Baron et al. (2016)

Austria

Case Control

N=2,156

Population: TBI; Endotracheal Tube (n=1603): Median Age=58 yr; Gender: Male=1167, Female=436; Median GCS Score=6. Endotracheal Tube, then Tracheostomy (n=553): Median Age=62 yr; Gender: Male=394, Female=159; Median GCS=6.

Intervention: Patient data was retrospectively gathered from 87 Austrian ICUs. Outcomes of TBI intubated patients who underwent tracheostomy were compared with intubated patients who did not undergo tracheostomy.

Outcome Measures: Mortality, Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS).

1.        Patients who underwent tracheostomy were older, more often intubated, had longer a longer ICU stay, exhibited a higher level of treatment, and displayed AIS head scores≥4 more often.

2.        Mortality ratio (observed:expected mortality) was significantly lower in patients who underwent tracheostomy (0.62 [0.53-0.72]) compared with patients who remained intubated (1.00 [0.95-1.05]).