• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.54 no.4
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• pp.293-297
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• 2022

In 2022, Korea reported a total of 224 perfusionists, employing nurses or clinical laboratory technologists (also known as medical technologists) to provide hospital self-education or reliable education. In 2021, the total number of perfusionists in Japan was 2,100, mainly supported by clinical engineering technologists. During the same period, the number of perfusionists reported in the United States was 4,212, who had received training in the master's program, post-bachelor certificate program, and bachelor's program. Most personnel in the USA were graduates of healthcare sciences or life sciences. Perfusionists must be knowledgeable in heart anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, pathology, hemodynamics, laboratory analysis, and quality assurance, as well as techniques to operate the cardiopulmonary bypass machine (heart-lung bypass machine). These are jobs similarly handled by clinical laboratory technologists. The importance of perfusionists became more prominent during two major crises: the MERS-CoV and COVID-19 pandemic. Currently, perfusionists play a significant role in the rapidly expanding field of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) and extracorporeal circulation during cardiac surgery. Results of the current study indicate that hospitals offering cardiac surgery and infectious disease hospitalization need to be institutionalized to secure a certain number of qualified perfusionists. In the future, we look forward to establishing a perfusion technology association under the Korean Society for Clinical Laboratory Physiology to provide academic exchanges.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.13-17
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• 2014

Continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) has become the preferred dialysis modality to support critically ill children with acute kidney injury. As CRRT technology and clinical practice advances, experiences using CRRT on small infants and neonates have increased. In neonates with hyperammonemia or acute kidney injury during extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) therapy, CRRT can be a safe and effective technique. However, there are many limitations of CRRT in neonates, including vascular access, bleeding complications, and lack of neonatespecific devices. This review discusses the basic principles of CRRT and the special considerations when using this technique in neonates and infants.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.47-52
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• 2017

Anaplastic thyroid cancer is a rare disease entity consist 2% of whole thyroid cancer but once diagnosed, it is too fatal to survive. Airway obstruction is a leading cause of death in anaplastic thyroid cancer, which may be caused by both vocal cord palsy, mass effect of the cancer or direct invasion of the cancer itself to the tracheal lumen. Tracheal stent insertion can be a solution for airway compromised cases where surgical excision cannot be performed. The advantage is that the airway problem can be solved without invasive procedure. In this case, we tried expandable tracheal stent insertion for 66 years-old man with anaplastic cancer who visited ER for small amount of hemoptysis and dyspnea. There was severe tracheal narrowing and deviation due to the anaplastic thyroid cancer, ECMO (Extra Corporal Membrane Oxygenation) was used instead of a tracheal intubation for general anesthesia.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.54 no.5
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• pp.489-500
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• 2021

Purpose: This study aimed at investigating the nutritional status, nutritional support, and nutritional indicators of critically ill patients on extracorporeal membrane oxygen (ECMO) in intensive care units (ICU). Methods: This descriptive study obtained data from the medical records of 37 patients who were treated using ECMO at a university hospital in Korea. The patients were admitted to the Korea University Anam Hospital ICU with acute or serious damage to vital organs from January 1, 2014 to June 30, 2016. Results: Although 32 patients (86.5%) were at a high risk of malnutrition, 26 patients (70.3%) were considered normal in terms of nutritional status by the nutritionist at the beginning of their ICU stay. However, after two weeks, nine patients had passed away and only one patient maintained normal status. Parenteral nutrition was started first but took 4.25 ± 6.95 days till initiation. Only eight patients (21.6%) were able to meet their requirement for both calories and protein. The group provided with adequate calorie and protein showed significantly longer use of the ECMO and respirator and longer ICU and total hospital stay than their counterparts. Normal levels of serum albumin and protein of the group at low-risk for malnutrition on the day of initiation of ECMO, which were significantly higher than the high-risk group, declined by the last day of ECMO leading to a lack of significant differences between the two groups. Conclusion: Considering that the nutritional indicators of patients deteriorated as the days on ECMO increased, more aggressive nutritional management to ensure adequate nutritional support should be emphasized from the beginning and throughout the ICU stay.