Impact of tracheostomy placement on anxiety in mechanically ventilated adult ICU patients

Objective: To determine if self-reported anxiety levels decreased after tracheostomy placement in a sample of mechanically ventilated intensive care unit patients. Background: There is limited research regarding the impact of a tracheostomy on patients' anxiety. Elevated anxiety delays healing and contributes to long-term mental health complications. Methods: This was a secondary analysis of data from a large clinical trial conducted in urban Minnesota. Fifty-one of 116 patients received a tracheostomy. Anxiety scores were obtained daily using the Visual Analog Scale-Anxiety. Mixed model analysis was used to compare anxiety ratings pre- and post-tracheostomy. Results: There was no significant decrease in anxiety following tracheostomy after controlling for time and gender (all p>.16). Age was the only variable to impact anxiety levels: anxiety scores increased as age increased (p=.02). Conclusions: Prospective studies are needed to more accurately assess the impact of tracheostomy placement on patient anxiety and salient outcomes.