Survival and decannulation across indications for infant tracheostomy: a twelve-year single-center cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: Describe survival and decannulation following infant tracheostomy based on indication for tracheostomy placement. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study of infants who received tracheostomy at a single pediatric hospital over a twelve-year period. Primary and secondary indications were categorized into pulmonary, anatomic, cardiac, neurologic/musculoskeletal, and others. RESULTS: A total of 378 infants underwent tracheostomy; 323 had sufficient data to be included in analyses of post-discharge outcomes. Overall mortality was 26.3%; post-operative and post-discharge mortality differed across primary indications (P = 0.03 and P = 0.005). Among survivors, 69.3% decannulated at a median age of 3.0 years (IQR 2.3, 4.5 years). Decannulation among survivors varied across primary indications (P = 0.002), ranging from 17% to 75%. In multivariable analysis, presence of a neurologic or musculoskeletal indication for tracheostomy was a significant negative predictor of future decannulation (aOR 0.10 [95% CI 0.02-0.44], P = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS: Early childhood outcomes vary across indications for infant tracheostomy.

Operations and outcomes of a Hospital-wide Emergency Airway Response Team (HEART) in a quaternary academic children's hospital.

BACKGROUND: To improve pediatric airway management outside of the operating room, a Hospital-wide Emergency Airway Response Team (HEART) program composed of anesthesiology, otorhinolaryngology, and respiratory therapy clinicians was developed. AIMS: To report processes and outcomes of HEART activations in a quaternary academic children's hospital. METHODS: A retrospective observational cohort study between January 2017 and December 2019. Local airway emergency database was reviewed for HEART activations. Additional safety data was obtained from patients' electronic health records. PRIMARY OUTCOME: Adverse airway outcomes, either adverse tracheal intubation-associated events or oxygen desaturation (SpO2 <80%). We compared airway management by primary teams before HEART arrival and by HEART after arrival. RESULTS: Of 96 HEART activations, 36 were from neonatal intensive care unit, 35 from pediatric and cardiac intensive care units, 14 from emergency department, and 11 from inpatient wards. 56 (62%) children had airway anomalies and 41/96 (43%) were invasively ventilated. Median HEART arrival time was 5 min (interquartile range, 3-5). 56/96 (58%) required insertion of an advanced airway (supra/extra-glottic airway, endotracheal tube, tracheostomy tube). HEART succeeded in establishing a definitive airway in 53/56 (94%). Adverse airway outcomes were more common before (56/96, 58%) versus after HEART arrival (28/96, 29%; absolute risk difference 29%; 95% confidence interval 16, 41%; p < .001). Oxygen desaturation occurred more frequently before (46/96, 48%) versus after HEART arrival (24/96, 25%; absolute risk difference 23%; 95% confidence interval 11, 35%; p = .02). Cardiac arrests were more common before (9/96, 9%) versus after HEART arrival (3/96, 3%). Multiple (≥3) intubation attempts were more frequent before (14/42, 33%) versus after HEART arrival (9/46, 20%; absolute risk difference -14%; 95% confidence interval -32, 5%; p = .15). CONCLUSIONS: A multidisciplinary emergency airway response team plays an important role in pediatric airway management outside of the operating room. Adverse airway outcomes were more frequent before compared to after HEART arrival.

Tracheocutaneous Fistula After Pediatric Open Airway Reconstruction.

OBJECTIVES: Tracheocutaneous fistula (TCF) is a common occurrence after pediatric tracheostomy decannulation. However, the persistence of TCF after staged reconstruction of the pediatric airway is not well-described. The primary objective was to determine the rate of persistent TCF after successful decannulation in children with staged open airway reconstruction. METHODS: A case series with chart review of children who underwent decannulation after double-stage laryngotracheal reconstruction between 2017 and 2019. RESULTS: A total of 26 children were included. The most common open airway procedure was anterior and posterior costal cartilage grafting (84.6%, 22/26). Median age at decannulation was 3.4 years (IQR: 2.8-4.3) and occurred 7.0 months (IQR: 4.3-10.4) after airway reconstruction. TCF persisted in 84.6% (22/26) of children while 15.4% (4/26) of stomas closed spontaneously. All closures were identified by the one-month follow-up visit. There was no difference in age at tracheostomy (P = .86), age at decannulation (P = .97), duration of tracheostomy (P = .43), or gestational age (P = .23) between stomas that persisted or closed. Median diameter of stent used at reconstruction was larger in TCFs that persisted (7.0 mm vs 6.5 mm, P = .03). Tracheostomy tube diameter (P = .02) and stent size (P < .01) correlated with persistence of TCF on multivariable logistic regression analysis. There were 16 surgical closure procedures, which occurred at a median of 14.4 months (IQR: 11.4-15.4) after decannulation. Techniques included 56.3% (9/16) by primary closure, 18.8% (3/16) by secondary intention and 25% (4/16) by cartilage tracheoplasty. The overall success of closure was 93.8% (15/16) at latest follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Persistent TCF occurs in 85% of children who are successfully decannulated after staged open airway reconstruction. Spontaneous closure could be identified by 1 month after decannulation and was more likely when smaller stents and tracheostomy tubes were utilized. Surgeons should counsel families on the frequency of TCF and the potential for additional procedures needed for closure.

