title: [Percutaneous tracheostomy to the patient with coagulopathy].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Generally, coagulopathy is a relative contraindication for surgical tracheotomy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fourteen patients with severe respiratory failure and coagulopathy underwent elective percutaneous tracheostomy using Portex percutaneous tracheostomy kit.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Apart from minor bleeding episodes during and after the procedures which were controlled promptly, no other complications occurred.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  If careful precautions are observed, we believe that percutaneous tracheostomy is safe even in patients with severe respiratory failure and coagulopathy.
authors.affiliation: Anesthesia and Critical Care Service, Aoba Municipal Hospital in Chiba, Chiba 260-0852.
authors.forename: Mitsuo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aoyagi
authors.forename: Hiroto
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Suzuki
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001778:Blood Coagulation Disorders / Q000150:complications; D004211:Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation / Q000150:complications; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012131:Respiratory Insufficiency / Q000628:therapy*; D014139:Tracheostomy / Q000379:methods*