Anticoagulation and inotropes
One third of the patients were on low dose vasopressor support on the morning of the procedure.
Thirty-five percent of patients were on therapeutic anticoagulation prior to tracheostomy. In all cases this was held for 24 hours prior to the procedure. Of the remaining patients, 2 were receiving a twice daily prophylactic low molecular weight heparin due to raised D-Dimer but in the absence of confirmed thrombo-embolic complications.