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Neurocritical Care
Published in: Neurocritical Care 3/2009

01-12-2009 | Practical Pearl

Bedside Ultrasound Screening for Pretracheal Vascular Structures May Minimize the Risks of Percutaneous Dilatational Tracheostomy

Authors: Alexander C. Flint, Raghu Midde, Vivek A. Rao, Todd E. Lasman, Philip T. Ho

Published in: Neurocritical Care | Issue 3/2009

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Abstract

Background and Purpose

Percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy (PDT) continues to gain in popularity as a bedside method for tracheostomy placement in the intensive care unit. Here, we present a description of ultrasound technique and two case examples to show the utility of bedside ultrasound screening to select patients with appropriate anatomy for PDT.

Methods

We have instituted a protocol at our institution to use bedside screening ultrasound to confirm appropriate anatomy prior to PDT. In this report, we present our ultrasound methodology and present two cases with clear correlations between screening ultrasound findings and intraoperative findings.

Results

We describe an easily applied method for pretracheal ultrasound screening. To show the utility of this screening technique, we then present two example cases showing pretracheal vascular structures seen on ultrasound and during open operative exploration.

Conclusion

Bedside ultrasound screening allows for easy identification of pretracheal vascular structures that might pose a hemorrhage risk during PDT.
Appendix
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Literature
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Metadata
Title
Bedside Ultrasound Screening for Pretracheal Vascular Structures May Minimize the Risks of Percutaneous Dilatational Tracheostomy
Authors
Alexander C. Flint
Raghu Midde
Vivek A. Rao
Todd E. Lasman
Philip T. Ho
Publication date
01-12-2009
Publisher
Humana Press Inc
Published in
Neurocritical Care / Issue 3/2009
Print ISSN: 1541-6933
Electronic ISSN: 1556-0961
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s12028-009-9259-z

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