• Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.116-122
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• 2020

Acute respiratory failure is an important risk factor for mortality in patients with acute pesticide poisoning. Therefore, it is necessary to investigate the risk factors to predict respiratory failure in these patients. This study retrospectively investigated the clinical features of respiratory failure among patients with acute pesticide poisoning requiring mechanical ventilation. This study included patients who were admitted with intentional poisoning by pesticide ingestion from January 2017 to December 2019. Paraquat intoxication was excluded. Among 469 patients with acute pesticide poisoning, 398 patients were enrolled in this study. The respiratory failure rate was 30.4%. The rate of respiratory failure according to the type of pesticide was carbamate (75.0%), organophosphate (52.6%), glufosinate (52.1%), glyphosate (23%), pyrethroid (8.9%), and others (17%). The mortality was 25.6% in the respiratory failure group. The risk factors for respiratory failure were old age, low body mass index, and ingestion of more than 300 mL. In conclusion, respiratory failure is a risk factor for mortality in pesticide poisoning. Old age, low body mass index, and ingestion of more than 300 mL are the risk factors for predicting respiratory failure.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.363-371
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• 1999

Background: Because of the widespread use and availability of agricultural insecticides, acute organophosphate poisoning as a suicide or an accident is becoming the most common type of poisoning and serious problem in Korea. The mortality of organophosphate poisoning varied from 10 to 86 percent. The cause of death was thought to be a combination of excessive bronchial secretion, bronchospasm, respiratory muscle paralysis and depression of respiratory center, summarily respiratory failure. We evaluated the respiratory complications in patients with acute organophosphate intoxication to determine the predisposing, factors to respiratory failure and to reduce the incidence of respiratory failure or mortality. Method: We conducted a retrospective study of 111 patients with the discharge diagnosis of organophosphate poisoning who were hospitalized at Yenugnam University Hospital during the 5 years. The diagnosis of organophosphate poisoning has based on the followings (1) a history of exposure to an organophosphate compounds. (2) the characteristic clinical signs and symptoms. (3) decrease in the cholinesterase activity in the serum. Results: Respiratory failure developed in 31(28%) of 111 patients with acute organophosphate poisoning. All cases of respiratory failure developed within 96 hours after poisoning and within 24 hours in 23 patients. The 80 patients who did not develop respiratory failure survived. In 31 patients with respiratory failure, 15(44%) patients were dead. The patients with respiratory failure had more severe poisoning, that is, the lower level of serum cholinesterase activity on arrival, the higher mean dosage of atropine administered within first 24 hours. In 16 patients with pneumonia, 14 patients developed respiratory failure. In 5 patients with cardiovascular collapse, 2 patients developed respiratory failure. There was no correlation to between age, sex, the use of pralidoxime and respiratory failure. The serum cholinesterase level in survivors at time of respiratory failure and weaning was $66.05{\pm}85.48U/L$, $441{\pm}167.49U/L$, respectively. Conclusion: All the respiratory failure complications of acute organophosphate poisoning occurred during the first 96 hours after exposure. The severity of poisoning and pneumonia were the predisposing factors to respiratory failure. Aggressive treatment and prevention of the above factors will reduce the incidence of respiratory failure.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.60-62
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• 1994

Pulmonary edema and respiratory failure is uncommon but fatal complications associated with major operations of the lung, especially after pneumonectomy. The extracorporeal membrane oxygenation[ECMO] is quite often used in infants with severe respiratory failure and congenital heart disease which is well documented in the literature. In adults, the results of ECMO is comparatively poor to those found in neonates. We have experienced a case of ECMO applied on a 48 year old male who had respiratory failure after pneumonectomy, and the patient was successfully weaned from bypass. Unfortunately however, the patient expired on postoperative 15 day due to multiorgan failure.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.200-204
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• 1991

Neurolytic splanchnic nerve block is a relatively safe and effective method for the relief of intractable pain caused by upper abdominal cancer. We have experienced a case of severe acute respiratory failure during splanchnic nerve block under control of X-ray fluoroscopy. We think that the most likely cause of the acute respiratory failure was an asthmatic attack due to anxiety and dyspnea from the injury or stimulation of the diaphragm and pleura in this case.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.409-417
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• 1984

