Accuracy of ChatGPT responses on tracheotomy for patient education.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the accuracy of information provided by ChatGPT-4o to patients about tracheotomy. METHODS: Twenty common questions of patients about tracheotomy were presented to ChatGPT-4o twice (7-day intervals). The accuracy, clarity, relevance, completeness, referencing, and usefulness of responses were assessed by a board-certified otolaryngologist and a board-certified intensive care unit practitioner with the Quality Analysis of Medical Artificial Intelligence (QAMAI) tool. The interrater reliability and the stability of the ChatGPT-4o responses were evaluated with intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and Pearson correlation analysis. RESULTS: The total scores of QAMAI were 22.85 ± 4.75 for the intensive care practitioner and 21.45 ± 3.95 for the otolaryngologist, which consists of moderate-to-high accuracy. The otolaryngologist and the ICU practitioner reported high ICC (0.807; 95%CI: 0.655-0.911). The highest QAMAI scores have been found for clarity and completeness of explanations. The QAMAI scores for the accuracy of the information and the referencing were the lowest. The information related to the post-laryngectomy tracheostomy remains incomplete or erroneous. ChatGPT-4o did not provide references for their responses. The stability analysis reported high stability in regenerated questions. CONCLUSION: The accuracy of ChatGPT-4o is moderate-to-high in providing information related to the tracheotomy. However, patients using ChatGPT-4o need to be cautious about the information related to tracheotomy care, steps, and the differences between temporary and permanent tracheotomies.

Neurophysiological Assessment in Children with Vocal Fold Paralysis: A Tertiary Center Experience.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to report on experience acquired during the laryngeal electrophysiological assessment with Co-MEP and L-EMG in pediatric patients with acquired, congenital, and syndromic vocal fold paralysis (VFP), and correlate our findings with patients' characteristics, their comorbidities, and VFP etiology. METHODS: Pediatric patients with suspected or previously diagnosed unilateral or bilateral VFP underwent electrophysiological records under general anesthesia; corticobulbar motor-evoked potentials (Co-MEPs) and laryngeal electromyography (L-EMG) of thyroarytenoid (TA) and posterior cricoarytenoid (PCA) muscles were recorded. RESULTS: Statistical analysis revealed a statistically significant correlation between early gestational age at childbirth and TA muscle intensity (p = 0.002) and PCA muscle intensity (p = 0.002); tracheostomy presence and TA muscle intensity (p = 0.002) and PCA muscle intensity (p = 0.002); presence of genetic anomalies with intensity and latency for TA muscle and latency for PCA muscle (TA latency p = 0.015, TA intensity p = 0.021, PCA latency p = 0.035); congenital presentation of VFP and an increased intensity for TA muscle (p = 0.04); latency and intensity for TA muscle (p = 0.024); TA muscle intensity and PCA intensity (p = 0.005). CONCLUSION: Intraoperative Co-MEPs and L-EMG are two complementary tools for evaluating the functional integrity of the structures involved in conveying signals from the motor cortex to TA and PCA muscles in children with vocal fold paralysis. Further studies are needed to establish their ability to predict the recovery of VF mobility, which could potentially lead to decannulation. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level 4 Laryngoscope, 2024.

Delayed admission to hospital with proper prehospital treatments prevents severely burned patients from sepsis in China: A retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: Sepsis is one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality in burn patients. However, the optimal timing of admission which can minimize the probability of sepsis is still unclear. This study aims to determine the optimal time period of admission for severely burned patients and find out the possible reasons for it. METHOD: 185 victims to the Kunshan factory aluminum dust explosion accident, which happened on August 2nd, 2014, were studied. The optimal cutpoint for continuous variables in survival models was determined by means of the maximally selected rank statistic. Univariate and multivariate analyses were further conducted to verify that admission time was not a risk factor for sepsis. Subgroup analyses were performed to find out possible contributing factors for the result. RESULT: The cutoff point for admission time was determined as seven hours, which was supported by the survival curve (p < 0.001). Multivariate analysis showed that, in our study population, delayed admission time was not a risk factor for sepsis (HR = 0.610, 95 %CI = 0.415 - 0.896, p = 0.012). Subgroup analyses showed that "Tracheotomy before admission" (p = 0.002), "Whole blood transfusion" (p < 0.001), "Hemodynamic instability before admission" (p = 0.02), "Has a burn department in the hospital" (p = 0.009), "Has a burn ICU in the hospital" (p < 0.001), "Acute heart failure (AHF)" (p = 0.05), "acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)" (p = 0.05) and "GI bleeding" (p = 0.04) were all statistically significant. CONCLUSION: In our study population, we found that delayed admission time was not a risk factor associated with a reduced incidence of sepsis among severely burned patients. This might be attributed to variations in prehospital treatments (whole blood transfusion and tracheotomy), whether the hospital had a burn department/ICU, and certain complications (AHF, ARDS and GI bleeding). It can be inferred that early prehospital care plays a crucial role in reducing sepsis risk among severe burn patients.

