In recent years, next-generation power semiconductor devices, represented by silicon carbide (SiC) and gallium nitride (GaN), have gradually emerged. Because wide-bandgap (WBG) devices have better electrical characteristics than those of silicon (Si) based devices, they have attracted increased attention both from academic researchers and industrial engineers. Employing WBG devices will further improve the efficiency and power density of power converters. However, the current price of WBG devices remains extremely high. Thus, some researches have focused on the hybrid utilization of WBG devices and Si-based devices to achieve a tradeoff between the performance and cost. To summarize the current research on WBG/Si hybrid applications, the issues mentioned above with representative research approaches, results, and characteristics, are systematically reviewed. Finally, the current research on WBG/Si hybrid applications and their future trends are discussed.
Background
The aim of the present study was to explore the therapeutic effect and prognosis in patients with rib fractures and atelectasis after thoracic trauma in order to provide a basis for clinical decision-making in primary hospitals.
Methods
A retrospective study was conducted on 86 patients admitted to our hospital between January 2016 and May 2020 with rib fractures and atelectasis after thoracic trauma. On the basis of the chest computed tomography scans taken at the time of discharge, the patients were divided into two groups: the reexpansion group and the non-reexpansion group. The two groups were compared with respect to the changes observed in the patients’ levels of blood oxygen saturation (SpO2) and pulmonary function, the presence of secondary pulmonary or thoracic infection, the time of chest tube drainage, the length of hospitalization, the cost of hospitalization, and the patients’ level of satisfaction with their quality of life 3 months after discharge.
Results
In the reexpansion group, there were significant differences in the levels of SpO2 and pulmonary function measured before and after pulmonary reexpansion (P < 0.05). Compared with the non-reexpansion group, the patients in the reexpansion group had a lower incidence of secondary pulmonary and thoracic infection and a higher level of satisfaction with their quality of life after discharge; these differences were statistically significant (P < 0.05). There was no statistical significance between the two groups with respect to the time of chest tube drainage or the length of hospitalization (P > 0.05). However, the cost of hospitalization was significantly higher in the reexpansion group than in the non-reexpansion group (P < 0.05).
Conclusions
The patients in the pulmonary reexpansion group had a lower incidence of complications and a better prognosis than the patients in the non-reexpansion group.
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