• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.149-162
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• 2008

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to understand the meanings and nature of ICU admission experienced among patients with critical illness. The present study adopted a hermeneutic phenomenological method which was developed by van Manen. Methods: The participants for this study were 6 men and 3 women, who were over the age of 20 with ICU admission period more than 3 days. Data were collected by using in-depth interviews and observations from March, 2007 to September, 2007. The contents of the interviews were tape-recorded with the consent of the subject. Results: The essential themes that fit into the context of the 4 existential grounds of body, time, space and other people were as follows: a body that cannot react the way it wants, a wave of fear and insecurity everywhere, a struggle to survive, coming out from death's door, loss of time path, a long and continued waiting until escaping, more of machinery room than a patient's room, existence of life and death, an abyss of suffering seen thru another patient, taken care of by a doctor, trust and distrust, family, the ultimate safe zone. Conclusion: Critically ill patients in ICU experienced feelings of discomfort, unsafety, and insecurity. The result of this study can give nurses some insight into these experiences and help promote empathetic care.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.9-14
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• 2014

Background: It is known to reduce the mortality when glutamine is supplied to patients during the surgery or in intensive care unit through intravenous nutrition supply. The purpose of this study is to establish the appropriate basis for use of glutamine and guidelines of nutrition supply for critically ill patients in the hospital by examining the clinical effects of administration of glutamine with subjects of elderly critically ill patients receiving intravenous nutrition in one hospital in Korea. Method: Among elderly patients with age of 60 or more hospitalized in Yeuido St. Mary's Hospital from August 2012 to July 2013, those who stayed in the intensive care unit for more than a week and received TPN (Total Parenteral Nutrition) for more than 3 days during staying in the intensive care unit were classified to a test group using glutamine and a control group without glutamine. Duration of use of mechanical ventilator, duration of hospitalization, occurrence of infectious disease and death were compared between two groups. We would like to identify the clinical test figures affected by the use of glutamine by examining changes in SCr, Total Protein, Albumin, AST, ALT, TB, DB and GFR at the time of admission and discharge. Results: At the time of admission to intensive care unit, gender, physical measurement information and clinical test figures did not show any significant difference between 72 subjects in a test group and 24 subjects in a control group. Thus, two groups began in the same condition. There were no significant difference in duration of hospitalization, duration of intensive care unit, use of mechanical ventilator, occurrence of infectious disease and death. As the results of statistical analysis of the average changes of clinical test figures at the time of admission and discharge of intensive care unit, SCr and GFR were significantly changed in the test group. GFR was significantly changed in a control group. As the result of analysis of the clinical test figures at the time of discharge with reflection of average changes after clinical test figures were corrected at the time of admission of intensive care unit, TB and GFR were significantly increased in a test group compared with those in a control group. Other clinical test figures were not significantly changed. Conclusion: If glutamine is administered to critically ill patients over age 60 receiving TPN and careful monitoring for total bilirubin is made in the future, it is expected to give the positive effect on renal function andminimize the side effect of arise in total bilirubin.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Fundamentals of Nursing
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.168-176
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• 2011

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify differences between intake and output balance and body weight changes and to identify factors related to differences in critically ill patients. Methods: The participants for this descriptive correlational study were 65 medical surgical ICU patients. The data were collected from patient medical records. Results: Mean age of the patients was 63.80 years (${\pm}15.21$). Body weight changes for 48 hours averaged 281.54g (${\pm}2210.48$). I&O balance for 48 hours corrected for insensible loss averaged 398.1ml. Differences ranged from 45mL to 7,535mL. In the distribution of absolute difference between body weight change and intake and output balance, only 40% of the patients were within less than 1,000 mL. Factors relating to accurate measure of intake and output were ventilation methods, respiration patterns, and edema status. Conclusion: Although mean values of weight change and I&O balance for all patients were very close, the range of differences was very wide indicating that, for many patients, intake and output is not an appropriate indicator of body fluid balance. Therefore, because of the frequency fever and/or hyperventilation, nurses need to use caution when using intake and output balance only to estimate current body fluid status for critically ill patients.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.58 no.4
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• pp.136-141
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• 2015

