ObjectiveTo evaluate clinical outcomes of real-time ultrasound-guided percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy (PDT)for patients after cardiac surgery. MethodsFrom July 2008 to August 2012, 51 patients received tracheostomy after cardiac surgery in Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, including 20 patients after heart valve replacement, 17 patients after aortic dissection (De Bakey type I)surgery, 11 patients after coronary artery bypass grafting and 3 patients after surgical correction of congenital heart diseases. According to different surgical methods, all the patients were divided into 3 groups. In surgical tracheostomy (ST)group, there were 17 patients including 10 males and 7 females with their average age of 58.0±15.2 years. In fiberoptic bronchoscope guided PDT (FOB-PDT)group, there were 21 patients including 15 males and 6 females with their average age of 63.5±13.5 years. In real-time ultrasound-guided PDT (US-PDT)group, there were 13 patients including 7 males and 6 females with their average age of 64.5±10.2 years. Surgical outcomes were compared among the 3 groups. ResultsAll PDT operations were successfully completed. There was 1 failed patient in ST group. The incidence of bleeding was 41.18% in ST group, 9.53% in FOB-PDT group and 7.70% in US-PDT group (P=0.038). The incidence of mediastinal infection was 17.65% in ST group, 0% in FOB-PDT and US-PDT group (P=0.046). There was no statistical difference in endotracheal tube retention time, length of ICU stay and hospitalization, mortality or morbidity (hypoxemia, pneumothorax, subcutaneous emphysema)among the 3 groups. One patient in ST group developed late tracheal stenosis. ConclusionReal-time ultrasound can provide information about cervical anatomy and help choose puncture site for PDT, which can improve the safety and reduce surgical difficulty and morbidity of PDT of patients after cardiac surgery.