• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.249-254
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• 2014

Background: Delirium after cardiac surgery is associated with serious long-term negative outcomes and high costs. The aim of this study is to evaluate neurobehavioral, hemodynamic, and sedative characteristics of dexmedetomidine, compared with the current postoperative sedative protocol (remifentanil) in patients undergoing open heart surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). Methods: One hundred and forty two eligible patients who underwent cardiac surgery on CPB between April 2012 and March 2013 were randomly divided into two groups. Patients received either dexmedetomidine (range, 0.2 to $0.8\;{\mu}g/kg/hr$; n=67) or remifentanil (range, 1,000 to $2,500\;{\mu}g/hr$, n=75). The primary end point was the prevalence of delirium estimated daily via the confusion assessment method for intensive care. Results: When the delirium incidence was compared with the dexmedetomidine group (6 of 67 patients, 8.96%) and the remifentanil group (17 of 75 patients, 22.67%) it was found to be significantly less in the dexmedetomidine group (p<0.05). There were no statistically significant differences between two groups in the extubation time, ICU stay, total hospital stay, and other postoperative complications including hemodynamic side effects. Conclusion: This preliminary study suggests that dexmedetomidine as a postoperative sedative agent is associated with significantly lower rates of delirium after cardiac surgery.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.200-209
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• 2014

Background: Spinal opioid administration is an excellent option to separate the desirable analgesic effects of opioids from their expected dose-limiting side effects to improve postoperative analgesia. Therefore, physicians must better identify either specific opioids or adequate doses and routes of administration that result in a mainly spinal site of action rather than a cerebral analgesic one. Methods: The purpose of this topical review is to describe current available clinical evidence to determine what opioids reach high enough concentrations to produce spinally selective analgesia when given by epidural or intrathecal routes and also to make recommendations regarding their rational and safety use for the best management of postoperative pain. To this end, a search of Medline/Embase was conducted to identify all articles published up to December 2013 on this topic. Results: Recent advances in spinal opioid bioavailability, based on both animals and humans trials support the theory that spinal opioid bioavailability is inversely proportional to the drug lipid solubility, which is higher in hydrophilic opioids like morphine, diamorphine and hydromorphone than lipophilic ones like alfentanil, fentanyl and sufentanil. Conclusions: Results obtained from meta-analyses of RTCs is considered to be the 'highest' level and support their use. However, it's a fact that meta-analyses based on studies about treatment of postoperative pain should explore clinical surgery heterogeneity to improve patient's outcome. This observation forces physicians to use of a specific procedure surgical-based practical guideline. A vigilance protocol is also needed to achieve a good postoperative analgesia in terms of efficacy and security.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing Administration
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.270-278
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• 2016

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to develop a performance appraisal tool (PAT) for postoperative anesthesia care unit (PACU) nurses. Methods: This study was a descriptive, non-experimental methodological study. The PAT was developed through a literature review and tests for validity and reliability. Results: Subsequent to a review of the literature on nursing performance of PACU nurse, a 63 item questionnaire was developed. Through factor analysis, 61 items in 3 domains with 8 factors were derived. Cronbach's ${\alpha}$ coefficient of the final instrument was .99. Conclusion: This tool is an efficient PAT for PACU providing meaningful feedback for professional growth in PACU nurses.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.28 no.11
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• pp.977-982
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• 1995

Early repair of complex congenital heart malformation may lead to life-threatening respiratory and hemodynamic embarrassment on sternal closure. We performed delayed sternal closure in nine neonates to avoid a fatal outcome in these situations. Primary elective open sternum was used in 8 [66.7% and primary sternal closure in 4 [33.3% of the 12 patients studied. one patient with primary sternal closure underwent delayed sternal reopening in the intensive care unit. Of the 9 patients with open sternum, 2 patients died of low cardiac output and acute renal failure respectively before delayed sternal closure. 7 patients could undergo delayed sternal closures 3 days after initial operation. The mean age at open cardiac procedure was 14.3 days [range 3 to 30 and mean preoperative weight was 3.4kg [range 2.8 to 4.1 . The aortic cross-clamping time was longer in the group with open sternum than the group with closed sternum [p=0.042 . There was no morbidity and mortality related to delayed sternal closure. Given the low morbidity and potential benifits, this technique should be used in neonates after open heart procedures when postoperative mediastinal compression produces frank low cardiac output or respiratoy compromise during a trial of sternal closure.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.311-313
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• 1998

Continuous epidural catheter insertion is common practice in postoperative analgesia. Subarachnoid migration of epidural catheter is a rare complication. Presumed delayed subarachnoid migration of an epidural catheter occured in a 58-year-old female patient after subtotal gastrectomy. Delayed respiratory depression occured 7 hrs after transfer to admission room. She was intubated and had ventilatory care. The fluid from the epidural catheter was examined and the result showed that gucose was 107 mg% and protein was 31 mg%. Immediate naloxone administration and ventilatory care for one day was done. The patient discharged without any sequalae.

