ABSTRACT
Since 1994, our clinic has had monthly study meetings for those who looked after bedridden patients in their homes. As of June 1996, we have gotten together 39 times and a total of 168 persons have participated (mean 4.8). We have discussed the welfare system (3 times) and diseases such as bed sore and lumbago (16 times), visited participants' homes and demonstrated medical equipment (4 times each) and talked about general affairs (12 times). In home health care, a role of those who look after bedridden patients in their homes is very important. Social and medical systems should support them. We think ther meetings could continue to support them morally and psyehologically.
ABSTRACT
We have provided home health care to 42 patients with terminal cancer over the past five years. The pancreas was the most common site of the primary cencers (9 cases). The average age of the dead was 74.6 years, which was younger than that from heart failure or brain infarction. The average duration of stay of home was 60.1 days. The average frequency of visit to a patient's home was 15.8 times. In 52.4% of the cases, morphine were administered for pain control. The average dose was 48.2 mg per day, and term of administration was 30.6 days. In most cases, those who looked after the patients were daugh-in-laws or wives.<BR>In some cases, a local government lent a bed to a patient. Of the patients 21.4% were fold by their physicians what they are up to were. In conclusion, home health care of cases of terminal cancer will be more important in the future. Pain control by morphine, support for those who look after the patients by frequent visits, practical use of the welfare system and full-time medical care system which meets patients' need are thought to be necessary.
ABSTRACT
A total of 194 cases of liver cirrhosis, which had been treated in our hospital during the past 5 years, were calssified by the causes into the following four groups:(I) hepatitis B virus, (II) alcoholic, (III) special origins, and (IV) reasons unknown. They each accounted for 23.2%, 35.6%, 1.5% and 39.7%, of the total.<BR>Their clinical features and prognosis were examined. To be noted is the finding that many patients in group IV had had blood transfusions. This suggests that non A non B hepatitis viruses might be involved in the occurrence of the liver disease. On the whole, the five-year survival rate was 45.6%. There was not any significant difference among the four groups. However, prognoses were poor in groups II, I and IV, in that order.<BR>As regards the cause of death, rupture of esophageal varice and hepatic failure showed a gradual decline, but complications of hepatocellular carcinomas sharply increased. Especially, in group I, this mortality was as high as 31.1%.