Development of clinical tracheostomy score to identify cervical spinal cord injury patients requiring prolonged ventilator support

CONCLUSION Use of the trach score identified the majority of patients requiring prolonged VS in our study. An early tracheostomy protocol using predictive modeling could aid in reduction of intensive care unit length of stay and improving ventilator weaning in these patients. External verification of this predictive tool and of an early tracheostomy protocol is needed. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE This work is a retrospective prognostic cohort study and meets evidence Level III criteria.
Source: The Journal of Trauma: Injury, Infection, and Critical Care - Category: Orthopaedics Tags: ORIGINAL ARTICLES Source Type: research