Late outcome from percutaneous tracheostomy using the Portex kit

Objective: To assess late outcome following percutaneous tracheostomy using the Porter kit (Hythe, Kent, UH). Design: Prospective observational cohort study. Setting: Teaching hospital, Patients: Forty-nine consecutive patients who underwent percutaneous tracheostomy in the ICU using the Porter kit and who survived 6 months after the procedure, Interventions: Questionnaires regarding six symptoms were sent to all 49 surviving patients; the 39 respondents were invited to attend for review. Thirteen patients underwent pulmonary function testing, of whom 10 also underwent fiber-optic laryngotracheoscopy under local anesthesia, Results: The most common symptom was a minor change in voice. One patient had required treatment for symptomatic tracheal stenosis by the time of review; one was referred for revision of a tethered scar. Pulmonary function testing was easily performed by all patients and revealed no evidence of upper airway obstruction. Tracheoscopy likewise showed no evidence of tracheal stenosis. Conclusions: One of 49 patients had developed tracheal stenosis. None of the patients attending for detailed review showed any sign of late complications other than one tethered scar.