• Journal of the Korean Dietetic Association
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.21-30
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• 1995

Critically ill patients admitted in ICU and NCU were studied with respect to their nutritional status and support to them at initial period, and the effect of nutritional support after 3 weeks. The nutritional support was supplied to these patients with the enteral and parenteral nutrition. The results of biochemical test and status of nutritional support on 52(29 males, 23 females) critically ill patients were based on medical records and the anthropometry was measured on 28 patients. The subjects were in mild malnutrition. Their initial calorie intakes were 85% of BEE, 57% of total energy requirements and 49% of protein requirement were provided. Two groups, one group of serum albumin level more than 3.5g/dl and the other group of serum albumin level less than 3.5g/dl, were significant different in total calorie and protein intakes. After 3 weeks, inappropriate nutritional support in the group of normal nutrition results in significant decreasing of serum albumin level but, there were no changes in the group of malnutrition. Nutritional support is one of the mainstays in the management of these critically ill patients and is aimed at preventing malnutrition. Therefore, timely nutritional support is heavily required in cases of critically ill patients whether their initial nutritional status is normal or not.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.72 no.2
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• pp.117-123
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• 2012

Optimal level of sedation and analgesia is important for the comfort and safety of critically ill patients. However, suboptimal sedation is relatively common in the intensive care unit (ICU) and it could cause prolonged mechanical ventilation and ICU stay, also increase delirium and ICU acquired weakness and resultant decreased survival. Therefore, accurate assessment of the level of sedation and analgesia, maintaining adequate level of sedation, and daily evaluation of each patient and following adjustment could be important treatment strategy in critically ill patients. Recently, the strategy for sedation in the ICU is changing toward the direction of lowering sedation level or even "no sedation" with concurrent use of analgesics and the use of ultra short acting analgesics could be helpful in some patients. Clinicians should be aware of the importance of algorithmic approach including daily interruption of sedative and assessment of sedation level and especially in the patients under mechanical ventilation, organizational approaches such as the 'ABCDE' bundle could improve the management of critically ill patients.

• Journal of Korean Critical Care Nursing
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.79-88
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• 2010

Optimal nutrition serves to maintain normal organ function and to preserve body energy stores to guarantee survival during times of shortage of food. Adequate nutrition of intensive care unit (ICU) patients improves outcome, while malnutrition is strongly associated with increased morbidity and mortality rates among critically ill patients. Previously published researches showed that trials of nutritional support in critical illness rarely fulfill basic quality requirements. Nutrition support plays a vital role in the prevention and treatment of nutritional deficiencies in at-risk, critically ill patients. This paper reviewed the challenges in determining critically ill patients' nutrition requirements including nutrition assessment, determination of caloric requirements then providing them with adequate nutrition support while in the ICU with the guidelines published by Society of Critical Care Medicine and American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition. Nutrition support can be effectively enhanced by using the guidelines.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.67 no.1
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• pp.84-93
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• 2024

Objective : We aimed to examine trends in critically ill neurology-neurosurgery (NNS) patients who were admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) in South Korea and identify risk factors for in-hospital mortality after ICU admission in NNS patients. Methods : This nationwide population-based retrospective cohort study enrolled adult NNS adult patients admitted to the ICU from 2010 to 2019 extracted from the National Health Insurance Service in South Korea. The critically ill NNS patients were defined as those whose main admission departments were neurology or neurosurgery at ICU admission. The number of ICU admission, age, and total cost for hospitalization from 2010 to 2019 in critically ill NNS patients were examined as trend information. Moreover, multivariable logistic regression modeling was used to identify risk factors for in-hospital mortality among critically ill NNS patients. Results : We included 845474 ICU admission cases for 679376 critically ill NNS patients in South Korea between January 1, 2010 to December 31, 2019. The total number of ICU admissions among NNS patients was 79522 in 2010, which increased to 91502 in 2019. The mean age rose from 62.8 years (standard deviation [SD], 15.6) in 2010 to 66.6 years (SD, 15.2) in 2019, and the average total cost for hospitalization per each patient consistently increased from 6206.1 USD (SD, 5218.5) in 2010 to 10745.4 USD (SD, 10917.4) in 2019. In-hospital mortality occurred in 75455 patients (8.9%). Risk factors strongly associated with increased in-hospital mortality were the usage of mechanical ventilator (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 19.83; 95% confidence interval [CI], 19.42-20.26; p<0.001), extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (aOR, 3.49; 95% CI, 2.42-5.02; p<0.001), and continuous renal replacement therapy (aOR, 6.47; 95% CI, 6.02-6.96; p<0.001). In addition, direct admission to ICU from the emergency room (aOR, 1.38; 95% CI, 1.36-1.41; p<0.001) and brain cancer as the main diagnosis (aOR, 1.30; 95% CI, 1.22-1.39; p<0.001) are also potential risk factors for increased in-hospital mortality. Conclusion : In South Korea, the number of ICU admissions increased among critically ill NNS patients from 2010 to 2019. The average age and total costs for hospitalization also increased. Some potential risk factors are found to increase in-hospital mortality among critically ill NNS patients.

• Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.247-256
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• 2013

Purpose: This study aimed to determine the effects of listening to music on pain and vital signs of critically ill patients with ventilatory support in intensive care units during nursing treatment (changes of posture and tracheal suction). Methods: The experimental treatment was to use an mp3 player and a speaker to let them listen to classical music by Mozart during nursing treatment. To determine the effects of music intervention, pain (Critical-Care Pain Observation Tool-K) was used. The data analysis was carried out by using PASW Statistics 20.0. Results: Hypothesis "The scores for pain would differ between the experimental group provided with music intervention during nursing treatment, and the control group" was supported. Conclusion: Application of music intervention during nursing treatment for critically ill patients with ventilatory support in intensive care units was found to be effective in reducing pain. Therefore, music intervention during nursing treatment for critically ill patients with ventilatory support can be used as non-pharmaceutical nursing intervention to reduce pain for the patients.