High-Riding Innominate Artery: Booby Trap for ICU Tracheotomy.

Despite tracheotomy being a routine procedure, it is not rare to encounter anatomic irregularities that can compromise its success. In this report, we describe a case in which a high riding innominate artery was identified within the surgical trajectory moments before incision, which ultimately necessitated airway securement using an alternative laryngological procedure. Laryngoscope, 2024.

Predictors of pharyngeal electrical stimulation treatment success in tracheotomised stroke patients with dysphagia: Secondary analysis from PHADER cohort study.

Pharyngeal electrical stimulation (PES) has emerged as a promising intervention for neurogenic dysphagia, with potential benefits in reducing dysphagia severity in stroke patients. PES may facilitate decannulation in tracheotomised stroke patients with dysphagia, yet the predictive factors for treatment success have not been investigated in detail. This study used data from the PHAryngeal electrical stimulation for treatment of neurogenic Dysphagia European Registry (PHADER) study to identify predictive factors for PES treatment success among patients with post stroke dysphagia who required mechanical ventilation and tracheotomy. Multiple linear regression was performed to predict treatment success, as measured in improvement in dysphagia severity rating scale (DSRS), accounting for age, sex, stroke type, lesion location, baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score, feeding status, time from stroke onset to PES, PES perceptual threshold and PES stimulation intensity at the first session. Cox regression was conducted to identify the predictors for decannulation for all participants. Ninety-eight participants (mean [SD] age â€‹= â€‹66.6 [13.0]; male 73.5%) were included in the analyses. Regression analyses showed that early intervention (p â€‹= â€‹0.004) and younger age (p â€‹= â€‹0.049) were significant predictors for treatment success. For participants who received PES during tracheotomy (n â€‹= â€‹60; mean [SD] age â€‹= â€‹66.6 [11.2]; male 73.3%), supratentorial stroke (p â€‹= â€‹0.033) and feeding status at baseline (p â€‹= â€‹0.025) were predictors of treatment success. Among all participants, early intervention was associated with higher likelihood of decannulation (p â€‹= â€‹0.026). These results highlight the importance of timely intervention, age and stroke location in PES treatment success for stroke patients with mechanical ventilation and tracheotomy.

Deterioration of Vocal Cord Paralysis after COVID-19 Infection in Multiple System Atrophy.

Multiple system atrophy (MSA) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that often causes vocal cord paralysis (VCP), Parkinsonism, cerebellar ataxia, and autonomic dysfunction. VCP is the most fatal symptom that affects the prognosis of patients with MSA. Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is often associated with neurological complications and it has recently been reported to induce VCP in patients without neurodegenerative diseases. We herein present two cases of patients with MSA in whom VCP worsened after COVID-19 and this led to the need to perform emergency tracheostomies. As VCP may deteriorate after COVID-19 in patients with MSA, it is important to prevent COVID-19 in these patients and closely monitor such patients for any signs of VCP deterioration post-infection to improve their prognosis.

Elevating Tracheostomy Care Through Data-Driven Innovation: What Can Education, Evidence-Based Practice, and Quality Improvement Learn from One Another?

