Tracheostomy is commonly performed when clinicians expect a patient will need prolonged mechanical ventilation. Up to one third of patients requiring prolonged mechanical ventilation now receive a tracheostomy (Young, 2013). The risks of the surgical procedure compared to the expected benefits should be weighed by the team managing the patient.
The benefits of tracheostomy may include:
The benefits of tracheostomy may include:
- Improved comfort with less need for sedation
- Less long term laryngeal or oral/pharyngeal airway damage
- Decreased airway resistance, hence lower work of breathing and faster weaning from mechanical ventilation
- Better oral care can be provided
- Oral feeding can be attempted
- Improved communication with possible use of speaking valves
- Reduced risk of ventilator associated events
- Reduced length of stay and lower mortality
- Ease of accessing the lower respiratory tract for suctioning