Tracheostomy: From Surgical to Percutaneous Techniques

Abstract

The first known description of tracheostomy is from 3600 BC, on Egyptian tablets. The first scientific reliable description of successful tracheostomy by the surgeon who performed it was by Antonio Musa Brasavola in 1546, for relief of airway obstruction from enlarged tonsils. From the early nineteenth century, medical literature reported a widespread use of tracheostomy. In 1869 Trousseau reported the use of tracheostomy in patients with diphtheria. The recent history of tracheostomy of the last 50 years is notable for major developments to make this technique safer. The recent percutaneous dilatational tracheostomies were initially developed by Ciaglia in 1985. From this point, different techniques have been developed.