• Journal of the Korean Home Economics Association
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.1-10
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• 2007

The current study used the critical science paradigm to explore the kinds of oppression experienced by the families of patients in hospitals, and to suggest how the practices should be changed for problem solving. Ethnographic observations and individual interviews were peformed for data collection from the 25 family members of critically ill patients. The results revealed the powerlessness of patients' families caused by multiple oppressions. They were struggling with family-unfriendly hospital systems, negative interactions with medical staff, limited supports from health care systems, and their own resignation to fate. Strategies were discussed to facilitate changes in institutional, humane, policy, and religious/spiritual aspect. The study findings will contribute to promoting the rights of patients' families.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.84 no.3
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• pp.176-181
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• 2021

At the beginning of February 2020, Daegu faced a serious situation due to the rapid outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), which is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2. The healthcare system in Daegu Metropolitan City was ill-prepared for this sudden disaster situation. The COVID-19 pandemic is still ongoing in South Korea. Daegu has limited medical resources compared to the Seoul Metropolitan Area, and it is hypothesized that a review of the outbreak therein could provide information that will be valuable for dealing with future outbreaks. The likelihood of death due to COVID-19 depends on the capacity of the area for the treatment of critically ill patients. This report reviews the overall treatment process followed for critically ill patients in Daegu.

• Journal of Korean Critical Care Nursing
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.12-22
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• 2018

Purpose : This methodological study develops an oral health assessment tool for critically ill patients. Method : From February 15 to April 30, 2014, this study was conducted to test the validity and reliability of the tool at two general hospitals and three medical and surgical intensive care units (ICUs) in Seoul, Korea. Results : The result of the intraclass correlation coefficient to test the between-observer reliability by analyzing the oral health assessment scores before and after oral nursing care showed that .93 of before oral care and .90 of after oral care. The correlation coefficient values of .68 (p<.001) and .71 (p<.001) before and after providing oral nursing care, respectively, indicated the presence of a statistically significant correlation between the tool and the criterion. Using the paired t-test, the differentiated validity of the tool was tested in patients who had developed pneumonia after entering the ICU. A statistically significant difference in scores was found between the time of entering the ICU and that of developing pneumonia (t=-8.73, p<.001), which provided evidence for the differentiated validity of the tool. Conclusions : Since the validity and reliability of the tool developed in this study were verified, this tool can be used to assess the oral health conditions of critically ill patients.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.5 no.5
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• pp.450-454
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• 2011

The beneficial effects of total parenteral nutrition (TPN) in improving the nutritional status of malnourished patients during hospital stays have been well established. However, recent randomized trials and meta-analyses have reported an increased rate of TPN-associated complications and mortality in critically ill patients. The increased risk of complications during TPN therapy has been linked to the development of hyperglycemia, especially during the first few days of TPN therapy. This retrospective study was conducted to determine whether the amount of dextrose from TPN in the 1st week in the intensive care unit (ICU) was related to the development of hyperglycemia and the clinical outcome. We included 88 non-diabetic critically ill patients who stayed in the medical ICU for more than two days. The subjects were 65 ${\pm}$ 16 years old, and the mean APACHE (Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation) II score upon admission was 20.9${\pm}$7.1. The subjects received 2.3${\pm}$1.4 g/kg/day of dextrose intravenously. We divided the subjects into two groups according to the mean blood glucose (BG) level during the 1st week of ICU stay: <140 mg/dl vs ${\geq}$ 140 mg/dl. Baseline BG and the amount of dextrose delivered via TPN were significantly higher in the hyperglycemia group than those in the normoglycemia group. Mortality was higher in the hyperglycemia group than in the normoglycemia group (42.4% vs 12.8%, P=0.008). The amount of dextrose from TPN was the only significant variable in the multiple linear regression analysis, which included age, APACHE II score, baseline blood glucose concentration and dextrose delivery via TPN as independent variables. We concluded that the amount of dextrose delivered via TPN might be associated with the development of hyperglycemia in critically ill patients without a history of diabetes mellitus. The amount of dextrose in TPN should be decided and adapted carefully to maintain blood glucose within the target range.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.38 no.6
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• pp.874-880
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• 2008

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify muscle atrophy in critically ill patients on ventilators. A comparison was made between limb circumferences and muscle areas on the day of admission to an intensive care unit (ICU) and on the 8th day after admission. Methods: The data were collected from 30 critically ill patients using ventilators at S hospital ICU in Seoul during the period from October 2005 to April 2006. Limb circumferences and skinfold thickness were measured on the day of admission and on the 8th day after admission to the ICU. Limb circumferences and skinfold thickness were measured on the right mid-arm, right mid-thigh, and right mid-calf using a measuring tape and a skinfold calipers. Limb muscle areas were calculated by an equation after measuring limb circumferences and skinfold thickness. The data were analyzed by paired t-test and independent t-test. Results: 1) Mid-arm circumference, mid-thigh circumference and mid-calf circumference on the 8th day after admission to the ICU were significantly less than those on the day of admission to the ICU, 2) Mid-arm muscle area, mid-thigh muscle area and mid-calf muscle area on the 8th day after admission to the ICU were significantly less than those on the day of admission to the ICU, 3) Steroid and vecuronium medication didn't affect changes in limb circumferences (mid-arm, mid-thigh, mid-calf) and muscle areas (mid-arm, mid-thigh, mid-calf on the 8th day after admission to the ICU compared to the day of admission. Conclusion: Limb muscle atrophy may occur on the 8th day after admission to the ICU in critically ill patients using ventilator.