COMPARATIVE STUDY BETWEEN CONVENTIONAL SURGICAL TRACHEOSTOMY AND PERCUTANEOUS DILATIONAL TRACHEOSTOMY IN CRITICALLY ILL PATIENTS

Abstract

Tracheostomy refers to the creation of an opening into the trachea. It's tl1e most commonly performed surgical procedure in tl1e critically ill patients as it aJfords a reliable metlwd for adequate airway maintenance in patients requiring long-tenn ventilatory support, to facilitate weaning, as it affords less pulmonary dead space, better pulmonary toilet for access of secretions and gives more patient mobility. lt also affords better oral hygiene and prevents complications associated with prolonged endotracheal intubation.

These complications are lip or nose necrosis, impaired swallowing reflex, dental damage, otitis, sinusitis, subglottic laryngeal stenosis, tracheal stenosis, trachea-oesophageal fistula, and trachea-vascular fistula. All these complications can be reduced to a minimum after reduction of translaryngeal intubation to reach an average of 9-17 days, being less in those expected to stay longer time before extubation.