Routine chest X-ray after percutaneous tracheostomy is unnecessary.

Full Abstract

Percutaneous tracheostomy (PT) is an increasingly common procedure in the management of critically ill patients. Current practice for both open and percutaneous tracheostomies is a post-procedure chest X-ray to rule out potentially life-threatening complications such as a pneumothorax or tube malposition. Our study evaluated the utility of chest X-ray after PT. A retrospective chart review was conducted for patients undergoing PT at Kern Medical Center between January 1999 and December 2003. Charts were reviewed for age, sex, and clinical outcome as well as the radiologist's interpretation of the postprocedure chest X-ray. A total of 73 procedures were completed in 47 men and 26 women. The majority of the tracheostomies were in trauma patients who needed prolonged ventilatory support. There were no complications identified on postprocedure chest X-ray. A single patient was converted to an open procedure secondary to bleeding. We conclude that routine chest X-ray after PT is unnecessary.

Author information

Author/s: Hoehne, Francesca (F); Ozaeta, Maria (M); Chung, Ray (R);

Affiliation: Kern Medical Center, Bakersfield, California 93306, USA.

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Comparative Study; Journal Article

Journal: The American surgeon (Am Surg), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2005-Jan; vol 71 (issue 1) : pp 51-3

Dates: Created 2005/03/10; Completed 2005/03/24; Revised 2006/11/15;

PMID: 15757057, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 2/18/2009, IMS Date: )

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