A new simple method for percutaneous tracheostomy: controlled rotating dilation. A preliminary report.
OBJECTIVE
To describe and introduce a new technique for percutaneous dilational tracheostomy.


METHODS
Open, observational clinical trial in patients requiring an elective tracheostomy in two intensive care units of university hospitals.


METHODS
Fifty (25/25) consecutive patients requiring an elective tracheostomy above 18 years of age.


METHODS
Performance of a percutaneous dilational tracheostomy with a specially designed screw-type dilator, using a thread for the dilation procedure.


RESULTS
In 50 consecutive patients the new device allowed a quick and safe dilation procedure without any serious bleeding complications or other relevant procedural-related side effects.


CONCLUSIONS
The described new percutaneous dilational tracheostomy device (PercuTwist, Rüsch, Kernen, Germany) represents a single-step method with a high degree of control during dilation. So far, it appears to be a safe, quickly performed procedure with a strikingly low incidence of even small bleeding complications, thus offering an interesting new alternative for the performance of a percutaneous tracheostomy.
Frova
G
G
Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, Spedali Civili Brescia, Brescia, Italy.
Quintel
M
M
D000328:Adult; D004106:Dilatation; D004867:Equipment Design; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D011184:Postoperative Period; D014139:Tracheostomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods