Late outcome of percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy in intensive care patients

Percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy is increasingly practiced in intensive care units and has a low incidence of early complications. The late effects of this procedure are still poorly known and were the focus of this study.

Prospective descriptive clinical study.

Interdisciplinary intensive care unit in a 300-bed teaching hospital.

A consecutive group of critically ill patients who underwent percutaneous tracheostomy between Nov. 90 and March 93, surviving at least 2 months after decannulation.

There were 17 patients fulfilling the inclusion criteria and 16 of them were seen and examined. The follow-up protocol required a formal standardized patient interview, a physical examination of the stoma site and a fiberoptic laryngotracheoscopy. Results of these sub-tests and overall outcome rating were standardized and expressed as good, moderate or poor. Subjective rating was good in all patients. All denied suffering from any side effects of their tracheostomy. Clinical examination revealed neither stridor nor hoarseness in any of the patients. Most of the scars were whitish and less than 1 cm in length, a few were sunken in, none had adhesions. In 15 patients the clinical result was good and in one, moderate (whitish, sunken-in scar, longer than 2 cm). Ten patients underwent tracheoscopy, while 6 did not. There were no signs of significant stenosis or tracheomalacia. In 8 patients with minor findings results were scored as good, while 2 were classified as moderate (combination of swelling and scar formation of a string-like membrane). The overall rating was good in 13 patients (81%) and moderate in 3 patients (19%). There were no poor outcomes.

Late outcome of percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy in critically ill patients is mostly good. Pending further studies, the use of this technique in intensive care units appears justified.