Bellvitge University Hospital (HUB) has recently published the protocol of the Percutaneous Dilatational Tracheostomy (PDT), also referred to as bedside tracheostomy, in which the Toracotraq® method is widely described in multimedia format. This method has been developed for the critical care unit patients in HUB since 2003. It was devised by Dr. Antonio Mateu, with the full collaboration of the Intensive Care Medicine Service, HUB, and published by its Department of Broadcasting and Audiovisual Media.

Tracheostomy is a technique that consists of opening the anterior tracheal wall of the throat to the windpipe below the Adam’s apple, where a cannula is inserted. This provisional cannula makes ventilation easier for the patient until this can breathe on his/her own. Then you can withdraw the cannula and proceed to the closure of the cavity (spontaneously between 48 h and 72 h).

Percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy simplifies surgical tracheostomy to a great extend and it is particularly intended for patients in intensive care. In 2003 the HUB started his own method, known as Toracotraq®, improving the achievements of the previous one. This year, the HUB has come to surpass the number of 1100 TTPD – which stands for traqueostomia temporal percutània dissecada (Temporary Percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy)- with this method with excellent results.

This new protocol brings this technique up to date and at the same time it introduces some modifications, such as the examination with an ultrasound scan of the pretracheal region prior to intervention, which aims to reduce to zero the hemorrhagic accidents of a blind technique.