Table 1 Distribution of variables in patients undergoing RUSG-PDT and S-PDT

Age in years (median (IQR))

58 (21)

54 (28)

0.11

Female gender (n (%))

39 (42%)

56 (52%)

0.29

Body mass index in kg/m² (median (IQR))

27 (6)

27 (8)

0.55

Diagnosis (n (%))

-Subarachnoid hemorrhage

27 (29%)

25 (23%)

0.14

-Traumatic brain injury

15 (16%)

14 (13%)

0.66

-Intracerebral hemorrhage

15 (16%)

20 (19%)

0.24

-Acute ischemic stroke

11 (12%)

15 (14%)

0.28

-Neuromuscular respiratory failure

6 (6%)

10 (9%)

0.30

-Spinal cord injury

5 (5%)

8 (7%)

0.33

-Status epilepticus

8 (9%)

5 (5%)

0.72

-Other

3 (3%)

7 (7%)

0.46

-Brain tumor

3 (3%)

3 (3%)

0.99

Days from admission to tracheostomy (median (IQR))

5 (6)

6 (6)

0.18

APACHE II score (median (IQR))

18 (7)

19 (10)

0.19

PEEP at time of procedure in cmH₂O (median (IQR))

5 (0)

5 (3)

0.42

Cervical spine immobilized (n (%))

10 (11%)

15 (14%)

0.44

Coagulopathy (n (%))

12 (13%)

14 (13%)

0.79

Repeat tracheostomy (n (%))

0 (0%)

2 (2%)

0.99