Percutaneous Tracheostomy - Systematic Comparison Among Two Methods

Introduction Percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy (PDT) is routinely performed in most intensive care units in the world for a number of indications, such as: airway obstruction, need for long-term respiratory support, improvement in trachea-bronchial toilet, prophylaxis before head and neck procedures, cases of severe obstructive sleep apnea and poor neurological state.

Several studies have shown that the procedure is safe and economically efficient in comparison to open surgical tracheostomy in the operating room.

In many places around the world it is customary to perform the procedure under direct visions via a bronchoscope to prevent damage to adjacent structures, ensure correct position of the tracheostomy tube, avoid damage to the posterior wall of the trachea and to confirm the final position of the tube. However, the use of a bronchoscope depends on the availability of the equipment and knowledge and skill of the operator. Use of the bronchoscope during the procedure may also result in complications such as temporary occlusion of the trachea and hypercarbia and increased duration of the procedure. Maintenance of the bronchoscope also carries associated costs (disinfection, replacement, etc.).

A retrospective review of 243 percutaneous tracheostomies done in trauma patients between January 2007 and December 2010 in whom 78 (32%) was performed with a bronchoscope and 168 (68%) without, found no differences between the groups 4.

Another retrospective study 5 looking only at percutaneous tracheostomies done without bronchoscopic guidance, analyzed 300 PDTs showed that 26 patients (8.6%) had complications, including: 2 (0.6%) patients deteriorated neurologically and 2 (0.6%) deaths were observed within 24 h following procedure. The median operating time was 3.5 min (range, 2.5-8 min). There were no cannula placement problems in any case . A retrospective study looking at 512 bronchoscopy guided procedures over 10 years concluded that: Eighteen patients (3.5%) presented procedural complications. Five patients experienced transient desaturation, 4 presented low blood pressure related to sedation, and 9 presented minor bleeding, but none required a transfusion. No serious complications or deaths associated with the procedure were recorded. Eleven patients (2.1%) presented post-operative complications. Seven presented minor and transitory bleeding of the percutaneous tracheostomy stoma, 2 suffered displacement of the tracheostomy cannula, and 2 developed a superficial infection of the stoma.

In the investigator's institution as in a number of institutions in the country and abroad, it is acceptable to perform the operation either by withdrawing the endotracheal tube to a position near the vocal cords by direct laryngoscopy and then puncturing the trachea with a needle distal to the endotracheal tube, prior to carrying out the PDT, by location of the anatomy by palpation of the neck, or alternatively by doing the entire procedure under bronchoscopic guidance.

So far, no systematic comparison has been made between the two methods ie PDT without bronchoscopy versus PDT with bronchoscopy.