Abstract
Background: Tracheostomy is being considered as a procedure of choice in cases where prolonged mechanical
ventilation is required. The objective of this study was to determine the convenient timing of tracheostomy in
neurosurgical patients.
Materials and Methods: A prospective hospital based study was conducted between March 2019 and September
2020 among all admitted neurosurgical patients requiring mechanical ventilation. The patients were divided into
three groups, early tracheostomy group, intermediate tracheostomy group and late tracheostomy group. The
patients were followed up for 90 days.
Results: Among 75 patients who underwent tracheostomy, 32% belonged to early tracheostomy group, 52%
belonged to intermediate tracheostomy group and 16% belonged to late tracheostomy group. The mean age of the
study population was 46.88. The average number of days on ventilator and average number of days of hospital
stay were much higher in patients belonging to late tracheostomy group. Ventillator associated pneumonia (VAP)
was also higher in late tracheostomy group.
Conclusion: Early tracheostomy is beneficial with respect to decreased duration of mechanical ventilation, decreased
hospital stay and complications like VAP