Purpose: Continuous intravenous access is imperative in emergency situations. Ultrasound-guided internal jugular vein (IJV) catheterization was investigated in critically ill pediatric patients to assess the feasibility of the procedure. Methods: Patients admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit between February 2011 and September 2012 were enrolled in this study. All patients received a central venous catheter from attending house staff under ultrasound guidance. Outcome measures included successful insertion of the catheter, cannulation time, number of cannulation attempts, and number and type of resulting complications. Results: Forty-one central venous catheters (93.2%) were successfully inserted into 44 patients (21 males and 23 females; mean age, $6.54{\pm}1.06$ years). Thirty-three patients (75.0%) had neurological disorders. The right IJV was used for catheter insertion in 34 cases (82.9%). The mean number of cannulation attempts and the mean cannulation time was $1.57{\pm}0.34$ and $14.07{\pm}1.91$ minutes, respectively, the mean catheter dwell time was $14.73{\pm}2.5$ days. Accidental catheter removal was observed in 9 patients (22.0%). Six patients (13.6%) reported complications, the most serious being catheter-related sepsis, which affected 1 patient (2.3%). Other complications included 2 reported cases of catheter malposition (4.6%), and 1 case each of arterial puncture (2.3%), pneumothorax (2.3%), and skin infection (2.3%). Conclusion: The results suggest that ultrasound-guided IJV catheterization can be performed easily and without any serious complications in pediatric patients, even when performed by visiting house staff. Therefore, ultrasound-guided IJV catheterization is strongly recommended for critically ill pediatric patients.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.16 no.12
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• pp.468-479
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• 2016

The purpose of this study was to investigate nurses' knowledge and performance of guidelines for evaluation of new fever in critically ill adult patients according to the level of evidence. The total participants were 145 nurses working for medical surgical unit and intensive care unit in two hospitals. The knowledge and performance mean scores of guidelines were $0.70{\pm}0.09$ and $3.08{\pm}0.31$ respectively. The evidence level 1 of guidelines had the higher performance score in high score group than low score group of knowledge groups(F=3.86, p=.023) and performance groups(F=163.14, p<.001), while the evidence level 3 of guidelines had the higher performance score in low score group than high score group of knowledge groups(F=5.99, p=.003). Knowledge and performance scores were significantly correlated (r=.25, p=.003). In Conclusion, these findings emphasize that clinical professions need to enhance both of knowledge and practice with evidence based guideline of new fever in critically ill patient.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.53 no.3
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• pp.275-294
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• 2023

Purpose: This study aimed to develop an evidence-based extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) nursing protocol for critically ill patients receiving ECMO treatment by using an adaptation process, and to verify the effects of the protocol. Methods: The protocol was developed according to the adaptation guidelines. A non-randomized controlled trial was conducted to test the protocol's effects. Data were collected between April 2019 and March 2021. The differences in physiological indicators and complication rates between the two groups were investigated using a chart review to evaluate patient outcomes. The nurses' outcome variables were evaluated using a questionnaire. Results: First, after reviewing 11 guidelines by appraisal of the guidelines for research and evaluation collaboration II, 5 guidelines with a standardization grade of over 50 points were selected. An ECMO nursing protocol was developed based on these guidelines. Second, there were no statistically significant differences in physiological indicators between the two groups of patients. However, the experimental group showed a statistically significant decrease in the infection rate (p = .026) and pressure injury rates (p = .041). The levels of satisfaction with ECMO nursing care, and empowerment and performance of the nurses who used the ECMO nursing protocol were higher than those of nurses who did not (p < .001). Conclusion: This protocol may help prevent infections and pressure injuries in patients, and improve nurses' satisfaction and empowerment. The nursing protocol developed for critically ill patients receiving ECMO treatment can be utilized in evidence-based nursing practice.

