• 한국의료질향상학회지
• /
• 제10권1호
• /
• pp.28-41
• /
• 2003

Background : Because unplanned readmissions to intensive care unit(ICU)might be related with undesirable patient outcomes, we investigated the pattern of and reason for unplanned ICU readmission to provide baseline data for reducing unplanned returns to ICU. Methods : The subjects included all patients who readmitted to ICU during the same hospitalization at a tertiary referral hospital between January 1st and June 30th 2002. Quality improvement(QI) nurse collected the data through medical records and a medical director reviewed the data collected. Results : 1) The average unplanned ICU readmission rate was 5.6%(gastroenterology 14.6%, pediatrics 12.7%, pulmonology 11.9%, neurosurgery 6.3%, general surgery 5.3%, chest surgery 3.9%, and cardiology 3.3%). 2) Among the unplanned readmissions, more than 50% of cases were from patients older than 60 years, and the main categories of diagnose at hospital admission were neurologic disease(29.9%) and cardiovascular disease(27.6%). 3) Of unplanned ICU readmissions, 41.8% had recurrence of the initial problems, 44.8% had occurrence of new problems. And 9.7% required post-operative care after unplanned operations. 4) The most common cause responsible for unplanned ICU readmission were respiratory problem(38.3%) and cardiovascular problem(14.3%). 5) About 40% of unplanned ICU readmission occurred within 3 days after ICU discharge. 6) Average length of stay of the readmitted patients to ICUs were much longer than that of non-readmitted patients. 7) Hospital mortality rate was much higher for unplanned ICU readmitted patients(23.6%) than for non-readmitted patients(1.5%) (P<0.001). Conclusions : This study showed that the unplanned ICU readmitted patients had poor outcomes(high morality and increased length of stay). In addition study results suggest that more attention should be paid to patients in ICU with poor respiratory function or elderly patients, and careful clinical decisions are required at discharged from ICU to general ward.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
• /
• 제53권3호
• /
• pp.205-210
• /
• 2020

Objectives: Aging is assumed to be accompanied by greater health care expenditures. The objective of this retrospective, bottom-up micro-costing study was to identify and analyze the variables related to increased health care costs for the elderly from the provider's perspective. Methods: The analysis included all elderly inpatients who were admitted in 2017 to a hospital in Tehran, Iran. In total, 1288 patients were included. The Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis tests were used. Results: Slightly more than half (51.1%) of patients were males, and 81.9% had a partial recovery. The 60-64 age group had the highest costs. Cancer and joint/orthopedic diseases accounted for the highest proportion of costs, while joint/orthopedic diseases had the highest total costs. The surgery ward had the highest overall cost among the hospital departments, while the intensive care unit had the highest mean cost. No statistically significant relationships were found between inpatient costs and sex or age group, while significant associations (p<0.05) were observed between inpatient costs and the type of ward, length of stay, type of disease, and final status. Regarding final status, costs for patients who died were 3.9 times higher than costs for patients who experienced a partial recovery. Conclusions: Sex and age group did not affect hospital costs. Instead, the most important factors associated with costs were type of disease (especially chronic diseases, such as joint and orthopedic conditions), length of stay, final status, and type of ward. Surgical services and medicine were the most important cost items.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• 제50권2호
• /
• pp.236-244
• /
• 2001

