• Journal of Korean Academy of Fundamentals of Nursing
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.226-234
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• 2014

Purpose: This study was done to present guidelines for deciding appropriate times for measuring blood pressure (BP) in patients with neurological disorders who had surgery due to brain damage. Method: It was a repeated measures-experimental research on time variants in BP after nursing care. SBP (Systolic BP) and DBP (Diastolic) were measured every 2 minutes up to 5 times using an EKG patient monitor. Measured data were analyzed using repeated measures ANOVA and paired t-test. Results: For suctioning, there were significantly higher differences for SBP averages after 2 min. (138mmHg, p<0.01) and 4 min. (133mmHg, p<0.01) compared to before suctioning (120mmHg). For position change, there were significant differences in SBP averages after 2 min. (136mmHg, p<0.01) and 4 min. (130mmHg, p=0.01) compared to before changing position (121mmHg). For position change followed by suctioning there were significant differences in SBP averages after 2 min. (136mmHg, p<0.01), 4 min. (136mmHg, p<0.01) and 6 min. (125mmHg, p=0.003) compared to before the interventions (121mmHg). Conclusions: Results indicate that there are significant differences in SBP and DBP over time during nursing interventions, suggesting clinical measurement of BP after 6 min. or 8 min. be done for patients with neurological disorders in neurosurgery clinics.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.51-57
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• 2020

Thromboelastography or rotational thromboelastometry, is being increasingly utilized in cardiac surgery of late. However, it is an indirect test and is not available in all centers. Low fibrinogen levels before and after cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) have been described to be associated with postoperative bleeding in cardiac surgery. This study explored the usefulness of reduction ratio of the fibrinogen levels before CPB (preCPB) and after CPB (postCPB) in predicting postoperative hemorrhage. A retrospective, observational study of adult patients who underwent cardiac surgery with CPB between February 2014 and January 2016 was conducted, which included a total of 264 patients. The fibrinogen levels were measured twice, preCPB and postCPB, and the fibrinogen reduction ratio was acquired [(preCPB - postCPB)/preCPB]. Postoperative blood loss, which was defined as the blood collected from the chest drain for 12 hours following arrival at the intensive care unit, was considered severe if it was more than 1,000 mL. A multivariate analysis showed that fibrinogen reduction ratio, sex, and postCPB platelet count were significantly associated with severe postoperative bleeding. However, the pre- and postCPB fibrinogen levels were not significantly associated with severe bleeding. Furthermore, a fibrinogen reduction ratio of > 41.3% was independently associated with postoperative severe bleeding, with an odds ratio of 3.472 (1.483-8.162). These results suggest that the reduction ratio of pre- and postCPB fibrinogen levels may be utilized in predicting postoperative bleeding.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.289-301
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• 2006

Cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) for cardiac surgery triggers the production and release of numerous chemotactic substances and cytokines, ensuing systemic inflammatory response that leads to postoperative major organ dysfunction. Traditionally, corticosteroids (steroid) have been administered to patients undergoing cardiac surgery to ward off these detrimental physiologic alterations. However, the majority of the studies have been performed on adult patients with high-dose steroid. We carried out a randomized, prospective, double-blind study to compare the efficacy of low-dose steroid with that of high-dose steroid and to determine the adequate dose of pretreated-steroid for prophylactic effects in pediatric cardiac surgery. Thirty pediatric patients scheduled for elective cardiac surgery were randomly assigned to two groups; fifteen patients received low-dose methylprednisolone (10mg/kg intravenously, n=15, low-dose group) and the others received high-dose methylprednisolone (30mg/kg intravenously, n=15, high-dose group) 1 hour prior to CPB. Arterial blood samples were taken before CPB (Pre-CPB), 10 minutes after start of CPB (CPB-10), and immediately after CPB-end (CPB-OFF) for measuring total leukocyte counts (T-WBC) and diff-counts, platelet counts, interleukin-6 (IL-6), myeloperoxidase (MPO), total antioxidant (TAO), neuron-specific enolase (NSE), troponin I (TNI), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), creatinine, and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) levels. Other parameters such as volumes of urine output, pulmonary index $(PI,\;PaO_2/FiO_2)$, mechanical ventilating period, intensive care unit (ICU)-staying period, postoperative complications (fever, wound problem), postoperative 24 hrs and total volumes in blood loss, and hospitalized days were also assessed. All parameters were compared between two groups. There were no significant differences in T-WBC counts, monocyte fraction, platelet counts, TA levels, NSE levels, creatinine levels, BUN levels, the volumes of total urine output, PI, the incidences of fever and wound problem, postoperative 24hrs- and total-blood loss volumes and ICU-staying period between two groups (P>0.05). At CPB-OFF, neutrophil fraction, MPO level, TNI level, and AST level were higher in the high-dose group than in the low-dose group (P<0.05). IL-6 level at CPB-10 was higher in the high dose-group than in the low-dose group (P<0.05). Furthermore, mechanical ventilating periods and hospitalized days of the high-dose group were significantly longer than those of low-dose group (P<0.05). The high-dose group had significantly low lymphocyte fi-action at CPB-OFF compared with the low-dose group (P<0.001). These findings suggest that pretreatment of high-dose steroid is not superior to that of low-dose steroid regrading its potential benefits in pediatric cardiac surgery. Therefore, the conventional strategy of steroid treatment, high-dose pretreatment, should be modified in the cardiac surgery with CPB. However, further studies must be performed on the larger number of patients in as much as small number of patients in this study.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.57 no.4
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• pp.390-398
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• 2024

Background: In this study, we examined the impact of a patient blood management (PBM) program on red blood cell (RBC) transfusion practices in cardiothoracic surgery. Methods: The PBM program had 3 components: monitoring transfusions through an order communication system checklist, educating the medical team about PBM, and providing feedback to ordering physicians on the appropriateness of transfusion. The retrospective analysis examined changes in the hemoglobin levels triggering transfusion and the proportions of appropriate RBC transfusions before, during, and after PBM implementation. Further analysis was focused on patients undergoing cardiac surgery, with outcomes including 30-day mortality, durations of intensive care unit and hospital stays, and rates of pneumonia, sepsis, and wound complications. Results: The study included 2,802 patients admitted for cardiothoracic surgery. After the implementation of PBM, a significant decrease was observed in the hemoglobin threshold for RBC transfusion. This threshold dropped from 8.7 g/dL before PBM to 8.3 g/dL during the PBM education phase and 8.0 g/dL during the PBM feedback period. Additionally, the proportion of appropriate RBC transfusions increased markedly, from 23.9% before PBM to 34.9% and 58.2% during the education and feedback phases, respectively. Among the 381 patients who underwent cardiac surgery, a significant reduction was noted in the length of hospitalization over time (p<0.001). However, other clinical outcomes displayed no significant differences. Conclusion: PBM implementation effectively reduced the hemoglobin threshold for RBC transfusion and increased the rate of appropriate transfusion in cardiothoracic surgery. Although transfusion practices improved, clinical outcomes were comparable to those observed before PBM implementation.

• Child Health Nursing Research
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.326-335
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• 2016

Purpose: It is crucial to provide adequate enteral nutrition for postoperative recovery, wound healing and normal growth in infants in pediatric cardiac ICUs. This study was done to develop a feeding protocol using the vaso-active inotropic (VAI) score and to evaluate the impact of nutritional outcomes following the new feeding protocol for infants who underwent cardiac surgery. Methods: This study consisted of three phases. First, a feeding protocol was developed based on a literature review. Second, ten experts rated the content validity. Third, a comparison study was conducted to evaluate the impact of the new feeding protocol. Data were analyzed using SPSS Version 20. Results: Twenty-nine infants were enrolled in the pre-protocol group, and 22 infants in the post-protocol group. Patients in the 2 groups were similar. Time to reach feeding goal was significantly decreased from 56.0 (27-210) hours to 28.5 (10-496) hours in the post-protocol group (Z=-4.22, p<.001). Level of enteral feeding knowledge among nurses increased significantly after implementation of the protocol. Conclusion: The feeding protocol using VAI score facilitates the achievement feeding goal to decrease feeding interruptions and help nurses in their practice. Larger studies are necessary to examine clinical outcomes following the implementation of this feeding protocol.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.24 no.9
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• pp.843-852
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• 1991

