729 Enabling Children with Long Term Tracheostomies to Re-Enter the Water for Leisure or Therapeutic Purposes – the Potential to Adapt an Adult Care Model into the Paediatric Setting

Aim The number of paediatric patients with complicated medical conditions who require tracheostomies is increasing. Periods of ventilatory support are required to manage respiratory failure linked to congenital and acquired pulmonary, cardiovascular, and neurological abnormalities. Studies suggest children suffer low self-esteem and social exclusion due to restrictive lifestyle changes following a tracheostomy. In adults’ similar obstacles apply, traditionally tracheostomy/laryngectomy patients suffer from reduced self-perceived quality of life (SP-QOL). Water sports have been noted to be amongst the most missed activities. Aquather Therapy (AT) enables patients to enter the water safely by redirecting the airway, allowing breathing through the nasopharynx and eliminating the risk of water entering the trachea. This research aims to establish the success of AT in adult patients and investigate the potential of adapting this care model to improve overall SP-QOL in the paediatric population. Method Adult patients attending the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital who underwent a tracheostomy over a 5-year period were selected. Patients were surveyed using questionnaires prior and post use of AT. Results Analysing feedback questionnaires from 27 AT patients showed a mean increase in SP- QOL of 1.4 points out of 10 (p<0.05). Patients reported the AT device was user-friendly and felt confident while in the water. Patients remarked it improved their fitness, enabling them to enjoy aquatics. Conclusions AT improves overall SP-QOL in adults, as children are fast learners and easily adapt to their environment, it would suggest that AT could have greater success in the paediatric population.