Among mechanically ventilated patients in adult general intensive care units, early tracheostomy insertion (within the first four days after admission) is not associated with an improvement in 30-day mortality.
Level of evidence: 1B
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GriffithsJBarberVSMorganLYoundJD. Systematic review and meta-analysis of studies of the timing of tracheostomy in adult patients undergoing artificial ventilation. BMJ2005; 330:1243.