We prospectively studied postoperative cardiac arrhythmia after open heart surgery to analyze the types and incidence of cardiac arrhythmia and to predict preoperative risk factors. And also we evaluated the effectiveness of atrial and ventricular epicardial electrodes which were placed during operation Between March 1990 and August 1990, We had operated on in 211 patients and we studied 201 consecutive patients excluding 10 patients. The study group included 99 males and 102 female patients, ages 1 month to 75 years[Mean$\pm$SD=28.0$\pm$21.7 years]. Postoperatively, all patients were regularly seen by the cardiac surgeon and cardiologist, They had continuous electrocardiographic monitoring for the first 3 days, initially in the intensive care unit and were checked routine electrocardiography on the postoperative 7 days, The postoperative cardiac arrhythmia were analyzed and possible associations of this arrhythmia with various pre, intra, and postoperative factors were studied by univariate and multivariate discriminant analysis, The overall incidence of postoperative cardiac arrhythmia except relative sinus bradycardia was 36.8%;[74/201], The incidence of postoperative cardiac arrhythmia in acyanotic congenital heart disease: 19.4%, cyanotic congenital heart disease: 20.8%, cardiac arrhythmia surgery: 33.3%, acquired valvular heart disease: 60.9% and coronary artery occlusive disease: 38.9%. Both univariate and multivariate studies indicated the pre operative symptom duration[p = 0013], the duration of medication[p=0.003], presence of preoperative arrhythmia[p<0.001] and pre-operative left atrial dimension in echocardiography to be the factor promoting postoperative cardiac arrhythmia. Multivariate discriminant analysis showed that the presence of preoperative cardiac arrhythmia, bypass time and the duration of preoperative symptom duration conveyed considerable risk factor on post-operative arrhythmia. The atrial wire electrodes were used diagnostically in 36 and were used therapeutically in 89 among 201 patients. Atrial pacing were used to treat relative sinus bradycardia, accelerated junctional tachycardia or premature atrial or ventricular contractions in 51 patients. Atrioventricular sequential pacing were used in 16 patients and ventricular pacing were used in 20 patients. Hemodynamics were evaluated in 2 patients of relative sinus bradycardia before and after atrial pacing. The atrial pacing increased the amount of cardiac output to 15% more. Because of their great utility in the diagnosis and treatment of arrhythmias, we conclude that routine placement of atrial and ventricular electrodes at the time of operation is indicated regardless of the nature of the open-heart procedure.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Emergency Medicine
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.485-492
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• 2018

Objective: This paper reports the status of the advanced cardiac life support (ACLS) according to the guidelines by residents belonging to other departments other than the department of emergency medicine. The differences in status between the junior group and senior group was also investigated according to grades of residents. Methods: The ACLS performance for in-hospital cardiac arrest cases of one academic hospital, except for the cases occurring in intensive care unit between November 2015 and October 2017, were analyzed retrospectively. Data included the characteristics of residents, patients' outcomes, ACLS performance, and conventional treatment having discordance with the ACLS guidelines. Leaders during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) were divided into a junior group and senior group. Results: A total of 152 cases were enrolled in this study. Of these, 131 cases (86.2%) showed at least one treatment with inconsistency from the guidelines and the incidence of discordant treatment was similar in the two groups (55 [85.9%] vs. 76 [88.4%], P=0.657). Implicit use of sodium bicarbonate was more frequent in the senior residents group (odds ratio [OR], 3.04; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.36-6.81). On the other hand, no use of a defibrillator was less frequent in the senior residents group (OR, 0.14; 95% CI, 0.03-0.81). Conclusion: In both groups, the rate of discordance with the ACLS guidelines during CPR were high. The rate of implicit use of sodium bicarbonate and no use of defibrillator were significantly different in the two groups. A customized education strategy for ACLS is needed for each group.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.53 no.6
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• pp.705-710
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• 2010

