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Pediatric tracheostomy

José Carlos Fraga1, João C K de Souza, Juliana Kruel

  • 1Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil. jc.fraga@terra.com.br

Jornal De Pediatria
|March 14, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Pediatric tracheostomy, often for prolonged ventilation in infants, is safe when performed by experienced teams in tertiary hospitals. While overall mortality can be high, tracheostomy-related mortality is low, with most complications manageable.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric surgery
  • Otolaryngology
  • Critical care medicine

Background:

  • Pediatric tracheostomy indications are evolving, with prolonged mechanical ventilation becoming the most common reason.
  • The procedure is increasingly performed on younger patients, particularly those under one year of age.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review current pediatric tracheostomy practices.
  • Focus on indications, surgical techniques, complications, and post-operative care.

Main Methods:

  • Literature search of MEDLINE and PubMed databases.
  • Keywords included: tracheostomy, tracheotomy, children, newborn.

Main Results:

  • Prolonged ventilation is the leading indication for pediatric tracheostomy.
  • Optimal surgical technique involves an intubated patient in the OR, with horizontal skin and vertical tracheal incisions.
  • While overall mortality is up to 40%, tracheostomy-related mortality is low (0-6%), and complications are typically minor.

Conclusions:

  • The decision for pediatric tracheostomy is multifactorial.
  • The procedure is safe with low complication rates when performed by experienced teams at tertiary care centers.
Abstract

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