In the early days of open heart surgery, acute respiratory failure following extracorporeal circulation was a significant deterrent to an uncomplicated recovery. Although a marked improvement in prevention and treatment of postoperative respiratory failure has been achieved, the problem has not been completely eliminated and continues to be a causative factor in morbidity and mortality Fates following open heart surgery. We have attempted to evaluate postoperative respiratory failure in patients undergoing cardiac operation with the aid of extracorporeal circulation. Our series comprised 92 patients who underwent elective open heart surgery at the Department of Thoracic and Cariodvascular Surgery, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, from January, 1980 to December, 1982. In our study, the overall incidence of acute respiratory failure following open heart surgery was 18.8 percent. The duration of extracorporeal circulation in a series of 18 patients who developed postoperative respiratory failure [Group B] was longer in the mean value [120.3 minutes] than the uncomplicated 74 patients [Group A] [85.8 minutes]. The duration of artificial ventilation after open heart surgery in Group A averaged 13.4 hours as contrasted with 76.5 hours in Group B. In Group B, the inspired oxygen concentration [FiO2] in artificial ventilation was continued in the higher level than Group A until 18 hours after operation. Upon pulmonary function test performed pre-and postoperatively, residual volume[RV], RV/TLC and FEV 1.0/FVC were remained essentially unchanged following extracorporeal circulation, whereas forced vital capacity [FVC], FEV 1.0 and FEF 25-75% were significantly decreased in the early postoperative days. The incidence of acute respiratory failure was significantly higher in a series of patients who developed postoperative complications, such as re- exploration due to massive bleeding, low cardiac output, acute renal failure and arrhythmias. A total of 9 patients died, giving an overall mortality was 33.3 percent whereas the mortality was only 1.1 percent for patients without respiratory failure.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.67 no.3
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• pp.249-253
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• 2009

On 7 December 2007, the Hebei Spirit ran aground near Taean and released approximately 10,900 tons of oil into the sea. Crude oil on the coastal areas and fumes in the air increased the number of health problems among the local population. We report a case of respiratory failure after the oil spill clean-up work. A 66-year-old female was admitted to hospital with cough, sputum, and dyspnea of 1-month duration after the oil spill clean-up. She was diagnosed with community-acquired pneumonia and treated with empirical antibiotics. However, she had progressive respiratory failure without identification of the pathogen. Respiratory failure due to chronic inhalation of hydrocarbons from the crude oil spill clean-up was suspected. After mechanical ventilation care, she recovered from respiratory failure and was discharged. We report a case of severe respiratory toxic effects after an oil spill clean-up. We concluded that long-term hydrocarbon inhalation during the oil spill clean-up may have induced respiratory failure in this case.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.48 no.12
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• pp.1310-1316
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• 2005

Mechanical ventilation in children has some differences compared to in neonates or in adults. The indication of mechanical ventilation can be classified into two groups, hypercapnic respiratory failure and hypoxemic respiratory failure. The strategies of mechanical ventilation should be different in these two groups. In hypercapnic respiratory failure, volume target ventilation with constant flow is favorable and pressure target ventilation with constant pressure is preferred in hypoxemic respiratory failure. For oxygenation, fraction of inspired oxygen($FiO_2$) and mean airway pressure(MAP) can be adjusted. MAP is more important than FiO2. Positive end expiratory pressure(PEEP) is the most potent determinant of MAP. The optimal relationship of $FiO_2$ and PEEP is PEEP≒$FiO_2{\times}20$. For ventilation, minute volume of ventilation(MV) product of tidal volume(TV) and ventilation frequency is the most important factor. TV has an maximum value up to 15 mL/kg to avoid the volutrauma, so ventilation frequency is more important. The time constant(TC) in children is usually 0.15-0.2. Adequate inspiratory time is 3TC, and expiratory time should be more than 5TC. In some severe respiratory failure, to get 8TC for one cycle is impossible because of higher frequency. In such case, permissive hypercapnia can be considered. The strategy of mechanical ventilation should be adjusted gradually even in the same patient according to the status of the patient. Mechanical ventilators and ventilation modes are progressing with advances in engineering. But the most important thing in mechanical ventilation is profound understanding about the basic pulmonary mechanics and classic ventilation modes.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.82 no.3
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• pp.242-250
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• 2019

