title: Percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy following total artificial heart implantation.
abstract: Coagulation disorders and an immune-altered state are common among total artificial heart patients. In this context, we sought to evaluate the safety of percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy in cases of prolonged need for mechanical ventilatory support. We retrospectively analysed the charts of 11 total artificial heart patients who received percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy. We focused on early and late complications. We observed no major complications and no procedure-related deaths. Early minor complications included venous oozing (45.4%) and one case of local infection. Late complications, including subglottic stenosis, stomal infection or infections of the lower respiratory tract, were not observed. In conclusion, percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy in total artificial heart patients is safe. Considering the well-known benefits of early tracheotomy over prolonged translaryngeal intubation, we advocate early timing of therapy in cases of prolonged mechanical ventilation.
authors: Department for the Surgical Therapy of End-stage Heart Failure and Mechanical Circulatory Support, Heart- and Vascular Center Duisburg, Duisburg, Germany sotirios.spiliopolos@ejk.de.
authors: Sotirios
authors: S
authors: Spiliopoulos
authors: Department for the Surgical Therapy of End-stage Heart Failure and Mechanical Circulatory Support, Heart- and Vascular Center Duisburg, Duisburg, Germany.
authors: Alexandros Merkourios
authors: AM
authors: Dimitriou
authors: Department for the Surgical Therapy of End-stage Heart Failure and Mechanical Circulatory Support, Heart- and Vascular Center Duisburg, Duisburg, Germany.
authors: Maria Rosario
authors: MR
authors: Serrano
authors: Department for the Surgical Therapy of End-stage Heart Failure and Mechanical Circulatory Support, Heart- and Vascular Center Duisburg, Duisburg, Germany.
authors: Dilek
authors: D
authors: Guersoy
authors: Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, RWTH University Aachen, Aachen, Germany.
authors: Ruediger
authors: R
authors: Autschbach
authors: Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, RWTH University Aachen, Aachen, Germany.
authors: Andreas
authors: A
authors: Goetzenich
authors: Department for the Surgical Therapy of End-stage Heart Failure and Mechanical Circulatory Support, Heart- and Vascular Center Duisburg, Duisburg, Germany.
authors: Reiner
authors: R
authors: Koerfer
authors: Department for the Surgical Therapy of End-stage Heart Failure and Mechanical Circulatory Support, Heart- and Vascular Center Duisburg, Duisburg, Germany.
authors: Gero
authors: G
authors: Tenderich
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D009202:Cardiomyopathies / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D004106:Dilatation; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006354:Heart, Artificial; D006801:Humans; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology; D019919:Prosthesis Implantation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation*; D012121:Respiration, Artificial; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D014139:Tracheostomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Artificial heart; Respiratory insufficiency; Tracheostomy