title: Indications for and timing of tracheostomy.
abstract: Tracheostomy is one of the most common intensive care unit procedures performed. The advantages include patient comfort, safety, ability to communicate, and better oral and airway care. Patients may have shorter intensive care unit stays, days of mechanical ventilation, and hospital stays. There are risks, long-term and acute, and the timing of when to do a tracheostomy must be individualized. As soon as the need for prolonged airway access is identified, the tracheostomy should be considered. Generally, this decision can be made within 7-10 days. Bedside techniques allow rapid tracheostomy with low morbidity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, University of Virginia Health Science Center, PO Box 800710, Charlottesville VA 22908-0170, USA. cgd8v@virginia.edu
authors.forename: Charles G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Durbin
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D018579:Patient Selection; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D019095:Point-of-Care Systems; D012121:Respiration, Artificial / Q000009:adverse effects; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D014139:Tracheostomy / Q000379:methods*; D015300:Ventilator Weaning / Q000379:methods