[Percutaneous dilatation tracheostomy at an intensive care unit]

Area of Science:

• Critical Care Medicine
• Surgical Procedures
• Respiratory Therapy

Context:

• Critically ill patients often require prolonged mechanical ventilation.
• Translaryngeal intubation is a common initial airway management strategy.
• Percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy (PDT) offers an alternative to surgical tracheostomy.

Purpose:

• To evaluate the safety and efficacy of percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy (PDT) in a critical care setting.
• To report the complication rates and outcomes of PDT in patients requiring mechanical ventilation.

Summary:

• A retrospective study of 45 patients undergoing PDT in an intensive care unit.
• Patients had a mean age of 60.8 years and were ventilated for an average of 6.1 days prior to PDT.
• PDT was uncomplicated in 91% of cases, with minor bleeding in 7% and 2%. No procedure-related deaths or life-threatening complications were observed.
• The mean cannulation time was 23.3 days for patients who died and 13.7 days for survivors.
• PDT allows for bedside procedures, avoiding patient transport to the operating room.

Impact:

• PDT is a safe and effective bedside procedure for long-term airway management in critically ill patients.
• The procedure minimizes risks associated with transporting unstable patients.
• High success and low complication rates support the use of PDT in intensive care units.