• Journal of the Korean Dietetic Association
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.217-226
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• 2001

It is important to supply adequate nutrition to critically ill patients, whose gastrointestinal system is properly functioning, through the enteral tube feeding if oral intake is impossible. In this study we investigated the changes in nutritional status with enteral tube feeding according to the volume required. We investigated the volume ordered according to the patient's requirements, volume infused according to the volume ordered in 41 enteral tube feeding patients in intensive care unit from Jannuary to July, 2000. Body weight, serum albumin level, and total lymphocyte count were evaluated to assess nutritional status. The mean fasting period was 5 days before the enteral feeding and patients whose fasting period over 3 days were 51%. The mean enteral tube feeding period was 29 days and method of feeding was nasogastric, bolus feeding 6 times per day. The volume ordered was 69.7% of the patients' recommended calorie and volume infused was 86.6% of their volume prescribed. Accordingly, the volume infused was estimated 61.7% of their volume required. Only 44.6% of their reqiured volume was infused within 3 days after enteral tube feeding was started. It took 16 days in average to meet the patients' recommended calorie; 56% of subjects still did not fully met their requirements by the end point. Among the impeding factors in supplying enteral tube feeding, factors related to the number of feeding were high residual volume in stomach, vomiting, gastrointestinal bleeding, abdominal distension and surgery. Factors related to the acctual infused volume were diarrhea, gastrointestinal bleeding, abdominal distension, airway management and tube reinsertion. Significant correlations were shown between the volume infused and changes in both the patients' weight and serum albumin level. Deviding the subjects into two groups by their infused volume, less than 70% and more than that, we compared the two to come up with a significant difference in their serum albumin level, -0.23 vs 0.21, and their body weight, -4.52 vs 0.12. In enteral tube feeding, the volume delivered in sufficient to the pateints' energy requirement can affect their nutriitional status in critically ill patient; adequate nutritional management plan is essential. It is necessary to make every effort to educate clinical staff and to set up a unified management program to prescribe adequate ammount of energy for the patient's nutritional requirement.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.50 no.1
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• pp.8-13
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• 2017

Background: Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) has been successfully used as a method for the interhospital transportation of critically ill patients. In South Korea, a well-established ECMO interhospital transport system is lacking due to limited resources. We developed a simplified ECMO transport system without mechanical ventilation for use by public emergency medical services. Methods: Eighteen patients utilized our ECMO transport system from December 2011 to September 2015. We retrospectively analyzed the indications for ECMO, the patient status during transport, and the patient outcomes. Results: All transport was conducted on the ground by ambulance. The distances covered ranged from 26 to 408 km (mean, $65.9{\pm}88.1km$) and the average transport time was $56.1{\pm}57.3minutes$ (range, 30 to 280 minutes). All patients were transported without adverse events. After transport, 4 patients (22.2%) underwent lung transplantation because of interstitial lung disease. Eight patients who had severe acute respiratory distress syndrome showed recovery of heart and lung function after ECMO therapy. A total of 13 patients (70.6%) were successfully taken off ECMO, and 11 patients (61.1%) survived. Conclusion: Our ECMO transport system without mechanical ventilation can be considered a safe and useful method for interhospital transport and could be a good alternative option for ECMO transport in Korean hospitals with limited resources.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Fundamentals of Nursing
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.92-102
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• 2009

Purpose: Relocation stress is a common phenomenon in patients discharged from an intensive care unit(ICU) to a ward. Therefore, nurses need to be aware of the problems that can arise during the transfer process. The aim of this study was to identify nurses' experiences in transferring critically ill patients from the ICU to a ward. Method: Focus group interviews were done with 13 nurses from wards and ICU, which participated in receiving and sending of ICU patients. The debriefing notes and field notes were analyzed using the consistent comparative data analysis method. Result: Seven major categories were identified in the analysis of the data. These were 'mixed feeling about transfer', 'lack of transfer readiness', 'increase in family burden', 'uncertainty with unfamiliar environment', 'difficulty in decision making', 'difference of perception of the relationships between patients and health care providers', 'need for continuity of nursing care'. Conclusion: Transferring out of the critical care area should be presented to the patient and family as a positive step in the recovery process. However, a more universal method of passing information from nurse to nurse is needed to assist in a smooth transition.

• Annals of Clinical Neurophysiology
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.91-97
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• 2002

The field of critical care medicine has flourished, but an unfortunate result of improved patient survival in the intensive care unit is the occurrence of certain acquired neuromuscular disorders. During the last two decades, various neuromuscular disorders were recognized as common causes of weakness occurring in critically ill patients. The two most common disorders are an acute quadriplegic myopathy predominantly associated with the use of intravenous corticosteroids and neuromuscular junction blocking agents and severe systemic illness termed critical illness myopathy(CIM), and an axonal sensorimotor polyneuropathy termed critical illness polyneuropathy. I will review briefly about general components of the CIM.