The past decade has witnessed unprecedented progress in tracheostomy care, through communication, dissemination, and implementation of key drivers including interprofessional education, team-based care, standardized protocols, patient and family engagement, and data-driven practice. Improved safety, efficiency, and quality of tracheostomy care reflects contributions from fields of competency-based education, evidence-based practice, and quality improvement. These elements are interconnected, reinforcing one another to enhance patient care. Competency-based interactive education emphasizes active and practical learning through simulations and case studies, which enhance the clinical skills essential for high-quality care. These educational strategies are grounded in clinical research, ensuring that care practices are continually updated and aligned with the latest evidence, thereby bridging the gap between research findings and clinical application. Quality improvement processes such as Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycles refine care delivery in real-world settings. Implementation science promotes the uptake of evidence-based practices, ensuring that discoveries translate to improved health outcomes, quality of care, and overall system performance. In each of these domains, patient and family engagement ensures alignment with patient needs and values. The Global Tracheostomy Collaborative leverages this integrated approach through international educational symposia and webinars, comprehensive data analyses, and a learning community that promotes innovative technologies like in situ simulation and augmented and virtual reality. Together, these approaches enhance the learning and application of best practices in tracheostomy care. The continuous, dynamic interaction of education, research, and quality improvement, grounded in patient-centered care, fosters excellence and innovation in care of patients with tracheostomy.

A Simulated Tracheostomy Tube Change Educational Intervention to Promote Competency Among Novice Healthcare Professionals: A Repeated Measures Study.

Objective: To evaluate an educational intervention to promote confidence, knowledge, and skills in tracheostomy tube change among nursing students. Methods: The study, conducted at the at the Johns Hopkins Center for Immersive Learning and Digital Innovation, enrolled nursing students without prior experience in tracheostomy tube change. The intervention included a pre-recorded presentation, faculty demonstrations with a Tracheostomy Care Training Simulation Model, and participant practice demonstrating skills. Primary outcomes included confidence, knowledge, and competency with tracheostomy tube changes. Secondary outcomes included number of attempts required to achieve competency and time required per attempt. The study followed STROBE guidelines with repeated measure design. Results: Participants in the study (n=50) had a mean age of 30 years, were predominantly female (83%) with a bachelor's degree (76%), most often in the third semester of nursing school (45%). Participants showed a mean improvement of 3.58 points out of five (SD: 0.56, P<0.001) across 11 pre- and post-test items. Every confidence assessment improved, with the largest increase in assessing tube placement. Knowledge assessments improved across all eight test items in the first test-retest interval, showing an improvement of 1.14 points out of five (SD: 0.89, P<0.001). Competency assessment improved in the first test-retest interval of 1.01 points out of five (SD: 0.65, P<0.001). On serial assessments, time to complete tracheostomy tube change decreased from 2.39 to 0.60 minutes. Faculty deemed 95% of participants competent after only one skill testing iteration. Conclusion: An educational intervention, combining digital presentations with interactive faculty-led simulations and practical skill assessments, successfully elevated nursing students' confidence, knowledge, and competency in tracheostomy tube changes.

Impact of Tracheostomy Status on Sternal Wound Infections in Children Following Median Sternotomy.

OBJECTIVE: Sternal wound infection (SWI) is a rare but potentially life-threatening complication in children following sternotomy. Risk factors include young age, extended preoperative hospitalization, and prolonged ventilatory support. Few studies have explored the impact of pre-existing tracheostomy on SWI in pediatric patients. The purpose of this study is to measure the effect of tracheostomy and other factors on SWI in children undergoing sternotomy. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study of a 12 year period. SETTING: Tertiary children's hospital. METHODS: Children with a tracheostomy prior to sternotomy (TPS) were identified and matched by age, height, and weight to children who underwent sternotomy alone. Demographics, medical comorbidities, surgical details, SWI diagnosis and management information, and surgical outcomes were collected. RESULTS: We identified 60 unique individuals representing 80 sternotomies. The incidence of SWI was 22.5% (n = 9) in children with a tracheostomy and 2.5% (n = 1) in those without. The incidence of SWI was greater in children with a tracheostomy (90% vs 10% in those without, P = .007) and underlying pulmonary disease (90% vs 10% in those without, P = .020). Infections in the TPS group also demonstrated greater frequency of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (n = 3) and polymicrobial growth (n = 2). CONCLUSION: The risk of developing a SWI in children undergoing sternotomy is significantly greater in those with a tracheostomy and underlying pulmonary disease. Further study is needed to understand other contributing factors and ways to mitigate this risk.

The dragonfly technique for trachea closure in temporary tracheostomies. Surgical steps and clinical results.

