ABSTRACT
Objectives: To compare the results of early versus late tracheostomy in trauma patients admitted to intensive care unit [ICU]
Methods: This was case control study being performed at a major trauma centre in Shiraz, Iran including 120 trauma patients admitted to ICU during a 2-year period and underwent tracheostomy during their ICU stay. The patients were categorized into two groups of the early tracheostomy who underwent tracheostomy within the first 7 days of initiation of mechanical ventilation [n=60], and the late tracheostomy group, in which tracheostomy was performed after 7 days [n=60]. The duration of mechanical ventilation, ICU stay and hospital stay as well as mortality rates in ICU and hospital were recorded and compared between two study groups
Results: The baseline characteristics such as age [p=0.325], sex [p=0.071] Glasgow coma scale [GCS] [p=0.431] and the mechanism of injury [p=0.822] were comparable between two study groups. Early tracheostomy was associated with a significantly shorter duration of mechanical ventilation [p=0.008] and shorter ICU stay [p=0.003]. Hospital stay [p=0.165], ICU mortality [p=0.243], and hospital mortality [p=0.311] were not different between the two study groups
Conclusion: Early tracheostomy is associated with reduced ICU stay and shorter duration of mechanical ventilation. Adopting a standardized strategy may improve resource utilization