Quality of Life of Paediatric Patients with Tracheostomy and Their Care Givers: A Scoping Review

Introduction: When a child needs a tracheostomy, it will change their life. Paediatric tracheostomies are becoming more common. More children are getting tracheostomies at a younger age, living longer, and receiving care at home. A tracheostomy is an artificial airway for those who require long-term assistance with respiratory or secretion clearance, or where airway patency or safety is compromised. Methods: A comprehensive review of literature from databases such as Scopus, PubMed, Medline, and Google Scholar was conducted to discuss the quality of life (QOL) of paediatric patients with tracheostomy and their caregivers. Results: A paediatric patient and their family must adjust to a new way of life when they have a tracheostomy. To establish safe, unobstructed breathing, tracheostomy has great importance. Caring for children with a tracheostomy impacts the QOL of both the children and their caregivers. Children with a tracheostomy often face various challenges, including social, psychological, medical, and financial hardships, which are well recognised. Conclusion: The QOL of paediatric patients with tracheostomies is associated with moderate levels of distress in their caregivers and has a detrimental effect on the caregivers’ mental health. There is a paucity of medical literature on QOL and burden experienced by paediatric patients with tracheostomy and their caregivers. Therefore, this review article aims to discuss the QOL of paediatric patients with tracheostomy and their caregivers.