• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.83 no.2
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• pp.147-156
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• 2020

Background: Limited studies have been performed to assess readmission following hospitalization for community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in an Asian population. We evaluated the rates, reasons, and risk factors for 30-day readmission following hospitalization for CAP in the general adult population of Korea. Methods: We performed a retrospective observational study of 1,021 patients with CAP hospitalized at Yeungnam University from March 2012 to February 2014. The primary end point was all-cause hospital readmission within 30 days following discharge after the initial hospitalization. Hospital readmission was classified as pneumonia-related or pneumonia-unrelated readmission. Results: During the study period, 862 patients who survived to hospital discharge were eligible for inclusion and among them 72 (8.4%) were rehospitalized within 30 days. In the multivariable analysis, pneumonia-related readmission was associated with para/hemiplegia, malignancy, pneumonia severity index class ≥4 and clinical instability ≥1 at hospital discharge. Comorbidities such as chronic lung disease and chronic kidney disease, treatment failure, and decompensation of comorbidities were associated with the pneumonia-unrelated 30-day readmission rate. Conclusion: Rehospitalizations within 30 days following discharge were frequent among patients with CAP. The risk factors for pneumonia-related and -unrelated readmission were different. Aspiration prevention, discharge at the optimal time, and close monitoring of comorbidities may reduce the frequency of readmission among patients with CAP.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.327-337
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• 2012

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to report the clinical effect of short- term admission program on primary palmar/plantar hyperhidrosis in children and adolescents. Methods : Between January 2011 and January 2012, a total of 11 patients with clinical diagnosis of primary palmar/plantar hyperhidrosis were treated with hospitalization which consisted of iontophoresis, electro-acupuncture, herbal medicine, topical therapy and physical therapy. The effects were evaluated as quality of life with dermatology life quality index (DLQI), severity of discomfort using visual analogue scale (VAS), and the patients' subjective satisfaction. We analyzed the patients' improvement before and after admission treatment, as well as six month later. Results : After treatment, the 11 patients' quality of life and severity of discomfort improved significantly. They also were satisfied with oriental treatments for hyper hidrosis. Six months later, 6 of 11 patients had visited the hyperhidrosis clinic. Their symptoms had improved and remained stable. Conclusions : The short-term admission program is effective on primary palmar/plantar hyperhidrosis. Further studies with a larger number of cases will be needed in the future.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.65 no.4
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• pp.188-193
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• 2022

Background: Respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) is a common cause of hospitalization and death in preterm infants who require surfactant treatment and respiratory support. Purpose: This study aimed to compare the clinical outcomes of minimally invasive surfactant therapy (MIST) and the INtubation, SURfactant administration, and Extubation (INSURE) technique in preterm infants with RDS. Methods: In this clinical trial, 112 preterm infants born at 28-36 weeks of gestation and diagnosed with RDS randomly received 200-mg/kg surfactant by MIST or the INSURE method. In the MIST group, surfactant was administered using a thin catheter (5F feeding tube); in the INSURE group, surfactant was administered after intubation using a feeding tube and the tracheal tube was removed after positive pressure ventilation was started. Nasal continuous positive airway pressure was applied in both groups for respiratory support and the postprocedure clinical outcomes were compared. Results: The mean hospitalization time was shorter for infants in the MIST group than for those in the INSURE group (9.19±1.72 days vs. 10.21±2.15 days, P=0.006). Patent ductus arteriosus was less frequent in the MIST group (14.3% vs. 30.4%, P=0.041). Desaturation during surfactant administration occurred less commonly in the MIST group (19.6% vs. 39.3%, P=0.023). There were no significant intergroup differences in other early or late complications. Conclusion: These results suggest that surfactant administration using MIST could be a good replacement for INSURE in preterm infants with RDS since its use reduced the hospitalization time and the number of side effects.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.58 no.7
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• pp.245-250
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• 2015

