Key Points
- In severe cases, tracheostomies are essential in management of
chronically obstructed patients suffering from acute respiratory
failure, however, the impact of chronic obstruction on tracheostomy
complication incidence has not been characterized.
- The most common acute post-tracheostomy complications in this cohort
were bleeding, infection, and dislodgement, which was consistent with
prior studies.
- Patients with obstructive pulmonary pathologies had a moderate
association with an increased risk in complications.
- Radiation was moderately associated with early complication
(post-operative day 0-6) which could be attributed to delayed wound
healing seen in patients with a history of radiation therapy.
- The possible increased risk of complications in patients with
obstructive pulmonary diseases should be noted but should not serve as
a contraindication when considering the life-saving benefit from
tracheostomy in these patient populations.