Tracheostomy has several advantages in comparison with prolonged intubation: patients's confort, best possibility of comunication, less respiratory resistance, better airway control and facility of aspiration. During September 1996 and December 1997, 70 bedside tracheostomy were performed on intensive care unit patients, under local anaesthesia, with a mean operatory time of 30.5 minutes. The main indication was prolonged mechanical intubation, with a mean of 6.5 days of orotracheal intubation. Patients were followed during the hospitalization for a total 1.494 days. In the 30 post operative day, samples for culture were collected from 49 patients. Pseudomonas aeruginosa grew in 40.8% of the cultures. There were 11 (15.7%) patients with major complications: one tracheoesophageal fistula, one necrotizing fasciitis, one tracheal ulcer two infection and six bleedings from other interventions. There was one death related to the procedure, due to a necrotizing fasciitis. The bedside tracheostomy showed itself to be a secure procedure with a low index of major complications, avoiding the patients transportation with in the hospital and with low costs in comparison with a surgical roam tracheostomy.
Tracheostomy; Endotracheal intubation; Acute respiratory failure