• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.66 no.6
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• pp.618-631
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• 2023

The brain houses vital hormonal regulatory structures such as the hypothalamus and pituitary gland, which may confer unique susceptibilities to critical illness-related corticosteroid insufficiency (CIRCI) in patients with neurological disorders. In addition, the frequent use of steroids for therapeutic purposes in various neurological conditions may lead to the development of steroid insufficiency. This abstract aims to highlight the significance of understanding these relationships in the context of patient care and management for physicians. Neurological disorders may predispose patients to CIRCI due to the role of the brain in hormonal regulation. Early recognition of CIRCI in the context of neurological diseases is essential to ensure prompt and appropriate intervention. Moreover, the frequent use of steroids for treating neurological conditions can contribute to the development of steroid insufficiency, further complicating the clinical picture. Physicians must be aware of these unique interactions and be prepared to evaluate and manage patients with CIRCI and steroid insufficiency in the context of neurological disorders. This includes timely diagnosis, appropriate steroid administration, and careful monitoring for potential adverse effects. A comprehensive understanding of the interplay between neurological disease, CIRCI, and steroid insufficiency is critical for optimizing patient care and outcomes in this complex patient population.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.82 no.3
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• pp.234-241
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• 2019

Background: The utility of computed tomography (CT) in the differential diagnosis of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exacerbation remains uncertain. However, due to the low cost associated with CT scan along with the impact of Koreas' health insurance system, there has been a rise in the number of CT scans in the patients with initial diagnosis of COPD exacerbations. Therefore, the utility of CT in the differential diagnosis was investigated to determine whether performing CT scans affect the clinical outcomes of the patients with an initial diagnosis of COPD exacerbation. Methods: This study involved 202 COPD patients hospitalized with an initial diagnosis of COPD exacerbation. We evaluated the change in diagnosis or treatment after performing a CT scan, and compared the clinical outcomes of patient groups with vs. without performing CT (non-CT group vs. CT group). Results: After performing CT, the diagnosis was changed for two (3.0%) while additional diagnoses were made for 27 of the 64 patients (42.1%). However, the treatment changed for only one (1.5%), and six patients (9.3%) received supplementary medication. There were no difference in the median length of hospital stay (8 [6-13] days vs. 8 [6-12] days, p=0.786) and intensive care unit care (14 [10.1%] vs. 11 [16.7%], p=0.236) between the CT and non-CT groups, respectively. These findings remained consistent even after the propensity score matching. Conclusion: Utility of CT in patients with acute COPD exacerbation might not be helpful; therefore, we do not recommend chest CT scan as a routine initial diagnostic tool.

• The Korean journal of internal medicine
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.295-305
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• 2024

Background/Aims: The prognosis of patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and respiratory failure requiring mechanical ventilation is poor. Therefore, mechanical ventilation is not recommended. Recently, outcomes of mechanical ventilation, including those for patients with IPF, have improved. The aim of this study was to investigate changes in the use of mechanical ventilation in patients with IPF and their outcomes over time. Methods: This retrospective, observational cohort study used data from the National Health Insurance Service database. Patients diagnosed with IPF between January 2011 and December 2019 who were placed on mechanical ventilation were included. We analyzed changes in the use of mechanical ventilation in patients with IPF and their mortality using the Cochran-Armitage trend test. Results: Between 2011 and 2019, 1,227 patients with IPF were placed on mechanical ventilation. The annual number of patients with IPF with and without mechanical ventilation increased over time. However, the ratio was relatively stable at approximately 3.5%. The overall hospital mortality rate was 69.4%. There was no improvement in annual hospital mortality rate. The overall 30-day mortality rate was 68.7%, which did not change significantly. The overall 90-day mortality rate was 85.3%. The annual 90-day mortality rate was decreased from 90.9% in 2011 to 83.1% in 2019 (p = 0.028). Conclusions: Despite improvements in intensive care and ventilator management, the prognosis of patients with IPF receiving mechanical ventilation has not improved significantly.

