Objective
Tracheostomy is performed for various indications ranging from prolonged ventilation to airway obstruction. Many factors may play a role in the incidence of complications in the immediate post-operative period including patient-related factors. The relationship between obstructive pulmonary diseases and acute post-tracheostomy complications has been incompletely studied. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and asthma are some of the most common pulmonary pathologies in the United States and given the clinical utility of tracheostomies among these patients, it is important to characterize the risk of acute post-operative complications.