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Risk Factors of Early Complications of Tracheostomy at Kenyatta National Hospital
Abstract
Background: A tracheostomy is a surgical intervention that can mean the difference between life and death and has been practiced for thousands of years. The aim of this study was to identify risk factors that contribute to complications following tracheostomies. The aim of this study was to establish the determinants of early complications following tracheostomies in Kenyatta National Hospital.
Methods: This was a prospective cohort study carried out at Kenyatta National Hospital. A total of 100 patients undergoing tracheostomy between October 2010 and March 2011 were recruited. Ethical approval was obtained from Kenyatta National Ethics and Research Committee and consent obtained from all patients recruited. Data was analyzed in Stata version 11.0. Association between complications and various patient and surgery characteristics was investigated via a series of univariable and multivariable logistic regression.
Results: The age ranged from one year old to eighty nine years old. In the study, 7/100 patients died, majority secondary to decannulation. Prevalence of intraoperative complications was 23% while that of post operative complications was 42%. Intraoperative haemorrhage was the most common complication (21%). There was increased morbidity of 2% for every year increase in age above the mean and a 31 fold higher risk of complications in patients who had a neck mass.
Conclusion: The prevalence of complications following tracheostomies in this study was comparable with the findings from other studies. The study found an increased risk of complications with increased age of the patient and patients with a distorted neck anatomy. The importance of properly trained staff in perioperative care of patients post tracheostomy cannot be over emphasized.
Methods: This was a prospective cohort study carried out at Kenyatta National Hospital. A total of 100 patients undergoing tracheostomy between October 2010 and March 2011 were recruited. Ethical approval was obtained from Kenyatta National Ethics and Research Committee and consent obtained from all patients recruited. Data was analyzed in Stata version 11.0. Association between complications and various patient and surgery characteristics was investigated via a series of univariable and multivariable logistic regression.
Results: The age ranged from one year old to eighty nine years old. In the study, 7/100 patients died, majority secondary to decannulation. Prevalence of intraoperative complications was 23% while that of post operative complications was 42%. Intraoperative haemorrhage was the most common complication (21%). There was increased morbidity of 2% for every year increase in age above the mean and a 31 fold higher risk of complications in patients who had a neck mass.
Conclusion: The prevalence of complications following tracheostomies in this study was comparable with the findings from other studies. The study found an increased risk of complications with increased age of the patient and patients with a distorted neck anatomy. The importance of properly trained staff in perioperative care of patients post tracheostomy cannot be over emphasized.