• Journal of Korean Critical Care Nursing
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.88-100
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• 2022

Purpose : This study aimed to identify risk factors for unplanned reintubation after planned extubation and to analyze the clinical outcomes in patients admitted to the intensive care unit after cardiac surgery. Methods : The study examined patients who underwent intubation and planned extubation admitted to the intensive care unit after cardiac surgery between January 1, 2017, and December 31, 2021. The reintubation group comprised 58 patients underwent unplanned reintubation within 7 days of planned extubation. The maintenance group comprised 116 patients who did not undergo reintubation and were matched with the reintubation group using the rational for matching criteria. Data were collected retrospectively from electronic medical records. We used the independent t-test, Mann-Whitney U test, 𝑥²-test, Fisher's exact test, and logistic regression analysis with SPSS/WIN 27.0. Results : The multivariate logistic regression analysis demonstrated that albumin (odds ratio [OR]=0.38, 95% confidence interval [CI]=0.20-0.72), surgery time (OR=1.54, 95% CI=1.20-1.97), PaO₂ before extubation (OR=0.85 per 10 mmHg, 95% CI=0.75-0.97), postoperative arrhythmia (OR=2.82, 95% CI=1.22-6.51), reoperation due to bleeding (OR=4.65, 95% CI=1.27-17.07), and postoperative acute renal failure (OR=2.97, 95% CI=1.09-8.04) were risk factors for unplanned reintubation. The reintubation group had a higher in-hospital mortality rate (𝑥²=33.74, p<.001), longer intensive care unit stay (Z=-7.81, p<.001), and longer hospital stay than the maintenance group (Z=-8.29, p<.001). Conclusion : These results identified risk factors and clinical outcomes of unplanned reintubation after planned extubation after cardiac surgery. These findings should be considered when developing and managing an intervention program to prevent and reduce the incidence of unplanned reintubation.

• Journal of Korean Critical Care Nursing
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.69-80
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• 2009

Purpose: The purpose of this preliminary study was to describe the physical and psychosocial distress of critically ill patients undergoing noninvasive ventilation(NIV). Method: Open-ended question interviews were conducted with four patients using NIV. Considering the outcomes of the interviews, literature, and experts'opinions, a survey questionnaire was developed. Twenty patients in medical and surgical intensive care units answered the questions. Results: Through open-ended question interviews and survey, the patients using NIV reported feeling heavy, impotent feeling, pain, loss in feeling, loss in communication, and lack of sleep as physical distress and a loss in sense of time, pain, anxiety, mind of desiring to die, worry about family, and a sense of burden for medical-cure expenses as psychosocial distress. Conclusion: Critically ill patients undergoing NIV experience physical and psychosocial distress to artificial respiratory ventilation treatment. Further research should be performed with a large sample for generalization of the study result.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.65 no.3
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• pp.354-360
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• 2022

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is the leading cause of death and disability in children. Survivors of severe TBI are more susceptible to functional deficits, resulting in disability, poor quality of life, cognitive decline, and mental health problems. Despite this, little is known about the pathophysiology of TBI in children and how to manage it most effectively. Internationally, efforts are being made to expand knowledge of pathophysiology and develop practical clinical treatment recommendations to improve outcomes. Here we discuss recently updated evidence and management of severe pediatric TBI.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.83 no.2
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• pp.167-174
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• 2020

Background: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of early tracheostomy on clinical outcomes in patients requiring prolonged acute mechanical ventilation (≥96 hours). Methods: Data from 575 patients (69.4% male; median age, 68 years), hospitalized in the medical intensive care unit (ICU) of a university-affiliated tertiary care hospital March 2008-February 2017, were retrospectively evaluated. Early and late tracheostomy were designated as 2-10 days and >10 days after translaryngeal intubation, respectively. Results: The 90-day cumulative mortality rate was 47.5% (n=273) and 258 patients (44.9%) underwent tracheostomy. In comparison with the late group (n=115), the early group (n=125) had lower 90-day mortality (31.2% vs. 47.8%, p=0.012), shorter stays in hospital and ICU, shorter ventilator length of stay (median, 43 vs. 54; 24 vs. 33; 23 vs. 28 days; all p<0.001), and a higher rate of transfer to secondary care hospitals with post-intensive care settings (67.2% vs. 43.5% p<0.001). Also, the total medical costs of the early group were lower during hospital stays than those of the late group (26,609 vs. 36,973 USD, p<0.001). Conclusion: Early tracheostomy was associated with lower 90-day mortality, shorter ventilator length of stay and shorter lengths of stays in hospital and ICU, as well as lower hospital costs than late tracheostomy.

