Tracheostomy has become one of the most commonly performed procedures in the critically ill patient. Variations in technique and expertise have led to a wide range of reported procedural related morbidity and rarely mortality. The lack of prospective, controlled trials, physician bias and patient comorbidities further confound the decisions regarding the timing of tracheostomy. With careful att...

Tracheostomy used to be reserved for the severely ill patient with acute respiratory obstruction. As the incidence of diphtheria declined the operation came to be performed only occasionally, particularly as the high mortality and complication rates associated with the use of tracheostomy in diphtheria were well remembered. But within the past 20 years a great change has occurred as the indicat...

BACKGROUND The purpose of this present study was to investigate risk factors for local recurrence and death after total laryngectomy, with particular emphasis on pattern of local recurrence (stomal vs pharyngeal/base of tongue) and impact of preceding tracheostomy. METHODS We conducted a retrospective review of 75 consecutive total laryngectomies for cancer of the larynx. RESULTS Nineteen p...

BACKGROUND Long-term mechanical ventilation is the most common situation where tracheostomy is indicated for patients in intensive care units (ICU). 'Early' and 'late' tracheostomies are two categories of the timing of tracheostomy. The evidence on the advantages attributed to early over late tracheostomy is somewhat conflicting but includes shorter hospital stays and lower mortality rates. O...

INTRODUCTION The effect of various airway management strategies, such as the timing of tracheostomy, on liberation from mechanical ventilation (MV) is uncertain. We tested the hypothesis that tracheostomy, when performed prior to active weaning, does not influence the duration of weaning or of MV in comparison with a more selective use of tracheostomy. PATIENTS AND METHODS In this observation...

STUDY DESIGN A retrospective, consecutive case series. OBJECTIVE To determine the risk factors for a tracheostomy in patients with a cervical spinal cord injury. SUMMARY AND BACKGROUND DATE Respiratory status cannot be stabilized in patients with a cervical spinal cord injury (CSCI) for various reasons, so a number of these patients require long-term respiratory care and a tracheostomy. Var...

BACKGROUND Tracheostomy is a life saving procedure when it is performed for an appropriate indication and surgical technique. The aim of this study was to compare the early complications of elective and emergency tracheostomy in our setup. METHODS This comparative study was conducted at the ENT Department. Hayatabad Medical (Complex (HMC) from March 2009 to March 2010. A total of 100 patients...

INTRODUCTION Balloon dilatation is a method of choice for treatment of laryngeal stenosis in children. The aim of procedure in apneic pause is to avoid new insertion of tracheostomy cannula. PATIENTS AND METHODS The authors performed balloon dilatation of subglottic laryngeal strictures (SGS) in 5 children (3 girls and 2 boys) without tracheotomy. Two of them with traumatic and inflammatory S...

INTRODUCTION There is little objective comparative information about the postoperative complications of tracheostomy in morbidly obese patients. The aim of this study was to determine the incidence and severity of complications associated with open tracheostomy in critically ill morbidly obese patients during hospitalization. METHODS During a six year period, all consecutive morbidly obese pa...