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Retrospective, cross-sectional review of delayed discharge after paediatric tracheostomy

A Rafferty1, D Knight, S Bew

  • 1Department of ENT, Leeds General Infirmary, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, UK. amyrafferty@doctors.org.uk

The Journal of Laryngology and Otology
|October 17, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Prolonged hospitalisation for children with tracheostomies is often due to social factors, not just medical needs. Improving parental training and specialist nurse support can reduce these delays.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Medicine
  • Respiratory Care
  • Social Determinants of Health

Background:

  • Children requiring tracheostomies often face prolonged hospital stays.
  • Identifying reasons for delayed discharge is crucial for optimizing care.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the reasons behind extended hospitalisation for pediatric patients with tracheostomies after they are medically cleared for discharge.

Main Methods:

  • A retrospective, cross-sectional study was conducted.
  • Data from 101 children who underwent tracheostomy between 2000 and 2010 were analyzed.

Main Results:

  • Nearly half (44.6%) of patients were discharged without delay.
  • For those with delayed discharge (56 cases), the primary reason was acquiring parental tracheostomy management competencies (39.3%).
  • External social factors like parental substance abuse, single parenting, parenting ability concerns, and language barriers also contributed to delays.

Conclusions:

  • Pediatric tracheostomy care can result in prolonged hospitalisation, significantly influenced by social determinants.
  • Enhanced support through specialist pediatric tracheostomy nurses may effectively reduce unnecessary hospital stays.
Abstract

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