title: Paediatric tracheostomy-An 11 year experience at a Scottish paediatric tertiary referral centre.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this paper was to review the indications, complications and outcomes for tracheostomy at a Scottish paediatric tertiary referral hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  All patients undergoing tracheostomy between January 2001 and September 2012 were identified. A retrospective case note analysis was performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  111 tracheostomies were done in the study period. The mean number per year was 11 (3-12). Full data was available for 95 patients. There were 56 (59%) males and 39 (41%) females. Age at time of tracheostomy ranged from one day to 15 years, the mean age of tracheostomy insertion was 69 weeks. The majority of patients, 75 (79%), were under one year old when they had their tracheostomy. The most common indication was long-term ventilation (20%), followed by craniofacial abnormality causing airway obstruction (18%), followed by subglottic stenosis (14%). 37% of patients were decannulated.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This series reflects current trends in the indications for paediatric tracheostomy, with chronic lung disease of prematurity being the most common indication.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatric Otolaryngology, Royal Hospital for Sick Children, Dalnair St., Glasgow G3 8SJ, Scotland. Electronic address: catriona.douglas2@nhs.net.
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Douglas
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, University of Glasgow Medical School, Glasgow, Scotland.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Poole-Cowley
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatric Otolaryngology, Royal Hospital for Sick Children, Dalnair St., Glasgow G3 8SJ, Scotland.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Morrissey
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatric Otolaryngology, Royal Hospital for Sick Children, Dalnair St., Glasgow G3 8SJ, Scotland.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kubba
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatric Otolaryngology, Royal Hospital for Sick Children, Dalnair St., Glasgow G3 8SJ, Scotland.
authors.forename: W A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Clement
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatric Otolaryngology, Royal Hospital for Sick Children, Dalnair St., Glasgow G3 8SJ, Scotland.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wynne
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000368:Aged; D000402:Airway Obstruction / Q000601:surgery*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D010372:Pediatrics; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012606:Scotland; D062606:Tertiary Care Centers; D014139:Tracheostomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000639:trends*
keywords: Paediatric; Paediatric airway; Tracheostomy