Guideline
Care of Infants and Children with Tracheostomies: An Official American Thoracic Society Clinical Practice Guideline.
- Airway
- Care and rehabilitation
- Communicating with families
- Education and simulation
- Line and device care
- Medical
- Nursing
- Physiotherapy
- Professional practice
- Respiratory
- Tracheostomy
Summary
An official ATS clinical practice guideline, developed using GRADE by a multidisciplinary panel, on the management of infants and children with tracheostomies. It addresses ethical principles and shared decision-making around tracheostomy placement, standardised discharge processes with family caregiver training, and awake trained caregiver provision for high-risk children at home. Diagnostic recommendations cover tracheal aspirate cultures during acute respiratory episodes rather than routine surveillance, and bronchoscopy and polysomnography before decannulation. Relevant to PICU teams involved in tracheostomy decisions, ongoing airway care and transition to home.
Summary written for PICUlearn. Always read the original.
- Licence:
- Open (Creative Commons)
The full text of this openly licensed guideline is available to PICUlearn members, and Peeky can answer questions from it.
Guidelines are shown for education. Follow your unit's own guidance and senior advice.