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Tracheostomy

Tracheostomy has been studied in 11 papers since 2020: 11 observational studies in people. The newest paper, Jul 15, 2025: “Looking Beyond Hospital Discharge: One-Year Mortality Following Tracheostomy Creation in Traumatically Injured Older Adults”.

Exposure

11 papers study it7 findingsUpdated

MeSH

See all 11

“Among adults 65 years old or older, median survival after tracheostomy was less than 3 months for individuals with frailty, chronic organ dysfunction, cancer, or dialysis.”
Healthcare Trajectories and Outcomes in the First Year After Tracheostomy Based on Patient CharacteristicsCritical care medicine2023doi:10.1097/ccm.0000000000006029

1 of its findings points the other way.

C, W, M, H: cells, worms or flies, mice, humans. Dark: independent labs found the same change there. Light: one lab or one study. Outline: nothing yet.

Labs are independent when their papers share no last author and no institution.

Against: findings that point the other way from most findings on the same outcome.

  • 5 independent labs in 4 countries
  • 1 finding against
  • Funders: National Institutes of Health and others
  • Humans11

What did studies of Tracheostomy find?

3

Studies of Tracheostomy measured 3 outcomes; the most studied are mortality (1 study), lifespan (1) and physical function (1).

Mortality

downin humans1−46% risk of death

1 study

  1. Tracheostomy is linked with lower mortality in humans (-46% risk of death).

    “The risk of death was 46% lower in patients undergoing tracheostomy than in those not undergoing tracheostomy.”

    Humansprolonged mechanical ventilation

    The Age of Older Patients Requiring Prolonged Mechanical Ventilation Is Not the Sole Determinant of Their Long-Term Survival

    Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania)

Lifespan

downin humans1

1 study

  1. Tracheostomy is linked with shorter lifespan in humans (< 3 months median survival).

    “Among adults 65 years old or older, median survival after tracheostomy was less than 3 months for individuals with frailty, chronic organ dysfunction, cancer, or dialysis.”

    Humanswith frailty, chronic organ dysfunction, cancer, or dialysis

    Healthcare Trajectories and Outcomes in the First Year After Tracheostomy Based on Patient Characteristics

    Critical care medicine

Physical function

downin humans1

1 study

  1. Tracheostomy is linked with worse physical function in humans (68% nonambulatory (98/270)).

    “most were tube-fed (101/270, 70%), unable to speak (81/270, 56%), and nonambulatory (98/270, 68%).”

    Humanscritically ill elderly ICU patients at hospital discharge

    Outcomes of prolonged mechanical ventilation and tracheostomy in critically ill elderly patients: a historical cohort study

    Canadian journal of anaesthesia = Journal canadien d'anesthesie

What is Tracheostomy linked with?

4

Studies link Tracheostomy with 4 measures, most often 1-year mortality (1 study), Male sex (1) and frailty (1).

1-year mortality

upin humans1+58%

1 study

  1. Tracheostomy is associated with 1-year mortality in humans (58%).

    “In this cohort, 58% died within 1 year of tracheostomy”

    Humanstraumatically injured patients undergoing tracheostomyn = 205

    Looking Beyond Hospital Discharge: One-Year Mortality Following Tracheostomy Creation in Traumatically Injured Older Adults

    The Journal of surgical research

Male sex

upin humans1OR 1.57

1 study

  1. male sex is associated with tracheostomy in humans (20% vs 14%, OR 1.57).

    “Male patients more often underwent tracheostomy (20% vs 14%; odds ratio [OR], 1.57; P < 0.001)”

    Humanscritically ill COVID-19n = 3,159

    Sex-specific treatment characteristics and 30-day mortality outcomes of critically ill COVID-19 patients over 70 years of age-results from the prospective COVIP study

    Canadian journal of anaesthesia = Journal canadien d'anesthesie

Frailty

upin humans1

1 study

  1. Tracheostomy is associated with frailty in humans (median Clinical Frailty Score of 7).

    “At hospital discharge, 6% (17/270) of patients were discharged home, all were frail (median Clinical Frailty Score of 7)”

    Humanscritically ill elderly ICU patients at hospital discharge

    Outcomes of prolonged mechanical ventilation and tracheostomy in critically ill elderly patients: a historical cohort study

    Canadian journal of anaesthesia = Journal canadien d'anesthesie

Mortality

upin humans1

1 study

  1. Tracheostomy is associated with mortality in humans (46% hospital mortality (125/270)).

    “Intensive care unit and hospital mortality were 26% (68/270) and 46% (125/270), respectively.”

    Humanscritically ill elderly ICU patients receiving tracheostomyn = 270

    Outcomes of prolonged mechanical ventilation and tracheostomy in critically ill elderly patients: a historical cohort study

    Canadian journal of anaesthesia = Journal canadien d'anesthesie

Latest

See all 11

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