Tracheotomy in Pediatric Patients

Top Cited Papers
Open Access
Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
DURING THE PAST half century, the indications for—and implications of—tracheotomy among children have changed.1-11 Formerly, acute infections such as diphtheria, croup, and epiglottitis were the main causes of airway compromise leading to tracheotomy. If the child survived the acute episode, the underlying process would resolve and the tracheotomy would no longer be needed. The advent of vaccines against Corynebacterium diphtheriae and Haemophilus influenzae, coupled with the increased use of endotracheal intubation, markedly reduced the use of tracheotomies for acute airway infections. However tracheotomies are now performed increasingly often for children who require prolonged mechanical ventilation or who have critical airway obstruction caused by an underlying chronic condition. For these children, tracheotomies often are required for months to years, with the consequently medically fragile children typically requiring complex tertiary care and, on discharge, labor-intensive home care.

This publication has 17 references indexed in Scilit: