Pediatric tracheostomy. I. Radiographic features of normal healing.

Serial radiographic studies were used in a prospective study of tracheostomy healing in 30 consecutive infants and children. The examinations were simple, required no anesthesia or sedation, and were coordinated with decannulation of the tracheostomy. In 22 of 30, the tracheostomy site healed normally; in four of these 22 patients the primary cause for obstruction persisted. In 19 of 22 the radiologic study served as an alternative to bronchoscopy before decannulation. Particularly in small infants, the features of normal healing vary in the first days; temporary narrowing of the tracheal lumen can occur at the stomal site and mimic early granulations. After 1 month the trachea is normal except for minor changes at the previous site of the tracheostomy.