Percutaneous translaryngeal versus surgical tracheostomy: A randomized trial with 1-yr double-blind follow-up*

rates for stomal infections and pneumonia after tracheostomy were similar. At 1-yr follow-up, the overall survival rate was 27%, and 14 patients (45% of survivors) still had open tracheostomies. Both groups rated their quality of life as moderately to severely compromised, and the deterioration was strictly related to the presence of tracheostomy. One TLT and two ST survivors (p .53) had clinical signs of tracheal stenosis, and bronchoscopy revealed narrowing of >50%. Conclusions: Compared with ST, the main advantages of TLT are that it is more rapid and associated with less postoperative bleeding. Infectious complications, particularly postoperative bacteremia, and long-term effects (physical and emotional) are similar with the two procedures. (Crit Care Med 2005; 33:1015‐1020)