Retrospective Comparison of Percutaneous Forceps Dilatation Tracheostomy and Conventional Surgical Tracheostomy

Retrospective Comparison of Percutaneous Forceps Dilatation Tracheostomy and Conventional Surgical Tracheostomy INTRODUCTION AND AIM: We aimed to retrospectively evaluate the early complications of conventional surgical and percutaneous forceps dilatation tracheostomies in ICU patients. MATERIAL and METHODS: Electronic records of ICU patients hospitalized in our unit between 2019 and 2022 were retrospectively scanned. Demographic data, the tracheostomy tecnique and early complications related to the procedure were recorded. RESULTS: A total of 64 patients underwent a tracheostomy in our ICU. 34 (53.2%) patients underwent conventional surgical tracheostomy (CST) and 30 (46.8 %) patients underwent percutaneous forceps dilatation tracheostomy (PFDT). The mean age of the patients was 73.30±14.45 y, and 29 (45.31%) patients were male. The mean length of intubation before the procedure was 19.36±7.76 days, it was significantly longer in the CST group (21.74±9.34 days) compared to the PFDT group (16.67±7.31 days) (p=0.02).Early complications occured in 7 patients (20.58%) in the CST, and in 5 patients (16.66%) in the PFDT group. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: We believe that in carefully selected and prepared patients, the rate of early complications of PFDT is similar to CST when it is applied by experienced physicians. KEYWORDS: intensive care, percutaneous tracheostomy, complications