[Tracheostomy for long-term ventilatory assistance. About 22 observations of severe chronic respiratory insufficiency (author's transl)].

22 patients with severe respiratory insufficiency were treated by definitive tracheostomy for intermittent ventilatory assistance. Early mortality is heavy (9/22 before three months). After three months, the respiratory condition of patients improved greatly and survival rate is good. Tracheostomy is too often delayed and realized at the bad time of a severe acute respiratory failure.