Background

Pediatric tracheostomy is a life-saving procedure for children with severe respiratory compromise or upper-airway obstruction. Recently, Tracheostomies in children have increased due to advanced technology in hospitals. Children with medical complexity (CMC) who have undergone a tracheostomy represent a complex cohort of patients who have a sustained reliance on medical technology for long-term survival.

In the United States, more than 100,000 tracheostomies are performed annually with 4,000 of them being performed in children. The average complication rate for children is 40%. The most common complications are cutaneous lesions and granulomas. Mortality related to the procedure is 6% in children and is mainly related to cannula obstruction or accidental decannulation.