A Retrospective Study of Tracheostomy Care and Decannulation of the Patients in a Palliative Care Center

Abstract

Background: World Health Organization defines palliative care as a multidisciplinary approach to enhancing patients physical, psychological, and emotional well-being. Our study investigated palliative care unit decannulation rates and factors affecting success. Methods: The data of patients hospitalized in the palliative care clinic between 2017 and 2019 were analyzed retrospectively. Demographic data, diagnoses, comorbidities, nutritional status, Norton and Braden Scale scores, day of hospitalization, and discharge direction of the patients were recorded. All patients were evaluated and treated by a multidisciplinary team. Results: One hundred two tracheostomy patients were monitored. Patients in the palliative care clinic had an average stay of 22.19 +/- 13.67 days (median: 21, min: 4, max: 66). Forty-one patients were decannulated. Statistically significant age difference was observed between decannulated and non-cannulated groups, with the decannulated group having a significantly lower mean age (52.10 +/- 20.54, median: 53) compared to the non-decannulated group (61.48 +/- 18.07) (z = -2.516, P = .012). The mean Braden scale score of the decannulated group (14.29 +/- 2.50) was significantly higher than that of the non-decannulated group (12.20 +/- 2.82) (z = 3.823, P < .001), and the mean Norton scale score of the decannulated group (11.34 +/- 2.50) was significantly higher than that of the non-decannulated group (9.46 +/- 2.46) (z = 3.472, P = .001). Conclusion: Patients with tracheostomy can be easily followed and decannulated in palliative care clinics. It is important that a multidisciplinary team is involved in palliative care units. Age, immobility, Norton and Braden scales, and level of consciousness are factors affecting the success of decannulation.