ABSTRACT
Objective: This study aimed to clarify the details of inpatient cancer rehabilitation interventions provided by designated cancer hospitals in Japan. Methods: This questionnaire-based survey asked specialists regarding the outline of their facilities’ inpatient cancer rehabilitation, Dietz classification, disease, and intervention details. Results: Restorative interventions were the most common, and the most common cancer was lung cancer followed by colorectal cancer; hematologic malignancy; gastric cancer; and liver, gallbladder, and pancreatic cancer. Intervention proportions for colorectal and gastric cancer were significantly higher in general hospitals than in university hospitals and cancer centers; in contrast, those for hematological malignancy were significantly higher in university hospitals than in general hospitals. For bone and soft tissue sarcomas, intervention proportions in cancer centers were significantly higher than those in university and general hospitals; and for oral, pharyngeal, and laryngeal cancers, they were significantly higher in university hospitals and cancer centers than in general hospitals. The most common intervention was walking training, followed by resistance training, basic motor training, activities of daily living training, and respiratory rehabilitation. Respiratory rehabilitation was performed significantly more frequently in university and general hospitals than in cancer centers.Conclusion: The diseases had differed according to the characteristics of the facilities, and the interventions were considered accordingly. In future, it will be necessary to verify the effectiveness of inpatient cancer rehabilitation according to facility characteristics and to disseminate information on inpatient cancer rehabilitation.
ABSTRACT
Videofluoroscopic examination of swallowing (VF) is widely used for evaluating swallowing function. However, pulmonary complications after VF are seldom evaluated. We checked residual barium sulfate on chest X-rays and early pulmonary complication after VF. One hundred and ninety-eight patients underwent VF and chest X-rays. Eighty-six patients who did not aspirate during VF had no residual barium on their chest X-rays. One hundred and twelve patients aspirated during VF, but only 40 of these patients showed residual barium on their chest X-rays. Ten patients had fever after VF, but no significant relationship was observed between fever and residual barium on chest X-rays or aspiration. Aspiration was not correlated with mobility or cognitive status. One case had pneumonia after VF, but VF did not seem to be the cause of the pneumonia. In conclusion, no severe early pulmonary complications after VF were observed. It is difficult to predict early pulmonary complications from chest X-rays.
ABSTRACT
Femoral neck and intertrochanteric fractures are common in the elderly. These types of fractures affect about 90,000 people each year in Japan. At present, most such fractures are operated on. Immediate unrestricted weight-bearing after surgery is usually allowed. Conservative treatment may be considered if a patient can bear long-term bed rest and accept the risk of having a less functional outcome. Isometric quadriceps muscles and ankle range of motion exercises are important therapies to use before surgery. The appropriate intensity for rehabilitation is still controversial. The majority of the functional recoveries occur within the first 6 months, but further outpatient rehabilitation is still effective in patients without severe physical or cognitive impairments. About half of all patients recover their prefracture activities of daily living. Patients who are older or who are disoriented after surgery recovered least in terms of instrumental activities of daily living. In this group, even patients with uneventful healing courses did not regain their prefracture health-related quality of life level. Deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary infarction, palsy of the common peroneal nerve, fall, avascular necrosis of the femoral head, screw dislodging and removal, dislocation and infection are all possible risks factors after femoral neck and intertrochanteric fractures.