[Puncture tracheotomy in long-term ventilated intensive care patients].

In a prospective trial we tested the percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy in 53 ICU-patients treated with long-term artificial respiration. The tracheostomy was carried out under bronchoscopic supervision. Of a total complication rate of 15.1% we observed two serious complications with perforation of the pars membranacea of the trachea, one requiring thoracotomy and the other leading to exitus letalis by mediastinal emphysema.