• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.224-229
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• 2003

Purpose : To examine various neonatal outcomes and perinatal factors resulting from assisted reproduction compared to that of spontaneous conception. Methods : This is a retrospective study. The control cases were all twins of spontaneous conception born between periods from January 1995 to June 2000. The study cases were identified from twins conceived by assisted reproduction in the same time peried. A total of 460 sets of twins consisted of 250 twins of spontaneous conception and 156 twins of assisted reproduction were studied. The primary outcomes were neonatal morbidity and mortality and the secondary outcomes were perinatal factors including number, length and cost of hospitalization for the delivery. Results : No differences were seen in various neonatal factors including gestational age, birth weight and incidences of respiratory distress syndrome, patent ductus arteriosus, necrotizing enterocolitis, hyperbilirubinemia, sepsis, intraventricular hemorrhage and the length of hospitalizations. Lower one minute and five minute Apgar scores and frequently encountered electrolyte abnormalities were observed in neonates of assisted reproduction. In general, the second twin of assisted reproduction had increased incidences of respiratory distress syndrome, sepsis and necrotizing enterocolitis than the first twin. Increased frequencies of preterm labor, hospitalization and elective cesarean section were seen among mothers who underwent artifical conception. However, overall hospital costs in terms of mothers hospitalization for the delivery and neonates hospitalization did not show differences. Conclusion : Assisted reproduction twins had similar neonatal morbidities, mortalities and perinatal morbidities compared to those born by spontaneous conception.

• Clinical and Experimental Otorhinolaryngology
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.293-300
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• 2018

Objectives. The current study aims to determine the correlation between nutritional status upon presentation and disease severity, as well as treatment and survival outcomes. Methods. Patients who were diagnosed with deep neck infection, underwent at least one surgical drainage/debridement, and had more than 1 week of hospitalization at a tertiary medical center from 2007 to 2015 were retrospectively included. Thereafter, initial serum albumin, C-reactive protein (CRP), and body mass index (BMI) were reviewed. Results. A total of 135 patients were included in the final analysis. Accordingly, the proportion of patients with simultaneous mediastinitis (21.0%), necrotizing fasciitis (12.9%), disease extent >1 cervical level (72.6%), mean CRP (22.4 mg/dL), mean length of hospitalization (25.0 days), and mean 1-week follow-up CRP (7.2 mg/dL) was significantly higher in the hypoalbuminemia group (initial serum albumin <3.0 g/dL) than in the normoalbuminemia group (all P<0.05). No significant correlations had been observed according to BMI status. After adjusting for age and Charlson comorbidity index, odds ratios for the following outcomes were calculated in patients initially presenting with hypoalbuminemia: simultaneous mediastinitis (3.07), necrotizing fasciitis (7.89), disease extent >1 cervical level (2.12), initial serum CRP over 20 mg/dL (3.79), hospitalization of more than 14 days (4.10), 1-week follow-up CRP over 5 mg/dL (3.78), and increased duration for an over 50% decrease in initial CRP (2.70) (all P<0.05). Although intravascular albumin replenishment decreased the proportion of patients with hypoalbuminemia after 2 weeks (P<0.05), it did not significantly predict better treatment outcomes. Conclusion. Among the markers reflecting an individual's nutritional state, an initial serum albumin of less than 3.0 g/dL was an independent serologic marker predicting increased disease severity and complications in patients with deep neck infection.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.467-472
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• 2011

This study was conducted to describe clinical presentation of pelvic fracture and compare clinical outcomes of each part of pelvic fractures in 54 client-owned dogs. There was an average of 3.61 pelvic fractures per dog and 47 dogs had more than two fractures. The average time until initial weight-bearing on the affected leg, hospitalization after surgery, and lameness score at final check in 31 dogs that underwent surgery were 7.04 days, 16.39 days, and 1.25, respectively, and there were no significant difference in the incidence of sacroiliac luxation, iliac fracture, and acetabular fracture among them. The length of hospitalization and the lameness score upon final check of the dogs with over two surgically repaired sites were significantly longer and higher than those of the dogs with one surgically repaired site (P = .043 and P = .008, respectively). Upon final check of the dogs with bilateral pelvic fracture that was surgically treated, the hospitalization and lameness score were significantly longer and higher than those of dogs with unilateral pelvic fracture that was surgically treated (P = .034 and P = .033), respectively. The number of pelvic fractures treated surgically appears to be a more influential factor influencing recovery from pelvic fractures than the location of the pelvic fractures.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.25-33
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• 2021

