Table 3.

Complications of tracheostomy.

Bleeding (intraoperative, early, and late)

Intraoperative bleeding

Postoperative bleeding

Late arterial erosion

Loss of airway/ability to ventilate (intraoperative, early, and late)

Intraoperative inability to ventilate

Decannulation before first tube change

Inability to recannulate

Tube blockade/disconnection

Peritubal leak causing ineffective ventilation

Respiratory arrest

Air leak (intraoperative, early, and late)

Pneumomediastinum

Pneumothorax

Subcutaneous emphysema

Infection (early and late)

Tracheitis

Aspiration pneumonia

Stomal issues (early and late)

Skin erosion

Infection

Bleeding

Breakdown

Granulation tissue formation

Keloid formation

Tracheal problems (late)

Tracheal/subglottal stenosis

Tracheomalacia

Tracheocutaneous fistula

Others

Esophageal injury (intraoperative)

False tract creation (intraoperative, early, and late)