Aged ; Coal Mining ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myocardial Infarction ; diagnosis ; etiology ; Pneumoconiosis ; complications

No abstract available.
Humans ; Noninvasive Ventilation* ; Weaning*

Post-intensive care unit (ICU) syndrome may occur after ICU treatment and includes ICU-acquired weakness (ICU-AW), cognitive decline, and mental problems. ICU-AW is muscle weakness in patients treated in the ICU and is affected by the period of mechanical ventilation. Diaphragmatic weakness may also occur because of respiratory muscle unloading using mechanical ventilators. ICU-AW is an independent predictor of mortality and is associated with longer duration of mechanical ventilation and hospital stay. Diaphragm weakness is also associated with poor outcomes. Therefore, pulmonary rehabilitation with early mobilization and respiratory muscle training is necessary in the ICU after appropriate patient screening and evaluation and can improve ICU-related muscle weakness and functional deterioration.

PURPOSE: To assess the ability of a mechanical in-exsufflator (MI-E), either alone or in combination with manual thrust, to augment cough in patients with neuromuscular disease (NMD) and respiratory muscle dysfunction. MATERIALS AND METHODS: For this randomized crossover single-center controlled trial, patients with noninvasive ventilator-dependent NMD were recruited. The primary outcome was peak cough flow (PCF), which was measured in each patient after a cough that was unassisted, manually assisted following a maximum insufflation capacity (MIC) maneuver, assisted by MI-E, or assisted by manual thrust plus MI-E. The cough augmentation techniques were provided in random order. PCF was measured using a new device, the Cough Aid. RESULTS: All 40 enrolled participants (37 males, three females; average age, 20.9±7.2 years) completed the study. The mean (standard deviation) PCFs in the unassisted, manually assisted following an MIC maneuver, MI-E-assisted, and manual thrust plus MI-E-assisted conditions were 95.7 (40.5), 155.9 (53.1), 177.2 (33.9), and 202.4 (46.6) L/min, respectively. All three interventions significantly improved PCF. However, manual assistance following an MIC maneuver was significantly less effective than MI-E alone. Manual thrust plus MI-E was significantly more effective than both of these interventions. CONCLUSION: In patients with NMD and respiratory muscle dysfunction, MI-E alone was more effective than manual assistance following an MIC maneuver. However, MI-E used in conjunction with manual thrust improved PCF even further.
Cough* ; Female ; Humans ; Insufflation ; Male ; Neuromuscular Diseases ; Respiratory Muscles*

PURPOSE: To assess the ability of a mechanical in-exsufflator (MI-E), either alone or in combination with manual thrust, to augment cough in patients with neuromuscular disease (NMD) and respiratory muscle dysfunction. MATERIALS AND METHODS: For this randomized crossover single-center controlled trial, patients with noninvasive ventilator-dependent NMD were recruited. The primary outcome was peak cough flow (PCF), which was measured in each patient after a cough that was unassisted, manually assisted following a maximum insufflation capacity (MIC) maneuver, assisted by MI-E, or assisted by manual thrust plus MI-E. The cough augmentation techniques were provided in random order. PCF was measured using a new device, the Cough Aid. RESULTS: All 40 enrolled participants (37 males, three females; average age, 20.9±7.2 years) completed the study. The mean (standard deviation) PCFs in the unassisted, manually assisted following an MIC maneuver, MI-E-assisted, and manual thrust plus MI-E-assisted conditions were 95.7 (40.5), 155.9 (53.1), 177.2 (33.9), and 202.4 (46.6) L/min, respectively. All three interventions significantly improved PCF. However, manual assistance following an MIC maneuver was significantly less effective than MI-E alone. Manual thrust plus MI-E was significantly more effective than both of these interventions. CONCLUSION: In patients with NMD and respiratory muscle dysfunction, MI-E alone was more effective than manual assistance following an MIC maneuver. However, MI-E used in conjunction with manual thrust improved PCF even further.
Cough* ; Female ; Humans ; Insufflation ; Male ; Neuromuscular Diseases ; Respiratory Muscles*

Axial mesodermal dysplasia complex (AMDC) arises in variable combinations of craniocaudal anomalies such as musculoskeletal deformities, neuroschisis, or rhombencephalic developmental disorders. To the best of our knowledge, the co-existence of AMDC with associated musculoskeletal anomalies, medullary neuroschisis with mirror movements, and cranial nerve anomalies has not yet been reported. Here, we report the case of a 4-year-old boy whose clinical features were suggestive of Goldenhar syndrome and Poland syndrome with Sprengel deformity. Moreover, he showed mirror movements in his hands suspected of rhombencephalic malformation, and infranuclear-type facial nerve palsy of the left side of his face, the opposite side to the facial anomalies of Goldenhar syndrome. After conducting radiological studies, he was diagnosed with medullary neuroschisis without pontine malformations and Klippel-Feil syndrome with rib anomalies. Based on these findings, we propose that clinical AMDC can be accompanied by a wide variety of musculoskeletal defects and variable degrees of central nervous system malformations. Therefore, in addition to detailed physical and neurological examinations, imaging studies should be considered in AMDC.
Central Nervous System ; Child, Preschool ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Cranial Nerves ; Facial Nerve ; Goldenhar Syndrome ; Hand ; Humans ; Klippel-Feil Syndrome ; Male ; Medulla Oblongata ; Mesoderm* ; Neurologic Examination ; Paralysis ; Poland Syndrome ; Rhombencephalon ; Ribs

