Hemorrhagic Risks of Percutaneous Dilated Tracheotomy in Thrombocytopenia

Abstract

The objective: to assess the incidence and influence of platelets level on the hemorrhagic complications during percutaneous dilated tracheotomy (PDT) in patients with thrombocytopenia.Subjects and Methods. The study included 85 consecutive patients with varying degrees of thrombocytopenia at the stages of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. The control group included 56 patients who underwent classical tracheotomy. The study group included 29 patients who underwent PDT (Griggs method). The operations were performed for prolonged artificial pulmonary ventilation. When the platelets level was below 20 × 109/L, platelet concentrate transfusion was performed before the operation.Results. The incidence of hemorrhagic complications in patients with thrombocytopenia during PDT was 13.8% (95% CI 9.13–18.45%). In open tracheotomy, the bleeding rate was 3.8% (95% CI 2.65–4.49%). These results are comparable to the incidence of hemorrhagic complications in patients with normal platelet counts. The influence of the platelet level on the presence of hemorrhagic complications in both groups was not established.Conclusion. Thrombocytopenia is not a contraindication to performing PDT. However, platelet concentrate transfusion should be performed in patients with platelet counts less than 20 × 109/L. An experienced team of anesthesiologists and endoscopists can reduce the incidence of other complications.

Keywords

• percutaneous dilated tracheotomy
• thrombocytopenia
• bleeding
• tracheostomy
• mechanical ventilation
• artificial ventilation