Associative factors for tracheostomy in patients presenting with stridor or upper airway obstruction

Abstract

Objective This study aimed to identify associative factors for tracheostomy in patients presenting with airway obstruction. Methods Data from a tertiary hospital were reviewed to identify patients who presented with airway obstruction between 2009 and 2020. Patient demographics, causative pathology and treatments were analysed. Results The study identified 297 admitted patients. Of these, 66 underwent a tracheostomy and formed the ‘tracheostomy’ group and 231 formed the ‘other intervention’ group. The tracheostomy group had a higher mean age (p = 0.003), and higher percentages of males (p = 0.031) and smokers or ex-smokers (p = 0.020), compared to the other intervention group. The tracheostomy group also had a higher number of patients with a malignancy (p < 0.001) compared to the other intervention group. Conclusion Being older, male, a previous or current smoker, or developing airway obstruction due to a malignancy were found to be the main associative factors for requiring a tracheostomy.