Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 13, 2026
Endotracheal Intubation via Tracheotomy and Subsequent Thoracotomy in Rats for Non-Survival Applications
Published on: March 15, 2024
Tracheotomy in the preschool population: indications and outcomes
Lesley C French1, Christopher T Wootten, Robert G Thomas
1Department of Otolaryngology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232, USA. lesley.french@vanderbilt.edu
Insights
Tracheotomy in preschool children is uncommon. Nearly half of these procedures are due to preventable trauma, highlighting a need for improved injury prevention strategies in this age group.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Surgery
- Otolaryngology
- Trauma Surgery
Background:
- Tracheotomy is most common in infants but understudied in preschool-aged children.
- This study focuses on the indications and outcomes of tracheotomy in children aged 3-6 years.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize the reasons for tracheotomy in preschool children.
- To evaluate the outcomes of tracheotomy in this specific pediatric population.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of 480 pediatric tracheotomies performed between 1988 and 2004.
- Analysis of 15 cases of primary tracheotomy in patients aged 3-6 years.
Main Results:
- Pulmonary toilet was the most common indication (60%).
- Upper-airway obstruction (40%) and trauma (40%) were significant indications.
- The decannulation rate was 40%, with 2 patient deaths.
Conclusions:
- Trauma is a significant factor in tracheotomy indications for preschool children, contributing to both airway obstruction and the need for pulmonary toilet.
- The incidence of tracheotomy secondary to trauma is expected to rise, emphasizing the importance of trauma prevention.
Objective:
Although more tracheotomy procedures are performed within the first year of life than in any other age group, preschool-aged children requiring tracheotomy remain understudied. We characterize the indications and outcomes for patients between the ages of 3 and 6 years undergoing tracheotomy.
Methods:
Out of 480 pediatric tracheotomy procedures performed at a tertiary-care hospital between 1988 and 2004, 15 patients underwent primary tracheotomy between 3 and 6 years of age.
Results:
Most (60%) procedures were performed for pulmonary toilet. Upper-airway obstruction represented the second most common indication (40%), and trauma necessitated tracheotomy procedures more often than had been predicted (40%). The decannulation rate was 40%; 2 patients died.
Conclusion:
Trauma contributed to both upper-airway obstruction as well as requirements for pulmonary toilet. These procedures performed secondary to trauma will likely continue to increase.
Significance:
Tracheotomy procedures in the preschool population remain uncommon; however, nearly half of those studied were performed as a direct result of otherwise preventable trauma.
Related Concept Videos
01:28Tracheostomy: Procedure and Tubes
Tracheostomy tubes can be made of semiflexible plastic (polyurethane or silicone), rigid plastic, or metal, and they come in...
01:22Trachea
Anatomical Features:
Location: About half of the trachea is situated in the neck, anterior to the esophagus, and extends from the larynx (at the level of the...
01:16Tracheostomy Care I: Pre-procedural Steps
Required Equipment
The equipment necessary for tracheostomy care includes:
01:23Oxygen Delivering System III: Tracheostomy and T-piece
Tracheostomy
A tracheostomy is a surgically created opening (stoma) in the anterior part of the trachea. It is used to establish a patient airway, bypass an upper airway obstruction, simplify the removal of secretions, permit long-term...
01:25Tracheostomy Care II: Procedure
Step 1: Perform hand hygiene, and put on personal protective equipment: gown, gloves, mask and...
01:21Tracheostomy Decannulation
Description of the Procedure
Decannulation refers to the permanent removal of the tracheostomy tube, signaling the resolution of the condition that initially necessitated the tracheostomy. The process requires a well-coordinated interplay between...