Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 11, 2026
05:39
Non-Intubated Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery
Published on: May 26, 2023
Informed consent for tracheostomy procedures in Intensive Care Unit: an Italian national survey
M Vargas1, G Servillo, M Antonelli
1Department of Surgical Sciences and Integrated Diagnostics, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy.
Minerva Anestesiologica
|May 9, 2013
Summary
Informed consent for tracheostomy in Italian ICUs is often not legally compliant, especially for unconscious patients. Current practices deviate from Italian law, highlighting a critical gap in patient rights for critically ill individuals.
Area of Science:
- Medical Law
- Intensive Care Medicine
- Patient Rights
Background:
- Critically ill patients in Intensive Care Units (ICUs) may be unable to provide informed consent (IC) for procedures like elective tracheostomy.
- Italian law requires legal tutorship (Support Administrator) for patients with impaired capacity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the current practices of informed consent for elective tracheostomy in Italian ICUs.
- To assess compliance with Italian legal requirements for IC in critically ill patients.
Main Methods:
- A national survey was conducted among Italian ICUs regarding tracheostomy clinical practice.
- The survey, approved by SIAARTI, collected data on IC procedures for elective tracheostomy in 2011.
Main Results:
- Informed consent was obtained in 82.4% of ICUs for conscious patients but only 61.8% for unconscious patients.
- Procedures for unconscious patients often did not comply with Italian law.
- Informed consent rates were lower for tracheostomies performed in the operating room (69.8% conscious, 47.2% unconscious).
Conclusions:
- Informed consent procedures for tracheostomy in Italian ICUs are not aligned with current legal standards.
- This non-compliance affects both conscious and unconscious critically ill patients.
- There is a need for improved adherence to legal frameworks governing IC in intensive care settings.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:16Tracheostomy Care I: Pre-procedural Steps
A tracheostomy is a surgical technique that involves making an incision in the neck to provide access to the trachea. It is frequently used in medical conditions such as airway obstruction and prolonged mechanical ventilation. Effective nursing management is crucial for the long-term success of a tracheostomy.
Required Equipment
The equipment necessary for tracheostomy care includes:
Required Equipment
The equipment necessary for tracheostomy care includes:
01:28Tracheostomy: Procedure and Tubes
A tracheostomy is a surgical procedure that creates an artificial opening into the trachea, typically at the second or third cartilaginous ring level. This opening allows the insertion of a tracheostomy tube, which can replace an endotracheal tube, provide mechanical ventilation, bypass an upper airway obstruction, or remove accumulated tracheobronchial secretions.
Tracheostomy tubes can be made of semiflexible plastic (polyurethane or silicone), rigid plastic, or metal, and they come in...
Tracheostomy tubes can be made of semiflexible plastic (polyurethane or silicone), rigid plastic, or metal, and they come in...
01:25Tracheostomy Care II: Procedure
Tracheostomy care is an essential nursing skill that involves cleaning and maintaining a tracheostomy tube to prevent infection and other complications. Here's a step-by-step guide explaining each procedure with its rationale. Note that disposable gloves are to be worn at all times and changed as often as needed to maintain a sterile work environment, and to protect both patient and healthcare worker.
Step 1: Perform hand hygiene, and put on personal protective equipment: gown, gloves, mask and...
Step 1: Perform hand hygiene, and put on personal protective equipment: gown, gloves, mask and...
01:15Endotracheal Intubation I: Procedure
Endotracheal or ET intubation is a critical medical procedure used to secure a patient's airway, often in acute respiratory distress, apnea, upper airway obstruction, ineffective clearance of secretions, high risk for aspiration, or during general anesthesia.
The ET tube comprises various components, including a standard adaptor to attach a bag-valve-mask (BVM) or ventilator, a cuff, a pilot balloon, and radiopaque markings along its length to measure the insertion distance. The tube sizes...
The ET tube comprises various components, including a standard adaptor to attach a bag-valve-mask (BVM) or ventilator, a cuff, a pilot balloon, and radiopaque markings along its length to measure the insertion distance. The tube sizes...
01:26Tracheostomy Suctioning I: Pre-Procedural Steps
Tracheostomy suctioning is a critical procedure healthcare professionals perform to maintain a patent airway in patients with a tracheostomy tube. This procedure is necessary when secretions accumulate in the airway, causing respiratory distress. Here is a step-wise procedural guide for performing tracheostomy suctioning using an open system.
Equipment Required
First, gather all necessary equipment: a sterile suction catheter, a sterile disposable container, sterile gloves, a towel or...
Equipment Required
First, gather all necessary equipment: a sterile suction catheter, a sterile disposable container, sterile gloves, a towel or...
01:21Tracheostomy Decannulation
Tracheostomy decannulation is a significant milestone in the liberation of mechanically ventilated patients. Despite its importance, there is no universally accepted protocol for this procedure. This demands an evidence-based, individualized approach.
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...
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...