Early Mortality Rate of Morbidly Obese Patients after Tracheotomy

Objectives: To 1) determine the early mortality rate (within 30 days) of morbidly obese patients after tracheotomy; 2) determine the difference between the mortality rate after tracheotomy of morbidly obese patients and patients who are not morbidly obese; and 3) determine the difference between the mortality rate after tracheotomy adjusted for case mix index (CMI) of morbidly obese patients and patients who are not morbidly obese. Study Design: Retrospective cohort study of 278 patients who had undergone a tracheotomy by the otolaryngology head and neck surgery department from 2004 to 2006. The patients were subdivided into two groups: 1) body mass index (BMI) < 35 (n = 229) and 2) BMI >= 35 (morbidly obese) (n = 49). Methods: Charts reviewed for age, sex, weight, height, BMI, indication for tracheotomy, date of tracheotomy, type of tracheotomy, date of discharge, date of death, length of hospital stay, and CMI. Results: There is a trend toward significance (P = .09) between the mortality rate after tracheotomy of morbidly obese patients (29%) and patients who are not morbidly obese (18%). There is less significance between the adjusted mortality rate based on CMI after tracheotomy when the patient population is divided into morbidly obese patients and patients who are not morbidly obese (P = .12). Conclusion: The mortality rate after tracheotomy of morbidly obese patients is greater than patients who are not morbidly obese.