The impact of specialized tracheostomy care team

Abstract EN

Background : Tracheostomy care begins in the intensive care unit (ICU) and after stabilization, the patient is transferred to a general ward, decannulated or discharged.

Insufficient experience of staff caring for tracheostomy patients may lead to suboptimal care and increased morbidity.

Objective : To assess the impact of a specialized multidisciplinary tracheostomy team on tracheostomy care.

Design : A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Setting : ENT Department, Salmaniya Medical Complex, Bahrain.

Method: The data was collected from the ICU and medical wards from January 2009 to December 2014.

Criteria assessed were tracheostomy tube used, decannulation time and incidence of tracheostomy-related complications.

Result: Six hundred forty-four patients post-tracheostomy were reviewed.

One hundred twentynine (20%) patients were decannulated between one month to 3 years; 28 (4.3%) patients had complications.

No death was recorded due to tracheostomy-related complications.

Conclusion : There was a significant reduction in tracheostomy complications due to specialized tracheostomy team.

The decannulation time was successfully reduced and an increased number of decannulated patients.