title: Percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy: an alternative approach to surgical tracheostomy.
abstract: Percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy (PDT) offers a nonoperative alternative to patients needing an elective tracheostomy. The technique associated with PDT is essentially a progressive dilatation using blunt-tipped dilators for the placement of a tracheostomy tube. We retrospectively compared patient charges and operating time for 18 PDTs and 18 surgical tracheostomies. Our analysis suggests that percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy is a cost-effective alternative to the open procedure for elective tracheostomy.
mesh_terms: D005249:Fees and Charges; D006801:Humans; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014139:Tracheostomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods*