STARZL T E, MEYER W H, FARRELL J J
J Am Med Assoc. 1959 Feb 14;169(7):691-5. doi: 10.1001/jama.1959.03000240029007.
The most common postoperative complications are those involving respiration, and they are especially dangerous to patients classified as poor risks because of age or other handicaps. Among the 11 patients whose histories are given, some who were nearly moribund from respiratory difficulties were saved by tracheostomy; others made good recoveries from major surgery under conditions that would have been hopeless without the help afforded by prophylactic tracheostomy. If this possibility is foreseen, an orderly procedure can be carried out in the operating room instead of desperate measures on the ward. Scrupulous care of the tracheostomy is essential; this includes aseptic precautions, humidification of the inhaled air or oxygen, and the systematic but gentle use of suction to aspirate accumulating mucus.
最常见的术后并发症是那些涉及呼吸的并发症，对于因年龄或其他残疾而被归类为高危的患者来说，这些并发症尤其危险。在所给出病史的11名患者中，一些因呼吸困难几乎奄奄一息的患者通过气管造口术得以挽救；另一些患者在没有预防性气管造口术提供帮助的情况下本会绝望的条件下，从大手术中顺利康复。如果预见到这种可能性，就可以在手术室里按部就班地进行操作，而不是在病房采取孤注一掷的措施。对气管造口术进行一丝不苟的护理至关重要；这包括无菌预防措施、吸入空气或氧气的加湿，以及系统但轻柔地使用吸引器吸出积聚的黏液。
