Am J Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg | Volume 5, Issue 5 | Research Article | Open Access

Tracheostomy in Papua New Guinea: A Retrospective Analysis of 33 Cases in a Subspecialty Limited Setting

Isaiah Borchem, Ian Umo*, Kennedy James and Rodger Ikasa

Surgical Department, Alotau Provincial Hospital, Milne Bay Provincial Health Authority, Papua New Guinea

*Correspondance to: Jan Umo 

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Abstract

Tracheostomy is a lifesaving procedure primarily done by a specialist head and neck surgeon. In Papua New Guinea there is a deficit of specialists and the burden of conditions requiring tracheostomy is associated with increased mortality and morbidity. As such, a retrospective review was conducted at Alotau Provincial Hospital (Papua New Guinea) between the January 1st, 2017 to December 31st, 2020 to describe the rate, indications, complications and mortality of patients who underwent tracheostomy. The tracheostomy rate over the study period was 1.1%. The most common indication for patients undergoing tracheostomy was prolonged ETT intubation (n=13). The tracheostomy complication rate was 42.42% (n=14) and the mortality rate was 39.39% (n=13). Emphasis must be placed on training for both general surgeons and nursing staff to competently perform and care for tracheostomies. Future prospective studies are needed to understand outcomes amongst tracheostomy patients in such resource limited setting.

Keywords:

Tracheostomy; Indications; Complications; ETT; Papua New Guinea

Citation:

Borchem I, Umo I, James K, Ikasa R. Tracheostomy in Papua New Guinea: A Retrospective Analysis of 33 Cases in a Subspecialty Limited Setting. Am J Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2022; 5(5): 1189.

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