Introduction

Increasingly frequently, patients maintained on prolonged mechanical ventilation (PMV) are given a tracheostomy [1]. Tracheostomy is thought to offer several advantages over traditional translaryngeal intubation, including improved physical and psychological comfort, decreased risk of inadvertent extubation, accelerated weaning from mechanical ventilation, decreased time of ICU stay before transfer to step-down facilities, and a reduced risk of developing ventilator-associated pneumonia [2, 3]. Despite the increasing use of tracheostomy for PMV, currently no consensus exists as to whether this technique is associated with definite outcome benefits, as compared with translaryngeal intubation [4]. No study to date has compared the outcome of tracheostomy and translaryngeally intubated PMV patients in a specialized Respiratory Care Center (RCC) setting. All previous studies have been conducted in ICU settings.

The aim of the present study was to test the hypothesis that tracheostomy improves the outcome in patients maintained on PMV in an RCC setting. The major outcomes of interest were weaning success and mortality rate.

Materials and methods

Setting

Chang Gung Memorial Hospital is a 3,800-bed tertiary medical center containing 350 ICU beds. The 24-bed RCC unit was established in November 1999 as a part of a policy transferring responsibility for general ICU patients experiencing MV weaning difficulty.

Patients and RCC admission criteria

All patients transferred to the RCC between November 1999 and December 2005 were identified. Patients were included in this study if they had been maintained on MV in excess of 3 weeks before RCC admission, and all previous weaning attempts had failed.

Patients were eligible for RCC admission if they met the National Health Insurance (Bureau of National Health Insurance, Taiwan) requirements: hemodynamic stability, no vasoactive drug infusion for 24 hours or more before transfer, stable oxygen requirements (fraction of inspired oxygen 40% or more, and positive end-expiratory pressure less than10 cm H2O), no acute hepatic or renal failure, no requirement for surgical intervention within the ensuing 2 weeks, or if the attending pulmonary physician deemed it beneficial for the patient to be transferred to the RCC. No other principal restrictions were placed on admission to the RCC. Admission decisions were not based strictly on diagnosis, route of MV, prognosis, weaning, or rehabilitation potential. Any patient who became hemodynamically unstable or had multiple organ failure was transferred back to the appropriate ICU. Most (97%) of the RCC-study patients were admitted from the institutional ICU. The remaining patients were transferred from other hospital ICUs.

Terminal cancer patients and those patients who had been given tracheostomies before RCC admission were excluded from this study. The reasons for excluding terminal cancer patients were short life expectancy and the fact that (in our experience) families of these patients tend to deny any request for tracheostomy. Although some patients were admitted to the RCC on more than one occasion during a single care episode, for statistical purposes, data were recorded for the first admission only.

Indications for tracheostomy included the following: necessity for PMV, failed extubation or reintubation, unrelieved upper-airway obstruction, airway protection (including the need of airway access to remove secretions), and avoidance of complications associated with translaryngeal intubation. All tracheostomies were performed by a surgeon or ear, nose, and throat specialist in a surgical operating room. Indications for continued translaryngeal intubation included a short predicated lifespan (less than 2 months) and refusal of tracheostomy by the patient or relative(s).

This study was approved by the Institutional Internal Review Board. Informed consent was obtained from either the patient or the patient's family at discharge.

RCC description

Nurse-to-patient ratios in the RCC were 1:3, and respiratory therapist-to-patient ratios were 1:8. Specialists in pulmonary and critical care medicine served as primary physicians for all patients. In-hospital night coverage was provided by fellow trainees. Consultation services were available for most medical and surgical specialties.

The weaning process involved daily targets of either increasing periods of spontaneous breathing or a gradual reduction in pressure support. Other aspects of RCC care included identification of reversible causes of weaning failure, limited use of sedatives, restoration of normal sleep/wake cycles, attention to nutrition, pulmonary rehabilitation (including respiratory muscle training), and attempts to improve patient autonomy through methods such as establishing speech and self-feeding. Discharge planning was managed by nurse or social-work case managers. Hemodialysis was available in the RCC as required.

