Fantoni translaryngeal tracheostomy versus ciaglia blue rhino percutaneous tracheostomy: a retrospective comparison.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the operative technique and complications of the Fantoni tracheostomy (TLT) with those of the Ciaglia Blue Rhino tracheostomy (CBR). We also compared the costs of mini-invasive tracheostomy with those of surgical tracheostomy (ST).


METHODS
Between January 1998 and January 2006, 530 patients needed emergency intubation and protracted assisted ventilation in our department. We performed 470 mini-invasive tracheostomies: as TLT in 350 and as CBR in 120. The time between intubation and tracheostomy was 4 +/- 1 days. Interventions were carried out in our intensive care unit (ICU).


RESULTS
One hundred and nine patients died within 20 +/- 5 days of intervention, but 361 are still alive after 100 +/- 3 months. TLT and CBR complications were independent of the operative technique (P = 0.74, r = 0.285 vs P = 0.61, r = 0.271) or procedure time (P = 0.95, r = 0.297 vs P = 0.92, r = 0.295). Ciaglia Blue Rhino tracheostomy was noted to have a cost-benefit advantage over TLT and ST (P = 0.0002, P = 0.009, P = 0.22, respectively). The average time until decannulation was 20 +/- 1 days.


CONCLUSIONS
Mini-invasive tracheostomies are easy, safe, and fast. Ciaglia Blue Rhino tracheostomy took less time to perform and had fewer complications than TLT, because the technique was simpler.
Divisi
Duilio
D
Department of Thoracic Surgery, University of L'Aquila, G Mazzini Hospital, Teramo, Italy.
Altamura
Giuseppe
G
Di Tommaso
Sergio
S
Di Leonardo
Gabriella
G
Rosa
Emilio
E
De Sanctis
Carlo
C
Crisci
Roberto
R
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001999:Bronchoscopy; D002648:Child; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007049:Iatrogenic Disease / Q000517:prevention & control; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures / Q000191:economics / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D014132:Trachea / Q000293:injuries*; D014133:Tracheal Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D014139:Tracheostomy / Q000191:economics / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D055815:Young Adult