Background: Data on noninvasive ventilation (NIV) use in intensive care units (ICUs) are very limited in South Korea. Methods: A prospective observational study was performed in 20 ICUs of university-affiliated hospitals from June 2017 to February 2018. Adult patients (age>18 years) who were admitted to the ICU and received NIV treatment for acute respiratory failure were included. Results: A total of 156 patients treated with NIV were enrolled (mean age, $71.9{\pm}11.6years$). The most common indications for NIV were acute hypercapnic respiratory failure (AHRF, n=89) and post-extubation respiratory failure (n=44). The main device for NIV was an invasive mechanical ventilator with an NIV module (61.5%), and the majority of patients (87.2%) used an oronasal mask. After the exclusion of 32 do-not-resuscitate patients, NIV success rate was 68.5% (85/124); ICU and hospital mortality rates were 8.9% and 15.3%, respectively. However, the success rate was lower in patients with de novo respiratory failure (27.3%) compared to that of patients with AHRF (72.8%) or post-extubation respiratory failure (75.0%). In multivariate analysis, immunocompromised state, de novo respiratory failure, post-NIV (2 hours) respiratory rate, NIV mode (i.e., non-pressure support ventilation mode), and the change of NIV device were significantly associated with a lower success rate of NIV. Conclusion: AHRF and post-extubation respiratory failure were the most common indications for NIV in Korean ICUs. Overall NIV success was achieved in 68.5% of patients, with the lowest rate in patients with de novo respiratory failure.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.81 no.2
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• pp.99-105
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• 2018

Acute exacerbation(s) of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) tend to be critical and debilitating events leading to poorer outcomes in relation to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) treatment modalities, and contribute to a higher and earlier mortality rate in COPD patients. Besides pro-active preventative measures intended to obviate acquisition of AECOPD, early recovery from severe AECOPD is an important issue in determining the long-term prognosis of patients diagnosed with COPD. Updated GOLD guidelines and recently published American Thoracic Society/European Respiratory Society clinical recommendations emphasize the importance of use of pharmacologic treatment including bronchodilators, systemic steroids and/or antibiotics. As a non-pharmacologic strategy to combat the effects of AECOPD, noninvasive ventilation (NIV) is recommended as the treatment of choice as this therapy is thought to be most effective in reducing intubation risk in patients diagnosed with AECOPD with acute respiratory failure. Recently, a few adjunctive modalities, including NIV with helmet and helium-oxygen mixture, have been tried in cases of AECOPD with respiratory failure. As yet, insufficient documentation exists to permit recommendation of this therapy without qualification. Although there are too few findings, as yet, to allow for regular andr routine application of those modalities in AECOPD, there is anecdotal evidence to indicate both mechanical and physiological benefits connected with this therapy. High-flow nasal cannula oxygen therapy is another supportive strategy which serves to improve the symptoms of hypoxic respiratory failure. The therapy also produced improvement in ventilatory variables, and it may be successfully applied in cases of hypercapnic respiratory failure. Extracorporeal carbon dioxide removal has been successfully attempted in cases of adult respiratory distress syndrome, with protective hypercapnic ventilatory strategy. Nowadays, it is reported that it was also effective in reducing intubation in AECOPD with hypercapnic respiratory failure. Despite the apparent need for more supporting evidence, efforts to improve efficacy of NIV have continued unabated. It is anticipated that these efforts will, over time, serve toprogressively decrease the risk of intubation and invasive mechanical ventilation in cases of AECOPD with acute respiratory failure.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.78 no.2
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• pp.85-91
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• 2015

Background: In sepsis patients, target mean arterial pressures (MAPs) greater than 65 mm Hg are recommended. However, there is no such recommendation for patients receiving mechanical ventilation. We aimed to evaluate the influence of MAP over the first 24 hours after intensive care unit (ICU) admission on the mortality rate at 60 days post-admission in patients showing acute hypoxemic respiratory failure under mechanical ventilation. Methods: This prospective, multicenter study included 22 ICUs and compared the mortality and clinical outcomes in patients showing acute hypoxemic respiratory failure with high (75-90 mm Hg) and low (65-74.9 mm Hg) MAPs over the first 24 hours of admission to the ICU. Results: Of the 844 patients with acute hypoxemic respiratory failure, 338 had a sustained MAP of 65-90 mm Hg over the first 24 hours of admission to the ICU. At 60 days, the mortality rates in the low (26.2%) and high (24.5%) MAP groups were not significantly different. The ICU days, hospital days, and 60-day mortality rate did not differ between the groups. Conclusion: In the first 24 hours of ICU admission, MAP range between 65 and 90 mm Hg in patients with acute hypoxemic respiratory failure under mechanical ventilation may not cause significantly differences in 60-day mortality.