Purpose: To determine the clinical manifestations and outcomes of patients with tracheoesophageal fistula (TEF) and esophageal atresia (EA) born at a single neonatal intensive care unit. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted for 97 patients with confirmed TEF and EA who were admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit between 1990 and 2007. Results: The rate of prenatal diagnosis was 12%. The average gestational age and birth weight were $37^{+2}$ weeks and $2.5{\pm}0.7kg$, respectively. Thirty-one infants were born prematurely (32%). Type C was the most common. The mean gap between the proximal and distal esophagus was 2 cm. Esophago-esophagostomy was performed in 72 patients at a mean age of 4 days after birth; gastrostomy or duodenostomy were performed in 8 patients. Forty patients exhibited vertebral, anorectal, cardiac, tracheoesophageal, renal, limb (VACTERL) association with at least 2 combined anomalies, and cardiac anomaly was the most common. The most common post-operative complications were esophageal stricture followed by gastroesophageal reflux. Balloon dilatation was performed for 1.3 times in 26 patients at a mean age of 3 months. The mortality and morbidity rates were 24% and 67%, respectively, and the most common cause of death was sepsis. The weight of approximately 40% patients was below the 10th percentile at 2 years of age. Conclusion: Mortality and morbidity rates of patients with TEF and EA are high as compared to those of infants with other neonatal surgical diseases. Further efforts must be taken to reduce mortality and morbidity and improve growth retardation.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.89-92
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• 2014

An 8-year-old girl diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy and Russell-Silver syndrome was admitted to our pediatric intensive care unit due to low cardiac output and multiple-organ dysfunction. The patient was placed on the heart transplant waiting list and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation was performed as a bridge to transplantation. After 17 days, heart transplantation was performed. The donor was a 46-year-old female (weight, 50 kg; height, 150 cm). The donor:recipient weight ratio was 3.37:1. Because the dimension and volume of the recipient's thoracic cage were insufficient, the sternum could not be closed. Nine days after transplantation, the patient underwent delayed sternal closure. To obtain adequate space, we left the sternum 4.5 cm apart from each margin using four transverse titanium plates. A transverse rectus abdominis musculocutaneous flap was chosen to cover the wound. Due to the shortage of donors, a size-mismatched pediatric heart transplantation is sometimes unavoidable. Closure of the opened sternum of a transplant recipient can be challenging. Sternal reconstruction after an extremely oversized heart transplantation with transverse titanium plate fixation and a musculocutaneous flap can effectively achieve sternal closure and stability.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.438-441
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• 1999

Background: Minimally invasive cardiac surgery has emerged as a new approach to the conventional median sternotomy. The suggested advantages of the minimally invasive technique includes improved cosmesis, simplicity of opening and closing the chest, less postoperative pain, less risk of infection and bleeding, early rehabilitation, and reduced length of hospital stay. Material and Method: Between March 1997 and December 1997, we performed 36 cases of minimally invasive cardiac surgery via three different approaches ; right paramedian, transverse sternotomy and mini-sternotomy with upper sternal split. Result: There was no operative mortality. Postoperative complications were atrial fibrillation in 4 patients, bleeding that required reoperation in 1 patient, and delayed wound closure in 1 patient who underwent 3rd redo operation. Average length of skin incision was 9.1${\pm}$0.9 cm. Average duration of stay in the intensive care unit was 48${\pm}$29 hours and the patients were discharged 10${\pm}$7 days after the operation. Conclusion: In spite of the difficulties in defibrillation, deairing, and cardiac decompensation, minimally invasive approaches will be applied increasingly because of the suggested advantages.