Comparative effectiveness of ultrasound-guided and anatomic landmark percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Effectiveness of ultrasound-guided versus anatomical landmark-guided percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy (PDT) is increasingly used in intensive care units owing to its advantages of reduced surgical trauma and fewer complications. Recently, ultrasonography has become a potentially useful tool for assisting PDT.

OBJECTIVE

To compare ultrasound- and landmark-guided PDT for major bleeding, first-puncture success rates, periprocedural complications, and tracheotomy procedure times.

METHODS

Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) or non-RCTs comparing ultrasound- and landmark-guided PDT were searched for in PubMed, Web of Science, MEDLINE, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, Wanfang Data Knowledge Service Platform, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) and the Chinese Biomedical Literature Service System (SinoMed). The primary outcomes were major bleeding and first puncture success rate. Secondary outcomes were periprocedural complications and the tracheotomy procedure time. The meta-analysis was performed using RevMan 5.3 software.

RESULTS

This meta-analysis included five RCTs and one non-RCT, with a total of 609 patients. Compared with landmark-guided PDT, ultrasound-guided PDT can reduce the incidence of major bleeding (odds ratio [OR] = 0.35, 95% confidence interval [CI; 0.14, 0.90], P = 0.03) and improved the success rate of first puncture (OR = 4.41, 95% CI [2.54, 7.65], P < 0.000001). Additionally, ultrasound-guided PDT is associated with a lower incidence of periprocedural complications (OR = 0.35, 95% CI [0.22, 0.54], P < 0.00001). However, there was no advantage in reducing the tracheotomy procedure time between the two methods (mean difference = - 0.64, 95% CI [-4.14, 2.85], P = 0.72).

CONCLUSION

Compared to landmark-guided PDT, ultrasound-guided PDT can reduce the incidence of major bleeding and periprocedural complications and increase the success rate of the first puncture. However, the advantage of ultrasound-guided PDT in reducing the tracheotomy procedure time is unclear.

A Synergy of Ultrasound and Bronchoscopy in Enhancing Safety in Percutaneous Tracheostomy Procedures: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Bronchoscopy-guided percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy (BPDT) and ultrasound-guided percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy (USPDT) are widely employed techniques. However, USPDT provides better vascular mapping and reduces bleeding risk, while BPDT offers better tracheal entry and fewer airway complications. Their comparative efficacy and safety were systematically evaluated, with special consideration for high-risk patients, including obese and critically ill individuals with complex airway anatomy. Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, an in-depth literature search was conducted in Embase, PubMed, Scopus, and Cochrane Library, focusing on adult patients undergoing percutaneous tracheostomy with USPDT, BPDT, or both. Quality assessment indicated that most studies exhibited a low risk of bias, though concerns regarding randomization and selective reporting were noted in some cases. A meta-analysis was conducted using pooled effect sizes, procedural success rates, complication rates, and heterogeneity (I²), applying a random-effects model. Ten studies involving 1,069 patients were analyzed. The pooled analysis demonstrated a moderate positive association between USPDT and BPDT in improving procedural success and reducing complications (CI: 0.41 to 0.55, standardized mean difference = 0.48, 95%, p < 0.05). However, significant heterogeneity (I² = 72.95%) was observed, likely due to variations in study design and patient populations. USPDT and BPDT are both practical and safe for percutaneous tracheostomy, with unique advantages for different clinical scenarios. The findings support a hybrid approach integrating both modalities to enhance procedural safety and efficiency, particularly in high-risk populations. Future large-scale trials should focus on reducing heterogeneity, assessing long-term outcomes, and improving cost-effectiveness to establish best-practice guidelines for broader clinical implementation.

The Value of Tracheal Visualization in Tracheostomized Patients in Skilled and Long-Term Care Homes

Objective This study aims to assess the impact of tracheal visualization on weaning success among tracheostomized patients in skilled and long-term care facilities, highlighting its role in reducing complications and enhancing clinical outcomes. Methods A retrospective observational study was conducted on tracheostomized patients residing in skilled nursing homes in Florida between 2018 and 2023. The study included individuals aged 18 years or older with established tracheostomies. Routine tracheal visualization techniques were used to confirm tube placement, evaluate tracheal health, and detect complications such as infections, inflammation, or obstructions. Results Among the 21 patients analyzed, a weaning success rate of 23.8% was observed. Patients who successfully weaned had fewer comorbidities and higher tracheal health scores compared to those who did not. Routine tracheal visualization reduced complications related to tube malposition and facilitated timely interventions, such as correcting tube displacement or managing airway obstructions. Conclusions This study underscores the significance of incorporating tracheal visualization into care protocols for tracheostomized patients, especially in skilled nursing and long-term care settings. Future research should focus on developing standardized protocols to improve care quality and ensure patient safety, particularly in resource-constrained environments.

Minimally-invasive tracheostomy (MIT): A care bundle for safety improvement in high-risk critically ill patients

BACKGROUND

Detailed reports are scarce on minimally-invasive tracheostomy (MIT) techniques for critically ill patients with challenging anatomy or complex coagulopathies. In such high-risk patients, conventional percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy (PDT) may lead to severe complications.

