Our hospital group is in the eastern part of Nagano Prefecture, and carbon monoxide poisoning is a common health problem during the winter season. To investigate the causes of carbon monoxide poisoning, we examined 67 cases of carbon monoxide poisoning that visited any of three facilities in our hospital group from January 1, 2016, to February 28, 2022. The most common cause of poisoning was heating appliances (48 cases, 71.6%). Among these, 41 cases (85.4%) involved charcoal briquettes. The risk of carbon monoxide poisoning increases when charcoal briquettes are used without proper ventilation. The results suggest that charcoal briquettes are used as a heating device without proper ventilation in this area, and providing residents with education about proper ventilation may prevent carbon monoxide poisoning.

Objective : To investigate end-of-life care at the Department of General Medicine of Saku Central Hospital (DGSCH).
Methods : A retrospective survey of medical records of patients who died at DGSCH in 2011.
Results : 101 patients died in that year. The average age was 85.2, and 73% patients lived in Saku city. The main causes of death were pneumonia (30%), cancer (20%) and senility (20%). Cardiopulmonary resuscitation was performed in 4% of patients. Total parenteral nutrition was performed in 8% and tube feeding therapy was performed in 12%.
Conclusion : Patients who died at DGSCH were elderly patients who lived near the hospital, and most died without invasive medical procedures.