Timing of tracheostomy in patients with prolonged endotracheal intubation: a systematic review.

The objective of this article is to evaluate the appropriate timing of tracheostomy in patients with prolonged intubationregarding the incidence of hospital-acquired pneumonia, mortality, length of stay in intensive care unit (ICU) and duration of artificial ventilation. The study included published articles yielded by a search concerning timing of tracheostomy in adult and pediatric patients with prolonged intubation. The search was limited to articles published in English language in the last 30 years (between 1987 and 2017). For the 690 relevant articles, we applied our inclusion and exclusion criteria and only 43 articles were included. 41 studies in the adult age group including 222,501 patients and 2 studies in pediatric age group including 140 patients met our criteria. Studies in adult age group were divided into three groups according to the methodology of determining the cut off timing for early tracheostomy, they were divided into studies that considered early tracheostomy within the first 7, 14 or 21 days of endotracheal intubation, while in pediatric age group the cut off timing for early tracheostomy was within the first 7 days of endotracheal intubation. There was a significant difference in favor of early tracheostomy in adults' three groups and pediatric age group as early tracheostomy was superior regarding reduced duration of mechanical ventilation, with less mortality rates and less duration of stay in ICU. Regarding hospital-acquired pneumonia, it was significantly less in adult groups but with no significant difference in pediatric age group (3 patients out of 72 pediatric patient with early tracheostomy had pneumonia compared to 11 patients out of 68 with late tracheostomy). Studies defining early tracheostomy as that done within 7 days of intubation had better results than those defining early tracheostomy as that done within 14 or 21 days of intubation. In conclusion, early tracheostomy within 7 days of intubation should be done for both adults and pediatric patients with prolonged intubation.

Effect of Early Versus Late Tracheostomy or Prolonged Intubation in Critically Ill Patients with Acute Brain Injury: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND: The optimal timing of tracheostomy placement in acutely brain-injured patients, who generally require endotracheal intubation for airway protection rather than respiratory failure, remains uncertain. We systematically reviewed trials comparing early tracheostomy to late tracheostomy or prolonged intubation in these patients. METHODS: We searched 5 databases (from inception to April 2015) to identify randomized controlled trials comparing early tracheostomy (≤10 days of intubation) with late tracheostomy (>10 days) or prolonged intubation in acutely brain-injured patients. We contacted the principal authors of included trials to obtain subgroup data. Two reviewers extracted data and assessed risk of bias. Outcomes included long-term mortality (primary), short-term mortality, duration of mechanical ventilation, complications, and liberation from ventilation without a tracheostomy. Meta-analyses used random-effects models. RESULTS: Ten trials (503 patients) met selection criteria; overall study quality was moderate to good. Early tracheostomy reduced long-term mortality (risk ratio [RR] 0.57. 95 % confidence interval (CI), 0.36-0.90; p = 0.02; n = 135), although in a sensitivity analysis excluding one trial, with an unclear risk of bias, the significant finding was attenuated (RR 0.61, 95 % CI, 0.32-1.16; p = 0.13; n = 95). Early tracheostomy reduced duration of mechanical ventilation (mean difference [MD] -2.72 days, 95 % CI, -1.29 to -4.15; p = 0.0002; n = 412) and ICU length of stay (MD -2.55 days, 95 % CI, -0.50 to -4.59; p = 0.01; n = 326). However, early tracheostomy did not reduce short-term mortality (RR 1.25; 95 % CI, 0.68-2.30; p = 0.47 n = 301) and increased the probability of ever receiving a tracheostomy (RR 1.58, 95 % CI, 1.24-2.02; 0 < 0.001; n = 377). CONCLUSIONS: Performing an early tracheostomy in acutely brain-injured patients may reduce long-term mortality, duration of mechanical ventilation, and ICU length of stay. However, waiting longer leads to fewer tracheostomy procedures and similar short-term mortality. Future research to explore the optimal timing of tracheostomy in this patient population should focus on patient-centered outcomes including patient comfort, functional outcomes, and long-term mortality.

Prolonged endotracheal intubation: a feasible option for tracheomalacia after retrosternal goitre surgery.

BACKGROUND: Tracheomalacia may be caused by long-standing compression of retrosternal goitre because of destruction of support of tracheal cartilages. Life-threatening airway collapses may occur after surgical removal of goitre. However, available literature on management methods of tracheomalacia is sparse. Our study highlights prolonged endotracheal intubation as a feasible treatment method. METHODS: This retrospective study analysed 106 thyroidectomies for retrosternal goitre performed between 1994 and 2019. We recorded each patient's clinical profile. Severe tracheomalacia was confirmed through the following: soft and floppy trachea on intra-operative palpation and the collapse of cross-sectional tracheal area measured in computed tomography (CT) images by >80%. We assessed the extent of airway stenosis of these cases. All severe cases were treated by prolonged endotracheal intubation. RESULTS: Surgical treatment was successfully performed in all 106 retrosternal goitre patients with no mortality. Seventeen severe tracheomalacia cases were confirmed. The extent of airway stenosis was assessed: the minimal tracheal diameter of compressed trachea was 0.2-0.4 [mean 0.31, standard deviation (SD) 0.06] cm, and the narrow tracheal length was 4-6.7 (mean 5.1, SD 0.6) cm. These patients underwent endotracheal intubation for 17-47 h after surgery. All patients were transferred to the general ward after extubation and successfully discharged. There were no cases of tracheal stenosis on follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Tracheomalacia is a rare but serious complication of retrosternal goitre surgery. Based on our experience, prolonged endotracheal intubation is a feasible treatment for tracheomalacia after retrosternal goitre surgery.

