of performing PDT, and rates of comp...

INTRODUCTION Since the introduction and widespread acceptance of percutaneous techniques in the intensive care unit (ICU) setting, the number of critically ill patients undergoing tracheostomy has steadily increased. However, this procedure can be associated with major complications, including death. The purpose of this study is to estimate the incidence and analyze the causes of lethal complic...