• Journal of Dental Anesthesia and Pain Medicine
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.53-53
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• 2023

• Journal of Korean Academy of Fundamentals of Nursing
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.362-369
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• 2009

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to identify effects of the BeHaS program on self esteem, fatigue and anxiety in postoperative care patients with breast cancer who had surgery with, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, with or without current hormone therapy. Methods: This study was a 2-group quasi-experimental research study with a pre and post test design. Fifty-four patients with breast cancer were assigned to the experimental (n=29) or control group (n=25). The BeHaS program which strengthens self esteem through support over a 90-minute period, consists of theme activity (30 minutes), education (15 minutes), group support (15 minutes) and exercise (30 minutes). The experimental group participated in the program once a week for 10 weeks, but the control group was not involved. Data were gathered from October to December, 2008 using a questionnaire with measures of self esteem, fatigue and anxiety. Data were analyzed using t-test with SPSS Win 12.0 to identify differences between the groups. Results: Self esteem was significantly increased (p= .001) and fatigue significantly decreased (p= .013) in the experimental group. But there was no significant difference in anxiety (p= .868). Conclusion: These results suggest that the BeHaS program for patients with breast cancer had beneficial effects on self esteem and fatigue.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.143-148
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• 2008

Objective: Postoperative delirium (POD) is characterized by an acute change in cognitive function and can result in longer hospital stays, higher morbidity rates, and more frequent discharges to long-term care facilities. In this study, we investigated the incidence and risk factors of POD in 224 patients older than 70 years of age, who had undergone a neurosurgical operation in the last two years. Methods: Data related to preoperative factors (male gender, >70 years, previous dementia or delirium, alcohol abuse, serum levels of sodium, potassium and glucose, and co-morbidities), perioperative factors (type of surgery and anesthesia, and duration of surgery) and postoperative data (length of stay in recovery room, severity of pain and use of opioid analgesics) were retrospectively collected and statistically analyzed. Results: POD appeared in 48 patients (21.4%) by postoperative day 3. When we excluded 26 patients with previous dementia or delirium, 17 spontaneously recovered by postoperative day 14, while 5 patients recovered by postoperative 2 months with medication, among 22 patients with newly developed POD. The univariate risk factors for POD included previously dementic or delirious patients, abnormal preoperative serum glucose level, pre-existent diabetes, the use of local anesthesia for the operation, longer operation time (>3.2 hr) or recovery room stay (>90 mini, and severe pain (VAS>6.8) requiring opioid treatment (p<0.05). Backward regression analysis revealed that previously dementic patients with diabetes, the operation being performed under local anesthesia, and severe postoperative pain treated with opioids were independent risk factors for POD. Conclusion: Our study shows that control of blood glucose levels and management of pain during local anesthesia and in the immediate postoperative period can reduce unexpected POD and help preventing unexpected medicolegal problems and economic burdens.

• Journal of Korean Clinical Nursing Research
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.47-59
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• 2008

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to compare the active pain management (APM) with structured physiotherapy (SPT) with the conservative care on postoperative pulmonary complications, pain, and comfort in children under three year. Method: A non-equivalent control group, non-synchronized design study was used. A total of 64 children participated in the study. The children in the experimental group (n=32) received APM with SPT after surgical operation. After transferred to the general unit, the parents were instructed to hold the child for 30 minutes to relieve anxiety and have him/her sleep comfortably for 2 hours. Scheduled 20 minutes chest percussion was performed by the parents for 2 days: twice every 4 hours, one in 6 hours, then one every 8 hours for the rest of two days. Analgesic was administered as needed. Pain and comfort were observed and recorded by nurses using the FLACC and COMFORT Behavior Scale. Results: One child in the control group was diagnosed with postoperative pneumonia. The children in the experimental group who were received the APM with SPT reported higher scores in comfort and lower scores in pain than those in the control group. Conclusion: The findings suggest that APM with SPT can help prevent postoperative pulmonary complications and pain.

• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.118-122
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• 2022

Although total ankle arthroplasty (TAA) has increased considerably in the past ten years, reflecting improvements in implant design and survivorship, the clinical outcomes have been less satisfactory than total hip or total knee arthroplasties. Several issues under debate include postoperative management and rehabilitation in TAA. Especially, there is no consensus or evidence for the most appropriate postoperative management and rehabilitation for patients undergoing TAA. This study was therefore undertaken to suggest appropriate postoperative management and rehabilitation in TAA, after reviewing published articles and focusing on the following topics: prehabilitation, hospital stay, immobilization type and duration, weight-bearing management, pharmacological treatment, and adopted rehabilitation protocols. In previous studies, the postoperative management and rehabilitation proposed depended on the surgeon's preference, the patient's characteristics, and the associated surgical procedures performed after TAA. Nonetheless, our research indicates the best approach is to include a prehabilitation program, immobilization in the early postoperative stage (2~4 weeks), range of motion exercise with partial weight-bearing ambulation, followed by full weight-bearing ambulation after six weeks. Further studies are required to develop a standardized rehabilitation protocol and improve the overall quality of care after TAA.