ISSN:
1432-1238
Keywords:
Key words Cricothyroidotomy
;
Critically ill patients
;
Mechanical ventilation
;
Percutaneous
;
Tracheotomy
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Medicine
Notes:
Abstract Objective: To assess the value of the percutaneous dilatational technique in elective cricothyroidotomy. Design: Forty-four consecutive patients requiring prolonged mechanical ventilation. Setting: The general 14-bed intensive care unit of a university hospital. Interventions: Fourty-four percutaneous dilatational cricothyroidotomies using a multiple-dilator wire-guided procedure. Measurements and results: The average duration for the procedure was 11 min in 37 patients. No significant complications occurred intraoperatively except for one paratracheal cannula insertion. Postoperative complications were one case of stoma infection, three cases of transient phonatory changes, two cases of a small peristomal granuloma, and one case of persistent stoma. Of 21 decannulated patients, 16 survived to discharge. Long-term follow-up was possible in 14 surviving patients. All were asymptomatic several months after decannulation. Conclusions: Percutaneous dilatational cricothyroidotomy can be a quick, safe technique, as good as the percutaneous subcricoidal approach in ventilated, critically ill patients.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s001340050190
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