Airway Complications in Pediatric Patients With Tracheostomies: To What Extent Can Symptoms Identified by Caregivers or Pediatricians Predict Airway Complications Confirmed Through Surveillance Endoscopy?

What this Trial Is About

This observational study focuses on children under 18 years of age with tracheostomies who are followed at the Long-Term Intensive Care Unit (LIVA) at Karolinska University Hospital in Sweden. It aims to determine how often tracheostomy-related airway complications are asymptomatic or linked to symptoms detected through surveillance airway endoscopy. Additionally, the study evaluates how accurately caregivers and pediatricians can identify symptoms related to serious airway complications. Children scheduled for regular surveillance airway endoscopy under anesthesia as part of their follow-up at LIVA will be included. Upon admission, caregivers complete a questionnaire about possible symptoms of airway complications. The child then undergoes a physical exam and medical history review by a pediatrician following a set protocol. An ENT surgeon, unaware of the questionnaire and pediatrician exam results, performs the airway endoscopy to identify complications. During the study, researchers will compare caregiver and pediatrician reports with findings from airway endoscopy to assess symptom reliability. The main measurements include the proportion of patients with serious tracheostomy airway complications who show no symptoms before endoscopy. The study spans two years, with ongoing surveillance and the collection of data on symptoms and complications. Ethical approval has been obtained to conduct this research.

"Airway Complications in Pediatric Patients With Tracheostomies: To What Extent Can Symptoms Identified by Caregivers or Pediatricians Serve as Predictors for Airway Complications Confirmed Through Surveillance Endoscopy?"