Variables measured

The following variables were recorded for all study patients within 24 hours of admission: demographics, previous ICU type (medical or surgical; MICU or SICU), cause leading to PMV, duration of ICU and RCC stay, days on MV before RCC admission, total days on MV, day of tracheostomy after RCC admission (if the procedure was performed), Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II) score, serum albumin, blood urea nitrogen (BUN) level, and blood gas data. "Total mechanical ventilation days" was defined as the time from initiation of MV to the time when weaning was successful or attempts were ceased. "Length of (hospital) stay" was defined as the time from ICU admission to the end of hospital care. The highest modified Glasgow Coma Scale scores (GCS: verbal score as one) were also obtained by nurses within the first 24 hours of admission. Rapid shallow breath indices (RSBIs), arterial oxygen pressure/fraction of inspiratory oxygen (PaO2/FIO2), and maximal inspiratory negative pressure (PImax) were also measured during spontaneous breathing. PImax values were determined as the mean of three measurements by using a Wright spirometer. PaO2/FIO2 was assessed within the first week of RCC admission. RCC and in-hospital mortality were calculated. RCC mortality was determined as the number of patients who died in the RCC divided by the total number of patients admitted to the RCC. In-hospital mortality was determined as the number of patients who died either at the RCC or before discharge, divided by the total number of patients admitted to the RCC. The numbers of comorbidities also were assessed [5, 6]. These included the following: diabetes (as determined by history, or if admitted with diabetic ketoacidosis or hypovolemic hyperosmotic nonketotic coma, or if discharged on glucose-lowering medications); chronic obstructive or restrictive lung disease (as determined by history, radiographic imaging, or pulmonary function testing); congestive heart failure (significant systolic dysfunction as determined by echocardiography); coronary atherosclerotic disease; disabling neurologic conditions (including cerebrovascular accidents and neuromuscular disease); end-stage renal disease (requiring dialysis before admission); hepatic cirrhosis (as determined by abdominal echo); metastatic cancer; and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.

PMV causes were classified into one of the following six categories [7]: acute lung injury (pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome, aspiration injury, and chest trauma); chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD); postoperative condition (coronary artery bypass grafting, abdominal surgery, or lobectomy); cardiac disease (acute myocardial infarction, congestive heart failure); neurologic disease (neuromuscular disease, cerebrovascular accident, cervical spinal injury, acquired critical neuromyopathy), or miscellaneous causes. Classifications were based on the reason that the patient could not be weaned, rather than the reason for MV initiation.

The number of patients successfully weaned and the length of time required for successful weaning were recorded. Patients were considered to be "ventilator independent" if mechanical ventilation was not required for 7 consecutive days and nights, regardless of outcome. Patients were considered to be "ventilator dependent" (including nocturnal mechanical ventilation) if weaning efforts were discontinued after both the interdisciplinary team and the informed patient/family agreed that these efforts should cease. No time limit was set for considering mechanical ventilation or weaning attempts. Patients who were classified as being ventilator dependent were transferred to a step-down respiratory-care ward for further long-term care.

