Skip to main content
letter
. 2023 Dec 1;120(48):831–832. doi: 10.3238/arztebl.m2023.0227

Table. Characteristics of cannulated and non-cannulated patients with acquired brain injury.

All patients Decannulation successful Decannulation unsuccessful Significance
(Mann-Whitney-U test)
Number n = 29 n = 13 n = 16
Age at admission/years (median. IQR) 55 [46.6; 65] 52 [42; 56.5] 60.5 [48.25; 74.5] p = 0.050
Sex (male/female) 23 / 6 10 / 3 13 / 3
Latency placement of tracheal cannula to admission/days (median. IQR) 179 [121; 233] 170 [111; 215] 193.5 [121.5; 240.75] p = 0.531
Diagnoses
 – Cerebral ischemia 10 5 5
 – Hemorrhage 10 4 6
 – Traumatic brain injury 5 1 4
 – Hypoxia 2 1 1
 – Other 2 2
Additional diagnoses
 – Initial respiratory failure 24 11 13
 – Prolonged weaning 12 4 8
 – Aspiration pneumonia 10 3 7
 – Reduced vigilance 5 1 4
 – Initial dysphagia 15 9 6
Ventilation at admission 1 1
Enteral feeding via PEG at admission 29 13 16
Duration of stay/days (median. IQR) 365 [199; 553] 210 [157.5; 355.5] 471 [354.5; 622] p = 0.022
Time from admission to decannulization/days (median. IQR) 155 [100; 321.5]
Ventilation at discharge
Oral feeding/nutrition at discharge 13 11 2

IQR. interquartile range; PEG. percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy