• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2014

Objective: Currently, rivaroxaban is widely used clinically for thromboprophylaxis after surgery. However, there are concerns on effectiveness and safety of rivaroxaban for its proper use. We aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of rivaroxaban in orthopaedic patients after total hip replacement surgery in a large medical centre after the preferred formulary was switched from enoxaparin to rivaroxaban. Methods: The study was conducted on the patients who underwent hip arthroplasty surgery at the department of Orthopaedic Surgery at Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, South Korea. Electronic medical records were retrospectively reviewed to identify patients treated with rivaroxaban following total hip replacement between February 2011 and March 2012. Evaluation criteria included indications for use, dose, initiation and duration of therapy, drug interactions, adverse reactions, and status of health care reimbursement. The patients who were on enoxaparin were also reviewed as a reference. Results: We identified 57 patients who received rivaroxaban and 50 who received enoxaparin. All patients were prescribed the drugs for Korean Food and Drug Administration-approved indications. No thromboembolic or bleeding events were observed in either group. However, only 5.3% of rivaroxaban- treated patients had an appropriate length of prophylaxis and only 3.5% began rivaroxaban treatment at the recommended time. Surprisingly, 47.4% of rivaroxaban-treated patients received rivaroxaban despite being ineligible for reimbursement benefits. Conclusion: Rivaroxaban was generally well tolerated clinically. However, the duration of treatment, the time of initiation and patient eligibility for reimbursement require improvements, emphasising the need for education which indicates the area of pharmacists' involvement.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.17-23
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• 2018

Objective: Opioid analgesics, for postoperative pain management, are an indispensable group of medication; however, they also have a variety of adverse drug reactions (ADR). Multimodal methods, combining non-opioid analgesics with opioid analgesics, have been investigated to increase the effects of analgesics and reduce ADR with opioid-sparing effects. The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) with fentanyl alone, and PCA with fentanyl and intravenous (i.v.) propacetamol to determine the effects of pain control, cumulative opioid usage, and opioid ADR. Methods: The subjects were patients who underwent total knee arthroplasty at the Seoul Veterans hospital from January 1, 2015 to December 31, 2016. The study period was from postoperative day 0 (POD0) to day 3 (POD3), and the retrospective study was conducted using electronic medical records. Results: Pain severity was significantly low at POD1 (p = 0.017), POD2 (p = 0.003), and POD3 (p = 0.002) in the multimodal group. The fentanyl only group frequently reported both moderate and severe pain at a statistically significant level. This was consistent with the analysis of the pro re nata (PRN) intramuscular analgesia usage at the time of numerical rating scale (NRS) 4 and above. The opioid-sparing effect confirmed that the average opioid dose equivalent to i.v. morphine dose was 9.4 mg more than that used for the multimodal group in the fentanyl only group. The ADRs and length of stay between the two groups were not statistically different. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that the combination therapy of fentanyl and i.v. propacetamol is superior to fentanyl monotherapy.

• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.347-357
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• 2015

Purpose: This study was conducted to assess the prevalence rate of, and the risk factors for pressure ulcers in critical patients at the time of intensive care unit (ICU) admission. Methods: We reviewed the electronic medical records of 2,107 patients who were admitted to the intensive care units in D university hospital between January 1 and December 31, 2012. The collected date were analyzed by ${\chi}^2$-test, t-test, and multi-variate logistic regression with forward stepwise selection using the SPSS program version 21. Results: The prevalence rate of pressure ulcers at the ICU admission was 23.7%. Risk factors significantly affecting pressure ulcers carrying were the age of 80 years or older (OR=3.70, 95% CI: 1.80~7.60), body weight less than 50 kg (OR=2.82, 95% CI: 1.74~4.56), sedated consciousness (OR=6.10, 95% CI: 3.57~10.40), use of ventilator (OR=1.60, 95% CI: 1.02~2.49), use of vasopressors (OR=1.53, 95% CI: 1.09~2.14), ICU admission via operation room (OR=0.49, 95% CI: 0.29~0.85), and hospital admission from nursing homes (OR=13.65, 95% CI: 3.02~61.72). Conclusion: The findings of this study suggested that the prevention efforts for pressure ulcers should be given in prior to ICU admission. Further research is necessary for developing nursing interventions for preventing pressure ulcers in the pre-ICU stage.