Statistical analysis

The two groups of patients were a tracheostomy group and a translaryngeal tube group. Comparisons were made between the tracheostomy and translaryngeal groups. Continuous data are expressed as mean ± standard deviation (SD) or median (range), whereas categoric data are expressed as frequencies and percentage. Baseline characteristics were compared with Student's t test, Wilcoxon rank-sum test (for skewed data), χ2 test, or Fisher's Exact test, as necessary. Multivariate stepwise logistic regression models were used to assess factors associated with both successful weaning and survival in all patients (the factors entered into this analysis included gender, source of patient [from MICU/SICU], performing tracheostomy, reason for MV, ICU MV days, modified GCS score, APACHE II score, albumin, PImax, PaO2/FIO2, and BUN). Because of the significant baseline heterogeneity between the tracheostomy and translaryngeal groups (see Table 1); we further analyzed the data by performing a case-matched comparison. All demographic and clinical variables shown in Table 1 with P values < 0.25 were entered into multivariate analysis for predicting tracheostomy. Stepwise logistic regression was performed to remove covariates that had multivariable P values of > 0.25. Then, by using the coefficients of the final regression equation, a propensity score for undergoing tracheostomy was calculated for each patient. The predictors identified included APACHE II score, ICU MV days, PImax, and PaO2/FIO2 ratio. Thereafter, a case-matched comparison was performed by using statistical methods described in a previous publication [8]. In brief, this involved matching each tracheostomy patient with a single translaryngeal intubated patient who had a similar propensity score (within 0.1 on a scale from 0 to 1). When more than one matched patient was identified for a given case, the patient with the least number of missing laboratory-data values was selected as the matched patient. Matched analysis, mixed model, or general estimation equations were used for case match study comparisons. Several continuous variables were categorized by median value (albumin and BUN) or a clinically meaningful cut-off point (APACHE II score) for logistic regression. Data were analyzed by using SAS 9.0 statistical software (SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC) and a value of P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Table 1 Summary of demographic and clinical variables in the tracheostomy and translaryngeal tube groups
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Results

After excluding those patients who had been given a tracheostomy before RCC admission or who had terminal cancer, a total of 985 patients remained with tracheostomy and 227 patients with a translaryngeal tube included in the study. Table 1 summarizes the patient demographics and the clinical variables assessed with respect to MV grouping (tracheostomy or translaryngeal tube). Significant differences were found between gender distribution, origin of patients, APACHE II score, reason for MV, ICU MV days, modified GCS score, PImax, PaO2/FIO2, and BUN levels (P < 0.05 for all). Table 2 summarizes the outcome variables for the two groups. Significant between-group differences were found for all of the following: in-hospital mortality, length of hospital stay, RCC length of stay, and total mechanical ventilation days (all P < 0.01).

Table 2 Summary of outcome variables in the tracheostomy and translaryngeal tube groups
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Table 3 shows the factors significantly associated with both successful weaning and survival in all patients, as determined using stepwise logistic regression. Patients who had a median severity of disease (APACHE II score <18), were adequately nourished (albumin >2.5), and had normal metabolism (BUN <40) were significantly more likely to be successfully weaned and to survive (P < 0.01 for all). Patients who had tracheostomies were borderline significantly more likely to be weaned (P = 0.06), and also significantly more likely to survive (P < 0.01).

Table 3 Factors associated with successful weaning and survival in mechanical ventilation patients as determined by using stepwise logistic regression
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As previously noted, because of the significant baseline heterogeneity between the tracheostomy and translaryngeal groups (see Table 1); we further analyzed the data by performing a case-matched comparison. Table 4 shows the results of this comparison. As expected, no significant between-group differences were found in any of the demographic or baseline variables assessed. No between-group differences were noted in weaning success or mortality between the groups. The length of stay, RCC length of stay, and the total number of mechanical ventilation days were significantly longer in the tracheostomy group (P = 0.04;P < 0.01; and P < 0.01, respectively).

Table 4 Case-matched study: summary of demographic and clinical variables in the tracheostomy and translaryngeal tube groups
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Discussion

Previous studies noted the need for specialized care units to manage respiratory rehabilitation [9]. Our study is the first to compare outcome between tracheostomized and translaryngeally intubated patients in a specialized regional weaning center for PMV. The fact that this investigation was undertaken in a specialized RCC reduced the influence of potential confounding factors, such as lack of staff experience and variability of setting, that are a problem in many studies.

Within our RCC, tracheostomy did not lead to increased weaning success as compared with translaryngeal intubation. Furthermore, our case-matched analysis revealed that no difference in either RCC or in-hospital mortality was present between the tracheostomy and translaryngeal tube-intubated patients. Multivariate analysis did reveal, however, that tracheostomy was a significant predictor of survival. Other studies have variously reported that tracheostomy is [8, 10] and is not [9, 11] associated with decreased ICU and in-hospital mortality rates. Further RCC studies are needed to confirm the findings regarding mortality and weaning success presented herein.

