Indication and Early Complications of Tracheostomy in the Intensive Care Unit Patients in Shahid Beheshti and Shahid Yahyanejad Hospital (Babol, Iran 2001-2006)

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Tracheostomy is frequently performed in critically ill patients for prolonged intubation. Despite of different benefits, tracheostomy associated with complications. Choice of best time and outcome for tracheostomy in critical patients who require mechanical ventilation is controversial. This study was conducted to assess the indication and early complications of tracheostomy in the intensive care unit patients in Shahid Beheshti and Shahid Yahyanejad hospitals, Babol, Iran.METHODS: This cross sectional study was performed on all patients who underwent tracheostomy in ICU of Shahid Beheshti and Shahid Yahyanejad hospitals of Babol, Iran during 2001-2006. Patients were assessed for indication for tracheostomy, timing of tracheostomy and early complication including infection, bleeding, air leak and inflammation. FINDINGS: From 96 subjects, indications for tracheostomy were prolonged intubation in 71 subjects, unable to intubation in 9 subjects, and other causes in 16 subjects. Early complications were observed in 15 that include infection in 7, bleeding in 3, air leak in 3 and inflammation in 2. Complication occurred in 3 of 17 subjects that tracheostomy was performed on them before 2 weeks and 12 of 72 subjects that tracheostomy was performed on them after 2 weeks. There was a significant correlation between the time of tracheostomy and complication (p=0.049).CONCLUSION: According to the results of this study, the most common cause of tracheostomy is prolonged intubation and local infection was the most common complication. So it is recommended to prevent the infection following tracheostomy with proper care and antibiotic selection.