Subglottic Stenosis.

The subglottis is a narrow region of the pediatric airway that is exquisitely susceptible to the development of airway stenosis. The incidence of acquired subglottic stenosis in the setting of prolonged intubation has significantly decreased because of improved endotracheal tube management protocols. Advances in otolaryngology interventions, such as balloon dilation and endoscopic cricoid split techniques, may allow the avoidance of tracheostomy in patients with mild to moderate subglottic stenosis. However, patients with severe subglottic stenosis are often tracheostomy dependent. Open surgical techniques to treat severe disease, such as laryngotracheal reconstruction and cricotracheal resection, offer high rates of tracheostomy decannulation.

Fístula traqueoesofágica como complicación de la intubación endotraqueal prolongada / Tracheoesophageal fistula as a complication of prolonged endotracheal intubation

RESUMEN Introducción: La fístula traqueoesofágica consecutiva a intubación endotraqueal prolongada es una lesión grave con elevada morbimortalidad. El alto índice de sospecha, diagnóstico precoz, resolución de las complicaciones y un tratamiento quirúrgico definitivo son los pilares fundamentales en los cuales descansa su manejo correcto. Objetivo: Describir el comportamiento y manejo de la fístula traqueoesofágica en pacientes con intubación endotraqueal prolongada. Presentación del caso: Paciente de 34 años de edad que sufrió trauma craneoencefálico grave con necesidad de intubación endotraqueal prolongada. Su evolución fue favorable, con recuperación neurológica, pero presentaba tos incontrolable después de la deglución, aumento de las secreciones respiratorias y pérdida de 30 Kg de peso no resuelta, lo que motivó se le realizara tomografía computarizada multicorte dual sincronizada con el electrocardiograma, la que permitió de forma rápida y no invasiva, llegar al diagnóstico de la fístula traqueoesofágica. Conclusiones: La intubación endotraqueal prolongada constituye la causa principal de la aparición de la fístula traqueoesofágica. El mecanismo de producción fundamental fue la isquemia provocada por la compresión de las paredes posterior de la tráquea y anterior del esófago entre el manguito insuflado del tubo endotraqueal y la sonda nasogástrica. La tomografía computarizada multicorte dual sincronizada con el electrocardiograma permite realizar el diagnóstico de esta complicación.

ABSTRACT Introduction: Tracheoesophageal fistula following prolonged endotracheal intubation is a serious lesion with high morbidity and mortality. The high index of suspicion, early diagnosis, resolution of complications and definitive surgical treatment are the fundamental pillars on which its correct management rests. Objective: Describe the behavior and management of tracheoesophageal fistula in patients with prolonged endotracheal intubation. Case Presentation: A 34-year-old patient who suffered severe head trauma with the need of prolonged endotracheal intubation. His evolution was favorable, with neurological recovery, but he presented uncontrollable cough after swallowing, increased respiratory secretions and unsolved loss of 30 Kg of weight, which motivated to perform to him a dual multi-cut computed tomography synchronized with the electrocardiogram, which allowed quickly and non-invasively, to reach the diagnosis of tracheoesophageal fistula. Conclusions: Prolonged endotracheal intubation is the main cause of the appearance of tracheoesophageal fistula. The fundamental production mechanism was ischemia caused by compression of the posterior walls of the trachea and anterior walls of the esophagus between the inflated cuff of the endotracheal tube and the nasogastric tube. The dual multi-cut computed tomography synchronized with the electrocardiogram allows the diagnosis of this complication.

Clinical outcome and cost effectiveness of early tracheostomy in isolated severe head injury patients.

BACKGROUND: Early tracheostomy (ET) has been shown to be effective in reducing complications associated with prolong mechanical ventilation. The study was carried out to evaluate the role of ET in reducing the duration of mechanical ventilation, duration of intensive care unit (ICU) stay, ICU-related morbidities, and its overall effect on outcome, in patients with isolated severe traumatic brain injury (TBI). METHODS: This 7-year review included 100 ICU patients with isolated severe TBI requiring mechanical ventilation. ET was defined as tracheostomy within 7 days of TBI, and prolonged endotracheal intubation (EI) as EI exceeding 7 days of TBI. Of 100 patients, 49 underwent ET and 51 remained on prolong EI for ventilation. All patients were comparable in term of age and initial Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS). We evaluated groups regarding clinical outcome in terms of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP), ICU stay, and Glasgow Outcome Score (GOS). RESULTS: The frequency of VAP was higher in EI group relative to ET group (63% vs. 45%, P value 0.09). ET group showed significantly less ventilator days (10 days vs. 13 days, P value 0.031), ICU stay (11 days vs. 13 days, P value 0.030), complication rate (14% vs. 18%), and mortality (8.2% vs. 17.6%). Clinical outcome assessed on the basis of GOS was also better in the ET group. Total inpatient cost was also considerably less (USD $8027) in the ET group compared with the EI group (USD $9961). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with severe TBI, ET decreases total days of ventilation and ICU stay, and is associated with a decrease in the frequency of VAP. ET should be considered in severe head injury patients requiring prolong ventilatory support.