Tracheal Stoma Closure and Healing Time in a Post-Acute Setting.

Complications can arise after removal of tracheostomies, including delayed or failed spontaneous closure. Little is known about the healing time after decannulation, especially for decannulation that occurs outside of the acute-care setting. This study aimed to establish the average time required for stoma closure after decannulation in an in-patient rehabilitation setting and explores patient factors that may impact healing time.

Using Pressure Mapping to Compare Efficacy of Patient Bed Positioning Devices in Participants Who Are Able-Bodied and Those with Tetraplegia.

Objective: To compare the effectiveness of four positioning aids in able-bodied participants and those with tetraplegia, to determine (1) if devices differed with regard to pressure reduction and (2) if results differed for able-bodied participants versus those with tetraplegia.

Methods: Forty volunteers (20 able-bodied and 20 with tetraplegia) participated. The variable of interest was reduction in mean pressure in the sacral region, measured in mm Hg.