A 43-year-old man with no notable medical history was admitted due to sudden onset dysarthria and right side weakness. The man was diagnosed with acute infarction of left basal ganglia (BG) and uncontrolled diabetes mellitus (DM). After 9 hours post the thrombolysis, mental change and left side weakness symptoms were newly observed, and the man was additionally diagnosed with acute infarction in right BG.The man showed symptoms of quadriplegia and was fed through nasogastric tube. He showed motor aphasia, and no signs of phonation, but showed some indications of intact cognition. After rehabilitation therapies, the man showed marginal improvement in motor function, but still lacked any meaningful changes functionally. This is the first case of symmetric bilateral BG infarction, which one-sided infarction additionally occurred within 24 hours post the treatment of contralateral infarction through thrombolysis. Also,the features observed were atypical while the patient has no previous external causes related with bilateral BG infarction.
Adult ; Aphasia, Broca ; Basal Ganglia* ; Cognition ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Dysarthria ; Humans ; Infarction* ; Phonation ; Quadriplegia ; Rehabilitation ; Thrombolytic Therapy

Patients with severe neurological deficit, such as hypoxic ischemic injury, cerebral infarction, and traumatic brain injury, often show comatose mental status and require maintenance of long-term tracheostomy for pulmonary toileting. However, several complications, which are mostly related to the cannula, invariably occur. Permanent tracheostoma is a short, skin-lined, noncollapsing, self-sustaining opening by suturing the denuded skin lining to the margin of the tracheal stoma. This tube-free method is a useful alternative to make long-term airway without tube-related complications in chronic diseases, such as obstructive sleep apnea, and laryngeal cancer, however, it has not yet been reported in chronic brain injured patients. This case report illustrates 3 cases of vegetative patients in our rehabilitation clinic who underwent successful procedure of permanent tracheostoma. Permanent tracheostoma has some benefits associated with the free of tube-related complications, and can be considered as a useful alternative way for chronic brain injured patients with long-term tracheostomy.
Brain Injuries/complications/*rehabilitation ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Trachea/*surgery ; Tracheostomy/*methods ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether motor evoked potential (MEP) amplitude ratio measurements are sufficiently objective to assess functional activities of the extremities. We also delineated the distribution between the presence or absence of MEPs and the Medical Research Council (MRC) scale for muscle strength of the extremities. METHODS: We enrolled 183 patients with first-ever unilateral hemiplegia after stroke. The MEP parameters were amplitude ratio (amplitude of affected side/amplitude of unaffected side) recorded at the first dorsal interosseous (FDI) and tibialis anterior (TA) muscles. We performed frequency analyses using the MRC scale for muscle strength and the presence or absence of evoked MEPs. Change on the MRC scale, hand function tests (HFTs), and the Modified Barthel Index (MBI) subscore were compared between the evoked MEP and absent MEP groups using the independent t-test. Receiver operating characteristic curves were used to determine the optimal cutoff scores for the MEP amplitude ratio using the HFT results and MBI subscores. Correlations between the MEP amplitude ratio and the MRC scale, HFTs, and MBI subscore were analyzed. RESULTS: About 10% of patients with MRC scale grades 0-2 showed evoked MEPs at the FDI muscle, and 4% of patients with MRC scale grades 3-5 did not show MEPs. About 18% of patients with MRC scale grades 0-2 showed evoked MEPs at the TA muscle, and 4% of patients with MRC scale grades 3-5 did not show MEPs. MEP amplitude increased with increasing MRC scale grade. The evoked MEP group had more significant changes on the MRC scale, HFT, and the climbing stair score on the MBI than those in the group without MEPs. Larger MEP amplitude ratios were observed in patients who had more difficulty with the HFTs and ambulation. The MEP amplitude ratio was significantly correlated with the MRC scale, HFT, and MBI subscore. CONCLUSION: We conclude that the MEP amplitude ratio may be useful to predict functional status of the extremities in patients who suffered stroke.
Activities of Daily Living ; Evoked Potentials, Motor* ; Extremities* ; Hand ; Hemiplegia ; Humans ; Motor Skills ; Muscle Strength ; Muscles ; ROC Curve ; Stroke* ; Walking

OBJECTIVE: To report successful cases of extubation from invasive mechanical ventilation at our institution using pulmonary rehabilitation consisting of noninvasive ventilation (NIV) in neuromuscular patients with experience of reintubation. METHODS: Patients who experienced extubation failure via the conventional weaning strategy but afterwards had extubation success via NIV were studied retrospectively. Continuous end-tidal CO₂ (ETCO₂) and pulse oxyhemoglobin saturation (SpO₂) monitoring were performed. Extubation success was defined as a state not requiring invasive mechanical ventilation via endotracheal tube or tracheotomy during a period of at least 5 days. RESULTS: A total of 18 patients with ventilatory failure who initially experienced extubation failure were finally placed under part-time NIV after extubation. No patient had any serious or long-term adverse effect from NIV, and all patients left the hospital alive. CONCLUSION: NIV may promote successful weaning in neuromuscular patients with experience of reintubation.
Humans ; Neuromuscular Diseases* ; Noninvasive Ventilation* ; Oxyhemoglobins ; Rehabilitation ; Respiration, Artificial ; Retrospective Studies ; Tracheotomy ; Weaning*