5330 Review Article on Interventional Pulmonology in the Intensive Care Unit Managing complications of percutaneous tracheostomy and gastrostomy Aline N. Zouk, Hitesh Batra Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care Medicine, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA Contributions: (I) Conception and design: Both authors; (II) Administrative support: Both authors; (III) Provision of study materials or patients: Both authors; (IV) Collection and assembly of data: Both authors; (V) Data analysis and interpretation: Both authors; (VI) Manuscript writing: Both authors; (VII) Final approval of manuscript: Both authors. Correspondence to: Aline N. Zouk, MD. Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care Medicine, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1900 University Blvd, THT 422, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA. Email:
[email protected]. Abstract: Percutaneous tracheostomy and gastrostomy are some of the most commonly performed procedures at bedside in the intensive care unit. While they are generally considered safe, they can be associated with numerous short and long-term complications, many of which can occur long after their placement and cause significant morbidity. Performers of these procedures should possess a comprehensive understanding of procedural indications and contraindications, and know how to recognize and manage complications that may arise. In this review, we highlight complications of percutaneous tracheostomy and describe strategies for their prevention and management, with a special focus on post-tracheostomy