Characteristics of the population as well as comparison of patients who were or were not ventilator-dependent at 15 days post-tracheostomy
| All patients (n=26) | Ventilator dependence at 15 days (n=9) | No ventilator dependence at 15 days (n=17) | P value | |
| Age in years (mean±SD) | 55±12 | 55±11 | 55±13 | 0.96 |
| Male sex, n (%) | 21 (81%) | 5 (56%) | 16 (94%) | 0.06 |
| Obesity (BMI >30), n (%) | 8 (31%) | 3 (33%) | 5 (29%) | 1.00 |
| At least one major medical comorbidity, n (%) | 20 (77%) | 8 (89%) | 12 (71%) | 0.57 |
| Diabetes, n (%) | 12 (46%) | 4 (44%) | 8 (47%) | 1.00 |
| Hypertension, n (%) | 11 (42%) | 4 (44%) | 6 (35%) | 0.97 |
| ECMO prior to tracheostomy, n (%) | 8 (31%) | 3 (33%) | 5 (29%) | 1.00 |
| CRRT prior to or at time of tracheostomy, n (%) | 11 (42%) | 4 (44%) | 7 (41%) | 1.00 |
| History of failed extubation/reintubation, n (%) | 13 (50%) | 2 (22%) | 11 (65%) | 0.10 |
| Days of MV before tracheostomy (mean±SD) | 24±5 | 24±6 | 25±5 | 0.43 |
| FiO2 >40% at time of tracheostomy, n (%) | 8 (31%) | 5 (56%) | 3 (18%) | 0.12 |
| PEEP >8 cm H20 at time of tracheostomy, n (%) | 4 (15%) | 2 (22%) | 2 (12%) | 0.90 |
| PaO2 to FiO2 ratio <200, n (%) | 9 (35%) | 4 (44%) | 5 (29%) | 0.74 |
| Impaired neurologic status with GCS<8, n (%) | 7 (27%) | 6 (67%) | 1 (6%) | <0.01 |
BMI, body mass index; CRRT, continuous renal replacement therapy; ECMO, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation; FiO2, fraction of inspired oxygen; GCS, Glasgow Coma Scale; MV, mechanical ventilation; PEEP, positive end-expiratory pressure.