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. 2023 Mar 18;23:59. doi: 10.1186/s12893-023-01960-5

Table 5.

Results of univariate and multivariate analysis for factors associated with early tracheostomy-related complications

Variable Univariate analysis Multivariate analysis
Complication, n (%) No Complication, n (%) Unadjusted RR (95% CI) Adjusted RR (95% CI) p-value
Hospital
 Mbarara 26 (52.0) 24 (48.0) 1.0
 Mulago 27 (54.0) 23 (46.0) 1.1 (0.72 – 1.50)
Gender
 Female 12 (40.0) 18 (60.0) 1.0 1.0 0.132
 Male 41 (58.6) 29 (41.4) 1.5 (0.91 – 2.36) 1.4 (0.91 – 2.04)
Age category (Years)
 Adults (≥ 18) 43 (51.2)) 41 (48.8) 1.0 1.0 0.048
 Pediatric (< 18) 10 (62.5) 6 (37.5) 1.2 (0.79 – 1.88) 1.2 (1.00 – 1.47)
Post-operative feeding mode
 Nasogastric tube 31 (45.6) 37 (54.4) 1.0
 Oral feeding 22 (68.7) 10 (31.3) 1.5 (1.06 – 2.13)
Admission diagnosis
 Upper airway obstruction 23 (67.7) 11 (32.3) 1.0 1.0
 TBI/stroke 28 (46.7) 32 (53.3) 0.7 (0.48 – 0.98) 0.8 (0.57 – 1.44) 0.234
 Others 02 (33.3) 04 (66.7) 0.5 (0.15 – 1.56) 0.5 (0.15 – 1.84) 0.317
Post-operative ventilation mode
 Spontaneous 19 (41.3) 27 (58.7) 1.0
 Ventilator assisted 34 (63.0) 20 (37.0) 1.5 (1.02 – 2.27)
Site for surgery
 Wards (ENT/OMF) 7 (50.0) 7 (50.0) 1.0 1.0
 Emergency/casualty 4 (57.2) 3 (42.8) 1.4 (0.49 – 2.62) 1.2 (0.55 – 2.82) 0.609
 ICU/HDU 25 (46.3) 29 (53.7) 0.9 (0.51 – 1.68) 1.6 (0.94 – 2.79) 0.083
Operating theatre 17 (68.0) 8 (32.0) 1.4 (0.75 – 2.45) 1.5 (0.88 – 2.64) 0.127
Indication for tracheostomy
 Pulmonary toilet 29 (50.0) 29 (50.0) 1.0 1.0
 Anticipated prolonged intubation 16 (38.1) 26 (61.9) 1.7 (1.08 – 2.58) 1.8 (1.19 – 2.76) 0.005
 Airway protection 16 (57.1) 12 (42.9) 1.1 (0.75 – 1.64) 1.4 (0.79 – 1.64) 0.605
 Anticipated difficult intubation 5 (55.6) 4 (44.4) 1.1 (0.57 – 1.95) 1.3 (0.57 – 1.90) 0.872
 Upper airway obstruction 24 (66.7) 12 (33.3) 1.5 (1.03 – 2.09) 1.5 (1.03 – 2.09) 0.062
Tracheostomy type
 Elective 28 (49.1) 29 (50.1) 1.0
 Emergency 25 (58.0) 18 (42.0) 1.2 (0.82 – 1.70)
Type of tracheal incision
 T-Incision 17 (43.6) 22 (56.4) 1.0 1.0
 Bjork flap 8 (88.9) 1 (11.1) 2.0 (1.33 – 3.11) 1.6 (1.09 – 2.43) 0.016
 Vertical 26 (54.2) 22 (45.8) 1.2 (0.79 – 1.93) 1.5 (1.02 – 2.27) 0.037
 Horizontal 2 (50.0) 2 (50.0) 1.1 (0.40 – 3.25) 1.6 (0.83 – 2.99) 0.165
Cuffed tracheostomy tube
 Yes 45 (50.6) 44 (49.4) 1.0
 No 8 (72.7) 3 (27.3) 1.4 (0.94 – 2.18)
Peri-operative antibiotics
 Yes 27 (45.0) 33 (55.0) 1.0
 No 26 (65.0) 14 (35.0) 1.4 (1.00 – 2.07)

TBI Traumatic brain injury, OMF oromaxillofacial, ICU intensive care unit, HDU high dependency unit, ENT ear, nose and throat