Tracheotomy is most commonly performed in children who are less than 1 year of age. The most common indication is for prolonged ventilatory support secondary to lung disease of prematurity. Tracheotomy is also performed for children with anatomic upper airway obstruction or children with neurodevelopmental delay who require pulmonary toilet. Surgical approaches to tracheotomy are designed to minimize trauma, establish a mature tracheocutaneous fistula, and avoid devastating postoperative complications, such as accidental decannulation. This article details a straightforward stepwise surgical approach to tracheotomy in children.
Division of Pediatric Otolaryngology, Department of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
Address reprint requests and correspondence: Emily F. Boss, MD, Division of Pediatric Otolaryngology, Department of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery, The Johns Hopkins Outpatient Center, 601 N. Caroline Street, 6th Floor, Baltimore, MD 21287
The author has not received financial support or funding from any source in creation of this manuscript.
ABSTRACT