• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.48 no.12
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• pp.1330-1336
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• 2005

Purpose : It has been suggested that changes in cerebral blood flow by ventilator care could be a risk factor in periventricular leukomalacia(PVL) and severe periventricular-intraventricular hemorrhage(PV-IVH). The study aims to assess the relationship between perinatal clinical events, including ventilator care, and the development of PVL and severe PV-IVH; especially, whether ventilator care could be causers of PVL and severe PV-IVH as an individual risk factor. Methods : Among 255 very low birth weight infants who survived in the Fatima neonatal intensive care unit from January 1999 to December 2003, 15 infants with PVL and eight infants with severe PV-IVH were classified as a study group, while 231 infants were enrolled as a control group. The analysis was performed retrospectively with medical records. Results : Twenty four infants were diagnosed with PVL or severe PV-IVH. Asphyxia, recurrent apnea, sepsis, acidosis and ventilator care were significantly increased in the PVL goup. Asphyxia, recurrent apnea, RDS, acidosis and ventilator care were significantly increased in the severe PV-IVH group. Conclusion : Infants with PVL or severe PV-IVH may have multiple perinatal risk factors including asphyxia, recurrent apnea, sepsis, acidosis, RDS and ventilator care. Because most patients with ventilator care have multiple perinatal risk factors, ventilator care does not cause PVL and severe PV-IVH independently. Therefore, incidences of PVL and severe PV-IVH can be decreased by not only gentle ventilation, but also more professional antenatal care.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.101-109
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• 2013

Purpose: Pediatric urolithiasis is uncommon in children but is a cause of significant morbidity and damage to the kidney. Although much information on adult urolithiasis is available in the literature, large studies on the pediatric population are still scarce. In this report, we review our experience with pediatric urolithiasis over 22 years at a tertiary referral center. Method: We retrospectively reviewed the records of children with newly diagnosed urolithiasis between January 1991 and May 2013. We assessed the age, sex, family history, initial symptoms, location of stones, underlying cause, stone analysis, treatment, and recurrence among the patients. Results: In total, 137 patients (96 male, 41 female) were assessed. The age range was 0-17 years (mean age, 6.0 years). Forty-three (31%) children were aged <1 year, and 37% (16/43) had a history of intensive care unit (ICU) admission. Thirteen patients (9.5%) had a family history of stones. The most common symptoms at presentation among the patients were gross hematuria (56/137, 41%) and flank or abdominal pain (46/137, 34%). The stones were located in the kidney (85/137, 62%), ureter (29/137, 21%), bladder (2/137, 1.4%), and multiple locations (20/137, 15 %). Congenital abnormalities of the genitourinary (G-U) tract, with or without metabolic abnormality, or urinary tract infection (UTI) was detected in 26 children (19%). Ninety-one patients (66%) underwent metabolic examination, and 38% of these patients exhibited an abnormality. UTI, with or without abnormalities of the G-U tract, or metabolic abnormality was detected in 26 children (19%). Of the 35 stones analyzed, the majority were calcium stones (20/35, 57%), followed by infected stones (5/35, 14%), uric acid stones (4/35, 11%), carbonate apatite stones (3/35, 7%), cystine stones (2/35, 6%), and phosphate stones (1/35, 3%). Five patients (4%) required open procedures, with or without non-open procedures, whereas 77 patients (56%) were managed conservatively; the remaining 55 patients (40%) received some other form of intervention. Eighteen patients (13%) had stone recurrence during the follow-up period. Conclusions: Pediatric urolithiasis is commonly associated with abnormalities of the G-U tract and/or metabolic disorders and/or UTI. Half of the patients will pass their stones spontaneously, and all the techniques of minimally invasive surgery are applicable in the treatment of children with stones. As the recurrence rates are high among this population, long-term follow-up is recommended and the complete clearance of stones is important.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.45 no.7
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• pp.836-846
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• 2002

