A 9-year review of pediatric tracheotomy

We reviewed the 9-year experience at the National Children's Hospital with patients requiring tracheotomy. A total of 92 patients underwent tracheotomy. Fifty-eight patients (63%) were younger than 24 months. The patients had multiple symptoms of dyspnea. Surgical indications were divided into two groups: airway stenosis (45 patients, 49%) and ventilatory management (47 patients, 51%). Subglottic stenosis was found in 19 patients, subglottic hemangioma in eight patients, vocal cord paralysis in five patients, and tracheal stenosis in four patients. Twenty-five patients had neurologic disease, seven had cardiovascular disease, and four had chromosomal abnormalities. Follow-up time after tracheotomy ranged from 2 months to 8 years 7 months. Among the 92 patients, 52 (57%) were tracheotomized, Fifteen patients (16%) were eventually decannulated, and all of them required tracheotomy For airway stenosis. There were 15 (16%) deaths. Two deaths were attributed to the tracheotomy: accidental decannulation and tracheal bleeding. The other 13 patients died of underlying medical problems. Ten patients were unavailable for follow-up because they were transferred to other care facilities.