Objectives: Many conditions of the oral and maxillofacial region require hospitalization and in-patient care. The average length of stay (LOS) of these patients varies and is usually affected by multiple confounding variables. However, even with an increasing number of hospital admissions, published evidence on the factors that affect the LOS of oral and maxillofacial patients is lacking. Therefore, this study assessed the LOS of in-patients at the oral and maxillofacial surgery department of a government-funded, multi-specialty hospital in Malaysia, based on their reasons for admission and other factors. Materials and Methods: Our samples were collected retrospectively over a 5-year period and included patients with maxillofacial infections, post-trauma stabilization, facial bone fracture surgery, benign and malignant lesion surgery, dentoalveolar surgery, and other maxillofacial surgeries as reasons for admission. Factors potentially affecting LOS were also recorded, and their significance was determined using multiple logistic regression analyses. A P-value of less than 0.05 was considered to be statistically significant. Results: A total of 1,380 patients were included in this study. Most (84.5%) of our in-patients were of Malay ethnicity, and males outnumbered females in our sample by 502 subjects. The median LOS of our in-patients was 3 days. Sex, ethnicity, age, reason for admission, and American Society of Anesthesiology (ASA) classification were factors that significantly affected LOS. Conclusion: The median LOS reported in this study was 3 days. LOS was significantly affected by sex, ethnicity, age, reason of admission and ASA classification.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.51 no.6
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• pp.338-342
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• 2012

Objective : The aim of this study is to implement a critical pathway (CP) for patients undergoing lumbar laminectomy or microdiscectomy and describe the results before and after the CP in terms of length of hospital stay and cost. Methods : From March 2008 to February 2009, 61 patients underwent lumbar laminectomy or microdiscectomy due to stenosis or one- or two-level disc herniation in our department and were included in the prepathway group. After development and implementation of the CP in March 2009, 58 patients were applicable for the CP, and these were classified as the postpathway group. Results : The CP, which established a 6-day hospital stay (5 bed-days), was fulfilled by 42 patients (72.4%) in the postpathway group. The mean length of stay was 5.4 days in the postpathway group compared to 6.9 days in the prepathway group, demonstrating a 20% reduction, which was a statistically significant difference ($p{\leq}0.000$). There was a statistically significant reduction in charges for bed and nursing care (p=0.002). Conclusion : Implementation of a CP for lumbar laminectomy or microdiscectomy produced significant decreases in length of hospitalization and charges for bed and nursing care. We believe that this CP reduces the unnecessary use of hospital resources without increasing risk of adverse events.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.117-131
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• 1998

The purpose of this study was to develop a critical pathway for case management for patients who have received Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG) because of Ischemic Heart Disease(IHD) which is a factor of rising medical expenses. For this study. a conceptual framework was developed through a review of the literature including six critical pathways which are currently being used in USA. In order to identify the overall service contents required by these patients and to draw up a preliminary critical pathway, 30 cases of medical records of patients who had CABG because of IHD between January, 1995 to June. 1996 at the Cardiovascular Center of Yonsei Medical Center in Seoul were analyzed. An expert validity test was done for the preliminary critical pathway and clinical validity test was also done using seven IHD patients with CABG between November 11 and 23, 1996. After these processes. the final critical pathway was developed. The results of this study are summarized as follows : 1. The vertical axis of the critical pathway includes the following eight items : tests, nutrition, medications, consultations, activity, assessments, treatments, education discharge planning and the horizontal axis includes the time from the start of hospitalization to discharge. 2. Analysis of the 30 medical records indicated that the average length of stay was 20.2days with the average length of stay from hospitalization day to operation day being 6.2 days, and the average length of stay from operation day to discharge day was 13. 9 days. Analysis of the service contents showed that the horizontal axis of the preliminary critical pathway was set from hospitalization to the 14th post operation day and the vertical axis was set to include eight items, the contents which ought to have occurred, according to the time frames of the horizontal axis. 3. As a result of the experts validity, it was found that among the total of 571 items. there was over 83% agreement for 482 items, less than 83% for 89 items, which were then deleted and a revision of the critical pathway was done. 4. A clinical validity test was done using seven IHD patients with CABG. During the process, three patients were deleted because they were out of the criteria the investigator set. Finally, four patients were used. The result of study indicated that only one patient was discharged on the tenth post operation day, which was one day later than the expected day. Three patients were discharged later than the expected day from three days to nine days. All the cases progressed on schedule until the operation day and the first post operation day, but from the second post operation days, there were differences between the critical pathway and the actual practice. The differences came from tests, assessments, and treatments. 5. On the basis of the results of the clinical validity test. the following revisions in the final critical pathway were made : the transfer from ICU to step down ward would be the second post operation day, and the transfer to a general ward, the fifth post operation day, for patients who complained of lack of sleep from the fifth post operation day to discharge, a sleeping pill would be prescribed, skin observations would be performed routinely from immediately after the operation until the third post operation day, and would continue if there was a sign of skin injury on the fourth post operation day, and assessment of chest pain would be done from the third post operation day, and the “stairs climbing” item, expected to be done on the ninth post operation day would be deleted. In conclusion, this critical pathway is partially applicable to the care of patients with CABG but there are some parts needed to be further investigated.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.195-212
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• 2011

