• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.2293-2303
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• 2013

Objective: This study aims to determine whether national patient safety indicators (PSIs) can be calculated. Methods: Using PSI criteria from Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD) Health Technical Papers 19 based on the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), PSIs were identified in the Korean National Hospital Discharge In-depth Injury Survey (KNHDIIS) database for 875,622 inpatient admissions between 2004 and 2008. Logistic regression was used to estimate factors of variations for PSIs. Results: From 2004 to 2008, 3,084 PSI events of 8 PSIs occurred for over 80 thousands discharges. Rates per 1,000 events for decubitus ulcer (PSI3, 4.88), foreign body left during procedure (PSI5, 0.05), postoperative sepsis (PSI13, 1.32), birth trauma-injury to neonate (PSI17, 7.92) and obstetric trauma-vaginal delivery (PSI18, 32.81) are all identified between ranges from maximum to minimum of OECD rates, respectively. However, rates per 1,000 events for selected infections due to medical care (PSI7, 0.22), postoperative pulmonary embolism or deep vein thrombosis (PSI12, 0.90) and accidental puncture or laceration (PSI15, 0.71) are below the minimum of OECD range. 7 PSIs except PSI 18 showed statistically significant relationship with number of secondary diagnoses. When adjusting patient characteristics, there are statistically significant different rates according to bed size or location of hospitals. Conclusion: This is the first empirical study to identify nationally number of adverse events and PSIs using administrative database. While many factors influencing these results such as quality of data, clinical data and so on are remain, the results indicate opportunities for estimate national statistics for patient safety. Furthermore outcome research such as mortality related to adverse events is needed based on results of this study.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.53 no.4
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• pp.503-509
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• 2010

Purpose : Although neonatal pulmonary hemorrhage is rare, it is associated with high mortality. We aimed to evaluate the risk factors associated with pulmonary hemorrhage in preterm infants and to describe the clinical course, including neonatal morbidity, of infants who developed pulmonary hemorrhage. Methods : We performed a retrospective case-control study of 117 newborn infants aged less than 37 gestational weeks admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit of Daegu Fatima Hospital between January 1995 and December 2008. Control group infants without pulmonary hemorrhage were matched according to the gestational age, duration of mechanical ventilation, and birth weight range (${\leq}100g$). Pulmonary hemorrhage was defined as the presence of hemorrhagic fluid in the trachea and severe respiratory decompensation. Results : Pulmonary hemorrhage occurred in 17 cases of very low birth weight infants (VLBW; birth weight < 1,500 g; median age, 3 days) and 22 cases of low birth weight infants (LBW; $1,500g{\leq}$ birth weight < 2,500 g; median age, 1 day). Antenatal maternal glucocorticoid treatment significantly reduced the incidence of pulmonary hemorrhage in VLBW infants. Low APGAR score (${\leq}3$ at 1 min) and acidosis at birth were associated with significantly high incidence of pulmonary hemorrhage in LBW infants. Conclusion : Antecedent factors and timing of pulmonary hemorrhage of LBW infants were different from those of VLBW infants. The mortality rates of VLBW and LBW infants were 88.2% and 45.5%, respectively. Pulmonary hemorrhage was the principal cause of death in 66.6% VLBW infants and 40.0% LBW infants.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.36 no.12
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• pp.911-920
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• 2003

In this study, we analyzed the long-term surgical outcome of partial atrioventricular septal defects during the past 17 years at Seoul National University Hospital. Material and Method: A retrospective analysis on mortality, survival, and reoperation and their risk factors was done in 93 patients who underwent surgical correction of partial atrioventricular septal defects between April 1986 and December 2002. 32 patients were male and 61 were female with a median age of 68 months (3∼818 months) and a mean follow-up period of 108 months (1∼200 months). Result: There were 4 operative deaths (4.3%) and one mortality during the follow-up period. 3, 5, 10, and 15 year actuarial survival rates were 95.7%, 94.3%, 94,3%, and 94.3%, respectively. After the surgical correction, left atrioventricular valve Incompetence was improved in 61patients (67.7%), remained same as the preoperative status in 14 patients (15.1%), and was aggravated in 12 patients (12.9%). Reoperation was performed in 8 patients (9.0%) after a mean interval of 38.6 months (3∼136 months). Freedom from reoperation rates at 3, 5, 10, and 15 years after surgical correction were 94.0%, 91.4%, 91.4%, and 88,2%, respectively Reasons for reoperation were 7 left atrioventricular valve incompetence, 2 left ventricular outflow tract obstruction, a residual atrial septal defect, a left atrioventricular valve stenosis, and a right ventricular failure. Left ventricular outflow tract obstruction was the only statistically significant factor. In ten patients, significant arrhythmia was developed and three of them were supraventricular arrhythmia. Complete atrioventricular block occurred in 7 patients and permanent pacemakers were implanted in six of them. Conclusion: Surgical corrections of partial atrioventricular septal defects were performed with low operative mortality. Since left atrioventricular valve incompetence was the most common cause of reoperation and left ventricular outflow tract obstruction was the only risk factor for reoperation, a precise estimation of the left atrioventricular valve morphology and the structure of left ventricular outflow tract are needed. Although left ventricular outflow tract obstruction rarely developed, reoperation was frequently required and resection of subaortic tissue could be peformed but the possibility of recurrence was high, so modified Konno operation could be performed with satisfactory results. Complete atrioventricular block developed frequently in early periods, but was overcome with a precise anatomical understanding of conduction system and experience.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.350-357
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• 2014

