[Long-term intubation following tracheotomy].

Between 1981 and 1983 tracheotomy was performed on 61 patients in the Surgical University Clinic of Tübingen. The dominant factors in indication of tracheotomy was for 49% of patients the persistingly necessary artificial respiration, for 26% a better bronchial toilet and other reasons for 25%. With 40.5% of all cases pneumonia was the most frequent complication encountered with our patients. The most frequent bacteria was Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Because of the decisive advantage constituted by the possibility of unproved bronchial toilet an earlier realisation of tracheotomy is to be recommended.