Safety and efficiency of elective tracheostomy performed in the intensive care unit.
OBJECTIVE
Because transportation of a critically ill patient to the operating room can be hazardous and costly, a study was undertaken to determine the safety and efficiency of performing a tracheostomy at bedside in the intensive care unit.


METHODS
A 2-year retrospective study (1988 to 1990) was done of all tracheostomies performed (102) at bedside in the intensive care unit at Northwestern University Medical Center. Anesthetic, intensive care, and operative reports were evaluated for intraoperative and immediate (48 hours) postoperative anesthetic and surgical complications.


RESULTS
The investigation revealed an average anesthetic time of 41 minutes (range, 20-75 minutes), and an average operative time of 29 minutes (range, 15 to 60 minutes). A perioperative morbidity rate of 5.5% included three anesthetic and three surgical complications, without mortality.


CONCLUSIONS
This study confirms that tracheostomy performed in the intensive care unit can be a safe, economical, and time-efficient procedure.
Pogue
M D
MD
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Northwestern University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA.
Pecaro
B C
BC
D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D016638:Critical Illness / Q000191:economics / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D016343:Monitoring, Intraoperative; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012449:Safety; D013997:Time Factors; D014139:Tracheostomy / Q000379:methods*; D014187:Transportation of Patients / Q000191:economics