Study on the Changes of Voiding Methods of Patients with SCI after Discharge: Focusing on the Patients Participating in the Regular Urinary Tract Surveillance Program

OBJECTIVE: To examine how consistently patients with spinal cord injured (SCI) after discharge use the clean intermittent catheterization (CIC). METHOD: The participants were 146 SCI patients hospitalized for regular urinary tract surveillance program, who resided in a community for over one year after discharge. The mean age was 40.3 years old and the mean time after injury was 6.2 years, consisted of 118 males and 28 females, and of 68 tetraplegics and 78 paraplegics. RESULTS: At discharge, the CIC as a voiding methods was used by 97 patients, Valsalva or reflexic voiding by 43, indwelling catheterization by 3, and diaper voiding by 3. Atfollow-up, CIC was used by 96, Valsalva or reflexic voiding by 37, indwelling catheterization by 7, and diaper voiding by 6. Among 97 patients who used CIC at discharge, 83 consistently used the CIC (compliance=85.5%). The patients with tetraplegia showed 82.9% of compliance while the patients with paraplega showed 88.0% of compliance, but there was no statistical difference. CONCLUSION: The compliance with the CIC method was comparatively high (85.5%). The CIC method can be effectively applied to the management of neurogenic bladder for the SCI patients residing in a community after discharge.

The General Characteristics of Geriatrics Being Hospitalized in Rehabilitation Hospital for a Stroke

BACKGROUND: We investigated the demographic characteristics of stroke patients over 65 years old and wanted to see the effects of rehabilitation therapies by examining the changing status of patients before and after treatment by comparing with other patients under 65 years old. METHODS: We went through medical records arranged by making a comparative groups of older patients and other younger patients who both admitted within recent 4 years. Accompanied medical problems are categorized by ICD-10, the functional statuses are classified into FIM score at admission, and FIM efficiency at discharge. RESULTS: Between two groups, according to cause of a stroke, the existence of spouse, gender, there is statistical difference and, at admission, functional level of older patients was lower but it was not observed that extent of functional change of the result of rehabilitation therapy with distinction of age. Accompanied diseases were average 4.6 and is cardiovascular disease with the highest rates. CONCLUSION: Since the explosion of an aging population is regarded as serious national problem, people have been trying to find diversified treatments against geriatrics. And the data will be utilized as useful materials for better direction where rehabilitation treatment against a stroke should aim.