• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.49 no.5
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• pp.624-632
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• 2000

Background : Home ventilation can decrease hospital-acquired infection, increase physical activity, improve nutritional status, enhance quality of life, and reduce medical costs. The number of patient using home ventilators has been increasing, particularly in Europe and United States. Although the number of patients with home ventilation has been increasing in Korea, the current status of these patients is not well known. This study was undertaken to obtain basic information upon these patients in addition to evaluating any problems related to patients' home care in our country. Methods : A register of 92 patients with home ventilators in Seoul and Kyunggi Province were obtained from commercial ventilator supply companies. The patients were contacted by phone and 29 of them accepted our visit. Information concerning education about home care before discharge, equipment cost, and problems related to home care were documented. The mode and preset variables of the home ventilator were checked; tidal volume (TV), peak airway pressure, and oxygen saturation were measured. Results : There were 26 males (90%) and their mean age was 48.0 (${\pm}20.1$) years. The underlying diseases were : 21 neuromuscular disorders, 2 spinal cord injuries, 6 chronic lung diseases. Among the caregivers, spouses (n=14) predominated. Education for home care before discharge was performed primarily by intensive care unit nurses and the education for ventilator management by commercial companies. Twenty-five of the 29 patients had tracheostomies. Volume targeted type (VTT ; n=20, 69%) was more frequently used than the pressure targeted type (PTT). Twenty-three of the 29 patients purchased a ventilator privately, which cost 7,450,000 (${\pm}$3,290,000) won for a PTT, and 14,280.000 (${\pm}$3,130,000) won for a VTT. Total cost for the equipment was 11,430,000 (${\pm}$634,000) won. The average cost required for home care per month was 1,120,000 (${\pm}$1,360, 000) won. Conclusion : The commonest underlying disease of the patients was neuromuscular disease. The VTT ventilator was primarily used with tracheostomy. Patients and their families considered the financial difficulties associated with purchasing and maintaining equipment for home care an urgent problem. Some patients were aided by a visiting nurse, however most patients were neglected and left without professional medical supervision.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.8 no.6
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• pp.317-323
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• 2014

This study aims to suggest and test methods using an orally inserted guiding device in order to improve a motion artifact by involuntary oral motor such as removing one's dentures and swallowing saliva clinically structured cervical spine scan and to make the optimal image by minimizing motion artifact. A cervical spine test was conducted with 30 patients who wore dentures among those who had a cervical spinal disease from January 1, 2014 through June 30, 2014. As for testing methods, after removing denture, T1-TSE-Sagittal, T2-TSE-Sagittal, T1-TSE-Axial and T2-TSE-Axial were obtained in a normal position and a supine position; the orally inserted guiding device was inserted in patients' mouth; and then T1-TSE-Axial and T2-TSE-Axial were retested. As a result, in SNR, T1-TSE-Axial before inserting an orally inserted guiding device was $22.33{\pm}8.59$; T1-TSE-Axial after inserting the orally inserted guiding device was $25.21{\pm}7.93$; T2-TSE-Axial before inserting the orally inserted guiding device was $14.49{\pm}5.74$; and T2-TSE-Axial after inserting the orally inserted guiding device was $16.61{\pm}6.72$. In CNR, T1-TSE-Axial was measured at $0.23{\pm}0.01$ while T2-TSE-Axial at $0.21{\pm}0.01$. As a result of the qualitative analysis, T1-TSE-Axial before inserting the orally inserted guiding device was $3.49{\pm}0.11$; T1-TSE-Axial after inserting the orally inserted guiding device was $3.95{\pm}0.14$; T2-TSE-Axial before inserting the orally inserted guiding device was $3.25{\pm}0.18$; and T2-TSE-Axial after inserting the orally inserted guiding device was $3.68{\pm}0.09$. As a result of using an orally inserted guiding device, the resolution and contrast of the images improved as the patients' involuntary artifact decreased because of removing dentures and swallowing saliva, and it was found that the interpretation of the images and identification of the diseases improved.

• Journal of the Korean Orthopaedic Association
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• v.56 no.4
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• pp.310-316
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• 2021

Purpose: Septic arthritis of the knee is an orthopedic emergency that requires early diagnosis and surgical treatment. This study examined the effectiveness of drain insertion and irrigation in the treatment of septic arthritis of the knee under local anesthesia. Materials and Methods: A retrospective study was conducted on nine cases (eight patients) diagnosed with septic arthritis of the knee from September 2017 to February 2020 and treated with drain insertion and irrigation under local anesthesia. After penetrating through the superolateral portal to the superomedial portal and inserting the drain, daily irrigation of approximately 3 L of normal saline was done. The following were investigated: age, sex, underlying disease, cause, degree of osteoarthritis, time from diagnosis to surgery, duration of hospitalization, duration of normalization of C-reactive protein, and smear and culture. Results: The initial white blood cell count of joint fluid was 71,472±51,667/mm³ (32,400-203,904/mm³), and polymorphic leukocytes were 91.1%±2.6% (86%-95%). The average time from diagnosis to surgery was 8.3±1.3 hours (6-10 hours), and the irrigation period was 8.2±3.2 days (4-15 days). The average length of hospitalization was 20.8±8.7 days (9-37 days). There was no reoperation or recurrence. Smear and culture tests were not identified. Conclusion: In the treatment of septic arthritis of the knee, the insertion of a drain tube and irrigation under local anesthesia is a relatively fast and simple method to reduce pain by repetitive draining of purulent joint fluid and can be used as an alternative treatment for patients with a risk of general or spinal anesthesia.