[Complications associated with tracheostomy in adult patients in intensive care units between 2015-2020. A Scoping ReviewComplicates associadas a traqueostomia em pacientes adultos em unidades de terapia intensiva no período 2015-2020. Revisao sistemática].

INTRODUCTION

Tracheostomy procedures in intensive care units are on the rise; however, they can lead to both perioperative and postoperative complications, with a variable incidence from 5 to 40% and even death in up to 1.4% of individuals. Despite this, few studies address causal concepts or mechanical and non mechanical risk factors about this important topic.

OBJECTIVE

To review the scope of the available scientific literature on complications of mechanical and non-mechanical origin associated with a tracheostomy.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The research question and inclusion criteria were established to conduct the search in PubMed and EBSCO databases between 2015 and 2020. The PRISMA-ScR checklist was used in the present study as a methodological and quality guideline.

RESULTS

The most frequent complications were bleeding 61%, tracheal stenosis 28.5%, decannulation 23.6% (5/21) , stoma infection 19%, death 19%, and difficult tracheostomy tube insertion 19%. Regarding mechanical risk factors, only the use of the Bjork flap (OR=0.4) was identified as a protective factor. Among the non-mechanical factors, obesity (OR=5.15), tube diameter >6 (OR=2.6), and preoperative mechanical ventilation (OR=3.14) were found.

CONCLUSIONS

It was possible to identify that the highest incidence of tracheostomy-related complications were bleeding, tracheal stenosis, accidental decannulation, and death; however, it is still unknown whether they originate from a mechanical or non-mechanical cause during intensive care management.