Razi Journal of Medical Sciences

    Background & Aim: Tracheostomy has a distinct role in dealing with upper airway problems. Due to immaturated physiology and structure of airways and differential causes and complications of tracheostomy in children, obstructions and problems of airways are of great value. Unfortunately, there is not enough information about airway problems of this age group available for physicians and other care givers. Owing to the lack of basic information about causes and complications caused by this kind of surgery in Iran, we developed this study to distinguish existing differences between different centers and detect positive and negative points. Patients and Method: In this retrospective case series, we reviewed the files of all patients who had undergone tracheostomy in Hazrat Rasool-e-Akram Hospital from 1993 to 2004. Results: 365 patients who had undergone tracheostomy were investigated but only the files of 344 cases were reliable. 51 patients were under 12 years old, including 12(23.5%) females and 39(76.5%) males. The most common primary causes of tracheostomy were neurologic disorders(19.6%) and subglottic stenosis(15.7%). 9 patients(17.6%) encountered early and 13 patients(25.5%) faced late complications. 11 patients(21.6%) had died but none of these deaths were related to tracheostomy. Conclusion: Primary causes of tracheostomy, complications and their incidence, and patient's mortality rate in our hospital are similar to other centers. It reveals that information level and management of these patients in this hospital are acceptable.