Experience with percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy (PDT)

摘要

Over the past 15 years, many hospitals have reported their experience with percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy (PDT). The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the safety of PDT in our hospital setting and to compare our results with those published in the literature. The patient data were collected by retrospective chart review in a prospective manner. Over the period June 2002 to January 2004, 52 PDTs were performed in the intensive care unit (ICU) at Salmaniya Medical Complex in Bahrain. There were no deaths and only four complications. Comparison of our results and those reported in five recently published articles showed no significant differences in mortality rate, pneumothorax or bleeding. There was a trend towards a significantly lower incidence of paratracheal placement using bronchoscopic guidance.Implication: PDT with bronchoscopic guidance can be safely done on patients in the ICU.