Table 4.
Complications
| Early tracheotomy (≤7 days) | Late tracheotomy (>7 days) | p | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hemorrhage | |||
| Perioperative | 0 (0) | 2 (3) | 0.5 |
| Early (≤2 days) | 6 (11) | 8 (13) | 0.78 |
| Late (>2 days) | 3 (5) | 7 (12) | 0.33 |
| Displaced tracheal cannula | 1 (2) | 1 (2) | >0.99 |
| Aspiration | |||
| Perioperative | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | – |
| Early (≤2 days) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | – |
| Late (>2 days) | 0 (0) | 1 (2) | 0.92 |
| Tracheal injury | 1 (2) | 0 (0) | 0.67 |
| Failed surgery | 1 (2) | 0 | 0.48 |
| Accidental decannulation | 2 (4) | 1 (2) | 0.48 |
| Perioperative hypoxemia, POX O2 < 80% | 6 (11) | 9 (15) | 0.59 |
| Culture verified stoma infection | 1 (2) | 3 (5) | 0.62 |
| Pneumothorax/pneumomediastinum/sc emphysema | 9 (16) | 8 (13) | 0.79 |
| Fistula | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | – |
| Airway obstruction | 2 (4) | 6 (10) | 0.28 |
| Procedure‐related death | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | – |
| Any complication | 19 (34) | 23 (38) | 0.014 |
Note: Complications of tracheotomy, compared between early and late tracheotomy. Categorical variables are reported as frequencies and percentages, n (%).
Abbreviation: sc, subcutaneous.