title: Paediatric patients with a tracheostomy: a multicentre epidemiological study.
abstract: Changes in the indications for tracheostomy in children have led to the progressively greater involvement of the paediatric pulmonologist in the care of these patients. The aim of this study was to review the current profile of tracheostomised children in Spain. We undertook a longitudinal, multicentre study over 2 yrs (2008 and 2009) of all patients aged between 1 day and 18 yrs who had a tracheostomy. The study, involving 18 Spanish hospitals, included 249 patients, of whom 150 (60.2%) were <1 yr of age. The main indications for the procedure were prolonged ventilation (n=156, 62.6%), acquired subglottic stenosis (n=34, 13.6%), congenital or acquired craniofacial anomalies (n=25, 10%) and congenital airway anomalies (n=24, 9.6%). The most frequent underlying disorders were neurological diseases (n=126, 50.6%) and respiratory diseases (n=98, 39.3%). Over the 2-yr study period, 92 (36.9%) children required ventilatory support, and decannulation was achieved in 59 (23.7%). Complications arose in 117 patients (46.9%). Mortality attributed to the underlying condition was 12.5% and that related directly to the tracheostomy was 3.2%. Respiratory complexity of tracheostomised children necessitates prolonged, multidisciplinary follow-up, which can often extend to adulthood.
authors.affiliation: Hospital Carlos Haya y Universidad de Málaga, Malaga, Spain. estelaperezr@terra.es
authors.forename: Estela
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pérez-Ruiz
authors.forename: Pilar
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Caro
authors.forename: Javier
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pérez-Frías
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cols
authors.forename: Isabel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Barrio
authors.forename: Alba
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Torrent
authors.forename: Maria Ángeles
authors.initials: MÁ
authors.lastname: García
authors.forename: Oscar
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Asensio
authors.forename: Maria Dolores
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Pastor
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Luna
authors.forename: Javier
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Torres
authors.forename: Borja
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Osona
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Salcedo
authors.forename: Amparo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Escribano
authors.forename: Isidoro
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Cortell
authors.forename: Mirella
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gaboli
authors.forename: Alfredo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Valenzuela
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Alvarez
authors.forename: Rosa
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Velasco
authors.forename: Enrique
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: García
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006776:Hospitals, Pediatric; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D010372:Pediatrics / Q000379:methods; D012121:Respiration, Artificial; D013030:Spain; D013997:Time Factors; D014139:Tracheostomy / Q000379:methods*