Fig. 1

The PCT, CRP, SOFA, and SAPS II values remained stable over time for both groups (ST group, p value for PCT = 0.530, p value for CRP = 0.588, p value for SOFA = 0.480, p value for SAPS II = 0.289; PDT group, p value for PCT = 0.176, p value for CRP = 0.419, p value for SOFA = 0.402, p value for SAPS II = 0.993. Left panel: CRP and PCT kinetics in critically ill patients who underwent surgical and percutaneous tracheostomy. Right panel: SAPS II and SOFA scores in critically ill patients who underwent surgical and percutaneous tracheostomy. CRP C-reactive protein, PCT procalcitonin, SOFA Sepsis Organ Failure Assessment, SAPS Simplified Acute Physiology Score, ST surgical tracheostomy, PDT percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy, T tracheostomy