Implementation of the TRACHE care bundle: improving safety in paediatric tracheostomy management

Introduction Tracheostomy management has been the focus of a number of reviews in the UK over the last decade; however, paediatric patients have thus far been excluded from the analysis.1 2 Currently, there are no formally accepted national standards in the UK for paediatric tracheostomy management. Paediatric tracheostomies are associated with risks and complications in the order of two to three times higher than morbidity and mortality rates reported in adults. The mortality rate for a complication directly related to a paediatric tracheostomy is 0.7%.3 The majority of reported adverse incidents do not occur in the immediate postoperative period; late complications over a week from insertion are four times more common.4 Our aim was formalising standards of optimal paediatric tracheostomy management to minimise future morbidity. Methods Assessments of paediatric tracheostomy care were collected from 40 consecutive patients at...

Source: Archives of Disease in Childhood - May 23, 2017 Category: Pediatrics Authors: Hall, A., Bates, J., Ifeacho, S., Hartley, B., Albert, D., Jephson, C., Hewitt, R. J., Cochrane, L., Wyatt, M., Cooke, J. Tags: Surgery, Epidemiologic studies, Neonatal and paediatric intensive care, Paediatric intensive care, Guidelines Quality reports Source Type: research