HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Personal Folders Download to citation manager Permission Requests Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Au, J. Articles by Cameron, E. W. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Au, J. Articles by Cameron, E. W.

The Annals of Thoracic Surgery, Vol 48, 850-852, Copyright © 1989 by The Society of Thoracic Surgeons

ARTICLES

Percutaneous cricothyroidostomy (minitracheostomy) for bronchial toilet: results of therapeutic and prophylactic use

J Au, WS Walker, D Inglis and EW Cameron
Department of Thoracic Surgery, City Hospital, Edinburgh, Scotland.

In the period 1984 to 1988, 2,448 patients underwent major thoracic operations in our unit. Of these patients, 144 (5.9%) underwent percutaneous cricothyroidostomy (minitracheostomy) using a 20F pediatric silver tracheostomy tube. Minitracheostomies were performed for the treatment of sputum retention in 81 patients, prophylactically in 62 patients, and as a route for high-frequency jet ventilation in 1 patient. Minitracheostomy tubes remained in situ a median of four days. Suction function was satisfactory in 99% of patients, with only 2 patients requiring subsequent suction bronchoscopy and no occurrence of tube blockage. Ninety-four percent of minitracheostomies performed were entirely uneventful. Bleeding was the most common complication (3.5%), and no instances of subglottic stenosis have occurred. During the review period, there was a significant increase in the percentage of patients requiring major operations undergoing prophylactic, but not therapeutic, minitracheostomy (p less than 0.001). This was associated with a significant decrease in the percentage of patients requiring suction bronchoscopy (p less than 0.001). We conclude that prophylactic minitracheostomy with the 20F pediatric silver tracheostomy tube is a safe and effective procedure in the prevention of postoperative sputum retention.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				P. Bonde, K. McManus, M. McAnespie, and J. McGuigan Lung surgery: identifying the subgroup at risk for sputum retention Eur. J. Cardiothorac. Surg., July 1, 2002; 22(1): 18 - 22. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				P. Bonde, I. Papachristos, A. McCraith, B. Kelly, C. Wilson, J. A. McGuigan, and K. McManus Sputum retention after lung operation: prospective, randomized trial shows superiority of prophylactic minitracheostomy in high-risk patients Ann. Thorac. Surg., July 1, 2002; 74(1): 196 - 203. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				L. W.E. van Heurn, G. J. van Geffen, and P. R. G. Brink Percutaneous Subcricoid Minitracheostomy: Report of 50 Procedures Ann. Thorac. Surg., March 1, 1995; 59(3): 707 - 709. [Abstract] [Full Text]