Tracheostomy can make a difference in recurrent respiratory failure secondary to olivopontocerebellar atrophy

This article describes the case of a 55-year-old white male with olivopontocerebellar atrophy who was admitted to the ICU at Ohio Valley Medical Center because of recurrent respiratory failure. He had to remain in the ICU for 21 days on a ventilator even though he was hemodynamically stable with no evidence of pneumonia. A tracheostomy was then performed and within five days he was able to be weaned from the ventilator and transferred to a long-term care facility. This case suggests that early tracheostomy may play an important role in acute and long-term management in patients with olivopontocerebellar atrophy.