Effectiveness of Minitracheostomy After Extubation in Patients with Pneumonia at High Risk of Reintubation: A Case Series
Article Category: Case Report
Published Online: Nov 14, 2023
Page range: 271 - 276
Received: Feb 09, 2023
Accepted: Oct 02, 2023
DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/jccm-2023-0029
Keywords
© 2023 Akira Ouchi et al., published by Sciendo
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Introduction
Minitracheostomy involves the percutaneous insertion of a 4-mm-diameter cricothyroidotomy tube for tracheal suctioning to facilitate the clearance of airway secretions. The advantage of using the minitracheostomy is in the clearance of secretions, however data on their usefulness for respiratory failure after extubation is limited. Aim of the study: We aimed to assess the use of minitracheostomy for patients with challenging extubation caused by significant sputum.
Material and Methods
We conducted a retrospective analysis of consecutive case series. We analyzed the data of 31 patients with pneumonia. After minitracheostomy, the primary endpoints of reintubation within 72 hours and clinical effects, including mortality, length of intensive care unit (ICU), or hospital stay, were assessed. The successful extubation group included patients who did not require reintubation within 72 hours. Conversely, the reintubation group consisted of patients mandating reestablishment of intubation within 72 hours.
Results
Among those who underwent minitracheostomy after extubation, 22 (71%) underwent successful extubation and 9 underwent reintubation (reintubation rate: 29%). The in-hospital mortality rates after 30 days were 18.2% in the successful extubation group and 22.2% in the reintubation group. The ICU and hospital lengths of stay were 11 days (interquartile range: 8–14.3 days) and 23 days (interquartile range: 15.5–41 days), respectively, in the successful extubation group; they were 14 days (interquartile range: 11–18.5 days) and 30 days (interquartile range: 16–45.5 days), respectively, in the reintubation group.
Conclusions
The prophylactic use of minitracheostomy may be an option as a means of reducing reintubation in patients with pneumonia who are at very high risk of reintubation.