No abstract

No abstract

Study design: Retrospective chart review. Objective: To identify and describe factors that influence discharge location -extended care unit (nursing home) or other (private home, group home, or acute care) -following rehabilitation for individuals with a new high lesion spinal cord injury (SCI) (C1-C4) in British Columbia, Canada. Setting: GF Strong Rehabilitation Centre, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Methods: Eligible clients were adults admitted to the GF Strong Rehabilitation Centre Spinal Cord Program between 1994 and 2003, with a new C1-4 lesion (traumatic or nontraumatic), and an ASIA score of A-C at time of discharge. Medical charts of 52 individuals were reviewed and data regarding individual characteristics, health-related characteristics, personal context, hospitalization factors, health resources, and other contextual factors were extracted. Results: In total, 40% of clients were discharged to extended care units post rehabilitation. Seven variables were associated at a univariate level: age, employment at the time of injury, preexisting medical conditions, social support, preinjury living situation, and insurance (worker's compensation or motor vehicle) or private funding for equipment. Four variables were associated at the multivariate level: age, preinjury living situation, and insurance or private funding for equipment. Conclusion: A range of individual, health-related, family and social policy variables influence discharge location following rehabilitation for high lesion SCI in British Columbia. The unique combination of variables presented by each individual should be considered by the rehabilitation team in the discharge planning process. Sponsorship: This study was funded by the BC Neurotrauma Fund.

Acoustic standing waves may be established in main gas delivery lines and are caused by resonance in branch lines. The branch line resonance frequency is normally determined from the geometry of the branch. Data are presented that show the branch line standing wave couples with the main line standing wave, and a range of side branch resonance frequencies are possible, with multiple frequencies existing in the side branch at the same time in some cases. This phenomenon is important to gas delivery systems where acoustic frequencies and loads must be predicted to facilitate design of the system components.