Tracheostomy for weaning prolonged mechanical ventilation in adult post cardiac surgical patients

Abstract

Background

This is a retrospective observational study to show the role of tracheostomy in liberation of mechanical ventilation in adult post cardiac surgery.

Methods

Between January 2009 and December 2013, all post cardiac surgical patients who were ventilated for ≥7 days were allocated into: group (T) who had tracheostomy or group (PI) who did not have tracheostomy. Both groups were compared for ventilator free days at 30 (VFD-30) and 60 days (VFD-60) post Cardiac Surgical Intensive Care Unit (CSICU) admission, Length of Stay (LOS), and mortality.

Results

VFD-30 and VFD-60 were statistically significant higher in (PI) group compared to (T) group (7.5 ± 9.2 vs.0.9 ± 3.3, P = 0.000) and (22.3 ± 23.8 vs. 6.7 ± 13.3, P = 0.007) respectively. Comparing VFD at 30 and 60 days post tracheostomy (VFD-30T and VFD-60T) in (T) group to VFD at 30 and 60 days after admission in (PI) group, no difference was found (6.9 ± 8.9 vs. 7.5 ± 9.2, P = 0.8) and (29 ± 22.6 vs. 22.3 ± 23.8, P = 0.5) respectively. CSICU LOS was statistically significant higher in the (T) group compared to the (PI) group (71.6 ± 61.2 vs. 30.3 ± 35.6, P = 0.04). The hospital LOS and CSICU mortality, were not different between the 2 groups.

Conclusions

Tracheostomy for post cardiac surgery patients with prolonged mechanical ventilation did not improve VFD or CSICU LOS in our institute.