title: Tracheotomy in the first year of life: outcomes in term infants, the Vanderbilt experience.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In an era emphasizing critical care of preterm infants, we characterize the indications and outcomes of tracheotomies performed in the first year of life in term infants compared to preterm infants.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective study of 127 tracheotomies performed in the first year of life at a tertiary-care children's hospital between 1988-2004.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean gestational ages of the term and preterm groups were 38.97 and 29.71 weeks, respectively (P < 0.001). Indications for tracheotomy were upper airway abnormalities in 53% for the term group. The number of subsequent airway procedures required was 1.39 in the term group, achieving decannulation in 36.3%, with a 20.5% mortality rate.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Compared to preterm infants, the term decannulation rate was favorable, as chronic lung disease was uncommon. However, non-tracheotomy-related mortalities remained high.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Tracheotomies are often performed for relief of upper airway obstruction, and congenital and acquired comorbidities not related to tracheotomy are associated with adverse outcomes in term infants.
  
  
  METHODS
  C-4.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Vanderbilt University, 7209 Medical Center East, 1215 21st Avenue South, Nashville, TN 37232-8605, USA. christopher.t.wootten@vanderbilt.edu
authors.forename: Christopher T
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Wootten
authors.forename: Lesley C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: French
authors.forename: Robert G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: Wallace W
authors.initials: WW
authors.lastname: Neblett
authors.forename: Jay A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Werkhaven
authors.forename: Shelagh A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Cofer
mesh_terms: D000402:Airway Obstruction / Q000151:congenital / Q000601:surgery; D001997:Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia / Q000601:surgery; D002423:Cause of Death; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005865:Gestational Age; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control; D008297:Male; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012121:Respiration, Artificial; D015619:Respiratory System Abnormalities / Q000601:surgery; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014140:Tracheotomy / Q000009:adverse effects; D016896:Treatment Outcome