Purpose : With the development of neonatal intensive care and the increased use of systemic antibiotics, candida sepsis has become one of the most important causes of neonatal morbidity and mortality. The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence rate and its associated risk factors. Methods : We retrospectively reviewed medical records of 28 cases with candida sepsis who were admitted in the neonatal intensive care unit(NICU) of Chonnam University Hospital from July 1995 to June 2001. Twenty-nine patients without candida sepsis were enrolled for the control group to verify the risk factors. Results : The overall incidence of candida sepsis was 0.61% for all NICU admissions and 3.68% for all very low birth weight infants with the gradual increase of the annual prevalance rate over time. The endotracheal intubation, percutaneous central vein catheter(PCVC), umbilical vein catheter, total parenteral nutrition, intralipid and dopamine were more applied than the control group (P<0.01 for all). The durations of mechanical ventilator care, central catheter appliance, nothing per os, and admission were also significantly longer than the control group(P<0.01 for all). Ampicillin/ sulbactam, ceftazidime, amikacin, netilmicin, teicoplanin and imipenem/cilastatin were significantly more used than the control group(P<0.05). The durations of ampicillin/sulbactam, ceftazidime, netilmicin and imipenem/cilastatin administration were also proved to be significant as the risk factors(P<0.01). Conclusion : The average annual prevalence rate of candida sepsis in NICU for six years was 0.61% with gradual increasing tendency over time. The elimination of the above risk factors is important in decreasing neonatal morbidity and mortality associated with candida sepsis.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.52 no.3
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• pp.295-302
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• 2009

Purpose : To report our experience of gastrointestinal (GI) operations (OP) performed in very low birth weight infants (VLBWI) and to evaluate their clinical characteristics. Methods : Among the 1,117 VLBWI admitted to the SMC neonatal intensive care unit from November 1994 to February 2007, the medical records of 37 infants who underwent GI OP (except inguinal hernia OP) and 1,080 VLBWI without GI OP were retrospectively reviewed. Results : The mean gestational age ($27^{+6}2^{+3}$ vs. $28^{+5}{\pm}$2^{+6}$) and birth weight (979${\pm}$241 g vs. 1,071${\pm}$271 g) of the 37 VLBWI who underwent the GI OP was lower than the VLBWI without GI OP group (n=1,080). Mortality rates in the GI OP group were significantly higher than in the non GI OP group (28% vs. 15%, P<0.001). The incidence of cholestasis, retinopathy of prematurity and periventricular leukomalacia were higher in the GI OP group than in the non GI OP group, but the incidence of bronchopulmonary dysplasia was not significantly different between the GI OP group and the non GI OP group. For GI OP indications, focal intestinal perforation was most common and showed a more favorable outcome than necrotizing enterocolitis. Compared with an earlier 7-year period, 1994-2000, the incidence and survival rates increased in the subsequent 2001-2007 period. Conclusion : GI OP was associated with high mortality and morbidity in VLBWI. Further efforts to improve outcomes of GI OP in VLBWI should be investigated to improve the quality of care in VLBWI.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.53 no.3
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• pp.323-328
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• 2010

Purpose : To verify the effect of hyperglycemia on mortality rates in critically ill children and to identify the blood glucose level that influences prognosis. Methods : From July 2006 to June 2008, a total of 206 patients who were admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) at Asan Medical Center and who survived for more than 7 days were retrospectively reviewed. We analyzed the maximum glucose value within 7 days in PICU, PRISM-III score and SOFA score within 24 hours, and mortality. We did not perform an adjustment analysis of drugs affecting glucose level. Results : The maximum glucose level within 7 days in PICU was higher in the nonsurvival group than in the survival group. Using 4 cutoff values (125, 150, 175, and 200 mg/dL), the mortality of patients with hyperglycemia was found to be 13.0 %, 14.4%, 19.8%, and 21.1%, respectively, and the cutoff values of 175 and 200 mg/dL revealed significant differences in mortalities between the hyperglycemic and normoglycemic groups. The PRISM-III score was not significantly different between the hyperglycemic and normoglycemic groups under a glucose cutoff value of 175 mg/dL, but the SOFA score was higher in the hyperglycemic group. Under a glucose cutoff value of 200 mg/dL, the PRISM-III score was higher in the hyperglycemic group, and the SOFA score did not differ between the 2 groups. Conclusion : Hyperglycemia with a maximal glucose value ${\geq}175\;mg/dL$ during the first 7 days after PICU admission was associated with increased mortality in critically ill children.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.50 no.7
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• pp.622-628
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• 2007

