TABLE 4.
Patient Outcomes Based on Timing of Tracheostomy
| Early tracheostomy,† N = 9 (7.6%) | Middle tracheostomy,† N = 48 (40.7%) | Late tracheostomy,† N = 61 (51.7%) | P∗ | |
| Sedation days, median (Q1–Q3) | ||||
| Total | 20 (18–22) | 25.5 (20–32) | 29 (22–36) | .091 |
| Pre-tracheostomy | 10 (9–14) | 17 (14–19.5) | 21 (17–25) | <.001 |
| Post-tracheostomy | 11 (7–13) | 8.5 (3–14.5) | 6 (3–11) | .145 |
| Ventilator-related outcomes | ||||
| Weaned from ventilator, N (%) | 5 (55.6%) | 33 (68.8%) | 40 (65.6%) | .739 |
| Total ventilator days for patients weaned, median (Q1–Q3), n = 78 | 21 (21–31) | 34 (26.5–42) | 37 (32–41) | .030 |
| Days from tracheostomy to ventilator weaning (if weaned), median (Q1–Q3), n = 78 | 8 (7–18) | 15.5 (7.5–23.5) | 10.5 (5–16) | .188 |
| Complications, N (%) | ||||
| Ventilator associated pneumonia | 4 (44.4%) | 28 (58.3%) | 43 (70.5%) | .197 |
| Patients with complications of tracheostomy | 2 (22.2%) | 9 (18.8%) | 7 (11.5%) | .481 |
| Overall outcomes | ||||
| Discharged from ICU, N (%) | 6 (75.0%) | 40 (83.3%) | 52 (85.2%) | .757 |
| ICU days for patients discharged, median (Q1–Q3), n = 98 | 31 (22–41) | 33.5 (27–45.5) | 37.5 (30–47.5) | .357 |
| Discharged from hospital, N (%) | 7 (77.8%) | 42 (87.5%) | 51 (83.6%) | .711 |
| Hospital days for patients discharged, median (Q1–Q3), n = 100 | 49.5 (33–57) | 47.5 (35–60) | 51 (39–64) | .792 |
| Death, N (%) | 2 (22.2%) | 6 (12.5%) | 10 (16.4%) | .711 |
ICU indicates intensive care unit.
∗
P value calculated using χ2 test or Kruskal–Wallis test, as appropriate.
†
Early defined as tracheostomy up to 14 days following intubation; Middle defined as tracheostomy between days 15 and 21 following intubation; Late defined as tracheostomy 21 days following intubation.