A prospective comparative study of the functional results associated with the use of Björk flap tracheostomy versus standard tracheostomy.

Background: Placement of a tracheostomy for patients requiring prolonged mechanical ventilation (PMV) improves patients' comfort, decreases dead space ventilation, allows superior airway hygiene, and reduces the incidence of ventilator-associated pneumonia. Controversy still exists regarding the role of standard tracheostomy (ST) as opposed to the less frequently done Björk flap tracheostomy (BFT). This study compares the functional outcomes of these two techniques.