Effects of Home Nursing and Rehabilitation on Daily Life and Outgoing Activities in a Patient With Interstitial Pneumonia Supported by a High-Flow Nasal Cannula: A Case Report.

A high-flow nasal cannula is used as the primary therapy for patients with respiratory failure. Its effectiveness, however, is contingent upon proper patient monitoring by trained healthcare professionals. The case report highlights the benefits of home nursing and rehabilitation in an 81-year-old woman with rheumatoid-related interstitial pneumonia (complicated by drug-induced interstitial pneumonia) who developed respiratory failure. She lived at home with her family while undergoing high-flow therapy. At the outset of the home visit care, she was bedridden, had an indwelling urinary catheter, ate with assistance, and had to wipe her entire body because she could not bathe. Five months after receiving home visit care, she was able to use a portable toilet. However, she was unable to walk because of dyspnea and muscle weakness. She then went through five months of home visit rehabilitation before being able to move around her home with a walker. In addition, she was able to ride out in the back seat of her husband's car. Her quality of life improved as her daily activities improved, and she was able to participate in leisure activities. This experience suggests that home visit rehabilitation may be beneficial in promoting outdoor activities in patients with interstitial pneumonia caused by severe respiratory failure.