An Overview of Complications Associated with Open and Percutaneous Tracheostomy Procedures

Overview

Journal Int J Crit Illn Inj Sci

Specialty Critical Care

Date 2015 Nov 12

PMID 26557488

Citations 45

Authors

Anthony Cipriano

Melissa L Mao

Heidi H Hon

Daniel Vazquez

Stanislaw P Stawicki

Richard P Sharpe

David C Evans

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Tracheostomy, whether open or percutaneous, is a commonly performed procedure and is intended to provide long-term surgical airway for patients who are dependent on mechanical ventilatory support or require (for various reasons) an alternative airway conduit. Due to its invasive and physiologically critical nature, tracheostomy placement can be associated with significant morbidity and even mortality. This article provides a comprehensive overview of commonly encountered complications that may occur during and after the tracheal airway placement, including both short- and long-term postoperative morbidity.

Citing Articles

Factors influencing the ability of health professionals to manage of tracheal intubation and tracheal extubation in oral and maxillofacial malignancies patients following surgery: a qualitative study.

Xu Z, Zou Q, Yang Y, Gu F Support Care Cancer. 2025; 33(3):162.

PMID: 39918652 DOI: 10.1007/s00520-025-09224-z.

Challenges in the anesthetic management of a pediatric patient with glottic web - A lesson.

Elangobaalan S, Rudingwa P, Rengarajan M Saudi J Anaesth. 2024; 18(3):461-463.

PMID: 39149749 PMC: 11323912. DOI: 10.4103/sja.sja_132_24.

Reducing Tracheostomy-Related Acquired Pressure Injury by Flipping the Ventilator Circuit Position Study.

Niroula A, Yang P, Campbell M, Cruse A, Gizaw R, Vannostrand K Crit Care Explor. 2024; 6(6):e1102.

PMID: 38842419 PMC: 11161296. DOI: 10.1097/CCE.0000000000001102.

Surgical and procedural antibiotic prophylaxis in the surgical ICU: an American Association for the Surgery of Trauma Critical Care Committee clinical consensus document.

Farrell M, Agapian J, Appelbaum R, Filiberto D, Gelbard R, Hoth J Trauma Surg Acute Care Open. 2024; 9(1):e001305.

PMID: 38835633 PMC: 11149119. DOI: 10.1136/tsaco-2023-001305.

Evaluation of the Effect of Morphological Structure on Dilatational Tracheostomy Interference Location and Complications with Ultrasonography and Fiberoptic Bronchoscopy.

Bulut E, Arslan Yildiz U, Cengiz M, Yilmaz M, Kavakli A, Arici A J Clin Med. 2024; 13(10).

PMID: 38792330 PMC: 11122435. DOI: 10.3390/jcm13102788.

References

Kapadia F, Tekawade P, Nath S, Pachpute S, Saverkar S, Bhise R . A prolonged observational study of tracheal tube displacements: Benchmarking an incidence <0.5-1% in a medical-surgical adult intensive care unit. Indian J Crit Care Med. 2014; 18(5):273-7. PMC: 4047687. DOI: 10.4103/0972-5229.132466. View

Edelson R, LoCicero 3rd J . Delayed hemorrhage from an anomalous carotid artery following tracheostomy. Am Surg. 1989; 55(8):488-91. View

Sue R, Susanto I . Long-term complications of artificial airways. Clin Chest Med. 2003; 24(3):457-71. DOI: 10.1016/s0272-5231(03)00048-0. View

McClelland R . Complications of tracheostomy. Br Med J. 1965; 2(5461):567-9. PMC: 1845925. DOI: 10.1136/bmj.2.5461.567. View

Halum S, Ting J, Plowman E, Belafsky P, Harbarger C, Postma G . A multi-institutional analysis of tracheotomy complications. Laryngoscope. 2011; 122(1):38-45. DOI: 10.1002/lary.22364. View

Spaite D, Joseph M . Prehospital cricothyrotomy: an investigation of indications, technique, complications, and patient outcome. Ann Emerg Med. 1990; 19(3):279-85. DOI: 10.1016/s0196-0644(05)82045-1. View

Lesnik I, Rappaport W, Fulginiti J, Witzke D . The role of early tracheostomy in blunt, multiple organ trauma. Am Surg. 1992; 58(6):346-9. View

Massick D, Powell D, PRICE P, Chang S, Squires G, Forrest L . Quantification of the learning curve for percutaneous dilatational tracheotomy. Laryngoscope. 2000; 110(2 Pt 1):222-8. DOI: 10.1097/00005537-200002010-00007. View

Gaudet P, Peerless A, Sasaki C, Kirchner J . Pediatric tracheostomy and associated complications. Laryngoscope. 1978; 88(10):1633-41. DOI: 10.1288/00005537-197810000-00009. View

10.

Goldenberg D, Ari E, Golz A, Danino J, Netzer A, Joachims H . Tracheotomy complications: a retrospective study of 1130 cases. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2000; 123(4):495-500. DOI: 10.1067/mhn.2000.105714. View

11.

Pelosi P, Severgnini P . Tracheostomy must be individualized!. Crit Care. 2004; 8(5):322-4. PMC: 1065036. DOI: 10.1186/cc2966. View

12.

Law J, Barnhart K, Rowlett W, de la Rocha O, Lowenberg S . Increased frequency of obstructive airway abnormalities with long-term tracheostomy. Chest. 1993; 104(1):136-8. DOI: 10.1378/chest.104.1.136. View

13.

Friedman Y, Fildes J, Mizock B, Samuel J, Patel S, Appavu S . Comparison of percutaneous and surgical tracheostomies. Chest. 1996; 110(2):480-5. DOI: 10.1378/chest.110.2.480. View

14.

Duann C, Hsieh M, Chen P, Chou H, Huang C . Successful percutaneous tracheostomy via puncture through the thyroid isthmus. Respirol Case Rep. 2014; 2(2):57-60. PMC: 4184506. DOI: 10.1002/rcr2.48. View

15.

Pahor A . Ear, nose and throat in Ancient Egypt. J Laryngol Otol. 1992; 106(9):773-9. DOI: 10.1017/s0022215100120869. View

16.

Rumbak M, Newton M, Truncale T, Schwartz S, Adams J, Hazard P . A prospective, randomized, study comparing early percutaneous dilational tracheotomy to prolonged translaryngeal intubation (delayed tracheotomy) in critically ill medical patients. Crit Care Med. 2004; 32(8):1689-94. DOI: 10.1097/01.ccm.0000134835.05161.b6. View

17.

Lewis Jr F, Schiobohm R, Thomas A . Prevention of complications from prolonged tracheal intubation. Am J Surg. 1978; 135(3):452-7. DOI: 10.1016/0002-9610(78)90083-1. View

18.

Massick D, Yao S, Powell D, Griesen D, Hobgood T, Allen J . Bedside tracheostomy in the intensive care unit: a prospective randomized trial comparing open surgical tracheostomy with endoscopically guided percutaneous dilational tracheotomy. Laryngoscope. 2001; 111(3):494-500. DOI: 10.1097/00005537-200103000-00021. View

19.

Deganello A, Sofra M, Facciolo F, Spriano G . Tracheotomy-related posterior tracheal wall rupture, trans-tracheal repair. Acta Otorhinolaryngol Ital. 2008; 27(5):258-62. PMC: 2640036. View

20.

Yaghoobi S, Kayalha H, Ghafouri R, Yazdi Z, Khezri M . Comparison of complications in percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy versus surgical tracheostomy. Glob J Health Sci. 2014; 6(4):221-5. PMC: 4825366. DOI: 10.5539/gjhs.v6n4p221. View