Pediatric tracheostomy: timing of the first tube change.

OBJECTIVES: No consensus exists on appropriate timing for the first tracheostomy tube change. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the safety of early tracheostomy change in the pediatric population.

METHODS: A case series of all children undergoing tracheostomy at a tertiary children's hospital between 2008-2013 was retrospectively reviewed.

RESULTS: A total of 151 children undergoing tracheostomy were identified. The average age was 48.1±66 months and median age was 10 months. The initial tracheostomy tube change occurred on postoperative day 3 (POD 3) in 65 children (43.0%) safely without any complications.

CONCLUSIONS: Early tracheostomy tube change was safely performed in a significant portion of this population. Routine tube change on POD 3 in many children could save resources by reducing the length of ICU and hospital stays.