Decannulation in children after long-term tracheostomy.

Various approaches and techniques are used in discontinuing tracheostomy in children. The variability in the use of resources is considerable. The objective of the study was to assess decannulation in children attending our ENT department. A retrospective analysis was carried out of the medical records of patients who had had both a tracheostomy (n=7) and a decannulation (n=6) from 1998 to 2003. Tracheostomies placed at a mean age of 4.2 months were discontinued on average 26.4 months later. All the children underwent airway endoscopy in the operating room in preparation for decannulation. They had downsizing, then capping of the tracheostomy as a functional trial. One child failed decannulation and another needed a second trial for successful decannulation. The individualization of tracheostomy decannulation is necessary in children.