Earlier Is Better: Evaluating the Timing of Tracheostomy After Liver Transplantation

BACKGROUND: Respiratory failure after orthotopic liver transplantation is associated with increased mortality and prolonged hospitalization.

METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted through the query of the National In-patient Sample for subjects who underwent orthotopic liver transplantation and tracheostomy after transplantation from 2000 to 2011. Tracheostomies by post-transplantation day 14 were considered “early,” whereas those after day 14 were “routine.” A Cox proportional hazards model was used to evaluate the impact of early tracheostomy on post-tracheostomy length of stay.

RESULTS: There were 2,149 weighted discharges. Of these, 783 (36.4%) had early tracheostomy after transplantation. The subjects who received an early tracheostomy after transplantation were more likely to have a Charlson Comorbidity index²² score of ≥3 (early 71.1% vs late 60.0%; P = .038). Early tracheostomy after transplantation had lower in-hospital mortality (early 26.4% vs late 36.7%; P = .01). Unadjusted median post-tracheostomy length of stay was 31 d for early tracheostomy after transplantation versus 39 d for late tracheostomy after transplantation (P = .034). Early tracheostomy after transplantation was associated with 20% decreased odds of in-hospital mortality (hazard ratio 0.80; P = .01). Early tracheostomy had 41% higher daily rate of discharge alive (hazard ratio 1.41; P < .001).

CONCLUSIONS: Early tracheostomy after transplantation was associated with lower in-hospital mortality, shorter post-tracheostomy length of stay, and quicker discharge alive. These results supported our hypothesis that, among subjects with respiratory failure after orthotopic liver transplantation, early tracheostomy after transplantation may be associated with more favorable outcomes than a delayed approach.