Pediatric tracheotomy: comparison of indications and complications between children and adults.

The aim of this study was to demonstrate the differences between adult and pediatric tracheotomies in terms of indications, early and late complications and decannulation time. A total of 136 (53 children, 83 adult) patients who underwent tracheotomy between 2006 and 2011 were studied. Prolonged intubation was the most common indication in children (84.9%), whereas in the adult group, upper airway obstruction (45.8%) was the main indication. Early and late complication rates in children were 22.6% and 5.7%, respectively. Complication rates (early 19.3%, late 4.8%) in adults did not differ statistically from those in children. Similar decannulation success was observed in children (34.6%) and adults (40.2%). Mean decannulation times after tracheotomy were 317 and 69 days in children and adults, respectively, and the difference was statistically significant (p = 0.040). Pediatric and adult tracheotomies differ in terms of indication and decannulation time, but complications are similar.