PURPOSE: To assess the effectiveness of a new suturing technique called Dragonfly for the closure of temporary tracheotomies. This technique involves placing two sutures during the tracheotomy procedure and leaving them loose and unknotted until the day of skin closure. METHODS: Retrospective case control study. Monocentric study at a department of Otolaryngology and head and neck surgery at a tertiary centre in Italy. A total of 50 patients who underwent temporary tracheotomy between January 2017 and December 2021. Patients were divided into two groups based on the trachea closure method: traditional closure with sutures placed during the skin closure procedure (Group A) and the Dragonfly technique (Group B). The incidence of tracheal stenosis by Computed Tomography (CT), granulation tissue formation, bleeding, procedure duration, patient discomfort were evaluated. RESULTS: The incidence of tracheal complications and tracheal stenosis was reduced in Group B (6%) compared to Group A (24%). Procedure times (3 min vs. 6 min) durations was significantly shorter. No patients had symptoms of tracheal stenosis at the end of the procedures. CONCLUSION: The Dragonfly suturing technique is effective and safe for tracheotomy closure, reducing the incidence of tracheal stenosis and shortening hospitalization duration compared to the traditional method.

Tissue-engineered tracheal implants: Advancements, challenges, and clinical considerations.

Restoration of extensive tracheal damage remains a significant challenge in respiratory medicine, particularly in instances stemming from conditions like infection, congenital anomalies, or stenosis. The trachea, an essential element of the lower respiratory tract, constitutes a fibrocartilaginous tube spanning approximately 10-12 cm in length. It is characterized by 18 ± 2 tracheal cartilages distributed anterolaterally with the dynamic trachealis muscle located posteriorly. While tracheotomy is a common approach for patients with short-length defects, situations requiring replacement arise when the extent of lesion exceeds 1/2 of the length in adults (or 1/3 in children). Tissue engineering (TE) holds promise in developing biocompatible airway grafts for addressing challenges in tracheal regeneration. Despite the potential, the extensive clinical application of tissue-engineered tracheal substitutes encounters obstacles, including insufficient revascularization, inadequate re-epithelialization, suboptimal mechanical properties, and insufficient durability. These limitations have led to limited success in implementing tissue-engineered tracheal implants in clinical settings. This review provides a comprehensive exploration of historical attempts and lessons learned in the field of tracheal TE, contextualizing the clinical prerequisites and vital criteria for effective tracheal grafts. The manufacturing approaches employed in TE, along with the clinical application of both tissue-engineered and non-tissue-engineered approaches for tracheal reconstruction, are discussed in detail. By offering a holistic view on TE substitutes and their implications for the clinical management of long-segment tracheal lesions, this review aims to contribute to the understanding and advancement of strategies in this critical area of respiratory medicine.

Validation of a Novel Mobile Application for Assessing Pediatric Tracheostomy Emergency Simulations.

Objective: Pediatric tracheostomy is associated with high morbidity and mortality, yet clinician knowledge and quality of tracheostomy care may vary widely. In situ simulation is effective at detecting and mitigating related latent safety threats, but evaluation via retrospective video review has disadvantages (eg, delayed analysis, and potential data loss). We evaluated whether a novel mobile application is accurate and reliable for assessment of in situ tracheostomy emergency simulations. Methods: A novel mobile application was developed for assessment of tracheostomy emergency in situ simulation team performance. After 1.25 hours of training, 6 raters scored 10 tracheostomy emergency simulation videos for the occurrence and timing of 12 critical steps. To assess accuracy, rater scores were compared to a reference standard to determine agreement for occurrence or absence of critical steps and a timestamp within ±5 seconds. Interrater reliability was determined through Cohen's and Fleiss' kappa and intraclass correlation coefficient. Results: Raters had 86.0% agreement with the reference standard when considering step occurrence and timing, and 92.8% agreement when considering only occurrence. The average timestamp difference from the reference standard was 1.3 ± 18.5 seconds. Overall interrater reliability was almost perfect for both step occurrence (Fleiss' kappa of 0.81) and timing of step (intraclass correlation coefficient of 0.99). Discussion: Using our novel mobile application, raters with minimal training accurately and reliably assessed videos of tracheostomy emergency simulations and identified areas for future refinement. Implications for Practice: With refinements, this innovative mobile application is an effective tool for real-time data capture of time-critical steps in in situ tracheostomy emergency simulations.

