The time from intubation until tracheostomy was 8 days (mean 7.97, standard deviation, SD=4.68) for PDT-treated patients and 13 days (mean 13, SD=6.32) for TST-treated patients, (p<0.001).
The time from tracheostomy placement to discharge was 12.8 days (mean 12.8, SD=8.43) for PDT-treated patients and 14.7 days (mean 14.65, SD=11.8) for TST-treated patients, (p<0.423).
There was no significant difference between procedural complications in the two groups.
The length of stay was 21 days (mean 20.8, SD=9.39) for PDT-treated patients and 28 days (mean 27.7, SD=12) for TST-treated patients, (p<0.005).