PurposePercutaneous tracheostomy is frequently performed in long-term ventilated patients in the intensive care unit (ICU). Unfortunately, despite many years of experience, the optimal technique is still unknown, especially considering the occurrence of late complications. The purpose of this study was to determine which of the two most frequently used percutaneous tracheostomy techniques performs best with the emphasis on late complications.MethodsThis prospective randomized trial involved 120 patients, comparing two techniques of percutaneous tracheostomy, the guide wire dilating forceps (GWDF) and the single step dilatational tracheostomy (SSDT) technique.ResultsSixty patients in each group underwent a percutaneous tracheostomy and were followed for up to 3 months after decannulation. The majority of complications in both groups were minor (58.3% in the GWDF group and 61.7% in the SSDT group). We found a trend towards more major perioperative complications in the GWDF group versus the SSDT group, 10.0 versus 1.7% (p = 0.06). One patient in the SSDT group developed a significant tracheal stenosis. However, this may also have been related to prolonged translaryngeal intubation. Results of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) investigations showed only minor tracheal changes. Only 37.5% of patients in the GWDF group and 31.8% in the SSDT group had no complaints after their percutaneous tracheostomy.ConclusionCompared with the GWDF, the SSDT shows a trend toward less major perioperative complications with a comparable long-term outcome.

IntroductionTo evaluate and compare the peri-operative and postoperative complications of the two most frequently used percutaneous tracheostomy techniques, namely guide wire dilating forceps (GWDF) and Ciaglia Blue Rhino (CBR).MethodsA sequential cohort study with comparison of short-term and long-term peri-operative and postoperative complications was performed in the intensive care unit of the University Medical Centre in Nijmegen, The Netherlands. In the period 1997–2000, 171 patients underwent a tracheostomy with the GWDF technique and, in the period 2000–2003, a further 171 patients with the CBR technique. All complications were prospectively registered on a standard form.ResultsThere was no significant difference in major complications, either peri-operative or postoperative. We found a significant difference in minor peri-operative complications (P < 0.01) and minor late complications (P < 0.05).ConclusionDespite a difference in minor complications between GWDF and CBR, both techniques seem equally reliable.