METHODS

Aiming to broaden the scope of MIT for patients previously excluded due to high risks, we developed a new care bundle (MIT technique), specifically designed for intensive care specialists. Our study examined the outcomes of MIT in 32 high-risk patients treated in an ICU of a University Hospital with specific focus on gastrointestinal and liver diseases.

RESULTS

We have modified the conventional PDT technique by incorporating an initial skin incision, blunt dissection, diaphanoscopy-guided probe puncture, and continuous bronchoscopic monitoring. Our care bundle also introduces an anterolateral approach for tracheal entry, a significant advancement for patients with complex neck anatomy or dense vasculature, where an anterolateral trajectory avoids midline blood vessels. This enhanced method has proven to be safer than traditional PDT, with a notable absence of post-procedural hemorrhages, cannula misplacements, or infections.

CONCLUSION

The use of our refined care bundle enabled swift minimally-invasive tracheostomy in high-risk patients without the occurrence of serious complications.

Increasing the precision of simulated percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy-a pilot prototype device development study

Percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy (PDT) is a bedside medical procedure which sites a new tracheostomy tube in the front of the neck. The critical first step is accurate placement of a needle through the neck tissues into the trachea. Misplacement occurs in around 5% of insertions, causing morbidity, mortality, and delays to recovery. We aimed to develop and evaluate a prototype medical device to improve precision of initial PDT-needle insertion. The Guidance for Tracheostomy (GiFT) system communicates the relative locations of intra-tracheal target sensor and PDT-needle sensor to the operator. In simulated "difficult neck" models, GiFT significantly improved accuracy (mean difference 10.0 mm, ANOVA p < 0.001) with ten untrained laboratory-based participants and ten experienced medical participants. GiFT resulted in slower time-to-target (mean difference 56.1 s, p < 0.001) than unguided attempts, considered clinically insignificant. Our proof-of-concept study highlights GiFT's potential to significantly improve PDT accuracy, reduce procedural complications and offer bedside PDT to more patients.

Impact of radiological surveillance for major blood vessels on complications of percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy: A retrospective cohort study

PURPOSE

Percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy (PDT) is the preferred method for managing long-term ventilator-dependent patients in ICUs. This study aimed to evaluate the association between preprocedural screening (ultrasound Doppler [USD] or computed tomography [CT]) for major neck blood vessels and complications in ICU patients undergoing PDT.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This was a retrospective cohort study of patients who underwent PDT between 2012 and 2023 at a tertiary referral center. We performed a multivariable analysis and created a propensity-matched cohort. The primary outcome was bleeding within the first seven days after PDT. Secondary outcomes included early and late PDT complications and PTD-related mortality.

RESULTS

A total of 1766 consecutive critically ill patients hospitalized at a tertiary academic hospital were evaluated for PDT. Of these, 881 (49.9 %) underwent only physical examination before PDT, while 885 (50.1 %) underwent additional imaging (CT/USD). A higher proportion of patients in the imaging group were referred to open surgery due to suspected major blood vessels interfering with the procedure (6.2 % vs. 3.0 %, p = 0.001). Among the 1685 patients who underwent PDT, there was no significant difference in the rate of early bleeding between the physical examination group and the imaging group (4.6 % vs. 6.3 %, p = 0.12). Similarly, the overall early complication rates (5.5 % vs. 7.6 %, p = 0.08), late complication rates (1.6 % vs. 2.2 %, p = 0.42), and PDT-related mortality rates (0.7 % vs. 0.6 %, p = 0.73) did not exhibit significant differences between the two groups. In a propensity score-matched cohort, results remained consistent.

CONCLUSIONS

Physical examination can effectively identify major neck blood vessels without increasing the risk of bleeding during and after PDT.

Point-of-Care Ultrasound in Airway Evaluation and Management: A Comprehensive Review

Airway management is a common and critical procedure in acute settings, such as the Emergency Department (ED) or Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of hospitals. Many of the traditional physical examination methods have limitations in airway assessment. Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) has emerged as a promising tool for airway management due to its familiarity, accessibility, safety, and non-invasive nature. It can assist physicians in identifying relevant anatomy of the upper airway with objective measurements of airway parameters, and it can guide airway interventions with dynamic real-time images. To date, ultrasound has been considered highly accurate for assessment of the difficult airway, confirmation of proper endotracheal intubation, prediction of post-extubation laryngeal edema, and preparation for cricothyrotomy by identifying the cricothyroid membrane. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the key evidence on the use of ultrasound in airway management. Databases including PubMed and Embase were systematically searched. A search strategy using a combination of the term "ultrasound" combined with several search terms, i.e., "probe", "anatomy", "difficult airway", "endotracheal intubation", "laryngeal edema", and "cricothyrotomy" was performed. In conclusion, POCUS is a valuable tool with multiple applications ranging from pre- and post-intubation management. Clinicians should consider using POCUS in conjunction with traditional exam techniques to manage the airway more efficiently in the acute setting.