Timing for tracheostomy in ICU patients: better take it easy



Last update: Tuesday, 23 Jun 2015 at 15:02

Traqueostomia Artigo

Source: Medicina Respiratória
Ed. Atheneu - São Paulo

Tracheostomy is one of the most common procedures performed among critically ill patients. In serial epidemiological studies tracheostomy was performed in 11%, 15%, and 14% of the patients under mechanical ventilation in the intensive care units around the world, in 1998, 2004, and 2010, respectively. In those studies this procedure was performed, on average, 12, 9, and 11 days after endotracheal intubation1-3 . In addition to the time after intubation, the indication for mechanical ventilation influences the doctor’s decision about the tracheostomy´s timing, which is shorter for conditions in which a longer period of mechanical ventilation is expected, such as COPD exacerbations and neuromuscular diseases.



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