title: The influence of pediatric tracheostomy on the body weight percentile of children.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to evaluate the changes in body weight following tracheostomy in pediatric patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ninety-eight patients who underwent tracheostomy at the age of 0-6 years were enrolled. The body weight and growth percentile were measured before tracheostomy and at 1, 6, and 12 months after surgery. The body weight and growth percentile were plotted against time, which was compared with Korean growth chart curve. A Retrospective observational cohort study was performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean body weight increased gradually from 6.7 (±0.51) kg to 10.84 (±0.15) kg at 12 months post-surgery (p < 0.01). The growth percentile also increased from 24.41 (±3.18) to 40.6 (±4.10) during the follow-up period (p < 0.01). We analyzed the patients with a low growth percentile (≤50th percentile). In these patients, the mean body weight increased from 4.92 (±0.27) kg to 8.97 (±0.27) kg and the growth percentile also increased from 11.02 (±1.32) to 30.56 (±3.31) (all p < 0.01). Ventilator-independent patients also presented similar pattern of body weight and its percentile.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Body weight increased after tracheostomy that was safely performed in children requiring airway management.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Shereen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yankasari
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea. Electronic address: manseilee@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Yoon Se
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Won Kyung
authors.initials: WK
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Hyun
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Moon
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Jiwon
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Jong-Lyel
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Roh
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Seung-Ho
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Sang Yoon
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Soon Yuhl
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Nam
mesh_terms: D001835:Body Weight; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D057238:Growth Charts; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014139:Tracheostomy
keywords: Airway obstruction; Body weight; Growth; Pediatric; Tracheostomy