• Journal of muscle and joint health
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.61-74
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• 2018

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the factors affecting changes in Korean Knee Score (KKS) and ranges of motion (ROM) of the knee after the structured exercise programs for the patients with total knee arthroplasty. Methods: This was a retrospective study using electronic medical records from January 2015 to February 2017, and the subject of this study was a total of 124 out of 434 patients underwent total knee replacement operation. They took part in a structured step-by-step exercise program conducted by orthopedic nurses, and then were evaluated for KKS and Knee ROM for 12 weeks after operation. Results: Post-intervention scores increased significantly in the KKS subdomains including pain and symptoms (t=-22.31, p<.001), function (t=-20.68, p<.001), evaluation of floor life (t=-14.18, p<.001), socioemotional function (t=-28.94, p<.001) over time. As for the change in the ROM, knee extension (t=9.23, p<.001) and knee flexion (t=4.04, p<.001) showed a statistically significant changes over time. Conclusion: This study illuminated the factors affecting the changes in pain and symptom, physical function, evaluation of floor life, socioemotional function and range of motion after structured exercise training programs for knee arthritis patients.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing Administration
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.66-73
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• 2011

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to demonstrate effects of a critical pathway (CP) for stroke patients seen in emergency rooms (ER). Method: The CP developed by the CP committee consisted of 8 criteria: behavior of doctors and nurses, laboratory tests, Image testing, medication, treatment, activity, and nutrition. According to application of CP, a control group (n=17) and experimental group (n=17) were defined. Time was checked by the electronic medical records. Result: Use of CP for stroke patients in the ER, resulted in a decreased length of stay in ER (t=2.341, p=.026), and time required for image testing (t=2.623, p=.021), and an increased number of patients using rtPA ($x^2$=4.802, p=.049). Time required for neurology doctor contact, for neurology doctor to see patient in the ER, and for report of blood tests decreased, but there were no statistical significance. Conclusion: Quick responses are most important in the ER, so CP for these patients is a very effective patient management tool. To reduce delay in stroke diagnosis, continuous education programs for similar symptoms are necessary. CPs for other patients in the ER should be developed, and studies on cost and satisfaction, as well as length of stay, should be done.

• Journal of Korean Society of Health-System Pharmacists
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.400-408
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• 2018

Background : Palivizumab is an intravenous monoclonal antibody which is used in the prevention of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection. It is currently recommended for infants who are at high-risk for RSV infections due to preterm birth or other medical conditions such as congenital heart disease. Palivizumab is a humanized monoclonal antibody directed against an epitope in the antigenic site A of the protein F of RSV particles. Palivizumab is given once a month via intramuscular (IM) injection throughout the duration of the RSV season. Since palivizumab is known to have preventive effects against RSV infection for children with older siblings, the insurance coverage for palivizumab was expanded in October 2016. Methods : The electronic medical records of children under 2 years old who have older siblings who visited or were admitted to the Severance Hospital from October 2015 to May 2016 and from October 2016 to May 2017 were reviewed retrospectively. The data were then divided into two groups depending on the pilivizumab administration. Results : A total of 67 patients were enrolled in this study. The effectiveness in the reduction of hospitalization was statistically significant (p=0.009). Palivizumab decreased respiratory symptoms such as cough, rhinorrhea, and fever in patients with older siblings (p 0.05). Conclusions : In this study, palivizumab administration was effective in preventing RSV infection in infants with older siblings. Expanding palivizumab-prophylaxis administration to infants with older siblings may be effective in the prevention of upper respiratory infections.

