Outcomes of pediatric tracheostomy after surgery for congenital heart disease: A 20‐year experience

Abstract Objective Children with congenital heart defects (CHD) requiring cardiovascular surgery (CVS) rarely require tracheostomy placement; however the mortality rate remains high. The study aimed to analyze the incidence of tracheostomy in children with CHD, and to determine factors contributing...

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Main Authors: Christopher Puchi, Jennifer Lavin, Osama Eltayeb, Kathleen R. Billings
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2023-08-01
Series:Laryngoscope Investigative Otolaryngology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/lio2.1100
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author Christopher Puchi
Jennifer Lavin
Osama Eltayeb
Kathleen R. Billings
author_facet Christopher Puchi
Jennifer Lavin
Osama Eltayeb
Kathleen R. Billings
author_sort Christopher Puchi
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Objective Children with congenital heart defects (CHD) requiring cardiovascular surgery (CVS) rarely require tracheostomy placement; however the mortality rate remains high. The study aimed to analyze the incidence of tracheostomy in children with CHD, and to determine factors contributing to postoperative outcomes, decannulation rates, and mortality. Methods Retrospective case series of children ≤18 years old with CHD status post‐CVS who underwent tracheostomy placement between January 1, 2001 and December 31, 2020. Variables analyzed included demographic information, presence of comorbidities including prematurity, respiratory diseases, presence of genetic syndromes, decannulation status, type of repair (univentricular vs. biventricular), and need for cardiopulmonary bypass. Adverse events analyzed included all‐cause mortality, development of mediastinitis, fatal decannulation, and persistence of tracheocutaneous fistula. Results Fifty‐one patients were analyzed. The incidence of tracheostomy was 0.8%. Median age at tracheostomy was 5.3 months. The 5‐year survival estimate was 56.3% (95% confidence interval 43.6%, 72.6%). Age ≤6 months at the time of tracheostomy placement (p = .03), and the presence of tracheomalacia (p = .04) were factors significantly associated with 5‐year survival. Two patients (3.9%) experienced fatal decannulation, and one patient (2.0%) developed postoperative mediastinitis. The 10‐year decannulation rate estimate was 47.8% (30.5%, 63.2%). Seven patients (13.7%) had a persistent tracheocutaneous fistula. Conclusions This study corroborates high mortality rates in this population. Factors associated with improved survival were younger age at the time of tracheostomy and presence of tracheomalacia. Decannulation rates were low, but estimates improved over 10 years. Further studies are needed to determine optimal indications and timing for tracheostomy placement in this patient population. Level of Evidence 4
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spelling doaj.art-44e89965a58649289cec4cfa02264e842023-08-23T18:20:18ZengWileyLaryngoscope Investigative Otolaryngology2378-80382023-08-01841124113010.1002/lio2.1100Outcomes of pediatric tracheostomy after surgery for congenital heart disease: A 20‐year experienceChristopher Puchi0Jennifer Lavin1Osama Eltayeb2Kathleen R. Billings3Department of Otolaryngology‐Head and Neck Surgery Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine Chicago Illinois USADepartment of Otolaryngology‐Head and Neck Surgery Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine Chicago Illinois USADivision of Cardiovascular‐Thoracic Surgery Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago Chicago Illinois USADepartment of Otolaryngology‐Head and Neck Surgery Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine Chicago Illinois USAAbstract Objective Children with congenital heart defects (CHD) requiring cardiovascular surgery (CVS) rarely require tracheostomy placement; however the mortality rate remains high. The study aimed to analyze the incidence of tracheostomy in children with CHD, and to determine factors contributing to postoperative outcomes, decannulation rates, and mortality. Methods Retrospective case series of children ≤18 years old with CHD status post‐CVS who underwent tracheostomy placement between January 1, 2001 and December 31, 2020. Variables analyzed included demographic information, presence of comorbidities including prematurity, respiratory diseases, presence of genetic syndromes, decannulation status, type of repair (univentricular vs. biventricular), and need for cardiopulmonary bypass. Adverse events analyzed included all‐cause mortality, development of mediastinitis, fatal decannulation, and persistence of tracheocutaneous fistula. Results Fifty‐one patients were analyzed. The incidence of tracheostomy was 0.8%. Median age at tracheostomy was 5.3 months. The 5‐year survival estimate was 56.3% (95% confidence interval 43.6%, 72.6%). Age ≤6 months at the time of tracheostomy placement (p = .03), and the presence of tracheomalacia (p = .04) were factors significantly associated with 5‐year survival. Two patients (3.9%) experienced fatal decannulation, and one patient (2.0%) developed postoperative mediastinitis. The 10‐year decannulation rate estimate was 47.8% (30.5%, 63.2%). Seven patients (13.7%) had a persistent tracheocutaneous fistula. Conclusions This study corroborates high mortality rates in this population. Factors associated with improved survival were younger age at the time of tracheostomy and presence of tracheomalacia. Decannulation rates were low, but estimates improved over 10 years. Further studies are needed to determine optimal indications and timing for tracheostomy placement in this patient population. Level of Evidence 4https://doi.org/10.1002/lio2.1100congenital heart diseasemortalitypediatric tracheostomytracheostomy‐related complications
spellingShingle Christopher Puchi
Jennifer Lavin
Osama Eltayeb
Kathleen R. Billings
Outcomes of pediatric tracheostomy after surgery for congenital heart disease: A 20‐year experience
Laryngoscope Investigative Otolaryngology
congenital heart disease
mortality
pediatric tracheostomy
tracheostomy‐related complications
title Outcomes of pediatric tracheostomy after surgery for congenital heart disease: A 20‐year experience
title_full Outcomes of pediatric tracheostomy after surgery for congenital heart disease: A 20‐year experience
title_fullStr Outcomes of pediatric tracheostomy after surgery for congenital heart disease: A 20‐year experience
title_full_unstemmed Outcomes of pediatric tracheostomy after surgery for congenital heart disease: A 20‐year experience
title_short Outcomes of pediatric tracheostomy after surgery for congenital heart disease: A 20‐year experience
title_sort outcomes of pediatric tracheostomy after surgery for congenital heart disease a 20 year experience
topic congenital heart disease
mortality
pediatric tracheostomy
tracheostomy‐related complications
url https://doi.org/10.1002/lio2.1100
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AT jenniferlavin outcomesofpediatrictracheostomyaftersurgeryforcongenitalheartdiseasea20yearexperience
AT osamaeltayeb outcomesofpediatrictracheostomyaftersurgeryforcongenitalheartdiseasea20yearexperience
AT kathleenrbillings outcomesofpediatrictracheostomyaftersurgeryforcongenitalheartdiseasea20yearexperience