Indications for Tracheostomy in Northern Ghana Dr. Michael C. Damah, Dr. Theophilus Adjeso, Dr. James Murphy

BACKGROUND Important surgical procedure in maintaining a patent airway in the patient requiring an alternate airway. In Northern Ghana, late presentation referrals to the TTH. This study reviews the tracheostomies performed at the Tamale Teaching Hospital.

AIM To assess the indications for tracheostomy at the Tamale Teaching Hospital

MATERIALS AND METHODS 3½ year retrospective study (January 2013- June 2016). Patients managed with an open surgical tracheostomy by the ENT Unit of the Department of Surgery, Tamale Teaching Hospital in the Northern Region of Ghana. Data of patients who had a tracheostomy in the study period were retrieved from theatre records. Data on Age, Sex, Indication for tracheostomy, Underlying cause and Type of tracheostomy were taken.

RESULTS 36 patients had open surgical tracheostomy.

Male to Female ratio of 1.8:1.

The ages ranged from 3 years to 75 years with a mean age of 38.6 years. Under 5’s were 5%.

94. 4% of the cases were emergencies, and only 5 94.4% of the cases were emergencies, and only 5.6% were elective cases. Upper airway obstruction was the indication for all the emergency tracheostomies performed.

Deep neck space infections resulting in upper airway obstruction accounted for 38.9% of tracheostomies performed, followed by Malignant neoplasms 33.3%, Trauma 13.9% (i.e. Cut-throat and road traffic accidents) and Benign neoplasms 5.6%.

CONCLUSION Upper Airway Obstruction secondary to deep neck space infections is the main indication for tracheostomy in Northern Ghana.