Safety of Percutaneous Dilatational Tracheostomy in Critically Ill Adults With Obesity: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess the safety and efficacy of endoscopic percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy (PDT) in obese and nonobese critically ill adults. METHODS: A retrospective study of all cases of PDT performed at two academic health centers between 2016 and 2023 was conducted. Primary outcomes included peri- and postoperative complications stratified by both timing and severity. body mass index (BMI) data were stratified according to the World Health Organization classification (class I obesity defined as BMI ≥ 30, class II obesity ≥35 and <40, class 3 obesity ≥40). RESULTS: Totally 336 patients underwent a PDT, 279 of whom had available BMI data 193 (69.2%) patients had a normal BMI, 56 (20.1%) had class I obesity, 15 (5.4%) class II obesity, and 15 (5.4%) class III obesity. The overall complication rates for the class I, II, and III obesity were 8.9%, 13.3%, and 13.3%, respectively. All procedures were successfully completed at the bedside (no conversions to an open approach), and there was no procedure-related mortality. The only accidental decannulation event was in a patient with class III obesity. There was no difference in overall complication rates between patients without obesity and patients with obesity (7.3% vs. 10.5%, respectively, p = 0.370). CONCLUSION: This study significantly expands the current literature and represents one of the largest studies to date reporting on PDT in patients with obesity. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE 3 Laryngoscope, 2024.