9. Discussion
Many authors suggest endoscopic guidance during the intervention to avoid damage to the trachea, the peritracheal structures or the endotracheal tube (Moe et al., 1999; Berrouschot et al., 1997).
Others recommend ultrasound guidance to visualize the peritracheal structures while avoiding the hypercapnia associated with endoscopy (Reilly et al., 1997; Hatfield and Bodenham, 1999).
Fantoni has described the technique of translaryngeal tracheostomy (Fantoni et al., 1996). A guidewire is introduced into the trachea and pulled out through the mouth. The cannula is then threaded over the guidewire in the reverse direction, from the mouth to the larynx. Once the cannula is in the trachea, it is pulled out through the anterior wall of the trachea and the soft tissue of the neck by traction on the guidewire. Fantoni performs the procedure with the aid of rigid bronchoscopy.
For patients who cannot be intubated easily (with lesions of the cervical spine or with severe hypoxia), fiberoptic bronchoscopy can be utilized (Sarpellon et al., 1998). There are few comparative studies, but this technique could become an alternative to conventional percutaneous tracheostomy (Walz and Peitgen, 1998). Nevertheless, the equipment for classic tracheostomy and endotracheal intubation (if not already intubated) should always be available in case the percutaneous technique fails.
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