Table 1 Patient demographics
| Â | All | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ICU admissions | 4,561 | 1,169 | 1,146 | 1,128 | 1,119 |
ICU tracheostomy | 415 | 70 | 83 | 128 | 134 |
Discharged with tracheostomy | 280 | 41 | 60 | 95 | 84 |
Age in years, mean (SD) | 61.8 (13.2) | 58.7 (13.6) | 62.2 (13.1) | 62.6 (13.7) | 62.1 (12.4) |
Male | 176 (63) | 26 (63) | 42 (70) | 59 (62) | 49 (58) |
APACHE II score, mean (SD) | 20.4 (6.4) | 21.7 (7.1) | 20.3 (6.1) | 20.3 (6.0) | 20.1 (6.5) |
Admitting unit | Â | Â | Â | Â | Â |
   Neurosurgery | 65 (23) | 12 (29) | 15 (25) | 21 (22) | 17 (20) |
   Cardiothoracic | 71 (25) | 1 (2) | 15 (25) | 21 (22) | 34 (41) |
   Surgery | 38 (14) | 4 (10) | 11 (18) | 16 (17) | 7 (8) |
   Medical | 106 (40) | 24 (58) | 19 (32) | 37 (39) | 26 (31) |
Indication | Â | Â | Â | Â | Â |
   Prolonged ventilation | 138 (58) | - | 34 (57) | 52 (55) | 52 (62) |
   Coma | 51 (21) | - | 13 (22) | 19 (19) | 19 (23) |
   Failed extubation | 29 (12) | - | 5 (8) | 18 (19) | 6 (7) |
   Other | 21 (9) | - | 8 (13) | 6 (6) | 7 (8) |
Method | Â | Â | Â | Â | Â |
   Surgical | 43 (15) | 10 (24) | 14 (23) | 11 (12) | 8 (10) |
   Percutaneous | 237 (85) | 31 (76) | 46 (77) | 84 (88) | 76 (90) |
Discharge destination | Â | Â | Â | Â | Â |
   Home | 50 (18) | 4 (10) | 8 (13) | 17 (18) | 21 (25) |
   Other hospital | 111 (40) | 20 (49) | 25 (42) | 40 (42) | 26 (31) |
   Rehabilitation unit | 70 (25) | 9 (22) | 15 (25) | 19 (20) | 27 (32) |
   Died | 43 (15) | 8 (20) | 12 (20) | 14 (15) | 9 (11) |
   Aged care | 6 (2) | 0 | 0 | 5 (5) | 1 (1) |