Rinsho Shinkeigaku (Clinical Neurology)

Symposium 3

The management of patients receiving home respiratory care with tracheostomy and positive-pressure ventilation

Masashi Aoki, M.D., Ph.D.1)

1)Department of Neurology, Tohoku University School of Medicine

On March 11, 2011, the Great East Japan Earthquake occurred and a massive tsunami hit the northeastern coast of Japan. In Miyagi prefecture in Tokoku district, 49 patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis were supported by home respiratory care with tracheostomy and positive-pressure ventilation at that time. Among them, two patients were died in the tsunami and 25 patients were forced to evacuate to hospitals. We should hurry to submit a guideline for medical transportation for patients with neuromuscular diseases requiring artificial ventilation. We also should research the disaster medicine in the field of neurology.
Full Text of this Article in Japanese PDF (894K)

(CLINICA NEUROL, 53: 1149|1151, 2013)
key words: amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, disaster, great earthquake, tsunami, ventilation

(Received: 31-May-13)