ABSTRACT
The safety and complications of percutaneous tracheostomy [PT] without bronchoscopic guidance in a group of ICU patients with thrombocytopenia platelet count of /= 1.5 or systemic heparinization], was studied. During the study period [May 2004-June 2005], 190 percutaneous tracheostomies were performed. Of these there were 11 [6%] patients with prolonged INR, 7 [4%] patients with thrombocytopenia and 14 [7%] patients on systemic heparin. There was no evidence of bleeding in patients with prolonged INR. A minor bleeding developed in only one patient with thrombocytopenia, and in two patients receiving systemic heparin. The PT was aborted for one patient with thrombocytopenia and slight increase of INR [1.3] due to major bleeding in spite of transfusion of both platelets and FFP. Our data suggest the incidence of bleeding is low in patients with coagulopathy and or thrombocytopenia-undergoing PT without bronchoscopic guidance