Abstract
The case of an infant who required tracheostomy, nighttime mechanical ventilation, and gastrostomy for a giant lymphangioma of the neck and was able to transition to her home in a medically underserved area in Aomori prefecture with close cooperation in the community is presented. The patient was an 11-month-old girl with a lymphangioma of the neck. She developed dyspnea following an upper respiratory infection six months after birth, for which her previous doctor performed an emergency tracheostomy and gastrostomy. The important points in transitioning to home were: (1) airway management; (2) management of home medical devices; (3) moving from a medical model to a daily living model; and (4) arranging a community support system. Prior to discharge from the hospital, hospital and community support teams were organized. To transition to home while maintaining safety and quality of life in daily living, understanding and cooperation with respect to the special characteristics of the child’s disease and medical care are essential. It is important to continuously focus on cooperative work not only in medical care, but also in childcare and education with a medium to long-term perspective.
