title: Long-term outcomes following percutaneous tracheostomy using the Griggs technique.
abstract: Percutaneous tracheostomy is commonly performed in the intensive care unit. This study assesses the long-term outcomes following percutaneous tracheostomy using the Griggs technique. We carried out a prospective observational cohort study. Two hundred and eight patients who had undergone percutaneous tracheostomy between 1 September 1996 and 31 July 2000 and who were alive at least six months following the procedure, were included in the study. Median follow-up was at 30 months. All patients were sent questionnaires regarding relevant symptoms. One hundred and six (51%) responded and were invited for further follow-up. Forty-three (20.6%) patients underwent scar evaluation by the investigators and 41/208 (19.7%) underwent spirometry. Of the responders, 38% complained of some degree of voice change and 12% complained of ongoing severe cough. Thirty-one per cent complained of shortness of breath, with more than half of these having concomitant heart or lung disease, which may explain this. Eighty-one per cent of patients had minimally visible or a visible but neat scar. Eight patients (8/41 (19.5%)) had some evidence of upper airway obstruction on spirometry, but only 2/41 (5% of patients) were symptomatic (stridor or shortness of breath). We conclude that percutaneous tracheostomy using the Griggs technique has an acceptable long-term complication rate.
authors.affiliation: Department of Intensive Care, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Hospital Avenue, Nedlands, W.A. 6009.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sviri
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Samie
authors.forename: B L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Roberts
authors.forename: P V
authors.initials: PV
authors.lastname: van Heerden
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000402:Airway Obstruction / Q000601:surgery; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013147:Spirometry; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014139:Tracheostomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D014832:Voice Disorders / Q000209:etiology