PURPOSE:The characteristics of hospitalized patients in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs), including hospitalization costs (HC) and National Health Insurance (NHI) status were studied. METHODS:We gathered the following data from 7 hospitals in Korea during 2006: the distribution of patients according to birth weight (BW), and the duration of the hospital stay according to BW and HC. RESULTS:The patients who were admitted to the NICU consisted of high-risk neonates, including low birth weight or premature neonates, which comprised 50% of all neonates admitted to the NICU. The duration of hospitalization was 75-90 days for neonates with BW <1,000 g, 45-60 days for neonates with BW between 1,000 and 1,499 g, and approximately 15 days for neonates with BW between 2,000 and 2,499 g. The portion of the HC covered by the NHI was 77.1%, 22.9% of the total HC was not covered by the NHI (19.5% was included in the list, but not covered by the NHI and 3.4% was not listed, but covered by the NHI). The average total HC per person was 4,360,000 won, and the HC covered and not covered by the NHI were 3,677,000 won and 1,007,000 won, respectively. The mean HC were as follows; 35,000,000 won for a BW <500 g, 18,000,000 won for a BW between 500 and 999 g, 16,000,000 won for a BW between 1,000 and 1,499 g, and 4,200,000 won for a BW between 1,500 and 1,999 g. CONCLUSION:Not only premature, but also ill neonates were under the care of the NICU. The HC increased as the BW decreased and the hospitalization period increased. The proportion of the patient's financial burden is >25% of the total HC. For this matter, additional NHI is needed.
Birth Weight ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Infant, Low Birth Weight ; Infant, Newborn ; Intensive Care Units, Neonatal ; Intensive Care, Neonatal ; Korea ; Length of Stay ; National Health Programs ; Patient Admission

A malignant sarcoma of soft tissue that arises near but not in a joint, most often in an adolescent or young adult, is typically slowgrowing, and may escapes notice until it causes pain. The diagnosis of this tumor can be suspected by X-ray or imaging, made by biopsy, and confirmed by chromosome studies. Cytogenic studies reveal a translocation between the X chromosome and chromosome 18 in the tumor cells. The most common treatment for the tumor is surgery to remove the entire tumor, nearby muscle, and lymph nodes. Synovial sarcoma tends to recur locally and to involve regional lymph nodes. Distant metastasis occurs in half cases. The well-documented and adequately followed cases are currently lacking and this report described an instance of Synovial sarcoma good result after treatment and review of literature.
Adolescent ; Biopsy ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 18 ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Joints ; Lymph Nodes ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Recurrence ; Sarcoma ; Sarcoma, Synovial* ; United Nations ; X Chromosome ; Young Adult

Adrenal Cortex Hormones ; Diagnosis ; Guillain-Barre Syndrome ; Humans ; Immune System ; Immunoglobulins ; Influenza, Human ; Mandible ; Molar ; Neuritis ; Paralysis ; Peripheral Nervous System ; Plasma Exchange ; Reflex ; Tooth Extraction

PURPOSE: Because infants who have been hospitalized in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) are usually ill or premature, they are hospitalized repeatedly after their discharge. We intended to survey the frequencies and the medical costs of those rehospitalizations. METHODS: The NICUs of 7 major hospitals were included. The subjects were 3,451 infants that were admitted to the NICU from July 2005 to June 2006, and discharged to home. The frequency, causes, mean cost and distribution and proportion of National Health Insurance coverage and non covered costs were analyzed. RESULTS: The rate of rehospitalization after discharge from the NICU over 1 year was 14.8%. If multiple cases are considered as individual cases, it is 21.7%. The major causes of admission were pneumonia (15.8%), bronchiolitis (14.5%), gastroenteritis (10.4%), urinary tract infection (6.3%) and sepsis (6.3%). The mean cost for each admission was 1,652 thousand won. The mean cost of National Health Insurance coverage was 1,170 thousand won and non covered coat were 472 thousand won 70.9% and 28.6% respectively. CONCLUSION: The ratio of rehospitalization of infants after their discharge from the NICU over 1 year was approximately 20% and it means that follow-up management of these infants is very important and meticulous concerns after discharge should be given. However the rehospitalization and the non-coverage proportion of National Health Insurance cost is considerably high. It strongly implies that National Health Insurance should cover much more proportion, and personal cost exemption should be proceeded in case of rehospitalization of infants after discharge from the NICU.
Bronchiolitis ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gastroenteritis ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Intensive Care Units, Neonatal ; Intensive Care, Neonatal ; National Health Programs ; Pneumonia ; Sepsis ; Urinary Tract Infections