• The Journal of the Korea institute of electronic communication sciences
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• v.8 no.11
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• pp.1785-1792
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• 2013

For patients suffering from spinal cord injuries, both of the possibility of having complications with the respiratory system and the related fatal rate are still high, while pneumonia is the most important cause of these fatalities. This research was carried out to find out what effects does a breathing exercise have on the respiratory functions and the improvement in the quality of life. The study was carried out for male patients suffering cervical spinal cord injuries for the purpose of inspiratory muscle strengthening. The objects of the study were 17 non-smoking-at-present male patients with C4 to C6 cervical spinal cord injuries. They had practiced inspiratory muscle strengthening training for three times a week for six weeks. The quality of life and the dyspnea (breathing difficulty) were self-measured before and after the training. As a result, the change in respiratory function was only significantly reduced (p<0.01) within the chronic group. In terms of the changes in the quality of life, the sub-acute group has only seen a significant improvement (p<0.05) for the VT(vitality), while the chronic group has seen significant improvements(p<0.05, p<0.01) in: GH(general health); BP(back pain); and VT(vitality). In this research, the inspiratory muscle strengthening has reduced the dyspnea (breathing difficulties) and improved the quality of life.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.39 no.2 s.259
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• pp.111-116
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• 2006

Background: Perforation of the esophagus is a deadly injury that requires expert management for survival. The mediastinal contamination with microorganisms, gastric acid, and digestive enzymes results in a mediastinitis that is often fatal if untreated. Material and Method: Between January 1990 and June 2004, 38 patients with esophageal perforation were treated in our hospital. Retrospective review of these cases has been performed. Result: There were 28 males and 10 females. The mean age was 43.84$\pm$18.89 years (range $1{\~}73$ years). Spontaneous rupture was found in $34\%$ of perforations, iatrogenic perforation in $32\%$ and traumatic perforation in $34\%$. Perforation occurred in the cervical esophagus in 8 cases, thoracic esophagus in 29 and abdominal esophagus in 1. In the cervical esophageal perforation, managements were primary closure in 8 and drainage in 2. In the thoracic esophageal perforation, managements were primary closure in 14, resection in 3 and conservative management in 12. The mortality rate was $25\%$ in cervical esophageal perforation and $34.5\%$ in thoracic esophageal perforation. We revealed risk factor of esophageal perforation to be peropertaive septic condition (p=0.005). Conclusion: Most important risk factor of esophageal perforation was preoperative septic condition. Preoperative prompt and aggressive preoperative treatment may improve the survival rate of esophageal perforation.