Purpose : While pediatric observation units (POU) have become a common practice in hospitals throughout developed countries, there has been no report about POUs in Korea so far. The aims of this study were to analyze our one-year's experience of the POU and to decide which disease entities are suitable for the POU. Methods : All children admitted from March 2006 to February 2007 to the POU at the Department of Pediatrics in Our Lady of Mercy Hospital were included in this study. Data were collected from retrospective reviews of their medical records. Results : There were a total of 1,076 POU admissions. Median age of patients was 2.4 years and median length of hospital stay 14.0 hours. The most common diagnoses were gastroenteritis (42.7%), pharyngotonsillitis (19.1%), bronchiolitis (7.8%), pneumonia (5.5%) and febrile seizure (5.2%). Overall, 7.5% of the POU patients required subsequent inpatient admissions due to hospital stays of longer than 48 hours. The disease entities that were most likely to require inpatient admission were pneumonia (17.0%), febrile seizure (12.5%) and asthma (11.5%). Diseases that allowed successful discharge from the POU were gastroenteritis (4.6%), upper respiratory tract infection (5.8%), such as otitis media and pharygnotonsillitis and seizure disorder (6.4%). Compared with the previous year when the POU was not in operation, there was a statistically significant reduction in the average length of hospital stays (from 4.69 to 3.75 days), as well as a rise in the bed turnover rate (from 78.8 to 98.2 patients/bed). Conclusion : Our study shows that the POU is efficient for the management of children with certain acute illnesses. Based on this study, we suggest that the POU be used as a new modality which links between the outpatient, inpatient, and emergency departments in the field of pediatrics in Korea.

• Quality Improvement in Health Care
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.44-55
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• 2001

Background : This study aimed at identifying the effect of the standardized protocol on lowering the incidence of the ventilator associated pneumonia(VAP). Methods : The standard protocol focusing on decreasing VAP was made and applied at 5 ICUs (Medical ICU, surgical ICU, Respiratory ICU, Neonatal ICU, Pediatric ICU) in a university affiliated tertiary hospital, from April 1, 2000 to Oct 31, 2000. The protocol involved 3 parts : hand washing, the suctioning method and ventilator circuit management. All the nursing personnel received intensive education which was consisted of lecture, video film and demonstration. 176 nurses reported the performance of handwashing pre and post intervention. And randomly selected 15 nurses were observed by charge nurse and the handwashing practice was analyzed pre and post intervention. The incidence of VAP was compared with the former year incidence. Results : The self reported frequency of hand washing increased. In the direct observation of handwashing, the frequency, time, thoroughness of hand washing during 8 hours day duty was found to be improved. The frequency was increased from 1.1 time to 4.1 times; the time was improved from 1.7 seconds to 5.7 seconds and the thoroughness of the washing practice was from 0.2 times to 3.0 times respectively (p<0.001). The incidence of VAP decreased from at a rate of 15.63 number of case per 1,000 ventilator-day (April 1~August 31, 1999) to 7.23 number of case per 1,000 ventilator-days(April 1~Oct 31, 2000)(P<0.001). Conclusion : We developed the protocols which included hand washing, the suctioning method, and ventilator circuit management. Through the implementation of the protocol, the performance of hand washing improved and the VAP incidence rate in ICU was decreased.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.162-170
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• 2007

