Surgical outcomes
Median follow up was 17.5 days (range 3-24).
There were three tracheostomy related complications, bleeding 24 hours
post-operatively, a damaged pilot balloon requiring change of
tracheostomy tube and surgical empysema managed conservatively. One
patient died (mortality rate 6%) of multifactorial causes 36 hours
after surgical tracheostomy.
Twelve of twenty patients had been successfully weaned off mechanical
ventilation (median 3 days after tracheostomy). Six patients have been
discharged from critical care (median 8.5 days after tracheostomy), with
2 more fit for ward discharge . Four patients have been successfully
decannulated (median day 7.5 after weaning from mechanical ventilation)
and one patient has been discharged from hospital.