Table 1.
Peri-operative complications
| Complication | GWDF (n = 171) | CBR (n = 171) | P | Conversion to surgical tracheostomy | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | GWDF (n = 6) | CBR (n = 2) | ||
| No complications | 128 | 74.9 | 100 | 58.5 | <0.01 | ||
| Minor complications | |||||||
| Procedure-specific | |||||||
| Bleeding (local pressure) | 11 | 6.4 | 24 | 14.0 | 0.04 | ||
| Difficult dilation | 0 | 23 | 13.5 | <0.01 | |||
| Difficult procedure | 6 | 3.5 | 7 | 4.1 | NS | ||
| Subcutaneous emphysema | 2 | 1.2 | 2 | 1.2 | NS | ||
| Cannula insertion difficult | 0 | 3 | 1.8 | NS | |||
| Air leakage cuff | 0 | 2 | 1.2 | NS | |||
| Procedure-non-specific | |||||||
| Puncture endotracheal tube | 9 | 5.3 | 8 | 4.7 | NS | ||
| Puncture posterior tracheal wall | 4 | 2.3 | 2 | 1.2 | NS | ||
| Accidental detubation | 1 | 0.6 | 3 | 1.8 | NS | ||
| Hypotension | 1 | 0.6 | 2 | 1.2 | NS | ||
| Total | 34 | 19.9 | 75 | 43.9 | <0.01 | ||
| Major complications | |||||||
| Procedure-specific | |||||||
| Bleeding (exploration) | 6 | 3.5 | 4 | 2.3 | NS | 2 | |
| Bleeding (life-threatening) | 1 | 0.6 | 1 | 0.6 | NS | ||
| Fausse route | 2 | 1.2 | 1 | 0.6 | NS | 1 | |
| Oesophageal perforation | 1 | 0.6 | 0 | NS | 1 | ||
| Cannula insertion impossible | 3 | 1.8 | 0 | NS | 3 | ||
| Pneumothorax | 0 | 3 | 1.8 | NS | 1 | ||
| Total | 13 | 7.6 | 9 | 5.3 | NS | ||
aSome patients had more than one complication. CBR, Ciaglia Blue Rhino; GWDF, guide wire dilating forceps; NS, not significant.