Does acuity matter?--Optimal timing of tracheostomy stratified by injury severity.

Background: A number of conflicting studies have been conducted to analyze the relationship between the timing of tracheostomy and mortality, intensive care unit (ICU) length of stay (LOS), hospital LOS, and the incidence of pneumonia. In contrast to previous studies, this relationship was investigated in the context of expected survival based on probability of survival (Ps) greater than 25%.

Methods: Trauma patients were screened using a statewide registry during a 5-year period (January 2001 to December 2005).