ABSTRACT

Objective: To determine surgical outcome and difficulty of adult bedside tracheostomy in the intensive care unit in a tertiary care hospital.

Method: Retrospective medical chart review at Lady reading Hospital / Medical Teaching Institution (LRH/MTI), Peshawar, with facility of 33 beds in intensive care unit. Total 428 adult patients, underwent elective bedside tracheostomy in the intensive care unit between July 2019 and December 2020. Major and minor peroperative and postoperative complications, cost saving and surgical outcome were analyzed.

Results: There were 9 major complications (2.1%): 5 bleeding episodes requiring reoperation, and 4 non-fetal respiratory arrest; and 15 minor complications (3.5%): 7 episodes of minor bleeding and 8 episodes of mucus plugging. One late complication (tracheal stenosis) was identified.

Conclusion: Adult bedside tracheostomy in the intensive care unit is as effective and safe as operating room tracheostomy. In addition, it gives a significant cost saving for the patient.

Key words: Tracheostomy, Bedside, Intensive Care Unit, Complications