Tracheotomy in the unprotected airway.

PURPOSE: Although rare, there are many circumstances in which a secure airway is needed urgently. A newly developed technique is presented for quick and efficient performance of this procedure.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: All patients who had tracheotomies performed at a tertiary referral center from January 1, 2004, through December 31, 2008, were found by querying the admission database. Three hundred twenty-seven separate procedures performed in 325 patients were identified. Urgent tracheotomies were distinguished from elective and emergent tracheotomies by reading operative reports and excluding elective and emergent procedures. Elective procedures were defined as performed in patients with a secure airway (with an endotracheal tube or laryngeal mask airway). Urgent tracheotomies were defined as having an intact, unprotected airway. Emergent procedures were performed in a patient with complete airway obstruction.

RESULTS: Twenty instances of urgent, awake tracheotomies were found in 19 patients, resulting in an incidence of 20 of 327 tracheotomies (6.1%) in 19 of 325 patients (5.8%).

CONCLUSIONS: Tracheotomy is an alternative to cricothyroidotomy as a surgical airway in patients with deteriorating respiratory status who cannot be safely intubated by nonsurgical means.