Study of the need for tracheostomy in oral and maxillofacial surgery

ABSTRACT

Tracheostomy is one of the most common surgical procedures. It is considered as a life saving measure that should be performed immediately once a patient's airway shows obstruction. In Oral and Maxillofacial surgery [OMFS], it was found that tracheostomy is needed in various situations. A total number of 252 OMFS patients that were treated in two hospitals from the year 2001 to 2003 were reviewed for airway problems that needed tracheostomy. Out of that number, four cases had tracheostomy. Two of those four patients had emergency tracheostomy; one patient had pan-facial fracture, and the other one had a temporomandibular joint [TMJ] ankylosis. The other two patients had elective tracheostomy and both had TMJ ankylosis. The results of this study showed that there are certain situations in which tracheostomy should be considered as an elective surgical procedure that of a great value to some OMFS patients