Early versus late tracheostomy in the trauma patient.

The use of early tracheostomy in the multiply injured trauma patient has many advantages both in terms of patient management and reduction of morbidity associated with prolonged translaryngeal intubation. Tracheostomy (percutaneous or open technique) has been associated with very low risk of mortality and comparable morbidity to prolonged endotracheal intubation. There exist improved clinical criteria for predicting which patients will require prolonged mechanical ventilation in the trauma and critical care setting. A delay in converting translaryngeal intubation to tracheostomy had been associated with longer ICU stays; conversely, early tracheostomy has been associated with a reduction in ICU stays, incidence of hospital-acquired pneumonias, mechanically ventilated days, and length of hospital stay. Thus, the benefits of early tracheostomy are improved care for patients in the trauma or critical care setting and reduced hospital and patient costs.