Table 2.
Complications while cannulated
| Complication | GWDF | CBR | P | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | ||
| Surgical tracheostomy | 6 | 2 | |||
| Lost to follow-up | 1 | 0 | |||
| Available for analysis | 164 | 169 | |||
| No complications | 139 | 84.8 | 138 | 81.7 | NS |
| Minor complications | |||||
| Bleeding (local pressure) | 15 | 9.1 | 14 | 8.3 | NS |
| Infection | 4 | 2.4 | 6 | 3.6 | NS |
| Granulation tissue around stoma | 1 | 0.6 | 1 | 0.6 | NS |
| Pain from stoma | 1 | 0.6 | 0 | NS | |
| Tracheal oedema | 0 | 1 | 0.6 | NS | |
| Subcutaneous emphysema | 0 | 1 | 0.6 | NS | |
| Dyspnoea | 0 | 1 | 0.6 | NS | |
| Total | 21 | 12.8 | 24 | 14.2 | NS |
| Major complications | |||||
| Bleeding (exploration) | 0 | 2 | 1.2 | NS | |
| Bleeding (life-threatening) | 0 | 0 | NS | ||
| Stridor (with empty cuff) | 2 | 1.2 | 0 | NS | |
| Cardiopulmonary resuscitation | 1 | 0.6 | 0 | NS | |
| Cannula obstruction | 1 | 0.6 | 3 | 1.8 | NS |
| Hypoxaemia | 0 | 2 | 1.2 | NS | |
| Total | 4 | 2.4 | 7 | 4.1 | NS |
CBR, Ciaglia Blue Rhino; GWDF, guide wire dilating forceps; NS, not significant.