Patients with prolonged respiratory failure, tracheal/subglottic stenosis, inability to clear secretions, or progressive neurologic illnesses resulting in the inability to breathe, are candidates for percutaneous tracheostomy. Tracheostomy can be performed in an inpatient setting or an outpatient setting.
Percutaneous Tracheostomy:
- Creates a small opening in the neck, allowing access to the trachea to remove secretions
- Keeps keeps the airway open (patent) or provides a route for mechanical ventilation (breathing machine)
- Is performed by surgical or percutaneous methods
- Involves a larger neck incision with resection of a section of trachea to place the tracheostomy tube
- Involves placement of a tracheostomy tube without a large incision, using a series of wires and dilators or balloons
- Has less bleeding risk than surgical tracheostomy
- Allows for more cosmetic wound healing once the tracheostomy tube is removed