Safety and Feasibility of Very Early Bronchoscopy-assisted Percutaneous Dilatational Tracheostomy in Anterior Cervical Spine Fixation Patients.

Background: Anterior cervical spine fixation (ACSF) is a common mode of stabilization of cervical spine injuries. These patients usually need a prolonged mechanical ventilation, so an early tracheostomy is beneficial for them. However, it is often delayed due to the close proximity to the surgical site, due to the concerns of infection, and increased bleeding.