Tracheostomy decannulation in severe acquired brain injury patients: The role of flexible bronchoscopy.

Introduction And Objectives: Subjects with severe acquired brain injury (sABI) require long-term mechanical ventilation and, as a consequence, the tracheostomy tube stays in place for a long time. In this observational study, we investigated to what extent the identification of late tracheostomy complications by flexible bronchoscopy (FBS) might guide clinicians in the treatment of tracheal lesions throughout the weaning process and lead to successful decannulation.

Subjects And Methods: One hundred and ninety-four subjects with sABI admitted to our rehabilitation unit were enrolled in the study.