Revisits after pediatric tracheotomy: Airway concerns result in returns

Children undergoing tracheotomy represent a medically vulnerable patient population, and understanding the reasons for revisiting the hospital setting following tracheotomy is critical for improving the quality of care for these patients. This study aims to investigate the incidence and characteristics of revisits following pediatric tracheotomy.

Cross-sectional, population-based study using state databases. The State Inpatient Databases and State Emergency Department Databases for California, Florida, Iowa and New York 2010-11 were linked and examined for cases of pediatric tracheotomy (patients < 18.0 years) and corresponding subsequent 30-day post-discharge revisits. Demographic and descriptive data were analyzed determining the revisit rate, revisit diagnoses, procedures, and discharge dispositions.

2,248 pediatric tracheotomy cases were extracted (60.8% male, mean age 8.3 years). There were 373 inpatient or emergency department revisits (30-day revisit rate, 16.6%), of which 34.3% occurred within 48 h after discharge. Of these, 59.2% were inpatient readmissions. There were ≤10 deaths during these revisits (30-day revisit mortality rate, ≤2.7%). The most common primary revisit diagnoses were "fitting of prosthesis and adjustment of devices" (25.7%, likely representing adjustment/replacement of the tracheotomy tube), respiratory failure (11.0%), intracranial injury (5.4%), pneumonia (4.0%), "other upper respiratory disease" (3.8%), and "complications of surgical procedures or medical care" (3.8%). The most common revisit procedures were endotracheal intubation (11.4%), mechanical ventilation (8.8%), and replacement of tracheostomy tube (≤2.7%). Children discharged to a skilled care facility (47.1%) were more likely than those discharged to home (52.9%) to have a revisit (23.3% versus 12.0%, respectively; p < 0.001).

Children undergoing tracheotomy have a substantial 30-day revisit rate, most notably during the first 48 h after discharge, often involving tracheotomy tube or pulmonary complications. Improvements in discharge planning should target prevention of these complications.