title: Clinical experience with percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy: report of 150 cases.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To report our experience with percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Teaching hospital. The Netherlands.
  
  
  METHODS
  147 patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  150 percutaneous dilatational tracheostomies, 95 (63%) for prolonged ventilation, 37 (25%) for pulmonary toilet, and 18 (12%) for upper airway obstruction.
  
  
  METHODS
  Morbidity and mortality.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The success rate of the procedure was 99%. Operative complications occurred in 16 (11%) and were usually minor. During a total duration of cannulation of 5212 days four complications were recorded. Haemorrhage was the most common early complication (n = 14). Late complications (five to 53 months after decannulation) included tracheal stenosis (n = 1), tracheomalacia (n = 2), tracheocutaneous fistula (n = 2) and an ugly scar (n = 1).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy is a simple, safe and cost effective technique for inserting a tracheal cannula.
authors.affiliation: Surgical Unit, De Wever Hospital, Heerlen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: L W
authors.initials: LW
authors.lastname: van Heurn
authors.forename: G J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: van Geffen
authors.forename: P R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Brink
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000402:Airway Obstruction / Q000601:surgery; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012121:Respiration, Artificial; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014139:Tracheostomy / Q000379:methods*