Peristomal complications of paediatric tracheostomy

Failure of decannulation after paediatric tracheostomy, once the underlying disorder has resolved, is almost always due to peristomal complications. Granulation tissue formation in the raw tissue of the stoma and its subsequent fibrosis requires removal (50 of the 293 tracheostomies from the Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital). It is suggested that this can be avoided by creating a formal skin-to-trachea stoma at the time of tracheostomy. Suprastomal depression of the anterior wall of the trachea (52/293) appears to be unavoidable when using standard tracheostomy tubes. Localised stomal site tracheomalacia and stenosis (numbers of this complication are unknown) results from damage to cartilage of the trachea either by incision or by necrosis from pressure of the tracheostomy tube. Trauma to the cartilage needs to be minimised by careful design of the tracheal incision. It is suggested that consideration should be given to creating a formal tracheostomy stoma for any paediatric tracheostomy that is likely to be required for more than a short period of time.