title: Postoperative management of pediatric tracheostomy: results of a nationwide survey.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  A survey was undertaken to document the postoperative care of pediatric tracheostomies by otolaryngologists.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study represents the results of a national survey of 564 otolaryngologists covering a broad scope of postoperative pediatric tracheostomy issues considered for patients younger than 2 years and patients older than 5 years.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the surveys sent, 134 responses were received, portraying a certain standard management scheme that seems to be used by most respondents.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Very little difference was seen in respondents' management of patients younger than 2 years of age as compared with those who are older than 5 years. Furthermore, agreement between actual practice and published recommendations seems to vary with some management issues. The results of this study provide a means by which otolaryngologists may familiarize themselves with national trends in the postoperative management of pediatric tracheostomies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio 78284-7777, USA.
authors.forename: M B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Gluth
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Maska
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Nelson
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Otto
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003625:Data Collection; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D010036:Otolaryngology; D011182:Postoperative Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014139:Tracheostomy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014481:United States