Abstract

GARCIA GOMEZ, Alberto et al. Patients with mechanical ventilation and tracheostomy. Rev Cub Med Mil [online]. 2014, vol.43, n.4, pp.421-432. ISSN 0138-6557.

Introduction: tracheostomy is a technique usually indicated to manage critically ill patients who are hospitalized in Intensive care units and need mechanical ventilation for a long period of time. Objective: to characterize some clinical and epidemiological aspects of patients with tracheostomy and mechanical ventilation. Methods: a retrospective, longitudinal, observational and descriptive study of patients who required tracheostomy in addition to mechanical ventilation was performed at the Intensive Care Unit of "Dr. Carlos J. Finlay" Hospital from January 2011 through December 2012. The final sample was 96 patients. The database containing information of hospitalized patients in the intensive care unit as well as their medical histories were checked up. Results: average age of ventilated patients was 55.7 ± 16.9 years old. Males (59.4 %) and the 50-64 years old group (40.6 %) prevailed. Hypertension proved to be the most frequent pathologic antecedent (18.8 %). More than half of the patients died at hospital (62.5 %). The average age of this group was higher than that of the discharged alive patients (60.6 vs. 47.6 years old). The non traumatic event was most common cause for hospitalization (63.5 %). The APACHE II value mean was 17, 4 and it was higher in the deceased than in the survivors (19.8 vs. 13.4). Most patients were ventilated for up to seven days (51.0 %) and stayed in the hospital for eight or more days (86.5 %). Conclusions: tracheostomy did not influence either the length of mechanical ventilation or the global mortality rate.

Keywords : Intensive Care Unit; tracheostomy; mechanical ventilation; mortality.

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