Karan Gupta1, Dushyant Mandlik2, Daxesh Patel2, Purvi Patel2, Bankim Shah3, Devanhalli G Vijay4, Jagdish M Kothari4, Rajendra B Toprani2, Kaustubh D Patel2. 1. Department of Head & Neck Surgical Oncology, Aastha Oncology Associates, HCG Cancer Centre, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India. Electronic address: guptakaran86@gmail.com. 2. Department of Head & Neck Surgical Oncology, Aastha Oncology Associates, HCG Cancer Centre, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India. 3. Department of Anaesthesiology and Critical Care, HCG Cancer Centre, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India. 4. Department of Surgical Oncology, Aastha Oncology Associates, HCG Cancer Centre, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Tracheostomy is a mainstay modality for airway management for patients with head-neck cancer undergoing surgery. This study aims to define factors predicting need of tracheostomy and define an effective objective criterion to predict tracheostomy need. METHODS: 486 patients undergoing composite resections were studied. Factors analyzed were age, previous surgery, extent of surgery, trismus, extent of mandibular resection and reconstruction etc. Factors were divided into major and minor, using the clinical assessment scoring system for tracheostomy (CASST) criterion. RESULTS: Sixty seven (13.7%) patients required tracheostomy for their peri-operative management. Elective tracheostomies were done in 53 cases during surgery and post-operatively in 14 patients. All patients in whom tracheostomies were anticipated had a score of seven or more. CONCLUSION: A decision on whether or not an elective tracheotomy in head and neck surgery is necessary and can be facilitated using CASST criterion, which has a sensitivity of 95.5% and a negative predictive value (NPV) of 99.3%. It may reduce post-operative complications and contribute to safer treatment.
BACKGROUND: Tracheostomy is a mainstay modality for airway management for patients with head-neck cancer undergoing surgery. This study aims to define factors predicting need of tracheostomy and define an effective objective criterion to predict tracheostomy need. METHODS: 486 patients undergoing composite resections were studied. Factors analyzed were age, previous surgery, extent of surgery, trismus, extent of mandibular resection and reconstruction etc. Factors were divided into major and minor, using the clinical assessment scoring system for tracheostomy (CASST) criterion. RESULTS: Sixty seven (13.7%) patients required tracheostomy for their peri-operative management. Elective tracheostomies were done in 53 cases during surgery and post-operatively in 14 patients. All patients in whom tracheostomies were anticipated had a score of seven or more. CONCLUSION: A decision on whether or not an elective tracheotomy in head and neck surgery is necessary and can be facilitated using CASST criterion, which has a sensitivity of 95.5% and a negative predictive value (NPV) of 99.3%. It may reduce post-operative complications and contribute to safer treatment.