Outcomes of prolonged mechanical ventilation and tracheostomy in critically ill elderly patients: a historical cohort study

Purpose With an aging global population, the increased proportion of elderly patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) raises important questions regarding optimal management. Currently, data on tracheostomy and its outcomes in the elderly are limited. We aimed to determine the in-hospital survival of elderly ICU patients following tracheostomy, and describe impacts on discharge disposition and functional outcomes. Methods We conducted a historical cohort study at two academic hospitals in Toronto. All patients aged ≥ 70 yr who received a tracheostomy during their ICU stay between January 2010 and June 2016 were included in a retrospective chart review. Data on patient demographics, frailty, tracheostomy indication, and outcomes were collected. Results The study included 270 patients with a mean (standard deviation) age of 81 (6) yr. The majority were admitted to ICU for respiratory failure (147/270, 54%) and received a tracheostomy for prolonged mechanical ventilation (202/270, 75%). Intensive care unit and hospital mortality were 26% (68/270) and 46% (125/270), respectively. Twenty-five percent (67/270) of patients were decannulated during hospital admission, a median [interquartile range (IQR)] of 41 [25–68] days after tracheostomy. Intensive care unit and hospital length of stay were 31 [17–53] and 81 [46–121] days, respectively. At hospital discharge, 6% (17/270) of patients were discharged home, all were frail (median Clinical Frailty Score of 7) and most were tube-fed (101/270, 70%), unable to speak (81/270, 56%), and nonambulatory (98/270, 68%). Conclusions In patients aged ≥ 70 yr, tracheostomy during ICU stay marked a transition toward prolonged chronic critical illness. Nearly half of the patients died during the admission, and although a quarter were successfully decannulated, the majority of survivors were left with severe frailty and functional impairment.