Timing of tracheostomy in acute traumatic spinal cord injury: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND Patients with acute traumatic cervical or high thoracic level spinal cord injury (SCI) typically require mechanical ventilation (MV) during their acute admission. Placement of a tracheostomy is preferred when prolonged weaning from MV is anticipated. However, the optimal timing of tracheostomy placement in patients with acute traumatic SCI remains uncertain. We systematically reviewed the literature to determine the effects of early versus late tracheostomy or prolonged intubation in patients with acute traumatic SCI on important clinical outcomes. METHODS Six databases were searched from their inception to January 2020. Conference abstracts from relevant proceedings and the gray literature were searched to identify additional studies. Data were obtained by two independent reviewers to ensure accuracy and completeness. The quality of observational studies was evaluated using the Newcastle Ottawa Scale. RESULTS Seventeen studies (2,804 patients) met selection criteria, 14 of which were published after 2009. Meta-analysis showed that early tracheostomy was not associated with decreased short-term mortality (risk ratio [RR], 0.84; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.39–1.79; p = 0.65; n = 2,072), but was associated with a reduction in MV duration (mean difference [MD], 13.1 days; 95% CI, –6.70 to –21.11; p = 0.0002; n = 855), intensive care unit length of stay (MD, –10.20 days; 95% CI, –4.66 to –15.74; p = 0.0003; n = 855), and hospital lengt...
Source: The Journal of Trauma: Injury, Infection, and Critical Care - Category: Orthopaedics Tags: SYSTEMATIC REVIEWS Source Type: research