Tracheotomy in an African Hospital Setting: A 10-Year Retrospective Study in Parakou, Benin

Introduction: Tracheotomy remains a vital procedure in otorhinolaryngology and cervicofacial surgery for the management of acute or chronic obstructions of the upper airways. This study aimed to describe the profile of tracheotomized patients and to analyze the indications, operative technique, postoperative course, and patient survival at the Departmental University Hospital of Borgou (CHUD-Borgou) from 2015 to 2024. Methods: This was a retrospective study including all patients who underwent tracheotomy in the ENT-Head and Neck Surgery Department over a ten-year period. Sociodemographic, diagnostic, radiological, histological, and therapeutic data were collected from the medical records. Results: A total of 35 patients were included, representing 5.55% of the department’s surgical activity. Emergency tracheotomy was performed in 74.3% of cases. The mean age of the patients was 30 years ± 20.7 years, with a male predominance (65.7%). The main indications were laryngeal tumors suggestive of malignancy (28.5%), laryngeal papillomatosis (22.9%), and cervical trauma (22.9%). Surgical tracheotomy was performed in all patients, with general anesthesia used in 65.7% of cases. Early complications were mainly represented by tracheal obstruction due to mucous plugs (8.6%). Intraoperatively, four deaths (11.4%) were recorded among patients admitted for stage 4 laryngeal dyspnea. Complete resolution of the underlying pathology was achieved in 34.3% of patients, whereas 22.9% experienced recurrence. Conclusion: Tracheotomy remains a crucial procedure, particularly in emergency situations, with a low complication rate when performed under appropriate conditions.