Objectives: This study investigates the relationship between nurse staffing levels and differences in patient outcomes in terms of average length of stay, in-hospital mortality rate and 30-day death rate in order to evaluate the effectiveness of a policy that differentiates fees for inpatients on the basis of nurse-to-bed ratios. Methods: We obtained information on inpatients from health insurance claims data published by the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service(HIRA) in 2008, organizational factors(type of hospital, ownership) from the records of the hospital report system in 2008, and nurse staffing levels, which were graded on a scale of 1 to 7, from data compiled between December 15, 2007, and September 20, 2008. The data were segregated according to type of hospital and quarter and finally 3,517 records of 1,182 hospitals were analyzed using multi-level analysis. Results: The average length of stay in grade 1~6 hospitals was lower than that in grade 7 ones, but the difference was much below one day. No significant difference was found among different grades in tertiary hospitals. Further, variations in staffing levels did not result in any significant difference in the in-hospital mortality rate and 30-day death rate. Conclusions: High nurse staffing levels did not result in better patient outcomes compared with low staffing levels. We therefore recommend modifying the above nurse staffing policy so as to make it more effective in improving patient outcomes.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.237-244
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• 2019

Background: Weekend admission is known for having association with increased mortality attributed by poor quality of care and severe patients. We investigated the association between hospital admission on weekends and the in-hospital mortality rates of patients with cardiovascular disease. Furthermore, we examined this association stratified by admission via emergency room or not. Methods: We analyzed claim data provided by the Health Insurance Review & Assessment in 2013. In total, 80,817 cardiovascular patients were included in this study, which treated in-hospital mortality (early and during total length of stay) as a dependent variable. A generalized linear mixed effects model was used. We conducted subgroup analyses stratified by admission via emergency room or not. Results: Patients who admitted on weekend showed higher in-hospital mortality both early (odds ratio [OR], 1.48; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.23-1.78) and during total length of stay (OR, 1.17; 95% CI, 1.02-1.33) compared to those admitted on weekdays. Patients who were admitted to the hospital on a weekend by emergency room were more likely to experience early in-hospital mortality compared to those admitted on weekdays. Furthermore, we found that patients not admitted to the hospital through the emergency department were more likely to experience both early and total length of stay in-hospital mortality. Conclusion: Our study shows higher in-hospital mortality rates for cardiovascular patients admitted on weekends. Efforts to improve the quality of care on weekend are important to mitigate the 'weekend effect' and improve patient outcomes.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.69 no.1
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• pp.31-38
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• 2010

Background: Data comparing the clinical characteristics and outcomes in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients hospitalized with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP-COPD) and acute exacerbation (AECOPD) are very limited. Methods: Eighty episodes of hospitalization in 65 CAP-COPD patients, and 111 episodes of hospitalization in 82 AE-COPD patients were included in this study. The baseline characteristics, clinical presentations, potential bacterial pathogens and clinical outcomes in these patients were retrospectively reviewed and compared. Results: No significant differences were found between the two groups in parameters related to COPD and co-morbidities, except a higher rate of male among CAP-COPD patients. Clinical presentations by symptoms and laboratory findings on admission were significantly more severe in CAP-COPD patients, who showed higher rates of fever and crepitation, but less wheezing than AE-COPD patients. S. pneumoniae and P. aeruginosae were the most common bacterial pathogens in both groups. With no difference in the overall hospital mortality between both groups, the mean length of hospital stay was significantly longer in the CAP-COPD patients than in AE-COPD patients (15.3 vs. 9.8 days, respectively, p<0.01). Additional analysis on CAP-COPD patients showed that systemic steroid use did not influence the length of hospital stay. Conclusion: Although there was no significant difference in bacterial pathogens and overall hospital mortality between the two groups, CAP-COPD patients had more severe clinical symptoms and laboratory findings at presentation, and longer hospital stay than AE-COPD patients.

• Quality Improvement in Health Care
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.28-41
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• 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.