• Journal of Medicine and Life Science
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.11-15
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• 2021

In elderly patients, the vital parameters tend to fluctuate based on the blood volume status, which may cause sudden hypovolemic shock if the postoperative bleeding continues. Particularly, those who undergo surgery for arthritis needs to pay extra attention because the bleeding may persist over the joints after the surgery. Therefore, appropriate pain control is required to reduce the postoperative blood loss. This retrospective chart review study was conducted to assess the postoperative pain control and reduction of blood loss with a single injection of saphenous nerve block (SNB) in elderly patients with osteoarthritis. We reviewed the electronic medical records of patients who underwent knee total arthroplasty with spinal anesthesia between January and May 2016. A total of 51 patients participated in this study. All patients were treated with intravenous patient-controlled analgesia for the postoperative pain control, and additional analgesic agents were administered at a visual analogue scale above a score of 6. In 25 patients, SNB was performed using ultrasound with the administration of 0.75% ropivacaine (15 mL) after the surgery. Patients who received additional analgesics were significantly low in the nerve block group (P=0.009). Additionally, the volume of blood loss from catheter drainage was significantly low at 2 and 3 days postoperatively (P=0.013 and P=0.041, respectively) in the nerve block group. In patients who underwent total knee arthroplasty with osteoarthritis, only a single injection of saphenous nerve block was sufficient for the postoperative pain control and reduced bleeding.

• Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.138-150
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• 2021

Purpose: This retrospective study aimed to investigate nursing interventions in patients with severe thoracic injury in trauma bay of a regional trauma center. Methods: Of the 1,780 patients admitted to the trauma bay of a regional trauma center in a university hospital in the Gyeonggi Province between January 1, 2019 and December 31, 2019, 120 adult patients with severe thoracic injury who met the inclusion criteria were enrolled. Participants' clinical characteristics and nursing interventions were collected from electronic medical records after receiving ethical approval. Nursing interventions were classified using the terminology in the Nursing Intervention Classification. Results: The mean age of participants was 52.25 years and 72.5% of participants were male. The main areas of thoracic injury included lung parenchyma and pleura (95.8%). The mean Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS) for thoracic injury was 3.13 and the mean Injury Severity Score (ISS) was 17.81. Fluid resuscitation, invasive hemodynamic monitoring, chest tube care, respiratory monitoring, artificial airway management, gastrointestinal tube care, mechanical ventilation management: airway insertion and stabilization, blood product administration, allergy management, and surgical preparation were performed significantly more frequently in thoracic injury patients with unstable vital signs or a higher AIS score. Conclusion: This study is significant as it investigated the types of nursing interventions given to patients with severe thoracic injury in the trauma bay. These results would contribute to developing more detailed educational materials for initial nursing interventions in trauma bay.

• 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.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.19-28
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• 2023

Background: With the enactment of the Hospice, Palliative, Care, and Life-sustaining Treatment Decision-Making Act in February 2018, legal guidelines for physician orders for life-sustaining treatment (POLST) were presented. This study was conducted to analyze the association of writing POLST on the use of health care before death. Methods: The study analyzed the electronic medical records and POLSTs of 1,003 adult patients who died at a tertiary hospital located in Seoul from February 4, 2018 to February 4, 2019. Results: Of the deaths, 80% (n=804) completed POLST. Among patients who completed POLST before death, 51% (n=412) were written 1-7 days before death, and only 31% (n=246) were completed by patients themselves. 99% (n=799) decided to withdraw or withhold cardiopulmonary resuscitation. As a result of analyzing the effect of POLST on medical use before death, it was found that POLST and inpatient cost had a significant negative correlation, and POLST completion significantly reduced death in the intensive care unit (ICU). However, both inpatient costs and death at ICU increased when the POLST was completed by surrogate decision-makers rather than patients themselves. Conclusion: The enactment of the Hospice, Palliative, Care, and Life-sustaining Treatment Decision-Making Act provided a legal basis for withdrawing and withholding meaningless life-sustaining treatment. By specifying the treatment to be received at the end of one's life through the POLST, inpatient treatment costs and death at the ICU were decreased. However, the frequent decision-making by the surrogates and completion of POLST close to death may hinder the original purpose of the law.