Purpose: Wheezing following viral lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs) in children <2 years of age is an important risk factor for the development of asthma later in life; however, not all children with viral LRTIs develop wheezing. This study investigated risk factors for the development of wheezing during viral LRTIs requiring hospitalization. Methods: The study included 142 children <2 years of age hospitalized for LRTIs with at least one virus identified as the cause and classified them into children diagnosed with LRTIs with wheezing (n=70) and those diagnosed with LRTIs without wheezing (n=72). Results: There were no significant differences in the viruses detected between the two groups. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that, after adjusting for potentially confounding variables including sex and age, the development of wheezing was strongly associated with parental history of allergic diseases (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 20.19; 95% confidence interval [CI], 3.22-126.48), past history of allergic diseases (aOR, 13.95; 95% CI, 1.34-145.06), past history of hospitalization for respiratory illnesses (aOR, 21.36; 95% CI, 3.77-120.88), exposure to secondhand smoke at home (aOR, 14.45; 95% CI, 4.74-44.07), and total eosinophil count (aOR, 1.01; 95% CI, 1.01-1.02). Conclusion: Past and parental history of allergic diseases, past history of hospitalization for respiratory illnesses, exposure to secondhand smoke at home, and total eosinophil count were closely associated with the development of wheezing in children <2 years of age who required hospitalization for viral LRTIs. Clinicians should take these factors into consideration when treating, counseling, and monitoring young children admitted for viral LRTIs.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.59 no.12
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• pp.471-476
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• 2016

Purpose: Chest radiography is often performed on patients hospitalized with typical clinical manifestations of bronchiolitis. We aimed to determine the proportion of subjects with pathologic chest radiographic findings and the clinical predictors associated with pathologic chest radiographic findings in young children admitted with the typical presentation of bronchiolitis. Methods: We obtained the following data at admission: sex, age, neonatal history, past history of hospitalization for respiratory illnesses, heart rate, respiratory rate, the presence of fever, total duration of fever, oxygen saturation, laboratory parameters (i.e., complete blood cell count, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein [hs-CRP], etc.), and chest radiography. Results: The study comprised 279 young children. Of these, 26 had a chest radiograph revealing opacity (n=24) or atelectasis (n=2). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that after adjustment for confounding factors, the clinical predictors associated with pathologic chest radiographic findings in young children admitted with bronchiolitis were elevated hs-CRP level (>0.3 mg/dL) and past history of hospitalization for respiratory illnesses (all P<0.05). Conclusion: The current study suggests that chest radiographs in young children with typical clinical manifestations of bronchiolitis have limited value. Nonetheless, young children with clinical factors such as high hs-CRP levels at admission or past history of hospitalization for respiratory illnesses may be more likely to have pathologic chest radiographic findings.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.62 no.6
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• pp.554-559
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• 2007

A 29-year-old female patient presented with exertional dyspnea that she had suffered with for 2 months. The chest X-ray displayed right pleural effusion that was diagnosed as chyle, according to the level of cholesterol and triglyceride in the pleural fluid. VATS (video assisted thoracic surgery) of the right lung was performed on the 7th day of hospitalization for obtaining a lung biopsy and to control the of pneumochylothorax. On the 11th hospitalization day, VATS of left lung was also performed to control the recurrent pneumothorax via pleurodesis. The lung biopsy showed moderate amounts of spindle-shaped and rounded cells (so-called LAM cells), which were reactive to actin and HMB45 (on immunohistochemical stains). We report here on a rare case of lymphangioleiomyomatosis combined with chylothorax and bilateral pneumothroraces.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.79 no.3
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• pp.179-183
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• 2016

A 59-year-old man presented with acute dyspnea following sudden productive cough and expectoration of a full cup of "blood-tinged" sputum. He had been diagnosed with hepatitis B virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma and had received transarterial chemoembolization 5 years ago for a 20-cm hepatic mass; he denied any history of hematemesis and the last esophagogastroduodenoscopy from a year ago showed absence of varix. Chest computed tomography (CT) with angiography showed new appearance of right basal lung consolidation but no bleeding focus. Despite the use of systemic antibiotics, the patient developed respiratory failure on day 7 of hospitalization. After intubation, a massive amount of brown sputum with anchovy-paste-like consistency was suctioned via the endotracheal tube. Bronchoscopic toileting was performed and the patient was extubated. In the ward, he continued to expectorate the brown sputum. On day 25 of hospitalization, a repeat CT scan showed simultaneous disappearance of the pneumonic consolidation and the necrotic fluid within the hepatic mass, suggesting the presence of a fistula. He has continued to receive systemic antibiotics, sorafenib, and entecavir, and follow up by respiratory and hepato-oncology specialists.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.322-327
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• 2019