Background: Conservation of blood during cardiac surgery is important because of the shortage of donor blood, risks associated with transfusion, and the costs of allogeneic blood products. This retrospective study explored the feasibility of off-pump coronary artery bypass (OPCAB) without transfusion. Methods: One hundred and two consecutive patients underwent OPCAB from January 2007 to June 2012 at Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital. Excluding 10 chronic renal failures patients, 102 patients were enrolled. Their characteristics, clinical data, and laboratory data were analyzed. We investigated the success rate of OPCAB without transfusion according to preoperative hemoglobin (Hb), and the cutoff point of the Hb level and the risk factors for transfusion. We implemented multidisciplinary blood-saving protocols. Results: The overall operative mortality and the success rate of OPCAB without transfusion were 2.9% (3/102) and 73.5% (75/102). The success rates in patients with Hb<11, 11 70 years, diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction, preoperative Hb and creatinine levels, and operation time. The events precipitating the need for transfusion were low Hb level in 9 patients and hypotension or excessive bleeding in 18 patients. Conclusion: The preoperative Hb level of >11 facilitates OPCAB without transfusion. These results suggest that transfusion-free OPCAB can be performed by modifying the risk factors and correctable causes of transfusion and improving various blood salvage methods.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.47-56
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• 2014

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the current status of and problems with the Safe Community Programs in Gangbuk-gu, one of the 25 districts of the capital city of Korea. Methods: The study subjects were 396 individuals who were involved in Safe Community Programs between 2009 and 2011. We examined the effectiveness and willingness of respondents to participate as a safety leader of the Safe Community Program with a questionnaire. We examined the injury death rates of Gangbuk-gu by using of the death certificate data of Korea's National Statistical Office. Descriptive statistics and chi-squared tests were used. Results: The effectiveness of programs did not differ but active participation differed significantly among subjects (p<0.05). The injury death rate of Gangbuk-gu as a whole increased during the implementation period. However, senior safety, in particular, may be a helpful program for reducing injuries in Gangbuk-gu. Conclusions: This study suggests that the lack of active participation may be a major problem of Safe Community Programs in Gangbuk-gu. Therefore, Safe Community Programs should be expanded to the entire district of Gangbuk-gu and more active participation programs should be developed.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.43 no.6
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• pp.747-752
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• 2010

Surgical repair of thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm (TAAA) remains a formidable challenge associated with significant rates of mortality and morbidity, especially in patients with high risk. Use of endovascular stent graff in aortic aneurysm disease is now accepted as an alternative treatment to surgery. But the saving of visceral arteries is the chief obstacle to endovascular repair of TAAA. We successfully treated two patients of TAAA with high risk by hybrid procedure including open visceral debranching and concomitant endovascular aneurysm exclusion.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.267-276
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• 2020

Purpose: The American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS NSQIP) risk calculator is useful in predicting postoperative adverse events. However, its accuracy in specific disorders is unclear. We validated the ACS NSQIP risk calculator in patients with gastric cancer undergoing curative laparoscopic surgery. Materials and Methods: We included 207 consecutive early gastric cancer patients who underwent laparoscopic gastrectomy between January 2018 and January 2019. The preoperative characteristics and risks of the patients were reviewed and entered into the ACS NSQIP calculator. The estimated risks of postoperative outcomes were compared with the observed outcomes using C-statistics and Brier scores. Results: Most of the patients underwent distal gastrectomy with Roux-en-Y reconstruction (74.4%). We did not observe any cases of mortality, venous thromboembolism, urinary tract infection, renal failure, or cardiac complications. The other outcomes assessed were complications such as pneumonia, surgical site infections, any complications requiring re-operation or hospital readmission, the rates of discharge to nursing homes/rehabilitation centers, and the length of stay. All C-statistics were <0 and the highest was for pneumonia (0.65; 95% confidence interval: 0.58-0.71). Brier scores ranged from 0.01 for pneumonia to 0.155 for other complications. Overall, the risk calculator was inconsistent in predicting the outcomes. Conclusions: The ACS NSQIP surgical risk calculator showed low predictive ability for postoperative adverse events after laparoscopic gastrectomy for patients with early gastric cancer. Further research to adjust the risk calculator for these patients may improve its predictive ability.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.6
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• pp.3689-3698
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• 2013

