Isteraj Shahabi, Bakht Zada, Imad, Mumtaz Ali.
Complications of conventional Tracheostomy.
J Postgrad Med Inst Jan ;19(2):187-91.

Objectives: To study the various complications associated with conventional tracheostomy. Material and Methods: It is a descriptive study, conducted in the department of E.N.T & Head and Neck Surgery P.G.M.I Hayat Abad Medical Complex Peshawar from 1st June 2003 to 31 May 2004. Fifty patients of both genders and all age groups on whom tracheostomy was performed were included in the study. All patients were assessed pre-operatively. They were observed for complications during the procedure, in the recovery room and in the ward. They were followed for 3 months after the procedure. Complications arising during that period were recorded on the proforma. Results: Fifty patients, comprising of thirty-eight male and twelve female patients, underwent tracheostomy, with male to female ratio of 3:1 and average age of 35 years. Out of 50 patients, 70% (n=35) underwent emergency tracheostomy and only 30% (n=15) had elective procedure. Immediate complications included primary haemorrhage (6%) and apnoea (2%). Intermediate complications were surgical emphysema (4%), stomal infection (4%), tube obstruction (4%) and dislodgement of tube (2%). Late complications seen at 3 months follow up included difficult decannulation, tracheal stenosis and hypertrophired scar (2% each). Mortality due to procedure itself was nil. Conclusion: Tracheostomy is a commonly performed life saving operation. It is associated with certain complications that are more in cases of emergency procedures and in children. However mortality associated with the procedure is largely due to the primary disease and not due to the procedure itself.

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