Changes in Multidisciplinary Tracheostomy Team Practice Over Time

Aim Increasing numbers of tracheostomy patients are discharged from the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) to general hospital wards. There is evidence that a Multidisciplinary Tracheostomy Team (MTT) can have a positive impact on the care of tracheostomy patients discharged from the ICU. We compared tracheostomy management and patient outcome in two time periods, at the start of our MTT practice in 2009-2011 and again in 2017. Methods In a retrospective audit, we compared tracheostomy management and patient outcome in 117 patients who had a tracheostomy in 2009-2011 with 81 patients who had a tracheostomy in 2017. Results The duration of tracheostomy cannulation was significantly shorter (21 vs 31 days, p=0.0005) in 2017 compared to 2009-2011. A Mini-Trach was used after tracheostomy decannulation in 56 of the 81 (69%) tracheostomy patients in 2017. Conclusions The continued development of our MTT service over 8 years was associated with a significantly shorter duration of tracheostomy cannulation and the introduction of Mini-Trach use after tracheostomy decannulation. These results support the importance of maintaining an active MTT service to manage tracheostomy patients after discharge from the ICU.