Perceptions of Critically Ill Individuals with Acute and Chronic Spinal Cord Injury Requiring a Tracheostomy Tube

Study design Observational study. Objectives To evaluate the perceptions of patients requiring a tracheostomy tube and to identify possible different perceptions in critically ill patients with tracheostomy tubes who have acute (ASCI) or chronic spinal cord injuries (CSCI). Setting Medical and surgical intensive care units (ICU) and intermediate care unit of the BG University Hospital Bergmannsheil Bochum, Germany. Methods Patients who met the inclusion criteria completed a 25-item questionnaire on two consecutive days regarding their experiences and perceptions in breathing, coughing, pain, speaking, swallowing, and comfort of the tracheostomy tube. Results A total of 51 persons with ASCI ( n = 31) and CSCI ( n = 20) were included with a mean age of 53 years. Individuals with ASCI reported significantly more frequent pain and swallowing problems as compared to individuals with CSCI ( p ≤ 0.014) at initial assessment. There were no differences between ASCI and CSCI reported with respect to speaking and overall comfort. Conclusions It is necessary to regularly assess the perceptions of critically ill patients with tracheostomy tubes with ASCI or CSCI in the daily ICU care routine. We were able to assess these perceptions in different categories. For the future, evaluating the perception of individuals with SCI and a tracheostomy should be implemented to their daily routine care. Trial registration DRKS00022073.