Breast cancer is the most common and leading cause of cancer mortality among Malaysian women. Despite good survival rates, the diagnosis of cancer still invokes the feeling of stress, fear and uncertainty. Because very little is known about the experiences of Malaysian women with breast cancer, a qualitative study using semi-structured interviews to explore the lived experience of newly diagnosed breast cancer. Using a purposive sampling method, 20 Malaysian women newly diagnosed with breast cancer, including Malays (n=10) and Chinese (n=10) were recruited in two main public hospitals in Kelantan. Similarities and divergence in women's experience were identified through thematic analysis of interview transcripts. Three themes emerged from the data: uncertainty experience of the illness, transition process and fatalistic view of breast cancer. In many ways, these findings were parallel with previous studies, suggesting that the experience of breast cancer is to a certain extent similar among women newly diagnosed with breast cancer. This study adds to the sparse literature concerning the experience of illness following breast cancer diagnosis among the Malays and Chinese. More importantly, this study addressed areas that were previously lacking, specifically in depth information on breast cancer experience from a developing country with a multi-ethnic population. The results of this investigation provide preliminary information to healthcare professionals on the impact of illness and cultural influence on survivorship to plan for appropriate education and supportive programme in order to meet the needs of breast cancer women more effectively.

• Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.114-119
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• 2009

Purpose: The effectiveness of an infection control program is important to hospital quality improvement and decreases of mortality rate and prevalence. Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is the most common pathogen causing nosocomial infection. The aim of the study was to identify the most important risk factors for acquiring an MRSA, to evaluate the MRSA incidence rates after the nursing intervention in Neurosurgery intensive care unit (ICU). Methods: Clinical data were collected prospectively from December 2008 until July 2009 in Neurosurgery ICU. The patients were divided into preintervention and postintervention groups. An infection was defined as an MRSA if it occurred 48 hr after admission to the Unit. Infection control program including hand washing, education of health care workers about MRSA, standard precaution and contact isolation of patients were applied for three month. Results: A total of 85 patients were included in the study. Forty-five patients of S. aurerus were detected. Among 45 of S. aurerus, MRSA were isolated from 38 patients. The incidence MRSA rate of postintervention group was 26.9% while incidence MRSA rate of preintervention group was 66.7%. In total, The incidence MRSA rate was 44.7%. The incidence of MRSA have decreased in the postintervention as compared with the preintervention group. Conclusion: The infection control program for MRSA was effective to decrease the MRSA isolation rate. The health care workers regular hand washing, education of nosocomial infection control is important enough to be emphasized.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.90-95
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• 2004

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to compare the toxicologic characteristics of two groups of patients with acute intoxication for two different time periods and to make recommendations based on the results of this study. Methods: We reviewed retrospectively the medical records of patients with acute intoxication in our emergency center from June 1997 to May 1998 (group A) and from June 2000 to May 2003 (group B), and we evaluated differences in the epidemiologic and the toxicologic characteristics between the two groups. Results: The ratios of the number of patients with acute intoxication to the total numbers of patients who visited our emergency department were $0.49\%$ and $0.52\%$ for groups A and B, respectively. In both groups many poisoned patients visited our emergency center from 4:00 pm to midnight. The interval between the time of intoxication and arrival at the hospital was significantly shorter in group B. The number of patients transferred to our emergency center was larger in group B. Attempted suicide was the major cause of acute intoxication in both groups. Major toxic substances in both groups were centrally active drugs and insecticides. The number of comatose and mechanically ventilated patients was larger in group B. However, there was no statistically significant difference in the mortality rates. Conclusion: Emergency physicians who manage intoxicated patients should recognize regional characteristics and differences in the toxicologic characteristics of poisoning. In addition, the establishment of a poisoning control center in the regional emergency center is necessary to integrate data control and to enhance specialized management of intoxicated patients.