# Bedside conventional tracheostomy

## TL;DR

This study shows that bedside tracheostomies are safe and have low complication rates, making them a viable alternative to operating room procedures.

## Contribution

The study provides empirical evidence supporting the safety and efficacy of bedside tracheostomy in an ICU setting.

## Key findings

- Only 1.50% of 598 patients experienced complications during bedside tracheostomy.
- Bleeding was the most common complication, occurring in 1.0% of cases.
- The procedure can be safely performed at the bedside with local anesthesia and sedation.

## Abstract

•Tracheostomy is a frequent procedure in Intensive Care Units.•The ideal time to perform a tracheostomy is controversial but some laryngologists recommend it after 3 days of intubation, although most consider a limit of 2–3 weeks.•Tracheostomy at the bedside, with local anesthesia and sedation, is a safe procedure with results similar to those performed in an operating room, with lower costs, avoiding transporting critical patients to the operating room.•In this study with 598 patients, only 1.50% of the patients had complications and the most part was bleeding (six patients).

Tracheostomy is a frequent procedure in Intensive Care Units.

The ideal time to perform a tracheostomy is controversial but some laryngologists recommend it after 3 days of intubation, although most consider a limit of 2–3 weeks.

Tracheostomy at the bedside, with local anesthesia and sedation, is a safe procedure with results similar to those performed in an operating room, with lower costs, avoiding transporting critical patients to the operating room.

In this study with 598 patients, only 1.50% of the patients had complications and the most part was bleeding (six patients).

To describe the open experience of Head and Neck Surgery division of Santa Casa in São Paulo with bedside tracheostomy.

A retrospective study of database tracheostomies was performed between 2013 and 2016. Then, age, gender, and main complications were analyzed.

Analysis of 598 patients shows 9 cases (1.50%) of complications, bleeding was the cause in 6 cases (1.0%), 1 postoperative death (0.16%), 1 accidental decannulation case (0.16%) and 1 lesion in the posterior wall of the trachea (0.16%). It is possible to accomplish bedside open tracheostomy with safety.

Level IV.