ABSTRACT
Introduction:
percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy is currently one of the main procedures performed in an intensive care unit (ICU). However, there are no well-defined indicators of technical difficulty in performing the procedure.
Objectives:
to define predictors of difficulty in performing bedside percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy.
Methodology:
prospective cohort study encompassing 21 patients who underwent bedside percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy in the ICU at a single center.
Results:
Sternohyoid (SH) distance shorter than 7 cm is associated with a 50% increase in the risk of technical difficulty (OR 0.44 and p <0.03).
Conclusion:
the reduction in (SH) distance is related to an increased risk of difficulty in performing percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy in the ICU bed.
Keywords:
Tracheostomy; Airway Management; Intensive Care Units