Abstract: | The paper presents the experience of transcutaneous dilatation tracheostomy (TDT) in 16 children. Up to date, childhood has been a contraindication for TDT. The experience gained at the Department of Resuscitation, Institute of Neurosurgery, in performing TDT in more than 300 adult patients has permitted this procedure to be also used in childhood. Based on the analysis of the outcome of 16 TDTs, the authors have posed indications for TDT, its performance modification, approaches to preventing perioperative complications, by taking into account the anatomic and physiological characteristics of childhood. |