Features related to temporary tracheotomy in patients undergoing Transoral Robotic Surgery (TORS) for supraglottic squamous cell cancer of the larynx: A systematic review.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this systematic review is to assess a relation between demographical, clinical and tumoral features and the need for a prophylactic tracheotomy during TORS procedure in patients affected by supraglottic laryngeal cancer. METHODS: PRISMA 2020 guidelines were applied in this systematic literature review. A computerized search was performed using the Embase/Pubmed, Scopus and Cochrane database, for articles published from 2007 to December 2023. A statistical univariate analysis including selected papers with low or intermediate risk of bias was performed. RESULTS: Through a study selection process 8 full texts were eligible for statistical univariate analysis. The most relevant factor related to a prophylactic tracheotomy was a contextual bilateral cervical nodes dissection, which increased the need for a tracheotomy of about 3 times. Other factors contribute with a minor impact, such as a patients age >60 years at the time of the diagnosis, a cervical lymph node metastasis and a false vocal fold involvement. Each ones increase by 20-70 % the need for a tracheotomy. However, this rate is decreased by about 60 % by the epiglottis involvement. CONCLUSIONS: The prophylactic tracheotomy is considered a temporary protection strategy to achieve a valid recovery after TORS procedure. However, there are no guidelines regarding its routinely use. Only 25 % of patients undergone tracheotomy during TORS to treat supraglottic laryngeal cancer. These preliminary results may add more significant evidence regarding the use of tracheotomy during the TORS procedure, in order possibly to help the surgeon decide preoperatively whether to perform it or not.

Prognostic impact of elective tracheotomy in resected oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma: A nationwide cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Elective tracheotomy is commonly performed in resected oral squamous cell carcinoma (OCSCC) to maintain airway patency. However, the indications for this procedure vary among surgeons. This nationwide study evaluated the impact of tracheotomy on both the duration of in-hospital stay and long-term survival outcomes in patients with OCSCC. METHODS: A total of 18,416 patients with OCSCC were included in the analysis, comprising 7981 patients who underwent elective tracheotomy and 10,435 who did not. The primary outcomes assessed were 5-year disease-specific survival (DSS) and overall survival (OS). To minimize potential confounding factors, a propensity score (PS)-matched analysis was performed on 4301 patients from each group. The duration of hospital stay was not included as a variable in the PS-matched analysis. RESULTS: Prior to PS matching, patients with tracheotomy had significantly lower 5-year DSS and OS rates compared to those without (71% vs. 82%, p < 0.0001; 62% vs. 75%, p < 0.0001, respectively). Multivariable analysis identified tracheotomy as an independent adverse prognostic factor for 5-year DSS (hazard ratio = 1.10 [1.03-1.18], p = 0.0063) and OS (hazard ratio = 1.10 [1.04-1.17], p = 0.0015). In the PS-matched cohort, the 5-year DSS was 75% for patients with tracheotomy and 76% for those without (p = 0.1488). Five-year OS rates were 66% and 67%, respectively (p = 0.0808). Prior to PS matching, patients with tracheotomy had a significantly longer mean hospital stay compared to those without (23.37 ± 10.56 days vs. 14.19 ± 8.34 days; p < 0.0001). Following PS matching, the difference in hospital stay duration between the two groups remained significant (22.34 ± 10.25 days vs. 17.59 ± 9.54 days; p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: While elective tracheotomy in resected OCSCC patients may not significantly affect survival, it could be associated with prolonged hospital stays.

Tracheostomy Incidence and Complications: A National Database Analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the incidence of tracheostomy-related complications and identify prognostic risk factors. STUDY DESIGN: Administrative database analysis. SETTING: Outpatient and inpatient insurance claims records obtained from a national database. METHODS: PearlDiver, a private analytics database of insurance claims from Medicare, Medicaid, and commercial insurance companies, was used to identify patients who underwent tracheostomies and associated complications between January 2010 and October 2021 by CPT and ICD-9/ICD-10 codes. RESULTS: A total of 198,143 tracheostomies were identified from PearlDiver, and at least 1 tracheostomy-related complication occurred within 90 days of the procedure in 22,802 (10.3%) of these cases. The proportion of tracheostomy-related complications was 2.3 times higher in 2019 compared to 2010 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.18-2.52). The risk of developing tracheostomy-complications was associated with the hospital region (highest in the Midwest as compared to the West [odds ratio [OR] = 1.32; 95% CI: 1.25-1.39]), provider specialty (highest for otolaryngologists as compared to nonsurgical physicians [OR = 2.22; 95% CI: 2.10-2.34]), insurance plan type (lowest for cash payment compared to Medicaid [OR = 0.70, 95% CI: 0.50-0.94]), and Elixhauser Comorbidity Index (ECI) (highest in patients with ECI of 7+ compared to 0-1 [OR = 2.96; 95% CI: 2.17-3.24]), but was not significantly associated with patient age (OR = 0.99; 95% CI: 0.99-0.99), or gender (OR = 1.04; 95% CI: 1.01-1.07). CONCLUSIONS: Complications after tracheostomy are common and sicker patients are at higher risk for complications. Identifying factors associated with increased risk for complications could help to improve patient and family counseling, guide quality improvement initiatives, and inform future studies on tracheostomy outcomes.