We also found that RCC and in-hospital lengths of stay and total MV days were significantly increased in tracheostomy compared with translaryngeally intubated patients. These findings are consistent with those of previous reports [8–10]. Whether decreased or increased length of stay is ultimately of benefit to the patient is dependent on the long-term results of treatment after leaving the hospital, something we did not measure.

Our study also reports specific biochemical markers that may be suitable indictors for identifying tracheostomy candidates. Specifically, we found that patients with BUN levels lower than 40 (indicating adequate metabolic functioning) and albumin concentrations greater than 2.5 (indicating adequate nutritional status) were significantly more likely to be successfully weaned and survive. On confirmation of these findings, assessment of the aforementioned markers may prove use in the clinical setting to facilitate the optimal management of PMV patients.

In this study, a significantly higher requirement for hemodialysis was found in the tracheostomy patients. Despite this, no corollary increase was found in the rate of mortality. This contrasts to the finding of Chao and colleagues [12], who reported that mortality was markedly increased in patients with concurrent PMV and renal-replacement therapy. A larger (although not significantly) number of patients in the tracheostomy group with end-stage renal disease required regular dialysis in our study (32.26% in the tracheostomy group and 26.32% in the translaryngeal tube-intubated patients). This may underlie the increased requirement for hemodialysis in this group of patients and explain the lack of an increase in mortality (patients in Chao's study had more severe renal dysfunction) [12].

Our study has a number of limitations that warrant mention. First, it should be noted that all tracheostomy patients received traditional surgical tracheostomies. Others have suggested that the popularity of the percutaneous tracheostomy technique is a major reason underlying the increased utilization of tracheostomy in PMV patients [8]. Hence in our analysis, we were not able to compare outcome with regard to tracheotomy technique (that is, percutaneous versus traditional surgical tracheostomy).

Conversely, the homogeneity of our tracheostomy patient cohort in this respect could be viewed as a positive in terms of a decreased risk of technique-associated confounding. A further limitation is that we did not record data concerning decannulation of the tracheostomy, the effects of inadvertent extubation on the outcomes of the translaryngeally intubated group, tracheostomy complications, or the rate of ventilator-associated pneumonia in the different groups. Any of these factors could have influenced patient morbidity, mortality, or weaning ability.

Third, we did not assess the outcomes of patients after discharge. The long-term benefits (if any) of tracheostomy compared with translaryngeal intubation are yet to be determined.

Finally, our patients were not randomly assigned to the tracheostomy or translaryngeal-intubation groups. Although we used a case-matched method of statistical analysis, our data are confounded by the subjective decisions of the attending physicians to initiate tracheostomy. We also acknowledge that despite our best efforts to control for confounding factors, residual confounders associated with the different patient populations may have influenced our findings.

Conclusions

Within a specialized respiratory care unit, successful weaning was not increased in tracheostomy compared with translaryngeally intubated patients. No between-group differences were found in RCC or in-hospital mortality, as determined by case-match analysis. Interestingly, tracheostomy was found to be a significant predictor of survival. These findings suggest that focused care administered by experienced providers, as occurs in a specialized care unit, is more important in facilitating weaning than is the ventilation method used. In our weaning and survival regression model, the subgroup of patients who exhibited the most-positive outcomes had lower BUN levels, higher albumin concentrations, moderate APACHE II scores, and tracheostomies. Given that tracheostomy was associated with increased survival, we suggest that this may be a better means of facilitating MV than is translaryngeal intubation.

Key messages

  • The type of prolonged mechanical ventilation does not appear to be an important determinant of successful weaning in a specialized respiratory care center.

  • The subgroup of patients who fared best after mechanical ventilation had lower BUN levels, higher albumin concentrations, moderate APACHE II scores, and had tracheostomies.

  • The significant association between tracheostomy and patient survival suggests that tracheostomy may be the optimal method of mechanical ventilation.