Purpose : While cases of vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) have increasingly been reported worldwide since it was first reported in the late 1980s, there have been few systemic studies on the pediatric population. The purpose of this study is to contribute to the planning of VRE prevention by investigating the prevalence, risk factors and transmission of VRE infection. Methods : We studied 230 patients under age 15 years who were isolated VRE between January 2001 and December 2006 retrospectively. The patients were classified into the intensive care unit (ICU) and the non-ICU groups. We reviewed the procedures before VRE detection as well as antibiotic sensitivity of detected organisms. Results : The number of VRE-isolation cases was higher in the ICU group than the non-ICU group. Instances of VRE-isolation were also more prevalent in patients who underwent operations or active procedures while taking 3rd-generation cephalosporins or glycopeptides. Almost all antibiotics except tetracycline were resistant to VRE. The proportion of 3rd-generation cephalosporin use was higher than those of any other antibiotics before VRE detection. Additionally, the use of 3rd-generation cephalosporins has increased annually, but that of glycopeptides had decreased in 2006. Also, the rates of VRE isolation have been increasing since 1998. Conclusion : VRE infection is increasing in pediatric population. Strict adherence to appropriate infection control guidelines for the prevention of VRE transmission in hospitals, and tracking of VRE colonization through active surveillance in high risk units are recommended.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.52 no.8
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• pp.881-887
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• 2009

Purpose : The survival rate of very low birth weight infant (VLBWI) had increased as a result of advances in neonatal intensive care. We evaluated the changes in outcomes of VLBWI who admitted to the neonatal care unit of Hallym University Kangnam Sacred Heart Hospital. Methods : Retrospective review of 339 VLBWI who were born from 1st January 1997 to 31th December 2008 were performed. Outcomes including survival rate, birth weight (BW), gestational age (GA), morbidities, and mortality between period I (1997- 2003) and period II (2004-2008) were compared. Results : Overall incidence of VLBWI was 2.3% and it was significantly higher in period II(3.3%). Mean BW and GA were significantly decreased in period II (P<0.001, P=0.01). The survival rate increased from period I (59.1%) to period II (74.2%). BW-specific survival rate increased in 1,000-1,249 gm and GA-specific survival rate significantly increased in 27-28 weeks and 29-30 weeks. The incidences of respiratory distress syndrome (RDS), retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), sepsis, bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), intraventricular hemorrhage, periventricular leukomalacia, and necorotizing enterocolitis were same except patent ductus arteriosus. Conclusion : The survival rate of VLBWI was increased in period II, especially in less than 1,000 gm and below 27 weeks. This may be due to recent dramatic improvement of neonatal care. But more efforts are needed to improve outcome during initial phase and to reduce long term complication such as BPD and ROP.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.111-120
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• 2023

Purpose: Human rhinovirus (HRV) infections can result in lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs). We aimed to investigate the characteristics of severe HRV LRTI in young children. Methods: Medical records were reviewed retrospectively in patients who were hospitalized for HRV LRTIs from 2016 to 2020 at the Samsung Medical Center in Seoul, Korea. Patients aged 90 days or older and younger than 5 years were included. Patients with co-infections with other respiratory pathogens were excluded. Severe HRV LRTI was defined as the following: the need for high-flow oxygenation, mechanical ventilation, or intensive care unit admission. Results: A total of 115 cases were identified. The median age was 17 months (range, 3-56 months) and the median hospital days were 4 days (range, 2-31 days). Of the 115 cases, 18 patients (15.7%) developed severe HRV LRTI. The median age was younger in the severe group compared to the non-severe group (9.5 months vs. 19.0 months, P=0.001). Of 18 patients with severe HRV LRTI, 11 (61.1%) had underlying diseases - chronic lung diseases accounted for the largest proportion (63.6%). Six patients (33.3%) required mechanical ventilation. Of note, 7 previously healthy children were diagnosed with severe HRV LRTI. Of those 7 children, 4 of them were diagnosed with asthma later. When the 115 cases were divided into previously healthy (n=60) and underlying disease (n=55) groups, severe courses of HRV LRTI were observed in 11.7% and 20.0% of children, respectively (P=0.219). Conclusions: HRV can cause severe LRTI even in previously healthy children as well as in children with comorbidities.