The mortality for those undergoing tracheostomy was 12% (12.1% OT and 11.8% PT; p non significant). There were no deaths attributable to tracheostomy.
The mean injury severity score in trauma patients was 29.5 (28.9 in the OT group and 30.1 in the PT group; p non significant).
The mean overall time from endotracheal intubation to tracheostomy (TTT) was 14.2 days. There was no statistical difference between the two groups.
The TTT for PT significantly decreased from 12.7 days in 1998 to 7.4 days in 2004, (p=0.001). Over the same time period, TTT for OT remained relatively stable, with a mean of 14.0 days.
The rate of OT and PT changed significantly, (p=0.03) from a more prevalent use of PT in 1998 (OT 42%, PT 58%) to a more prevalent use of OT in 2004 (OT 68%, PT 32%).
There was no significant difference in the mean length of stay post tracheostomy placement or in ICU stay for the two groups.
The mean time from tracheostomy to discontinuation of mechanical ventilation was 15.5 days (OT 15.8, PT 15) after excluding 4 OT patients and 5 PT patients who were discharged to another facility still requiring mechanical ventilation.
The complication rate was 3.5% (1.5% OT, 5.1% PT; p=0.20).