Surgical tracheostomy in children with malignancy receiving intensive chemotherapy: A case series and review of literature

Surgical tracheostomy in children with malignancy receiving intensive chemotherapy: A case series and review of literature:

Abstract

We retrospectively reviewed a paediatric intensive care unit database that supports a tertiary oncology service to explore safety and outcome of tracheostomy in oncology patients over a 12‐year period and reviewed literature. A total of 895 patients were admitted with a haematological or a solid tumour malignancy of which 222 were ventilated. Six of 222 (2.7%) ventilated children were tracheostomised. Four of six children tracheostomised for ventilatory support received intensive chemotherapy complicated by neutropenia and thrombocytopenia. There was no significant tracheostomy‐related complication. Tracheostomy improved patient comfort, reduced sedative requirement, and may have helped recovery. Tracheostomy should be considered early in selected children with haemato‐oncological diagnoses requiring prolonged ventilation.