Clinical Question

In patients with a tracheostomy, does management by an identified multidisciplinary team improve patient outcome?

Critically Appraised Topic

Based on the few articles critiqued, it is evident that management by an indentified multidisciplinary team improves patient outcomes in vascular, Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and specifically Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) patients in terms of their cannulation time, cost saving in length of stay, and use/time to use a speaking valve. Although unable to generate these finding to all general tracheostomy populations, the preliminary data and trends suggest that Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT) management is safe and effective however further research is indicated to more specifically outline the outcomes.- PDF Format

Critically Appraised Papers

Cameron TS, McKinstry A, Burt SK, Howard ME, Bellomo R, Brown DJ, Ross JM, Sweeney JM, O’Donoghue FJ (2009) Outcomes of patients with spinal cord injury before and after an introduction of an interdisciplinary tracheostomy team. Critical Care and Resuscitation 11 (1) 14-19

Tobin AE, Santamaria JD (2008). An intensivist-led tracheostomy review team is associated with shorter decannulation time and length of stay: a prospective cohort study Crit Care. 12(2).

Frank U, Mäder M, Sticher H (2007). Dysphagic patients with Tracheotomies: a multidisciplinary approach to treatment and decannulation management. Dysphagia Jan; 22(1):20-29.