연구배경 : 중환자의 예후를 계량화 하려는 채점 체계 중 APACHE III 체계는 중환자실 제1병일 접수는 물론 일 갱선점수도 중환자의 예후를 예측할 수 있는 것으로 알려져 왔다. 평균 재원일이 외국과 비교하여 3-4배의 차이가 나는 점을 감안하면, 일 갱신점수는 예후를 판정하는 지표로서 경제적 효율성이 떨어진다. 이에 제7병일(평균 중간 재원일)의 APACHE III 점수의 임상적 유용성에 관해 알아 보고자 하였다. 방 법 : 1997년 6월부터 1998년 4월까지 한양대학교 구리병원 내파계 중환자실에 입원한 241명의 제1병일과 7병일 APACHE III 점수를 조사하여 생존군과 비생존군 간의 차이를 분석하였다. 결 과 : 전체 환자 수는 241명으로 이 중 사망자가 65명으로 26.6%의 사망률을 나타내었으며 평균 재원일 수는 $10.3{\pm}13.8$일이였다. 제1병일 APACHE III 점수는 $59.7{\pm}30.9$, 제7병일 APACHE III 점수는, $37.9{\pm}27.7$점이였다. 제1병일과 제7병일 APACHE III 점수는 생존군과 비생존군에서 $49.9{\pm}23.8$, $86.3{\pm}32.3$점, $30.1{\pm}18.5$, $81.1{\pm}30.4$점으로 유의한 차이를 보였다(P<0.0001, P<0.0001). APACHE III 점수가 사망률에 미치는 영향을 알아보기 위하여 로지스틱 회귀분석을 시행한 결과 제1병일과 제7병영일의 비차비(odds ratio)는 각각 1.0507, 1.0779로 유의한 결과를 나타내었다(P<0.0001). 결 론 : 이상의 결과로서 제1병일 APACHE III 점수 뿐 아니라 제7병일 점수 또한 사망률 예측과 입원 후 치료 경과에 의해 변화된 예후를 평가하기에 유용한 척도임을 알 수 있었다. 평균 중간 재원일인 제7병일 APACHE III 점수는 일 갱선점수가 경제적으로 물적, 인적 비용이 많이 드는 상황에서 비용효과면에서 임상의에게 도움을 줄 수 있다고 판단된다.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• 제51권4호
• /
• pp.247-253
• /
• 2018

Background: Early extubation after cardiovascular surgery has some clinical advantages, including reduced hospitalization costs. Herein, we review the results of ultra-fast-track (UFT) extubation, which refers to extubation performed on the operating table just after the operation, or within 1-2 hours after surgery, in patients with congenital cardiac disease. Methods: We performed UFT extubation in patients (n=72) with a relatively simple congenital cardiac defect or who underwent a simple operation starting in September 2016. To evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of our recently introduced UFT extubation strategy, we retrospectively reviewed 195 patients who underwent similar operations for similar diseases from September 2015 to September 2017, including the 1-year periods immediately before and after the introduction of the UFT extubation protocol. Propensity scores were used to assess the effects of UFT extubation on length of stay (LOS) in the intensive care unit (ICU), hospital LOS, and medical costs. Results: After propensity-score matching using logistic regression analysis, 47 patients were matched in each group. The mean ICU LOS ($16.3{\pm}28.6$ [UFT] vs. $28.0{\pm}16.8$ [non-UFT] hours, p=0.018) was significantly shorter in the UFT group. The total medical costs ($182.6{\pm}3.5$ [UFT] vs. $187.1{\pm}55.6$ [non-UFT] ${\times}100,000$ Korean won [KRW], p=0.639) and hospital stay expenses ($48.3{\pm}13.6$ [UFT] vs. $54.8{\pm}29.0$ [non-UFT] ${\times}100,000KRW$, p=0.164) did not significantly differ between the groups. Conclusion: UFT extubation decreased the ICU LOS and mechanical ventilation time, but was not associated with postoperative hospital LOS or medical expenses in patients with simple congenital cardiac disease.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
• /
• 제36권4호
• /
• pp.362-368
• /
• 2023

Purpose: Clinical reports on treatment outcomes of sternal fractures are lacking. This study details the clinical features, treatment approaches, and outcomes related to traumatic sternal fractures over a 10-year period at a single institution. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted of patients admitted to a regional trauma center between January 2012 and December 2021. Among 7,918 patients with chest injuries, 266 were diagnosed with traumatic sternal fractures. Patient data were collected, including demographics, injury mechanisms, severity, associated injuries, sternal fracture characteristics, hospital stay duration, mortality, respiratory complications, and surgical details. Surgical indications encompassed emergency cases involving intrathoracic injuries, unstable fractures, severe dislocations, flail chest, malunion, and persistent high-grade pain. Results: Of 266 patients with traumatic sternal fractures, 260 were included; 98 underwent surgical treatment for sternal fractures, while 162 were managed conservatively. Surgical indications ranged from intrathoracic organ or blood vessel injuries necessitating thoracotomy to unstable fractures with severe dislocations. Factors influencing surgical treatment included flail motion and rib fracture. The median length of intensive care unit stay was 5.4 days (interquartile range [IQR], 1.5-18.0 days) for the nonsurgery group and 8.6 days (IQR, 3.3-23.6 days) for the surgery group. The median length of hospital stay was 20.9 days (IQR, 9.3-48.3 days) for the nonsurgery group and 27.5 days (IQR, 17.0 to 58.0 days) for the surgery group. The between-group differences were not statistically significant. Surgical interventions were successful, with stable bone union and minimal complications. Flail motion in the presence of rib fracture was a crucial consideration for surgical intervention. Conclusions: Surgical treatment recommendations for sternal fractures vary based on flail chest presence, displacement degree, and rib fracture. Surgery is recommended for patients with offset-type sternal fractures with rib and segmental sternal fractures. Surgical intervention led to stable bone union and minimal complications.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• 제15권14호
• /
• pp.5787-5791
• /
• 2014

