Assessment of ventilation during the performance of elective endoscopic-guided percutaneous tracheostomy: clinical evaluation of a new method.

Study Objectives: To evaluate the feasibility of uninterrupted translaryngeal open ventilation delivered through a pediatric, uncuffed endotracheal tube during percutaneous endoscopic tracheostomy (PET).

Design And Setting: Prospective, observational clinical study in a six-bed ICU of a university hospital.

Patients: Forty consecutive adult patients requiring an elective tracheostomy.