Purpose: This study examined the influence of the maximal aerobic capacity on the two-year cardiac-related re-hospitalization in patients with heart failure with a reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) in Korean society. Methods: The maximal aerobic capacity of the study population (n=95, male 63%) was evaluated using a cardiopulmonary exercise (CPX) testing system. Each patient was followed up for two years to divide the HFrEF patients into two groups according to cardiac-related re-hospitalization: re-hospitalization (RH) group (n=29, 30%) and no re-hospitalization (NRH) group (n=66, 70%). Results: The relative peak $VO_2$ (mL/kg/min, p<0.001), exercise duration (p<0.001), respiratory exchange ratio ($VCO_2/VO_2$, p=0.001), systolic blood pressure (SBP) reserve (p=0.004), heart rate (HR) reserve (p=0.007), SBP max (p=0.02), and HR max (p=0.039) were significantly lower in the RH group than the NRH group during the CPX test. On the other hand, the ventilatory efficiency (VE/VCO2 slope, p=0.02) and age (p=0.022) were significantly higher in the RH group than in the NRH group. In binary logistic regression analysis, the relative peak $VO_2$ (p=0.001, Wald Chi-square 10.137) was the strongest predictive factor on cardiac-related re-hospitalization, which was followed by $VCO_2/VO_2$ (p=0.019, Wald Chi-square 5.54). On the other hand, age (p=0.063, Wald Chi-square 3.445) did not have a significant influence on cardiac related re-hospitalization. Conclusion: The maximal aerobic capacity, especially the relative peak $VO_2$, is the strongest factor on cardiac-related re-hospitalization within two years in patients with HFrEF in Korean society.

• Korean journal of aerospace and environmental medicine
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.17-20
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• 2021

As the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic continues, doctors face many difficulties in managing patients with respiratory allergies. As research continues, much new knowledge has emerged about the link between COVID-19 infection and respiratory allergies. Studies to date have shown that there is no significant increase in the risk of COVID-19 infection in patients with respiratory allergies. However, in patients undergoing treatment for moderate to severe asthma or allergic rhinitis, more severe clinical manifestations, increased hospitalization period, and increased mortality may occur, so patients need to be managed with more care. In addition to personal efforts, social consideration should be accompanied to prevent deterioration in patients' quality of life with respiratory allergies due to COVID-19. Lastly, as clinical doctors, we should treat patients with respiratory allergies to protect ourselves appropriately by actively utilizing remote medical treatment and minimizing tests that generate droplets. Also, by appropriately educating patients and continuing drug treatment, efforts should be made to ensure that patients receive the best treatment even in a pandemic situation.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.326-330
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• 1984

Congenital Cystic Adenomatoid Malformation [C.C.A.M], one of lung bud anomalies, is an unusual lesion, only about 200 cases baring been reported by 1980, and characterized by marked proliferation of terminal respiratory structures. Recently we experienced two infants with C.C.A,M., whose clinical courses were quite different. On case 1, the patient was 25-day-old female, and suffered from progressive respiratory distress for 10 days duration. A right middle lobectomy was performed, with a satisfactory postoperative course. On case II, the patient was 7omonth-old male, and admitted for evaluation of known pulmonary anomaly, which was detected for the first time during hospitalization for treatment of pneumonia at 1 month of his age. He underwent a lingular segmentectomy, but died of respiratory insufficiency on postop 10th day. We believe that awareness of the presence of C.C.A.M. is important in making the differential diagnosis of progressive respiratory disease or of recurrent pulmonary infection in infants.