Background: With increasing survival periods and diversification of treatment methods, treatment of critically ill cancer patients has become an important factor influencing patient prognosis. Patients with cancer are at high risk of infections and subsequent complications. This study investigated the incidence and factors contributing to the development of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP). Materials and Methods: This retrospective study investigated the incidence of VAP and factors leading to infection in patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) of a cancer center from January 1, 2012 to December 31, 2013. Results: The incidence of VAP was 2.13 cases per 1,000 days of intubation, and 13 of 288 patients (4.5%) developed VAP. Lung cancer was the most common cancer associated with VAP (N=7, 53.9%), and longer hospital stays and intubation were associated with increased VAP incidence. In the group using a "ventilator bundle," the incidence was 1.14 cases per 1,000 days compared to 2.89 cases per 1,000 days without its use; however, this difference was not statistically significant (p=0.158). Age (${\geq}65$, OR=5.56, 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.29-23.95), surgery (OR=3.78, 95%CI=1.05-13.78), and tracheotomy (OR=4.46, 95%CI=1.00-19.85) were significant VAP risk factors. The most common causative organisms were methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (N=4, 30.8% each), followed by Acinetobacter baumannii and Candida albicans (N=2, 15.4% each). Conclusions: The incidence of pneumonia among critically ill cancer patients is highest in those with lung cancer, but lower than among non-cancer patients. The length of hospital stay and time on mechanical ventilation are important risk factors for development of VAP. Although not statistically significant, "ventilator bundle" care is an effective intervention that delays or reduces incidence of VAP. Major risk factors for VAP include age (${\geq}65$ years), surgery, and tracheostomy, while fungi, gram-negative bacteria, and multidrug-resistant organisms were identified as the major causative pathogens of VAP in this study.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• 제57권2호
• /
• pp.120-125
• /
• 2024

Background: This study aimed to assess the outcomes of patients with complex rib fractures undergoing operative or nonoperative management at our major trauma center. Methods: A retrospective review of all patients who were considered for surgical stabilization of rib fractures (SSRF) at a single major trauma center from May 2016 to September 2022 was performed. Results: In total, 352 patients with complex rib fractures were identified. Thirty-seven patients (11%) fulfilled the criteria for surgical management and underwent SSRF. The SSRF group had a significantly higher proportion of patients with flail chest (32 [86%] vs. 94 [27%], p<0.001) or Injury Severity Score (ISS) >15 (37 [100%] vs. 129 [41%], p<0.001). No significant differences were seen between groups for 1-year mortality. Patients who underwent SSRF within 72 hours were 6 times less likely to develop pneumonia than those in whom SSRF was delayed for over 72 hours (2 [18%] vs. 15 [58%]; odds ratio, 0.163; 95% confidence interval, 0.029-0.909; p=0.036). Prompt SSRF showed non-significant associations with shorter intensive care unit length of stay (6 days vs. 10 days, p=0.140) and duration of mechanical ventilation (5 days vs. 8 days, p=0.177). SSRF was associated with a longer hospital length of stay compared to nonoperative patients with flail chest and/or ISS >15 (19 days vs. 13 days, p=0.012), whilst SSRF within 72 hours was not. Conclusion: Surgical fixation of complex rib fractures improves outcomes in selected patient groups. Delayed surgical fixation was associated with increased rates of pneumonia and a longer hospital length of stay.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
• /
• 제47권3호
• /
• pp.197-208
• /
• 2021

