title: Early tracheostomy in severe traumatic brain injury: evidence for decreased mechanical ventilation and increased hospital mortality.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In the past, the authors performed a comprehensive literature review to identify all randomized controlled trials assessing the impact of early tracheostomy on severe brain injury outcomes. The search produced only two trials, one by Sugerman and another by Bouderka.
  
  
  METHODS
  The current authors initiated an Institutional Review Board-approved severe brain injury randomized trial to evaluate the impact of early tracheostomy on ventilator-associated pneumonia rates, intensive care unit (ICU)/ventilator days, and hospital mortality. Current study results were compared with the other randomized trials and a meta-analysis was performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Early tracheostomy pneumonia rates were Sugerman-48.6%, Bouderka-58.1%, and current study-46.7%. No early tracheostomy pneumonia rates were Sugerman-53.1%, Bouderka-61.3%, and current study-44.4%. Pneumonia rate meta-analysis showed no difference for early tracheostomy and no early tracheostomy (OR 0.89; p = 0.71). Early tracheostomy ICU/ventilator days were Sugerman-16 ± 5.9, Bouderka-14.5 ± 7.3, and current study-14.1 ± 5.7. No early tracheostomy ICU/ventilator days were Sugerman-19 ± 11.3, Bouderka-17.5 ± 10.6, and current study-17 ± 5.4. ICU/ventilator day meta-analysis showed 2.9 fewer days with early tracheostomy (p = 0.02). Early tracheostomy mortality rates were Sugerman-14.3%, Bouderka-38.7%, and current study-0%. No early tracheostomy mortality rates were Sugerman-3.2%, Bouderka-22.6%, and current study-0%. Randomized trial mortality rate meta-analysis showed a higher rate for early tracheostomy (OR 2.68; p = 0.05). Because the randomized trials were small, a literature assessment was undertaken to find all retrospective studies describing the association of early tracheostomy on severe brain injury hospital mortality. The review produced five retrospective studies, with a total of 3,356 patients. Retrospective study mortality rate meta-analysis demonstrated a larger mortality for early tracheostomy (OR 1.97; p < 0.0001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  For severe brain injury, analyses indicate that ventilator-associated pneumonia rates are not decreased with early tracheostomy. Further, this study implies that mechanical ventilation is reduced with early tracheostomy. Both the randomized trial and retrospective meta-analysis indicate that risk for hospital death increases with early tracheostomy. Findings imply that early tracheostomy for severe brain injury is not a prudent routine policy.
authors.affiliation: Trauma/Critical Care Services, St. Elizabeth Health Center 1044 Belmont Avenue, Youngstown, OH, 44501, USA.
authors.forename: C Michael
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Dunham
authors.affiliation: Infection Control Services, St. Elizabeth Health Center 1044 Belmont Avenue, Youngstown, OH, 44501, USA.
authors.forename: Anthony F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Cutrona
authors.affiliation: Trauma/Critical Care Services, St. Elizabeth Health Center 1044 Belmont Avenue, Youngstown, OH, 44501, USA.
authors.forename: Brian S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Gruber
authors.affiliation: Infection Control Services, St. Elizabeth Health Center 1044 Belmont Avenue, Youngstown, OH, 44501, USA.
authors.forename: Javier E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Calderon
authors.affiliation: Trauma/Critical Care Services, St. Elizabeth Health Center 1044 Belmont Avenue, Youngstown, OH, 44501, USA.
authors.forename: Kenneth J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Ransom
authors.affiliation: Trauma/Critical Care Services, St. Elizabeth Health Center 1044 Belmont Avenue, Youngstown, OH, 44501, USA.
authors.forename: Laurie L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Flowers
keywords: Head injuries; hospital mortality; tracheostomy