Percutaneous vs Surgical Tracheostomy

13/9/10

PY Mindmaps

Percutaneous tracheostomy = reference to a number of different techniques to insert a tracheostomy (gradual dilation, forceps dilation, rhino and translaryngeal techniques)

Surgical tracheostomy = surgical dissection down to trachea, creation of window in trachea with insertion of tracheostomy tube for ventilation.

Percutaneous Surgical

Benefits - no transport required - dissection under direct vision

- can be performed earlier - can avoid aberrant vessels

- tighter fit - better for the challenging patient

- less expensive - time honoured

- trend toward reduced VAP - best control of airway

- trend toward reduced ICU LOS - lower complication rate

- less cosmetic deformity

- less infection

- less bleeding

- quicker

Disadvantages - requires bronchoscope for safety - transport out of ICU

- no visualisation of tissues traversed - higher tracheal stenosis

- risk damage to bronchoscope - more bleeding

- same pneumothorax risk

Safety/Complications - 8% complication rate - 9% complication rate

- operator safety is volume dependent

- occlusion by posterior tracheal membrane

Evidence

PDT = Ciaglia Technique

1999 – Dulguerov et al, Critical Care Medicine

- open vs perc.

-> PDT+ Bronch = lowest complication rate in percutaneous group

- percutaneous group = lower post op but higher perioperative complication rate

2000 – Cheng et al, Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol

- meta-analysis (including 4 RCT’s)

- open vs PDT

-> PDT = lower risk of infection and bleeding

-> PDT + Bronch as safe as open tracheostomy

2000 – Freeman et al, Chest

- meta-analysis (including 5 RCT’s)

- open vs PDT

-> no overall difference in mortality rate

-> PDT: quicker, lower post op complications, less bleeding

2006 - Delaney et al, Crit Care Med

- large meta-analysis (17 studies)

- PDT vs open

-> PDT: lower wound infection,

-> no difference in bleeding and complication rates

2007 – Higgins et al, Laryngoscope

- PDT vs open

- meta-analysis (15 studies)

- PDT: less infection, less scarring, trend towards lower complication rate, faster, cheaper, lower conversion rate

- PDT: higher accidental decannulation, no difference in bleeding, subglottic stenosis, death

Jeremy Fernando (2011)