Pediatric tracheostomy: A large single-center experience

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Surgery
• Otolaryngology
• Critical Care Medicine

Background:

• Pediatric tracheostomies are crucial for airway management in critically ill children.
• Understanding the epidemiology of these procedures is vital for optimizing patient care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the indications, complications, and outcomes of pediatric tracheostomies.
• To analyze the epidemiology of tracheostomies in a tertiary referral center.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective cohort study of pediatric patients undergoing tracheostomy.
• Data collected from May 2010 to May 2018 at a UK tertiary referral unit.

Main Results:

• 172 pediatric tracheostomies were performed, primarily for long-term ventilation (38.4%).
• Early and late complication rates were 9.8% and 40.0%, respectively.
• Successful decannulation occurred in 44.4% of patients; all-cause mortality was 22.1%.

Conclusions:

• Pediatric tracheostomy is typically an elective procedure for ventilated infants, often serving as a long-term intervention.
• Significant morbidity and a small risk of mortality are associated with pediatric tracheostomies.
• Despite potential long-term use, a substantial proportion of children are decannulated.