Long-term follow-up of Griggs percutaneous tracheostomy with spiral CT and questionnaire

To assess late complications following percutaneous tracheostomy using the Griggs technique.

Observational cohort study

General ICU of a 700-bed district general hospital in the United Kingdom.

Twenty-five patients who underwent Griggs tracheostomy in the ICU and survived for at least 6 months after decannulation.

Patients were invited to attend for assessment by questionnaire and for spiral CT of the trachea.

Eight patients had moderate tracheal dilatation, two patients were permanently hoarse, nine patients had minor voice changes, no patient had tracheal stenosis, and no patient had a disfiguring scar.

Following Griggs percutaneous tracheostomy, 8 of 25 patients developed moderate tracheal dilatation, and none developed a tracheal stenosis. The cosmetic result after Griggs tracheostomy is good, but the number of patients with minor voice changes is high. A further investigation of long-term outcome following Griggs tracheostomy is necessary.