Safety Analysis of Visual Percutaneous Tracheostomy in Neurocritical Care Patients with Anticoagulation and Antithrombosis.

Abstract

Background: This study aims to evaluate the safety of visual percutaneous tracheostomy (vPDT) in neurologic intensive care unit (NICU) patients who are under anticoagulant and antithrombotic therapy.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted on 54 NICU patients who underwent vPDT at Tai'an Central Hospital from September 2022 to September 2023. The cohort included 36 men and 18 women aged 36-90 years (mean age 62.24 ± 12.24 years). Patients were divided into two groups based on their treatment: an anticoagulant and antithrombotic group (22 patients) and a non-anticoagulant and non-antithrombotic group (32 patients). Clinical data, including demographic information, comorbidities, Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score before vPDT, time from NICU admission to vPDT, laboratory indicators, and vPDT complications, were analyzed.

Results: The incidence of vPDT complications in the anticoagulant and antithrombotic group was 18.2%, involving three cases of minor intraoperative bleeding and one case of posterior airway wall injury. The non-anticoagulant and non-antithrombotic group had an 18.8% complication rate, including four cases of minor intraoperative bleeding, one case of subcutaneous emphysema with local infection, and one unrelated death. No significant difference in vPDT complications was observed between the two groups (P > 0.05). However, the anticoagulant and antithrombotic group had a higher average age, higher GCS scores, and longer time intervals from NICU admission to vPDT and from intubation to vPDT (all P < 0.05).

Conclusion: vPDT appears to be a safe and feasible procedure for NICU patients receiving anticoagulant and antithrombotic therapy, with no significant increase in complications compared to those not on such therapies.