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Abstract |
Because of concern about long-term complications of bjork flap tracheostomy we followed-up 136 intensive care patients who had Bjork flap tracheotomy in 1992 a median of 117 (range 5-402) hours after intubation. Twenty died in hospital, none as a result of tracheostomy. Twenty- six patients were lost to follow-up and eleven declined. The remaining 79 had measures of health status, a quality of life questionnaire, respiratory function testing and physical examination of the neck and upper airway 9-27 months (median 14) later. Various health status measures deteriorated in 9 to 51 of 77 patients. Forty-two of 77 patients were taking prescription medication and 15/32 smokers had stopped smoking. FEV1, FVC and FEV1/FVC were significantly reduced from predicted normal (n=70, 2.8+ 1.1 vs 3.2 +0.9 p<.0001, 3.7 + 1.3 vs 4.0 + 1.0 p<.0001, 76 +11vs 79 +3 p= 0.035 respectively). Pulse oximetry was normal (>92%) in 73/74 patients tested. The median horizontal scar dimension was 45mm (range 20 to 75 mm). Nine had a median vertical scar dimension 15mm (range 8 to 25mm). Nineteen scars were hypertrophic, 56 were tethered. Two patients had already undergone tracheal scar revision at follow-up and further 13 accepted scar revision. Ten patients had abnormal voice examination, four abnormal cough, two stridor, three vocal cord lesions, three tracheal polyps and fourteen asymptomatic tracheal narrowing from 10-60% (median 25%) of the tracheal luminal diameter. Patients surviving critical illness with bjork flap tracheostomy have reduced quality of life and respiratory function and poor cosmetic result but a low incidence of important airway problems |
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