Age at Decannulation after Pediatric Tracheostomy.

Background: Parents of tracheostomized infants often enquire when their children will undergo decannulation. However, there are few studies on the decannulation of children who are tracheotomized in infancy. Therefore, this study investigated when decannulation should be performed in children by retrospectively analysing medical records. Methods: We performed a retrospective chart review of tracheostomy, decannulation and tracheostoma closure in 48 children who underwent tracheostomy before the age of 3 years. The indications for tracheostomy included upper airway obstruction, neurological conditions, cardiopulmonary conditions, craniofacial conditions and trauma. Result: Nineteen (33.3%) patients were decannulated during the follow-up period: 12 had upper airway obstruction, four had cardiopulmonary conditions, one had a neurological condition and two had craniofacial conditions. The average age at tracheostomy was 13.6 months. The average age at the start of the decannulation therapy was 5.4 years. The average age at decannulation was 7.2 years. The average age at tracheostoma closure was 9.2 years. Conclusion: This description of ages at decannulation after pediatric tracheostomy may be useful when explaining the prognoses and timelines of decannulation to parents and caretakers of pediatric patients who need to undergo tracheostomy.