Risk Assessment and Early Mobilization Pathway Following Pediatric Tracheostomy: A Pilot Study

To confirm the standard of care pertaining to postoperative mobilization practices following initial tracheostomy, to establish face validity of novel early mobilization tools, and to conduct a safety and feasibility pilot study.

Multi-institutional survey and prospective cohort study.

Experts at our tertiary-care children's hospital developed an Early Pediatric Mobility Pathway for tracheostomy patients utilizing a novel risk-assessment tool. Surveys were distributed to professional colleagues in similar children's hospitals to establish face validity and incorporate respondent feedback. Additional surveys were disseminated to tertiary-care children's hospitals across the country to establish the current standard of care, and a pilot study was conducted.

Seventy-seven percent of respondents from tertiary hospitals across the country confirmed the standard of care to defer mobilization until the first trach change. Greater than 83% of the respondents used to establish face validity of the tools agreed with the clinical components and scoring structure. The safety and feasibility of early mobilization prior to initial trach change was confirmed with a pilot of 10 pediatric patients without any adverse events.

Mobilization of pediatric patients prior to initial trach change is feasible and can be safe when risk factors are assessed by a multidisciplinary team.

4 Laryngoscope, 131:E653-E658, 2021.