A service evaluation of surgical tracheostomies in the emergency theatre at University Hospital, Coventry: time for a dedicated tracheostomy team?

Abstract

Introduction/aims: The routine practice of surgical tracheostomy has been challenged by bedside percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy (PDT). Whilst PDT is cost-effective and time-efficient, there is still a place for the open technique in patients with unfavourable anatomy, unstable cervical spine injuries and/or coagulopathies. Complication rates of the open technique are often lower, but booking such cases into busy emergency theatres may prove difficult.