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Volume 3 Supplement 2

19th International Symposium on Intensive Care and Emergency Medicine

  • Meeting abstract
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Laboratory study of new technique using a one-pass dilator for percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy

Background and objectives

Percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy requires the use of several dilators of increasing size. It would be a marked advantage to use only one dilator to achieve the desired 36 F. This report presents preliminary animal studies using freshly sacrificed dogs, adult pig tracheas fresh from the slaughterhouse and live piglets.

Methods

The usual technique for percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy was first followed to insert a guidewire into the trachea. A well-lubricated, one-pass, long, tapered dilator was threaded over the guidewire into the trachea. With twisting, it was inserted to the 36 F level. The one-pass dilator was removed leaving the guidewire in place and the chosen tracheostomy tube was passed over the guidewire into the trachea using the usual technique of percutaneous dilacational tracheostomy.

Results

A total of 50 dog cadavers and 25 slaughterhouse sheep tracheas were successfully tracheotomized using the one-pass dilator employing 7 and 8 mm I.D. tubes. Six live piglets were finally used successfully. No perforations or false passengers occurred.

Conclusions

A one-pass technique was used successfully on fresh dog cadavers and should be evaluated on human beings.

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Ciaglia, P., Marx, W. Laboratory study of new technique using a one-pass dilator for percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy. Crit Care 3 (Suppl 2), P008 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1186/cc383

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/cc383

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