Table 1.
Patient characteristics (n=28). Data obtained by inspection of ICU patient notes. An overview of factors analyzed for statistical significance in wound healing time.
| Healing time (days), median [range] | 6.5 [1-22] |
|---|---|
| Tracheostomy tube treatment (days), median [range] | 15.5 [4-93] |
| Sex, n (%) | |
| Female | 4(14) |
| Male | 24(86) |
| Age, median [range] | 60.5 [40-89] |
| Smoking status, n (%) | |
| Never | 13(46) |
| Former | 12(43) |
| Current | 3(11) |
| BMI (kg/m2), n (%) | |
| <25 | 9(32) |
| 25-30 | 12(43) |
| >30 | 7(25) |
| Initial tube size, n (%) | |
| 7 mm | 2(7) |
| 8 mm | 26(93) |
| Downsized tube, n (%) | |
| No | 11(39) |
| Yes | 17(61) |
| Diabetes, n (%) | |
| No | 20(71) |
| Yes | 8(29) |
| COPD, n (%) | |
| No | 23(82) |
| Yes | 5(18) |
| Ischemic heart disease, n (%) | |
| No | 28(64) |
| Yes | 10(36) |
| In-hospital immunosuppressants, n (%) | |
| No | 20(71) |
| Yes | 8(29) |
| Bleeding complications, n (%) | |
| No | 23(82) |
| Yes | 5(18) |
BMI, body mass index; COPD, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.