Tracheostomy After Cardiac Surgery With Median Sternotomy and Risk of Deep Sternal Wound Infections: Is It a Matter of Timing?

Objective: To assess the impact of timing of percutaneous dilatational tracheotomy (PDT) on incidence of deep sternal wound infections (DSWI) after cardiac surgery with median sternotomy.

Design: Retrospective study between 2003 and 2013.

Setting: Single-center university hospital.