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Home care of the pediatric patient with a tracheotomy
Insights
Home care for children with tracheotomies is safe and effective, with a low mortality rate. Coordinated training and a multidisciplinary team approach ensure successful outcomes for pediatric patients requiring long-term airway support.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Medicine
- Otorhinolaryngology
- Home Healthcare
Background:
- Tracheotomy is a procedure often necessary for infants and children with specific medical conditions.
- Managing children with tracheotomies at home presents unique challenges for families and healthcare providers.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the safety and efficacy of home-based care for pediatric patients with tracheotomies.
- To determine the mortality rate and average duration of tracheotomy in this population.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective review of 47 infants and children with tracheotomies receiving home care.
- Data collected over a follow-up period of 1,581 months.
- Analysis of mortality rates and tracheotomy duration.
Main Results:
- A low mortality rate of 0.13 deaths per 100 months was observed.
- The average age at tracheotomy was 13 months, with an average duration of 33 months per patient.
- Successful home care was facilitated by a coordinated, intensive training and home-care program.
Conclusions:
- Home care for children with tracheotomies is a viable and safe option.
- A multidisciplinary team approach, including intensive training, is crucial for successful pediatric tracheotomy home management.
Abstract:
Forty-seven infants and children with tracheotomies were cared for at home for a follow-up period of 1,581 months. There were two relevant fatalities which gave a death rate of 0.13 deaths per 100 months. The average age at the time of tracheotomy was 13 months and the tracheotomy was in place for an average of 33 months per patient. The ability to care for these children was provided through coordinated, intensive training and a home-care program in which the inpatient nurse, nurse practitioner, social worker, pediatrician, and otorhinolaryngologist worked as a team.