Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Language

English

Publication Date

9-1-2025

Journal

Surgical Infections Journal

DOI

10.1016/j.jss.2025.05.028

PMID

40669374

PMCID

PMC12463459

PubMedCentral® Posted Date

9-26-2025

PubMedCentral® Full Text Version

Author MSS

Abstract

Introduction: We aimed to evaluate long-term outcomes following tracheostomy in older trauma patients and hypothesized that 1-year survival decreases with older age.

Methods: This was a descriptive analysis of intensive care unit patients ≥65 y old who underwent tracheostomy from 2015 to 2020. The National Death Index was accessed to determine time from tracheostomy creation to death. Groups were categorized by age. The primary outcome was 1-year mortality. Survival by age strata was analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method.

Results: Of 205 eligible patients, 125 (61%) were 65-74, 68 (33%) were 75-84, and 12 (6%) were >85 y old. Median injury severity scores and Charlson Comorbidity Index were similar between groups. One-year mortality increased by decade of life and median survival decreased by decade.

Conclusions: In this cohort, 58% died within 1 year of tracheostomy, and increasing age was associated with shorter survival. Clear goals and expectations are needed when advising patients and families regarding tracheostomy.

Keywords

Humans, Tracheostomy, Aged, Male, Aged, 80 and over, Female, Wounds and Injuries, Patient Discharge, Age Factors, Retrospective Studies, Injury Severity Score, Intensive Care Units, Time Factors, Trauma, geriatrics, tracheostomy, critical care, outcomes research

Published Open-Access

yes

Download

Share

COinS
 
 

To view the content in your browser, please download Adobe Reader or, alternately,
you may Download the file to your hard drive.

NOTE: The latest versions of Adobe Reader do not support viewing PDF files within Firefox on Mac OS and if you are using a modern (Intel) Mac, there is no official plugin for viewing PDF files within the browser window.