ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to identify associative factors for tracheostomy in patients presenting with airway obstruction. METHODS: Data from a tertiary hospital were reviewed to identify patients who presented with airway obstruction between 2009 and 2020. Patient demographics, causative pathology and treatments were analysed. RESULTS: The study identified 297 admitted patients. Of these, 66 underwent a tracheostomy and formed the 'tracheostomy' group and 231 formed the 'other intervention' group. The tracheostomy group had a higher mean age (p = 0.003), and higher percentages of males (p = 0.031) and smokers or ex-smokers (p = 0.020), compared to the other intervention group. The tracheostomy group also had a higher number of patients with a malignancy (p < 0.001) compared to the other intervention group. CONCLUSION: Being older, male, a previous or current smoker, or developing airway obstruction due to a malignancy were found to be the main associative factors for requiring a tracheostomy.