Impact of Obesity on Timing of Tracheotomy: A Multi-institutional Retrospective Study.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the impact of increased body mass index (BMI) on (1) tracheotomy timing and (2) short-term surgical complications requiring a return to the operating room and 30-day mortality utilizing data from the Multi-Institutional Study on Tracheotomy (MIST). METHODS: A retrospective analysis of patients from the MIST database who underwent surgical or percutaneous tracheotomy between 2013 and 2016 at eight institutions was completed. Unadjusted and adjusted logistic regression analyses were used to assess the impact of obesity on tracheotomy timing and complications. RESULTS: Among the 3369 patients who underwent tracheotomy, 41.0% were obese and 21.6% were morbidly obese. BMI was associated with higher rates of prolonged intubation prior to tracheotomy accounting for comorbidities, indication for tracheotomy, institution, and type of tracheostomy (p = 0.001). Morbidly obese patients (BMI ≥35 kg/m2) experienced a longer duration of intubation compared with patients with a normal BMI (median days intubated [IQR 25%-75%]: 11.0 days [7-17 days] versus 9.0 days [5-14 days]; p < 0.001) but did not have statistically higher rates of return to the operating room within 30 days (p = 0.12) or mortality (p = 0.90) on multivariable analysis. This same finding of prolonged intubation was not seen in overweight, nonobese patients when compared with normal BMI patients (median days intubated [IQR 25%-75%]: 10.0 days [6-15 days] versus 10.0 days [6-15 days]; p = 0.36). CONCLUSION: BMI was associated with increased duration of intubation prior to tracheotomy. Although morbidly obese patients had a longer duration of intubation, there were no differences in return to the operating room or mortality within 30 days. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 3 Laryngoscope, 134:4674-4681, 2024.

Establishment and validation of a predictive model for tracheotomy in critically ill patients and analysis of the impact of different tracheotomy timing on patient prognosis.

BACKGROUND: In critically ill patients receiving invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV), it is unable to determine early which patients require tracheotomy and whether early tracheotomy is beneficial. METHODS: Clinical data of patients who were first admitted to the ICU and underwent invasive ventilation for more than 24 h in the Medical Information Marketplace in Intensive Care (MIMIC)-IV database were retrospectively collected. Patients were categorized into successful extubation and tracheotomy groups according to whether they were subsequently successfully extubated or underwent tracheotomy. The patients were randomly divided into model training set and validation set in a ratio of 7:3. Constructing predictive models and evaluating and validating the models. The tracheotomized patients were divided into the early tracheotomy group (< = 7 days) and the late tracheotomy group (> 7 days), and the prognosis of the two groups was analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 7 key variables were screened: Glasgow coma scale (GCS) score, pneumonia, traumatic intracerebral hemorrhage, hemorrhagic stroke, left and right pupil responses to light, and parenteral nutrition. The area under the receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve of the prediction model constructed through these seven variables was 0.897 (95% CI: 0.876-0.919), and 0.896 (95% CI: 0.866-0.926) for the training and validation sets, respectively. Patients in the early tracheotomy group had a shorter length of hospital stay, IMV duration, and sedation duration compared to the late tracheotomy group (p < 0.05), but there was no statistically significant difference in survival outcomes between the two groups. CONCLUSION: The prediction model constructed and validated based on the MIMIC-IV database can accurately predict the outcome of tracheotomy in critically ill patients. Meanwhile, early tracheotomy in critically ill patients does not improve survival outcomes but has potential advantages in shortening the duration of hospitalization, IMV, and sedation.

