Background: Most cases of pneumonia in older people are aspiration pneumonia,[1] and the prognosis among patients hospitalized for aspiration pneumonia is very poor.[2] After being hospitalized for aspiration pneumonia, a certain number of patients become unable to take orally, and some chronic conditions are reported to be negatively associated with the retrievement of oral intake.[3] [...]

Background: In Japan, a “super-aged” society, the rate of end-stage dysphagia in the elderly is increasing. Artificial hydration and nutrition (AHN) can be used for such patients, although it may not improve mortality or quality of life. The many downsides of AHN are not always well explained to patients and their families, resulting in routine [...]

Background: Elderly patients have a higher risk of developing aspiration pneumonia and have a higher risk of death if hospitalized for aspiration pneumonia. This study was conducted to confirm the effectiveness of an aspiration prevention program using the Gugging Swallowing Screen (GUSS) for elderly patients hospitalized with acute medical illness. Methods: Starting in April 2021, [...]

Background: Sepsis is one of the most common life-threatening conditions and is associated with significant mortality, length of stay, and cost for hospitals and health systems worldwide. Based on a recent report, there has been an increase in rates of hospital-acquired sepsis (HAS), or sepsis “not-present-on-admission”, in California from 2020 to 2021. Aspiration pneumonia was [...]

Case Presentation: A 41-year male with prior history of hypogonadism presented 11-days after positive COVIDtest with shortness of breath and no prior Covid vaccination. On presentation, patient wastachypneic with breathing rate 32/minute and was observed to be in acute hypoxic respiratoryfailure with oxygen saturation <50%, arterial blood gases showing Ph-6.93, partial pressure ofoxygen-53mmHg, and carbon-dioxide-85mmHg. [...]

Case Presentation: A 65-year-old female with history of 70 pack years smoking, chronic hip pain, GERD, COPD presented to the ED with a 6 months complaints of diffuse pruritic skin rash associated with progressive facial swelling, fatigue and muscle weakness. She had been seen multiple times in the Dermatology clinic and punch biopsy revealed perifollicular [...]

Case Presentation: A 76-year-old man with mantle cell lymphoma status post chemotherapy 1 week prior presented to an outside emergency department with generalized weakness. Initial laboratory workup revealed hemoglobin of 8.8 g/dL, platelet count of 3 × 109/L, creatinine 5.55 mg/dL and bicarbonate 7 mmol/L (Table 1). Rectal exam showed brown stool, however fecal occult [...]

Case Presentation: A 78-year-old man with a history of paraplegia secondary to spinal stenosis, who presented with worsening dyspnea, fatigue, and confusion. On presentation, he was tachypneic and hypoxic, requiring 4 liters of oxygen via nasal cannula.Initial imaging revealed a large left pleural effusion with significant left lung atelectasis, a moderate right pleural effusion, and [...]