Assessment of healthcare professionals' knowledge of managing emergency complications in patients with a tracheostomy

Background: Ear, nose, and throat (ENT) surgeons perform the majority ofsurgical tracheostomies. Intensive care anaesthetists are increasinglyperforming bedside percutaneous tracheostomy. The objectivesof this study were to characterize emergency complications oftracheostomy and to ascertain healthcare professionals’knowledge of life-saving strategies for the patient with a tracheostomy. Methods: Seventy staff members in two large teaching hospitals completedan interview questionnaire, comprising a simple clinical scenarioand unambiguous questions regarding the emergency managementof patients with a tracheostomy. Results: There were significant gaps in knowledge among healthcare professionalsregarding the management of specific tracheostomy-related emergencies. Conclusions: Knowledge of tracheostomy-related emergencies appears to beinsufficient among non-ENT healthcare professionals. This needsto be addressed in order to maximize patient safety.