Tracheostomies can be performed for a variety of indications and can be temporary or permanent. Over 5,700 surgical tracheostomies were performed in adults in England during 2009/10, along with an estimated 5,000-8,000 percutaneous tracheostomies in critical care.2 Over the same period, about 570 laryngectomies were performed. As with any procedure, complications may occur immediately during performance (eg haemorrhage) or later (eg infection). The management of certain complications (eg displacement, obstruction) will depend on whether the patient has a patent upper airway or not. A variety of different tracheostomy
tubes and insertion kits are available and may differ in their longer-term management need. The National Patient Safety Agency and NCEPOD identified a
number of common themes in relation to tracheostomy complications.1,3
The National Tracheostomy Safety Project was developed to increase awareness of issues surrounding tracheostomy safety and to standardise best practice around insertion, care and the management of complications.1
