title: Preventing Complications of Pediatric Tracheostomy Through Standardized Wound Care and Parent Education.
abstract: Pediatric tracheostomy is commonly performed for upper airway obstruction and prolonged mechanical ventilation. Children undergoing tracheostomy typically have multiple chronic medical problems that place them at high risk for readmission and additional complications.
  
  
  
  To determine whether the institution of a postoperative protocol for parent education and wound care with a nurse trained in tracheostomy care decreases the rate of readmission and other complications.
  
  
  
  A case series and medical record review was conducted of children 18 years and younger who underwent tracheostomy at a tertiary pediatric medical center between January 1, 2009, and December 31, 2014.
  
  
  
  A postoperative tracheostomy care and education protocol.
  
  
  
  Overall 30-day readmission rate, 30-day tracheostomy-related readmission rate, tracheostomy wound complications, and additional factors that may have affected readmission rates and wound complications (age at the time of tracheostomy, discharge location, indication for tracheostomy).
  
  
  
  A total of 191 children (118 boys and 73 girls) were included; of these, 112 participated in the education protocol and 79 children did not. Following institution of the education protocol, there was no decrease in the overall readmission rate (26.8% before the protocol vs 26.6% after the protocol; difference, 0.2%; 95% CI, -12.5% to 13.0%) or in the tracheostomy-related readmission rate (10.1% before the protocol vs 7.1% after the protocol; difference, 3.0%; 95% CI, -5.0% to 11.0%). Overall, 68.6% of readmissions were associated with medical comorbidities (95% CI, 55.9% to 81.3%). There was a significant decrease in tracheostomy-related wound complications after institution of the protocol (31.6% to 17.9%; difference, 13.7%; 95% CI, 1.6% to 26.0%). Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that children who were discharged home were significantly more likely to be readmitted for a tracheostomy-related complication than were patients discharged to an advanced care facility (odds ratio, 14.47; 95% CI, 3.08 to 67.92).
  
  
  
  Tracheostomy care requires expertise for all caregivers and is challenging for people without specialized training. Specialized nursing and education protocols are associated with decreased complications of tracheostomy wounds. Children who are discharged directly to home are at higher risk for readmission compared with children discharged to advanced care facilities. Further development of caregiver education protocols is necessary to continue to reduce readmissions and tracheostomy-related complications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Naval Medical Center, San Diego, California.
authors.forename: Philip A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Gaudreau
authors.affiliation: Division of Otolaryngology, Children's National Medical Center, Washington, DC.
authors.forename: Hannah
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Greenlick
authors.affiliation: George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC.
authors.forename: Tiffany
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.affiliation: Division of Otolaryngology, Children's National Medical Center, Washington, DC.
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Levy
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, New York Eye and Ear Infirmary, New York.
authors.forename: Alyssa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hackett
authors.affiliation: Division of Otolaryngology, Children's National Medical Center, Washington, DC.
authors.forename: Diego
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Preciado
authors.affiliation: Division of Otolaryngology, Children's National Medical Center, Washington, DC.
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zalzal
authors.affiliation: Division of Otolaryngology, Children's National Medical Center, Washington, DC.
authors.forename: Brian K
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Reilly
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D010290:Parents / Q000193:education*; D010359:Patient Readmission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011182:Postoperative Care; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D000072836:Surgical Wound / Q000150:complications; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection; D014139:Tracheostomy