The safety and efficacy of bedside tracheotomy

Many institutions require that tracheotomies be performed in the operating room. Movement of critically ill patients dependent on multiple life support systems is technically difficult, labor intensive, and potentially dangerous for the patients. Between 1983 and 1992, 1088 tracheotomies were performed on patients ages 1 week to 94 years at the University of Rochester affiliated hospitals on critically ill patients as isolated procedures. The procedure was performed in the Intensive Care Units (ICU) on 996 patients, (92.9%), whereas 92 patients (7.1%) had tracheotomies in the operating room (OR1). An additional 346 tracheotomies took place in the operating room in conjunction with other head and neck procedures (OR2). Incidence of perioperative bleeding (within 48 hours) was 2.3% in the ICU group, 2.1% in the ORI group, and 2.0% in the OR2 group. Incidence of stomal infection was also similar among the three groups at 1.8%, 2.1%, and 1.5%, respectively. Tube dislodgement in all groups was a complication. No statistical differences were noted among the three groups (ICU, OR1, OR2) at the p < 0.01 level. Criteria for performing the tracheotomy in the ICU are delineated and discussed.