Marsh H M, Gillespie D J, Baumgartner A E
Division of Intensive Care and Respiratory Therapy, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota 55905.
Chest. 1989 Jul;96(1):190-3. doi: 10.1378/chest.96.1.190.
The decision for timing of tracheostomy remains controversial. The relative complication rates in two retrospective series, in which 79 and 150 critically ill patients were examined, respectively, showed increased incidence of late complications with tracheostomy and led Petty's group to conclude "The value of tracheotomy when an artificial airway is required for periods as long as 3 weeks is not supported by data obtained in this study."
