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Published on: January 20, 2010
Comparative Outcomes of Flap Maturation Versus Conventional Pediatric Tracheotomy Techniques
Alexandra F Corbin1, Nick Sahlollbey2, Gaayathri Varavenkataraman3
1Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York, USA.
Objective:
To compare postoperative outcomes of flap maturation (FMT) and conventional tracheotomy techniques in pediatric patients.
Methods:
A retrospective cohort study was performed using data from the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program Pediatric database (2020-2021). Pediatric patients ≤ 18 years who underwent FMT (CPT 31610) or conventional tracheotomy (CPT 31600, 31,601) were included. Primary outcomes were 30-day reoperation, surgical site infection, pneumonia, seizures, mortality, unplanned reintubation, readmission, and length of stay.
Results:
Among 2353 patients (mean age 2.9 years, 95% CI 2.7-3.1), 381 (16.2%) underwent FMT and 1972 (83.8%) underwent conventional tracheotomy. An FMT was associated with lower odds of 30-day reoperation (0.5% vs. 3.3%, p = 0.003; adjusted OR = 0.17, 95% CI 0.1-0.6, p = 0.005). Rates of surgical site infection, pneumonia, and seizures did not differ significantly between groups after adjustment. No differences were observed in mortality, reintubation, readmission, or length of stay.
Conclusion:
FMT is independently associated with lower reoperation rates without increased postoperative complications. FMT may be a favorable tracheotomy option for select patients and warrants consideration during surgical decision-making to optimize outcomes.
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