PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - WM van Aalderen
AU  - GP Mannes
AU  - ES Bosma
AU  - RJ Roorda
AU  - HS Heymans
TI  - Home care in cystic fibrosis patients
AID  - 10.1183/09031936.95.08010172
DP  - 1995 Jan 01
TA  - European Respiratory Journal
PG  - 172--175
VI  - 8
IP  - 1
4099  - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/8/1/172.short
4100  - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/8/1/172.full
SO  - Eur Respir J1995 Jan 01; 8
AB  - Intravenous antibiotics and enteral tube feeding at home for the treatment of pulmonary exacerbations and underweight condition in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients have become tools that are used in many cystic fibrosis centres. The experience with home care programmes from different countries is quite conclusive. If the necessary preparations are made, such as training of staff and patients, and financial support is arranged, home care is easy to put into practice. Optimal patient compliance is also necessary. Home care is as effective as hospital treatment for selected patients, and less expensive. Experience has increased during many treatment periods in different cystic fibrosis centres, and only a few adverse events have been recorded, indicating that home care is safe. However, the most important gain for cystic fibrosis patients is the reduction of hospital admission time, which means a definite improvement in the quality of life.