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Updated: Jul 5, 2026
10:06
Manufacture of a Multi-Purpose Low-Cost Animal Bench-Model for Teaching Tracheostomy
Published on: May 18, 2019
Pediatric tracheostomies: a recent experience from one academic center
Jeanine M Graf1, Barbara A Montagnino, Remí Hueckel
1Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA. jgraf@bcm.edu
Summary
Pediatric tracheostomy patients require extensive hospital stays and incur significant charges. Readmissions are common, particularly for those needing prolonged mechanical ventilation, highlighting the complexity of care for these children.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric surgery
- Respiratory medicine
- Healthcare management
Background:
- Pediatric tracheostomy is a critical intervention for managing complex airway issues.
- Understanding the associated healthcare utilization and outcomes is essential for resource planning and patient management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To delineate the indications, surgical timing, length of stay, hospital charges, and discharge outcomes for pediatric tracheostomy patients.
- To identify factors influencing hospital stay duration and readmission rates.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective case series analysis of 70 pediatric patients undergoing tracheostomy.
- Data extracted from hospital database records over a 24-month period.
- Categorization of surgical timing into prolonged mechanical ventilation, elective, or emergent.
Main Results:
- Indications varied, including airway obstruction, chronic lung disease, and neuromuscular weakness.
- Median hospital stay was 46 days with a median charge of $136,718.
- Eighty-one percent were discharged home, but 63% were readmitted within 6 months; 13% had a 6-month mortality rate.
Conclusions:
- Pediatric tracheostomy patients represent a diverse group with varied needs.
- Longer hospital stays are associated with tracheostomies for prolonged mechanical ventilation.
- Anticipating hospital readmissions is crucial for managing this complex patient population.
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