Tracheostomy in Children: Experience of a Tertiary Pediatric Intensive Care Unit

Abstract

Introduction: In this study, we aimed to share the characteristics, results and experiences of the patients who underwent tracheostomyin our tertiary pediatric intensive care unit and who were admitted to home monitoring program after discharge.Methods: The medical records of patients who underwent tracheostomy at the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit of MedeniyetUniversity, Göztepe Training and Research Hospital between May 2015 and June 2019 and followed up at home monitoringprogram after family education were retrospectively analyzed.Results: A total of 47 patients 30 male (63.8%) and 17 female (36.2%) who met the criteria were included in the study. Themedian age on the day of tracheostomy was 33 months (range, 2-205), length of stay in the intensive care unit was median66 days (range, 15-174), and the median follow-up after discharge was 845 days (range, 60-1520). The most common causeof tracheostomy was multiple trauma with 17 patients (36.2%). Seventeen (36.2%) of the patients were discharged with ahome mechanical ventilator, while 30 (63.8%) were discharged without a home mechanical ventilator. Female sex and homedischarge with home ventilator support adversely affected survival (p=0.01, p=0.019).Discussion and Conclusion: Tracheostomy and home mechanical ventilation is a good option for reducing the burdenof chronic care patients in our country where the number of pediatric intensive care beds is limited. It is a cost-effectivemethod that can be implemented easily and safely by families with different social and cultural levels with good education.