[Tracheostomy in French ICUs and patient outcome: national opinion survey]

Objectives: Tracheostomy is a frequent procedure in ICU but patient follow-up and management after ICU has been poorly documented. We conducted a practice survey in French general ICUs and in neurointensive care units concerning tracheostomized ICU patients and their management after ICU.

Study design: National observational descriptive transversal study as survey of opinion and practices.

Materials and methods: An email, with a link to an automated online questionnaire, was sent to two medical doctors of each French ICU. Demographic data and reported practices concerning indications, technique and post-ICU management were collected.

Results: We received 148 intensivists responses from different ICUs, of which 15% from neurointensivists. There was no difference between general intensivists and neurointensivists concerning the reported use of tracheostomy (10±13% vs 20±22%, P=0.05) and concerning the usual timing of the procedure (predominantly between the 10th and the 21th day) (P=0.62). Indications were weaning failure from the ventilator and neurological ventilatory dysfunction. Percutaneous tracheostomy was mainly performed irrespective of the type of unit. Only 48% of doctors declared usually be able to wean patient from the cannula before ICU discharge. Usual difficulties for post-ICU transfer due only to the presence of the cannula were found by 80% of respondants. Eighty-nine per cent of respondents felt that management of tracheostomized patients after the ICU could be improved.

Conclusion: Tracheostomy is a frequent procedure, mostly percutaneous. Indications and timing for tracheostomy correspond to the recommendations. Reported difficulties in post-ICU management are important and present nationwide.