title: Fantoni translaryngeal tracheostomy versus ciaglia blue rhino percutaneous tracheostomy: a retrospective comparison.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Surgery, University of L'Aquila, G Mazzini Hospital, Teramo, Italy.
authors.forename: Duilio
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Divisi
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Altamura
authors.forename: Sergio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Di Tommaso
authors.forename: Gabriella
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Di Leonardo
authors.forename: Emilio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rosa
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: De Sanctis
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Crisci
mesh_terms: 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