1. Characteristics of tracheostomized patients followed up by a Palliative Care and Complex Chronic Patient Service.
- Author
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Pons-Tomàs G, Painamil RM, Campos SR, Arasa EP, Sanflorencio LP, Corredor LP, and López IT
- Subjects
- Humans, Retrospective Studies, Male, Female, Child, Adolescent, Child, Preschool, Chronic Disease, Infant, Anti-Bacterial Agents therapeutic use, Anti-Bacterial Agents administration & dosage, Tertiary Care Centers, Palliative Care methods, Tracheostomy statistics & numerical data
- Abstract
Introduction and Objectives: In recent years, there has been an increase in the number of children with tracheostomies. The objective was to describe the characteristics of paediatric patients with a tracheostomy followed up by the Department of Palliative Care and Chronic Medically Complex Illness (DPCCMCI) of a tertiary care hospital., Methods: Single-centre retrospective observational study in patients aged less than 18 years with a tracheostomy followed up by the PCCCPS of a tertiary care hospital (November 2020-June 2022). We analysed epidemiological, clinical, microbiological and social data by reviewing the health records., Results: The sample included 44 tracheostomized patients. The most frequent underlying disease was acquired upper airway disease (20.5%). The most common indication for tracheostomy was upper airway obstruction (66%). Bacterial isolates were detected in 84% of the tracheal aspirates, among which P. aeruginosa was the most frequent (56.8%). The most frequently prescribed antibiotic was ciprofloxacin (84%). In addition, 18.1% of the patients received at least 1 course of intravenous antibiotherapy and 29.5% received more than 3 systemic antibiotic regimens in the past 20 months. Fifty-nine percent of the children were schooled: 38.6% attended a regular school, 15.9% a special needs school and 4.5% were home-schooled. We identified social difficulties in 53.7%. Also, 22.7% of the families received financial support to care for a child with severe illness., Conclusions: Because of the complexity of caring for tracheostomized children, integral and coordinated management is essential. Schooling is possible and safe if caregivers are trained., (Copyright © 2023 Asociación Española de Pediatría. Published by Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)
- Published
- 2024
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