Browsing by Author "Deitmer, Thomas"

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    Percutaneous Dilational Tracheostomy Technique
    (University of Cape Town, 2025-03-04) Deitmer, Thomas; Fagan, Johan; Fagan, Johan
    Percutaneous tracheostomy is a bedside procedure requiring a small surgical field and avoiding the need for an operating room. It was popularised in the 1990’s as a minimally invasive technique requiring only a small skin incision. The widespread adoption of percutaneous techniques is in the opinion of the authors due to the possibility it gives ICU physicians to immediately perform a percutaneous tracheostomy for ventilation purposes once the need for tracheostomy has been identified, with its organisational and cost advantages. Typically, percutaneous tracheostomy is done by ICU physicians, although it should only be employed if a surgeon experienced with classic open tracheostomy and with coping with complications such as bleeding is immediately available to help.