[Epidemiology of tracheostomized children living at home in Argentina]

Although extensive research exists on the morbidity and mortality associated with tracheostomy in pediatrics, scarse work has been done to analyze the outcomes after hospital discharge of tracheostomized children. In our country there are no publications referring to the follow-up of this population. The general objective of this study was to describe and analyze the situation of tracheostomized children living at home in Argentina.

Descriptive, cross-sectional study through a survey with convenience sampling. Surveys sent between January and July 2023 were collected and analyzed.

We obtained 193 surveys during the study period. One hundred eighteen children (61%) underwent tracheostomies before one year of age. The majority (n=183) have a Single Disability Certificate (94.8%). Regarding health coverage, 113 children have social insurance (58.5%), 42 have prepaid coverage (21.8%) and 38 depend on public insurance (19.7%). Almost all of the families (n=184) received some training to care for their children (95.3%). In their homes, 152 families (78.7%) had to resolve some adverse event related to the tracheostomy, and 128 families (66%) had to abandon some paid job. Although 118 children are not in school (61%), 170 (88%) receive rehabilitation therapy.

Our research, the first of its kind, provides a crucial epidemiologic analysis of the situation of tracheostomized children living at home in Argentina. These findings are significant as they shed light on a previously unexplored area, emphasizing the need for further studies to confirm and expand these data.