title: Percutaneous Dilatational Tracheostomy via Griggs Technique.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Tracheostomy is considered the airway management of choice for patients who need prolonged mechanical ventilation support. Percutaneous Dilatational Tracheotomy (PDT) is a technique that can be performed easily and rapidly at bedside and is particularly useful in the intensive care setting. The Griggs percutaneous tracheotomy is unique in its utilization of a guide wire dilator forceps.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We aimed to describe the early perioperative and late postoperative complications of PDT using the Griggs technique in patients in the intensive care unit (ICU).
  
  
  METHODS
  This cross-sectional study was conducted on all patients who underwent tracheostomy in the ICU of the Imam Reza Hospital of Kermanshah, Iran, from June 2011 to June 2015. PDT was performed in 184 patients with the Griggs technique. Demographic variables, as well as perioperative and late postoperative complications were recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean age of patients was 57.3 ± 15.37 years. The most common primary causes of tracheostomy were hypoxic brain damage disorders (43.2%) and pneumonia (14.8%). Perioperative and early complications occurred in 16.7 % of procedures, of which 9.3% were bleedings (minor, significant and major). Furthermore, the incidence of late complications was 8.6%, including: stomal infection, difficult replace tracheostomy tube, tracheoesophageal fistula, tracheal stenosis, and tracheomalacia.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PDT via Griggs technique is a safe, quick, and effective method. The low incidence of complications indicates that bedside percutaneous tracheostomy can be performed safely as a routine procedure for daily care implemented in the ICU.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology, Kermanshah University of Medical Science, Kermanshah, Iran.
authors.forename: Hasan Ali
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Karimpour
authors.affiliation: Clinical Research Center, Emam Reza Hospital, Kermanshah University of Medical Science, Kermanshah, Iran.
authors.forename: Kamran
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Vafaii
authors.affiliation: Clinical Research Center, Emam Reza Hospital, Kermanshah University of Medical Science, Kermanshah, Iran.
authors.forename: Maryam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chalechale
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology, Kermanshah University of Medical Science, Kermanshah, Iran.
authors.forename: Saeed
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mohammadi
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Paramedical, Department of Anesthesiology, Kermanshah University of Medical Science, Kermanshah, Iran.
authors.forename: Rasool
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kaviannezhad
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004106:Dilatation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D006761:Hospitals; D006801:Humans; D002534:Hypoxia, Brain / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000601:surgery; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D007492:Iran; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000601:surgery; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014139:Tracheostomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*