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This book provides an up-to-date and comprehensive overview on percutaneous tracheostomy (PT) in critically ill patients. The various PT techniques that may be employed in the intensive care unit are fully described, with discussion of the available tracheostomy tubes and selection criteria and with clear evaluation of the risks and benefits of each procedure. A further individual chapter is devoted to the methods of airway management that may be used during PT. Detailed attention is also paid to medical and nursing management inside and outside hospital, to quality of life issues in tracheostomized patients, and to the problem of informed consent. The book concludes by addressing the need for standard guidelines. Percutaneous Tracheostomy in Critically Ill Patients will be an excellent source of information and guidance for novice and more experienced physicians working in intensive care units, operating rooms, and emergency departments as well as for those responsible for patient aftercare.

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Part 1 Evolution of tracheostomy.- Tracheostomy from surgical to percutaneous techniques.- Anatomical and sonographic landmark.- Indication and timing.- Surgical tracheostomy.- Part 2 Percutaneous tracheostomy.- Ciaglia, multiple step dilation and single step dilation.- Ciaglia, pneumatic dilation.- Griggs dilating forceps.- Frova, rotational technique and Fantoni translaryngeal tracheostomy.- Choice of appropriate tracheostomy.- Complication of percutaneous and surgical tracheostomy in critically ill patients.- Emergency percutaneous tracheostomy.- Tracheostomy tube.- Airway management during tracheostomy.- Part 3 Tracheostomy, management and practical aspects.- Medical and nursing management of tracheostomy.- Quality of life and complication after percutaneous tracheostomy.- Clinical practice of informed consent for percutaneous tracheostomy.- Part 4 Tracheostomy, the future.- Tracheostomy in intensive care unit, the need of European guidelines.

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"This small monograph describes the history of, and available techniques for performing, percutaneous tracheostomy. ... Providers at all stages of training and practice are an appropriate audience. ... This is a clear and concise update on a common bedside procedure in the critical care unit. ... This book reviews the contemporary literature and describes available techniques effectively." (David J. Dries, Doody´s Book Reviews, April, 2016)

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