• The Korean journal of internal medicine
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.1129-1136
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• 2018

Background/Aims: Vitamin D modulates innate and adaptive immune responses, and vitamin D deficiency is associated with increased mortality in hospitalized patients with pneumonia. We evaluated the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in Korean patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and its effect on the clinical outcomes of ARDS. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the data of 108 patients who had a measured serum level of 25-hydroxy vitamin D3 ($25(OH)D_3$) at the time of diagnosis with ARDS. The clinical outcomes were evaluated based on $25(OH)D_3$ levels of 20 ng/mL and stratified by quartiles of $25(OH)D_3$ levels. Results: The mean age of patients was 59.4 years old; 77 (71.3%) were male. Vitamin D deficiency was found in 103 patients (95.4%). The mean $25(OH)D_3$ level was $8.3{\pm}7.0ng/mL$. Neither in-hospital mortality (40.0% vs. 68.0%) nor 6-month mortality (40.0% vs. 71.8%) significantly differed between groups. There were no significant differences in $25(OH)D_3$ level between survivors ($8.1{\pm}7.6ng/mL$) and non-survivors ($8.5{\pm}6.8ng/mL$, p = 0.765). There were no trends toward a difference in mortality among quartiles of $25(OH)D_3$ levels. However, $25(OH)D_3$ levels were inversely related with length of hospital stay and intensive care unit stay among in-hospital survivors. Conclusions: Vitamin D deficiency was prevalent in Korean patients with ARDS. However, levels of vitamin D were not associated with mortality. A large, prospective study is needed to evaluate the effects of vitamin D deficiency on clinical outcomes of ARDS.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.60 no.2
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• pp.194-204
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• 2006

Background : Even though tuberculosis (TB) is still a major public concern in Korea, there is little data on the management of TB patients and its outcomes in the private sector. This study evaluated the status of TB treatment in the private sector. Methods : Sixteen-hundred-sixty-six TB patients who were notified in a private university hospital from 2001 to 2002 were enrolled in this study. The patients were divided into pulmonary ($TB_P$), extrapulmonary ($TB_E$), and combined ($TB_{P+E}$) groups, and were also divided into initial and retreatment groups. The clinical characteristics, diagnostic methods, treatment regimens, and outcomes were analyzed and compared. Results : The mean age of the 1,666 patients was 48.9 years and the male-to-female ratio was 1.3:1. The number of patients in the initial and retreatment groups of $TB_P$, and those of ($TB_E+TB_{P+E}$) were 809, 276, 480, 101, respectively. A bacteriological study was performed in 92.0% of cases, and a positive culture was confirmed in 58.1% and 31.7% of patients with TBP and ($TB_E+TB_{P+E}$), respectively (p<0.05). The AFB smear was positive in 45.4 % of the $TB_P$ patients. PCR was carried out in 60.4% of the ($TB_E+TB_{P+E}$) group. The MDR was detected in 14.0% of isolates. Overall, the treatment completion, default, and death rates were 70.2%, 13.5% and 1.9%, respectively. Conclusion : Even though the management of TB patients in a private hospital was satisfactory in terms of the national guidelines, the high default rate was is still a problem. Efforts to decrease the default rate either independently or in cooperation with the public sector will be needed.

• Sleep Medicine and Psychophysiology
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.8-15
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• 2020

Sleep disorder in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is common and typically is associated with oxygen desaturation. The mechanisms of desaturation include hypoventilation and ventilation to perfusion mismatch. Despite the importance of sleep in patients with COPD, this topic is under-assessed in clinical practice. Impaired sleep quality is associated with more severe COPD and may contribute to worse clinical outcomes. Recent data have indicated that specific respiratory management of patients with COPD and sleep disordered breathing improves clinical outcomes. Clinicians managing patients with COPD should pay attention to and actively manage symptoms of comorbid sleep disorders. Management of sleep-related problems in COPD should particularly focus on minimizing sleep disturbance.