Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 1998; 46(2): 89-92
DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-1010196
Original Thoracic

© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Percutaneous Dilatational Tracheostomy Done Early After Cardiac Surgery - Outcome and Incidence of Mediastinitis

N. Hübner, W. Rees1 , K. Seufert1 , M. Böckelmann, U. Christmann, H. Warnecke1
  • Department of Anesthesiology
  • 1Department of Cardiac Surgery, Schüchtermann Klinik, Bad Rothenfelde, Germany
Further Information

Publication History

1997

Publication Date:
19 March 2008 (online)

Abstract

During November 95 to April 97, 45 percutaneous dilatational tracheostomies were performed in a nonselected patient series of 2788 open cardiac surgery cases. Tracheostomy was performed as early as the 2nd postoperative day (median: 6th day), when extubation was not foreseen within the next few days. Duration of intubation was 13 days (mean). We observed 6 complications in 5 patients (13.3%), namely bleeding, misplacement of the tube, subcutaneous emphysema, and superficial infection of the tracheostoma. Mediastinitis and wound infection of the sternal wound did not occur in any Single case. There was no death due to tracheostomy. Clinically evident tracheal Stenosis and inadequate granulation of the Stoma were not observed after extubation. In our opinion, percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy is justifiable, shows good results, and entails minimal risk if done early after cardiac surgery, and it is also superiorto Standard surgical tracheostomy. Increased incidence o mediastinitis was not seen.