ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: To manage a patient's blood pressure and recovery, and to reduce unnecessary hospital visits after heart surgery, we developed and established a telecare service. METHODS: We established and test-operated the system that enabled biometric data to be measured and monitored at home, and directed connections to the video consultation with monitoring personnel and medical staff when abnormal symptoms were detected. RESULTS: As a result of using the telecare service with patients discharged from the hospital after undergoing heart surgery, the patients were mostly satisfied with the service and use of the equipment, and some patients wanted to actually receive the service continuously along with a device which could be more easily used. CONCLUSIONS: Telecare services are greatly needed for patients discharged after heart surgery for a certain period of time. A model should be developed which provides devices necessary for each disease in package form and customizes the content and services in one package.
Subject(s)
Humans , Blood Pressure , Heart Diseases , Medical Staff , Personal Health Services , Remote Consultation , Self Care , Telemedicine , Thoracic SurgeryABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To examine clinical characteristics and risk factors and to assess prognosis of peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM). METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 10 patients with confirmed PPCM by clinical symptoms and echocardiography, who delivered between January 1995 and December 2005 at our Hospital. Clinical and serial echocardiographic data of these patients were collected. RESULTS: Mean maternal age at the time of diagnosis was 28.8+/-3.2 years and the mean gestational age was 37(+3)+/-4 weeks. Common associated conditions were nulliparity (90%), cesarean delivery (70%), anemia (70%), preeclampsia (60%), transfusion before diagnosis (40%), twin pregnancy (30%). At the time of diagnosis, the mean left ventricular ejection fraction (EF) was 42.84+/-9.69%, fractional shortening (FS) was 23.41+/-5.49%, and left ventricular end diastolic dimension (LVEDD) was 5.58+/-0.55 cm/m2. Normalization of left ventricular function occurred in 8 patients (80%). After recovery of the left ventricular function, mean EF was 61.41+/-4.21%, FS was 34.08+/-3.26%, and LVEDD was 4.68+/-0.76 cm/m2. Incidence of PPCM was 1 in 2455 pregnancies, and maternal mortality was 12.5% in 10 months follow-up. CONCLUSION: The risk of PPCM may increase in puerperal women with rapid dramatic hemodynamic change. Echocardiography may provide significant prognostic information.
Subject(s)
Female , Humans , Pregnancy , Anemia , Cardiomyopathies , Diagnosis , Echocardiography , Follow-Up Studies , Gestational Age , Heart Failure , Hemodynamics , Incidence , Maternal Age , Maternal Mortality , Medical Records , Parity , Peripartum Period , Pre-Eclampsia , Pregnancy, Twin , Prognosis , Retrospective Studies , Risk Factors , Stroke Volume , Ventricular Function, LeftABSTRACT
Squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCC-Ag) is a well-established tumor marker for monitoring recurrence of squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix. However, serum levels of SCC-Ag could be elevated by some benign conditions not to speak of squamous cell malignancies other than cervical carcinoma. Sinonasal inverted papilloma is one of benign tumor which may elevate serum SCC-Ag level. We experienced a case of cervical carcinoma patient whose serum level of SCC-Ag was not normalized in spite of combination chemotherapy until surgical removal of maxillary inverted papilloma detected by PET/CT.