TRACHEOSTOMY: CROSS SECTIONAL STUDY OF INDICATIONS IN RELATION TO AGE GROUP IN AL-YARMOUK TEACHING HOSPITAL

Tracheostomy is one of the oldest operations that performed as a life saving procedure and it is commonly performed in ENT Department in Al-Yarmouk Teaching Hospital for various indications and different age group. This study designed to review the indications of tracheostomy and the age group commonly involved in AL-Yarmok Teaching Hospital. This is a cross sectional study in 150 patients in AL-Yarmouk Teaching Hospital for the period from August 2009 to September 2011. Cases involved in the study aged more than 10 years for whom tracheostomy was done in the AL-Yarmouk Hospital. Upper airway obstruction was the most common indication for tracheostomy and mostly involved age group was 40-90 years. Airway obstruction caused by tumor, trauma and infection. Tracheostomy performed as a part of another procedure was the 2nd common indication and involved commonly age group 20-39 years. It was caused by trauma, tumor and difficult intubation. Prolonged ventilation was the 3rd common indication that involved mainly the age group 40-90 years. It caused by systemic medical illness, trauma, tumor and infections. Conclusion: Main indication was the upper airway obstruction. The age group 40-90 years most commonly involved. Introduction racheostomy is a surgical procedure by which a stoma between skin and trachea is performed to relief upper airway obstruction 1 , this procedure is one of the oldest life saving operations that was performed according to many indication: now a days new technique developed to be performed in many centers with percutaneous dilatation tracheostomy 1 . In our hospital (AlYarmouk Teaching Hospital) traditional tracheostomies routinely performed for various indications in different sex and age groups. This study aimed to identify the indications of tracheostomy in relation to age group. Patients and Methods Total 150 patients from different age groups ranging from 10 to 90 years who underwent tracheostomy in Al-Yarmouk Teaching Hospital from the period from August 2009 to September 2011 were included in the study. Data concerning patient age, indication of the operation were collected. Analysis of data was performed using Microsoft office Excel 2007 computer system. All surgical procedures done either in the operative theater at the otolaryngology department, respiratory care unit or in the emergency department. All patients were followed up and observed for the nursing care of the tracheostomy. T Tracheostomy: Indications in relation to age group Ammar Hadi Khammas Bas J Surg, March, 18, 2012 81 Data concerning indication of tracheostomy were collected and analyzed and divided to three main general categories which include airway obstruction (91 patients), part of other procedure with protection of airway (32 patients) and prolonged ventilation (27 patients). The ages of the patients divided in to three main groups. First group ranging from 10-19 years, second group ranging from 20-39 years, while the third group ranging from 40-90 years. Data concerning indications of each group were analyzed.Exclusion criteria: Age less than 10 years of age tracheostomy done on other hospitals then referred to AlYarmok Teaching Hospital. Results Indications in general: Upper airway obstruction due to various causes was a cause in 91 patients (60.7%), prolonged ventilation and bronchial toilet was seen in 27 patients (18%), while as a part of another procedure with protection of airway was found in 32 patients (21.3%) as shown in figure 1. *P-value =0.026 (s) Figure 1: Indications of tracheostomy. Causes of upper airway obstruction: Tumor was a cause in 54 patients (59.34%), trauma was the second common cause which occurred in 35 patients (38.46%), and infection was a cause in 2 patients (2.2%) as shown in table I. Table I: General causes of upper airway obstruction. Cause of airway obstruction NO. of patients %