34 Journal of Rawalpindi Medical College (JRMC); 2020; 24(1): 34-39 Original Article Percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy: A prospective analysis among ICU patients Khawaja Kamal Nasir 1 , Faraz Mansoor 2 , Shahzad Hussain Waqar 3 , Shahab Zahid Ahmed Khan 4 , Rakhshanda Jabeen 5 1 Professor of Anaesthesia, Incharge Surgical ICU, Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences, Islamabad. 2 Consultant Anaesthetist, Department of Critical Care Medicine, Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centre, Lahore. 3 Professor, Department of General Surgery, Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences, Islamabad. 4 Postgraduate Resident, Department of Critical Care Medicine, Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences, Islamabad. 5 Medical Officer, Department of Critical Care Medicine, Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences, Islamabad. Author`s Contribution 1,4 Conception of study 1,4,5 Experimentation/Study conduction 2,4,5 Analysis/Interpretation/Discussion 2,3,4 Manuscript Writing 1,3 Critical Review Corresponding Author Dr. Shahab Zahid Ahmed Khan, Postgraduate Resident, Department of Critical Care Medicine, Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences, Islamabad Email: schahab.zahmed@gmail.com Article Processing Received: 19/5/2019 Accepted: 11/3/2020 Cite this Article: Nasir, K.K., Mansoor, F., Waqar, S.H., Khan, S.Z.A. & Jabeen, R.(2020). Percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy: A prospective analysis among ICU patients. Journal of Rawalpindi Medical College, 24(1), 34-39. DOI: https://doi.org/10.37939/jrmc/vol24.iss1.8 Conflict of Interest: Nil Funding Source: Nil Access Online: Abstract Introduction: Percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy (PDT) is a simple bedside procedure, particularly useful in the intensive care units. Over the last few decades, the technique of PDT has gained popularity due to its comparable safety to the more surgical tracheostomy (ST). Objective: To describe the outcome of PDT using modified Ciaglia’s technique in patients of Surgical ICU. Methodology: This was a prospective cohort study that analysed the outcomes of PDTs carried out on critically ill patients admitted in the surgical ICU, Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences, Islamabad from August 2015 to January 2017. All PDTs were performed by the presiding consultant and his team using modified Ciaglia’s (Blue Rhino) technique. The main outcome was the frequency of perioperative and early complications within the first six days. Demographic variables and complications were recorded. Data was analysed using SPSS version 18. Results: Seventy-four patients underwent PDTs in the surgical ICU with mean age of the patients was 49.17 ± 12.82 years. The commonest indication of tracheostomy was prolonged mechanical ventilation followed by failure to wean. Complications rate was 12.16% of which perioperative bleeding occurred in 6.7% of patients. Early complications within the first six days were wound infection, tube displacement and blocked tube. Conclusion: PDT is a valuable, efficacious and safe method that can be performed at the bedside with minimal complication rate and needs to be considered more frequently in the intensive care units in developing countries. Keywords: Percutaneous Dilatational Tracheostomy, Complications, Intensive Care Unit.