Objective
Tracheostomy is performed for various indications ranging from prolonged
ventilation to airway obstruction. Many factors may play a role in the
incidence of complications in the immediate post-operative period
including patient-related factors. The relationship between obstructive
pulmonary diseases and acute post-tracheostomy complications has been
incompletely studied. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD),
obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and asthma are some of the most common
pulmonary pathologies in the United States and given the clinical
utility of tracheostomies among these patients, it is important to
characterize the risk of acute post-operative complications.