Morbidities and Risk Factors Associated with the Complications of Tracheotomy

Objective: To determine complication rates after tracheotomy and identify associated risk factors.

Methods: A retrospective electronic medical record analysis of 402 tracheotomies performed from January 2008 to December 2013 was performed. The incidences of surgical complications following tracheotomy and risk factors of complications were determined by statistical analysis using the Gil Hospital database.

Results: The over net complication rate was 16.1%. Post-operative tracheostomal stenosis was identified as the most common complication (7.7%) and hemorrhage was the second most common (4.2%). A resident performed procedure was a risk factor of net complication rates and tracheostomal stenosis. The risk factors of
net complication rates were an age of >65 years and a patient neck thickness of >23 mm.
Conclusion: The risk factors of net complication rates were operator skill, a patient age of >65 years, and a patient neck thickness of >23 mm. The risk factors of tracheostomal stenosis were operator skill and a neck thickness >23 mm. These statistics indicate the need for precise and skilled procedures to reduce and prevent tracheotomy complications, and that greater care should be taken in patients aged >65 years and in those with a patient neck thickness of >23 mm.