Elective tracheostomy, an essential prerequisite for radical head and neck surgery

ABSTRACT

Elective tracheotomy in all major Head and Neck Surgeries has been a routine practice in this department since 1988. This is a report of 131 tracheotomies performed during the last 18 months. The rate of associated complications has been 15.23% which is statistically insignificant [P< 0.05]. Because it minimizes the chances of postoperative fatality due to respiratory obstruction, and the fact that elective Tracheotomy is associated with a very low incidence complications caused per se, its benefits far outweigh its demerits. Therefore, in our opinion, it should be performed whenever postoperative upper respiratory obstruction is anticipated