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.