Timing the First Pediatric Tracheostomy Tube Change: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

OBJECTIVE: The first pediatric tracheostomy tube change often occurs within 7 days after placement; however, the optimal timing is not known. The primary objective was to determine the rate of adverse events of an early tube change. Secondary objectives compared rates of significant peristomal wounds, sedation requirements, and expedited intensive care discharges. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective randomized controlled trial. SETTING: Tertiary children's hospital between October 2018 and April 2020. METHODS: A randomized controlled trial enrolled children under 24 months to early (day 4) or late (day 7) first tracheostomy tube changes. RESULTS: Sixteen children were enrolled with 10 randomized to an early change. Median age was 5.9 months (interquartile range, 5.4-8.3), and 86.7% required tracheostomy for respiratory failure. All tracheostomy tube changes were performed without adverse events. There were no accidental decannulations. Significant wounds developed in 10% of children with early tracheostomy tube changes and 83.3% of children with late tracheostomy tube changes (odds ratio [OR], 45.0; 95% CI, 2.3-885.6; P = .01). This significant reduction in wound complications justified concluding trial enrollment. Hours of dexmedetomidine sedation (P = .11) and boluses of midazolam during the first 7 days (P = .08) were no different between groups. After the first change, 90% of the early group were discharged from intensive care within 5 weeks compared to 33.3% of patients in the late group (OR, 18.0; 95% CI, 1.2-260.9; P = .03). CONCLUSION: The first tracheostomy tube change in children can occur without adverse events on day 4, resulting in fewer significant peristomal wounds and earlier intensive care discharge.

A Critical Period in Postnatal Neuroplasticity of Olfaction: A Pediatric Tracheostomy Model.

IMPORTANCE: There is controversy over whether a critical period in the development of olfaction exists, as there is in hearing and vision, whereby early stimulation of the olfactory nerve is necessary for normal olfactory performance later in life. Children who undergo tracheotomy early in life are deprived of airflow through the nasal cavity during a critical period of development. Persistent olfactory dysfunction in this patient group after decannulation would provide evidence that postnatal stimulation of the olfactory nerve is critical to normal development. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether children who undergo early tracheotomy have persistent olfactory dysfunction following decannulation and to validate a prior study showing olfactory deficits in cannulated patients. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This was a cross-sectional study of smell function in pediatric patients with either long-term tracheostomy (cannulated), decannulated patients after long-term tracheostomy, and healthy age- and sex-matched controls, conducted in a tertiary care academic referral center, using data that were collected between 2013 and 2015. All patients were without coexisting nasal abnormalities or developmental delay that would prevent completion of testing. INTERVENTIONS: Administration of a validated pediatric smell test to all 3 patient groups. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Mean percentage correct on a validated pediatric smell test. RESULTS: In 18 patients ages 6 to 18 years, there was a statistically significant difference (P = .007) in mean percentage of correct responses on the smell test between cannulated (67%; 95% CI, 54%-79%, N = 6), decannulated (61%; 95% CI, 42%-80%, N = 6), and age-matched controls (94%; 95% CI, 90%-99%, N = 6). Analysis between groups showed statistically significant differences between both control and cannulated patients (P = .002) and between control and decannulated patients (P = .006). There was no significant difference between scores in the cannulated and decannulated groups (P = .64). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: This pilot study suggests that olfactory deficits from early chronic tracheostomy persist following decannulation and provides early data suggestive of a critical period in the postnatal development and neuroplasticity of olfaction.

Using medical-error reporting to drive patient safety efforts.

IMPROVING PATIENT SAFETY has become one of the driving forces in health care delivery. Honest, accurate disclosure of medical errors and close calls is crucial to gain a better grasp of problems, make effective changes, and evaluate progress. ALTHOUGH FEAR OF MALPRACTICE litigation remains a major deterrent to medical-error reporting, disclosure allows organizations to benefit from one another's experiences. Accountability necessitates mandatory reporting to external organizations, but a wide variety of reporting systems exist, each with its own advantages and shortcomings. National standardized reporting is a major objective for the patient safety movement. STAFF MEMBER INVESTMENT is a key factor in the safety process and needs to extend beyond the reporting procedure.

Postoperative recovery after microdebrider intracapsular or monopolar electrocautery tonsillectomy: a prospective, randomized, single-blinded study.

OBJECTIVE: To prospectively assess the postoperative recovery in patients randomly selected to receive either microdebrider intracapsular tonsillectomy (MT) or monopolar electrocautery tonsillectomy (ET). DESIGN: A prospective, randomized, single-blinded study. SETTING: Tertiary care children's hospital. PATIENTS: A total of 74 patients between the ages of 3 and 7 years undergoing adenotonsillectomy for obstruction were randomly assigned to the MT and ET groups. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Families were blinded to the technique used and given a checklist to fill out daily quantifying pain, activity, diet, and the number of doses of pain medication given over a 10-day period. Other variables assessed included the time of surgery and intraoperative blood loss. RESULTS: The average time of surgery was 16.9 minutes for ET compared with 20.9 minutes for MT (P<.001). The average blood loss was 30 mL for ET compared with 45 mL for MT (P = .01). Resumption of near-normal dietary intake was achieved 1.7 days earlier in patients receiving MT compared with ET (P = .04). There was no significant difference in the number of days taken for the resolution of pain or resumption of normal activity between the 2 groups. CONCLUSIONS: Microdebrider tonsillectomy takes over 4 minutes longer to perform compared with ET and has slightly higher intraoperative blood loss. There appears to be a slight advantage in the resumption of normal dietary intake with MT but no significant difference in the number of days taken for the resolution of pain or resumption of normal activity.