In the introduction the authors mention the long - term professional co-operation of the ENT department with the clinic of infectious diseases of the Bulovka Hospital since 1931. In the following part of the article the authors report on the problem of surgical ENT treatment of tracheostomic patients in 1994 - 1998 hospitalised in the intensive care unit of the infectious diseases clinic. The number of patients after tracheostomy was 46. The article reviews also basic and secondary diagnoses, indicating tracheostomy. The authors mention the procedure and precaution taken in tracheostomy patients, who are in very poor clinical condition.

        Key words: tracheostomy, intensive care unit, artificial pulmonary ventilation, bronchoscopy, disseminated intravascular coagulopathy.