Outcomes after percutaneous dilatation tracheostomy: Patients view 6 years after the procedure

Percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy have been performed increasingly since its introduction in 1985, and is today one of the most commonly performed operative procedures in intensive care units. The aim of this study was to document patient-reported outcomes from percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy after hospital discharge.

This study is based on retrospective extraction of data from the databases in the ICU at Haukeland University Hospital from 2004 to 2016. Patients alive by April 2018 and with a code for dilatation tracheostomy were sent a questionnaire about their experiences with having a tracheostomy performed. The occurrence of problems and their relations were registered.

Of 5769 admitted patients, 900 patients ≥ 15 years (15.7%) had a percutaneous dilatation tracheostomy performed. The median time from admission to follow-up was 6.1 years, and the 30 days mortality in those who received a tracheostomy was 315/900 (35%). Of the 441 survivors contacted, 181 answered the questionnaire and a total of 293 problems were reported. The majority of these problems were reported as no or moderate in 115 patients (78.3%). The presence of any problem was significantly associated with occurrence for other problems; however, there were no significant differences related to the elapsed time since the ICU stay. Pain and difficulties with breathing were the two single factors most often related to occurrence of other problems.

Although self-reported problems after percutaneous tracheostomy occurring after hospital discharge were often reported, most (78.3%) were considered by the patients to be moderate.