Basrah Journal of Surgery

Abstract

Tracheostomy is one of the oldest operations that performed as a life saving procedure and it is commonly performed in ENT Department in Al-Yarmouk Teaching Hospital for various indications and different age group.
This study designed to review the indications of tracheostomy and the age group commonly involved in AL-Yarmok Teaching Hospital.
This is a cross sectional study in 150 patients in AL-Yarmouk Teaching Hospital for the period from August 2009 to September 2011. Cases involved in the study aged more than 10 years for whom tracheostomy was done in the AL-Yarmouk Hospital.
Upper airway obstruction was the most common indication for tracheostomy and mostly involved age group was 40-90 years. Airway obstruction caused by tumor, trauma and infection.
Tracheostomy performed as a part of another procedure was the 2nd common indication and involved commonly age group 20-39 years. It was caused by trauma, tumor and difficult intubation. Prolonged ventilation was the 3rd common indication that involved mainly the age group 40-90 years. It caused by systemic medical illness, trauma, tumor and infections. Conclusion: Main indication was the upper airway obstruction. The age group 40-90 years most commonly involved.