Objectives: The purpose of this retrospective study was to evaluate the variables associated with length of stay (LOS), hospital costs, intensive care unit (ICU) use, and treatment outcomes in patients hospitalized for maxillofacial infections at a tertiary medical center in South Korea. Materials and Methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted for patients admitted for treatment of maxillofacial infections at Dankook University Hospital from January 1, 2011 through September 30, 2020. A total of 390 patient charts were reviewed and included in the final statistical analyses. Results: Average LOS and hospital bill per patient of this study was 11.47 days, and ₩4,710,017.25 ($4,216.67), respectively. Of the 390 subjects, 97.3% were discharged routinely following complete recovery, 1.0% expired following treatment, and 0.8% were transferred to another hospital. In multivariate linear regression analyses to determine variables associated with LOS, admission year, infection side, Flynn score, deep neck infection, cardiovascular disease, admission C-reactive protein (CRP) and glucose levels, number and length of surgical interventions, tracheostomy, time elapsed from admission to first surgery, and length of ICU stay accounted for 85.8% of the variation. With regard to the total hospital bill, significantly associated variables were age, type of insurance, Flynn score, number of comorbidities, admission CRP, white blood cell, and glucose levels, admission temperature, peak temperature, surgical intervention, the length, type, and location of surgery, tracheostomy, time elapsed from admission to first surgery, and length of ICU use, which accounted for 90.4% of the variation. Age and ICU use were the only variables significantly associated with unfavorable discharge outcomes in multivariate logistic regression analysis. Conclusion: For successful and cost-effective management of maxillofacial infections, clinicians to be vigilant about the decision to admit patients with maxillofacial infections, perform appropriate surgery at an adequate time, and admit them to the ICU.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
• /
• 제23권2호
• /
• pp.180-187
• /
• 2010

Purpose: The "golden hour" concept in trauma is pervasive despite little evidence to support it. This study addressed the association between prehospital time and in-hospital mortality in seriously injured abdominal trauma victims. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted over a three-year period from 2006 to 2008. We analyzed trauma victims with abdominal injuries who underwent an emergency laparotomy in a local emergency center located in a city with a population of 2,500,000. According to the 'golden hour' oncept, we separated the trauma victims into two groups (Gourp 1: prehospital time ${\leq}$ 1 hour, Group 2: prehospital time > 1hour) and investigated several factors, such as time, process, and outcome. Results: During the period from January 2006 to December 2008 139 trauma victims underwent an emergency laparotomy, and 89 of them were enrolled in this study. Between the two groups, emergency department (ED) access, transportation, and injury mechanism showed statistically meaningful differences, but no statistically meaningful differences were observed in various measures of the outcome, such as length of hospital stay, length of Intensive Care Unit stay, and mortality. In a univariate logistic regression study, age (odds ratio [OR]: 1.101; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.026 to 1.182), Revised Trauma Score (RTS) (OR: 0.444; 95% CI 0.278 to 0.710), hemoglobin (OR: 0.749; 95% CI: 0.585 to 0.960), and creatinine (OR: 24.584; 95% CI: 2.019 to 299.364) were significant prognostic factors, but prehospital time was not. In a multivariate logistic regression study, age and RTS were significant associated with mortality. Conclusion: In this study, we found no association between prehospital time and mortality among abdominal trauma patient who underwent an emergency laparotomy. We suggest that in our current out-of-hospital and emergency care system, until arrival at the hospital time may be less crucial for trauma victims than once thought.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
• /
• 제36권1호
• /
• pp.22-31
• /
• 2023

Purpose: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) directly affects the survival of patients and can cause long-term sequelae. The purpose of our study was to investigate whether the operation of a trauma center in a single tertiary general hospital has improved emergency care and clinical outcomes for patients with TBI. Methods: The participants of this study were all TBI patients, patients with isolated TBI, and patients with TBI who underwent surgery within 24 hours, who visited our level 1 trauma center from March 1, 2012 to February 28, 2020. Patients were divided into two groups: patients who visited before and after the operation of the trauma center. A comparative analysis was conducted. Differences in detailed emergency care time, hospital stay, and clinical outcomes were investigated in this study. Results: On comparing the entire TBI patient population via dividing them into the aforementioned two groups, the following results were found in the group of patients who visited the hospital after the operation of the trauma center: an increased number of patients with a good functional prognosis (P<0.001 and P=0.002, respectively), an increased number of surviving discharges (P<0.001 and P<0.001, respectively), and a reduction in overall emergency care time (P<0.05, for all item values). However, no significant differences existed in the length of intensive care unit stay, ventilator days, and total length of stay for TBI patients who visited the hospital before and after the operation of the trauma center. Conclusions: The findings confirmed that overall TBI patients and patients with isolated brain injury had improved treatment results and emergency care through the operation of a trauma center in a tertiary general hospital.