The Safety of Pediatric Bedside Tracheostomy.

OBJECTIVE: Traditionally, pediatric tracheostomy has been viewed as a technically demanding procedure with a high complication rate, requiring the routine use of a formal operating room. Pediatric bedside tracheostomy in an intensive care unit (ICU) setting has not been widely reported, in contrast to the widespread adult bedside ICU tracheostomy. Transport of these critically ill, multiple life support systems dependent patients can be technically difficult, labor intensive, and potentially risky for these patients. Our study aimed to demonstrate the safety and efficacy of bedside tracheostomy in the pediatric ICU. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis of all pediatric patients undergoing tracheostomy at a tertiary care center, between 1st of January 2013 and 31st of December 2019. RESULTS: During the study period, 117 pediatric patients underwent tracheostomy, 57 (48.7%) were performed bedside while 60 (51.3%) were performed in the operating room. Patients' ages ranged from 2 weeks to 17 years of age, with a median age of 16 months. No case of bedside tracheostomy necessitated a shift to the operating room. There was no difference in 30-day morbidity and mortality between the 2 groups. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that pediatric open bedside tracheostomy in an ICU setting is a safe procedure, with similar complications and outcomes compared to tracheostomy performed in the operating room.

Immediate Ansa cervicalis-to-recurrent laryngeal nerve low-tension anastomosis: A new technique for phonation recovery and bilateral anastomoses to avoid tracheotomy.

OBJECTIVE: This case series study investigated the outcomes of an innovative approach, ansa cervicalis nerve (ACN)-to-recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) low-tension anastomosis. METHODS: Patients who received laryngeal nerve anastomosis between May 2015 and September 2021 at the facility were enrolled. The inclusion criteria were patients with RLN dissection and anastomosis immediately during thyroid surgery. Exclusion criteria were cases with anastomosis other than cervical loop-RLN anastomosis or pronunciation recovery time > 6 months. Patients admitted before January 2020 were assigned to group A which underwent the conventional tension-free anastomosis, and patients admitted after January 2020 were group B and underwent the innovative low-tension anastomosis (Dong's method). RESULTS: A total of 13 patients were included, 11 patients received unilateral surgery, and 2 underwent bilateral surgery. For patients who underwent unilateral anastomosis, group B had a significantly higher percentage of normal pronunciation via GRBAS scale (83.3 % vs. 0 %, p = 0.015) and voice handicap index (66.7 % vs. 0 %, p = 0.002), and shorter recovery time in pronunciation (median: 1-day vs. 4 months, p = 0.001) than those in group A after surgery. CONCLUSIONS: ACNs-to-RLN low-tension anastomosis with a laryngeal segment ≤1 cm (Dong's method) significantly improves postoperative pronunciation and recovery time. The results provide clinicians with a new strategy for ACN -to-RLN anastomosis during thyroid surgery.

Characteristics of tracheostomized patients followed up by a Palliative Care and Complex Chronic Patient Service.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: In recent years, there has been an increase in the number of children with tracheostomies. The objective was to describe the characteristics of paediatric patients with a tracheostomy followed up by the Department of Palliative Care and Chronic Medically Complex Illness (DPCCMCI) of a tertiary care hospital. METHODS: Single-centre retrospective observational study in patients aged less than 18 years with a tracheostomy followed up by the PCCCPS of a tertiary care hospital (November 2020-June 2022). We analysed epidemiological, clinical, microbiological and social data by reviewing the health records. RESULTS: The sample included 44 tracheostomized patients. The most frequent underlying disease was acquired upper airway disease (20.5%). The most common indication for tracheostomy was upper airway obstruction (66%). Bacterial isolates were detected in 84% of the tracheal aspirates, among which P. aeruginosa was the most frequent (56.8%). The most frequently prescribed antibiotic was ciprofloxacin (84%). In addition, 18.1% of the patients received at least 1 course of intravenous antibiotherapy and 29.5% received more than 3 systemic antibiotic regimens in the past 20 months. Fifty-nine percent of the children were schooled: 38.6% attended a regular school, 15.9% a special needs school and 4.5% were home-schooled. We identified social difficulties in 53.7%. Also, 22.7% of the families received financial support to care for a child with severe illness. CONCLUSIONS: Because of the complexity of caring for tracheostomized children, integral and coordinated management is essential. Schooling is possible and safe if caregivers are trained.