Surgical complications of bedside tracheotomy in an otolaryngology residency program

A prospective analysis of 124 consecutive adult patients undergoing tracheotomy was performed to examine the incidence of resulting complications. All tracheotomies were performed by a junior otolaryngology resident under the supervision of a member of the attending staff or a chief resident. The vast majority were performed at the bedside in an intensive care unit. The complications were divided into two groups: early (within 2 days) and late (2 to 14 days). Seven patients had complications directly related to tracheotomy. Four of these complications occurred in three patients and were considered significant. There were no mortalities. Despite the fact that our tracheotomies were routinely performed by residents at the bedside, our complication rate was comparable to those reported from other centers. We believe that bedside tracheotomy, properly supervised and performed, is a safe procedure.