Table 3 Summary of long-term complications comparing percutaneous dilatational and surgical tracheostomy in critically ill patients

ST

PDT

Complication

ST (%)

PDT (%)

8/24 (33)

11/22 (50)

1.5–3 months

Delayed closure

3 (38)

0 (0)

Tracheal stenosis

5 (63)

2 (18)

Cosmetic deformity

2 (25)

1 (9)

20/35 (57)

10/35 (29)

3 months

Delayed closure

2 (10)

1 (10)

Tracheal cartilage lesion

1 (5)

0 (0)

Unesthetic scar

8 (40)

2 (20)

26/50 (52)

24/50 (48)

4 months

Tracheal stenosis

11 (46)

7 (27)

Scar requiring surgical revision

5 (21)

2 (8)

11/56 (20)

11/56 (20)

18 months

Delayed closure

1

0

Airway symptoms^a

2

2

Dysphagia

1

0

12/42 (29)

15/41 (37)

2–4 years

Tracheal malacia

1 (8)

0 (0)

13/25 (52)

15/25 (60)

6 months

Tracheal malacia

0 (0)

1 (7)

Tracheal stenosis

0 (0)

1 (7)

13/72 (18)

18/67 (27)

12 months

Delayed closure

7 (54)

7 (39)

Airway symptoms^a

6 (46)

5 (28)

Tracheal stenosis

2 (11)

1 (6)

Need for stomaplasty

3 (16)

1 (6)

42/100 (42)

29/100 (29)

20 months

Airway symptoms^a

10 (24)

12 (41)

Stridor

2 (5)

0 (0)

Vocal cord paralysis

1 (2)

0 (0)

Unesthetic scar

2 (5)

0 (0)