The first study, that by Polderman and coworkers [2], which employed the GWDF technique, found a major complication rate of 4.0%. The other study, that by Berrouschot and coworkers [3], in which the multiple dilator technique was employed, reported a 7.9% major perioperative complication rate, including one death (caused by tracheal laceration). Minor complications were not reported. It is difficult to believe that the patients in those two series suffered only from major complications and not any minor ones! We prospectively collected all our data and found major complication rates of 7.6% with GWDF and 5.3% with CBR. Because the difference between major and minor complications is important, we have decided for future research to categorize complications related to percutaneous tracheostomy as minor, intermediate and major (Fig. 1). Using these new definitions, the major complication rates in our series are 2.3% and 2.9%, respectively, because most major complications would be redefined as intermediate. Moreover, because we meticulously registered our perioperative complications, we are able to inform readers about all other complications they may encounter, although the majority is rarely clinically relevant.