B. Castling et al., COMPLICATIONS OF TRACHEOSTOMY IN MAJOR HEAD AND NECK-CANCER SURGERY ARETROSPECTIVE STUDY OF 60 CONSECUTIVE CASES, British journal of oral & maxillofacial surgery, 32(1), 1994, pp. 3-5
Employment of tracheostomy in head and neck cancer surgery remains con
troversial. This study details those cases in which the life-saving po
tential of tracheostomy placement was considered to outweigh the obser
ved disadvantages. Sixty consecutive cases of tracheostomy in head and
neck cancer patients were assessed and revealed a relatively low comp
lication rate (11% of cases). Chest infection was the commonest proble
m encountered, although none were life threatening and all responded t
o treatment. Surgical and medical management aimed at reducing tracheo
stomy complications is discussed.