Commentary: Percutaneous tracheostomy: comparison of three different methods with respect to tracheal cartilage injury in cadavers-randomized controlled study.

In this issue of Pathology & Oncology Research, Bódis et al. compare incidences of cartilage injury caused by different percutaneous dilatation techniques, including Single Dilator, Griggs’ and modified bidirectional Griggs’ method in a randomized cadaver study. Based on the data reported, the authors conclude that both standard and modified Griggs’ forceps dilatational methods were safer than Single Dilator in respect of cartilage injury [1]. Pathological studies of the trachea after a tracheostomy are important because technical aspects also play a role in the decision to perform a tracheostomy. In our opinion an important aspect is the fact that tracheal rings in critical care patients are not homogeneously composed of hyaline cartilage.