• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.67 no.3
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• pp.205-211
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• 2009

Background: Serum procalcitonin level has been considered prognostic during sepsis and septic shock. We investigated the significance of procalcitonin in critically ill patients with respiratory infections. Methods: The patients who had radiographically diagnosed diffuse lung infiltrations were enrolled on a prospective basis. Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid for the purpose of quantitative cultures (${\geq}10^4$ cfu/mL) was obtained from all patients. Serum procalcitonin levels determined by PCT-Q kit were measured on BAL day and classified as follows; <0.5 ng/mL, 0.5~2.0 ng/mL, 2.0~10.0 ng/mL and >10.0 ng/mL. We analyzed the patient's characteristics according to outcome; favorable or unfavorable, defined as death. Results: Patients from the following categories were included: medical 17 (47.2%), surgical 9 (25%), and burned 10 (27.8%). APACHE II scores on admission to intensive care unit were 11.5${\pm}$6.89 and 11 (30.6%) had unfavorable outcomes. A procalcitonin level ${\geq}$0.5 ng/mL was in 17 (47.2%) of all. On univariate analysis, the frequencies of burn injury, mechanical ventilation, multiple organ failure, and a procalcitonin level ${\geq}$0.5 ng/mL were more often increased in patients with unfavorable outcomes than in those with favorable outcomes (p<.05). Also, a higher procalcitonin range and ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) were more closely associated with an unfavorable outcome (p<.05). However in multivariate analysis, a strong predictor of unfavorable outcome was burn injury (p<.05). A procalcitonin level ${\geq}$0.5 ng/mL was more sensitive in predicting VAP than unfavorable outcome. Conclusion: A higher procalcitonin level seems to be associated with VAP, but further study is required to know that procalcitonin would be a prognostic marker in critically ill patients with respiratory infections.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.44 no.6
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• pp.1326-1331
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• 1997

Background : Weaning is the process of switching a patient from mechanical ventilator to spontaneous breathing. A number of different weaning techniques can be employed. At recent study, conventional spontaneous breathing trial was superior to other techniques, such as intermittent mandatory ventilation(IMV) or pressure support ventilation(PSV). But adequate observation time of the spontaneous breathing trial was not determined. We reported the effectiveness of weaning and extubation following a 60 minutes spontaneous breathing trial with simple oxygen supply through the endotrachial tube. In this study, we tried to shorten the spontaneous breathing time from 60 minutes to 30 minutes. If weaning success was predicted after 30 minutes spontaneous breathing, extubation was done without reconnection with ventilator. Methodes : Subjects consisted of 42 mechanically ventilated patients from August 1994 to July 1995. The weaning trial was done when the patients recovered sufficiently from respiratory failure that originally required ventilatory assistance, the patients became alert and showed stable vital sign, and arterial $O_2$ tension was adequated($PaO_2$ > 55 mmHg) with less than 40% of inspired oxygen fraction. We conducted a careful physical examination when the patients was breathing spontaneously through the endobronchial tube for 30 minutes. We terminated the trial if a patients was any of following signs of distress; cyanosis, diaphoresis, tachypnea(above 30 breaths per minute), and extreme tachycardia. Patients who had none of this features during spontaneous breathing for 30 minutes were extubated promptly. Result : 17 weaning trials of 15 patients were done in 42 mechanically ventilated patients. Successful weaning and extubation was possible in 14 trials of total 17 trials. In this 14 patients, 8 patients were extubated after 30 minutes spontaneous breathing, 3 patients were extubated after 60 minutes spontaneous breathing, and 3 patients needed over 3 hours for extubation from weaning. We found similar overall success rate compared with weaning following a 60 minutes spontaneous breathing trial. Conclusion : From the result of present study, we believe that weaning and extubation from mechanical ventilation following a 30 minutes spontaneous breathing with $O_2$ supply through the endotracheal tube is a simple and effective method.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.43 no.6
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• pp.987-996
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• 1996

Background : We prospectively evaluated the applicability and effect of noninvasive ventilation (NIV) in acute respiratory failure and tried to find out the parameters that could predict successful application of NIV. Methods : Twenty-six out of 106 patients with either acute ventilatory failure (VF: $PaCO_2$ > 43 mm Hg with pH < 7.35) or oxygenation failure (OF: $PaO_2/AO_2$ < 300 mm Hg with $pH{\geq}7.35$) requiring mechanical ventilation were managed by NIV (CPAP + pressure suppon, or BiPAP) with face mask. Eleven out of 19 cases with VF (57.9%) (M : F=7 : $55.4{\pm}14.6$ yrs) and 15 out of 87 cases with OF (17.2%) (M : F=12 : 3, $50.6{\pm}15.6$ yrs) were s uilable for NIY. Respiratory rates, arterial blood gases and success rate of NIV were analyzed in each group. Results: 81.8% (9/11) of YF and 40% (6/15) of OF were successfully managed on NIV and were weruled from mechanical ventilator without resorting to endotracheal intubation. Complications were noted in 2 cases (nasal skin necrosis 1, gaseous gastric distension 1). In NIV for ventilatory failure, the respiration rate was significantly decreased at 12 hour of NIV ($34{\pm}9$ /min pre-NIV, $26{\pm}6$ /min at 12 hour of NIV, p=0.045), while $PaCO_2$ ($87.3{\pm}20.6$ mm Hg pre-NIV, $81.2{\pm}9.1$ mm Hg at 24 hour of NIV) and pH ($7.26{\pm}0.04$, $7.32{\pm}0.02$, respectively, p <0.05) were both significantly decreased at 24 hour of NIV In NIV for oxygenation failure, $PaCO_2$ were not different between the successful and the failed cases at pre-NIV and till 12 hours after NIV. The $PaO_2/FIO_2$ ratio, however, significantly improved at 0.5 hour of NIV in successful cases and were maintained at around 200 mm Hg (n=6 : at baseline, 0.5h, 6h, 12h : $120.0{\pm}19.6$, $218.9{\pm}98.3$, $191.3{\pm}55.2$, $232.8{\pm}17.6$ mm Hg, respectively, p=0.0211), but it did not rise in the failed cases (n=9 : $127.9{\pm}63.0$, $116.8{\pm}24.4$, $100.6{\pm}34.6$, $129.8{\pm}50.3$ mm Hg, respectively, p=0.5319). Conclusion : From the above results we conclude that NIV is effective for hypercapnic respiratory failure and its success was heralded by reduction of respiration rale before the reduction in $PaCO_2$ level. In hypoxic respiratory failure, NIV is much less effective, and the immediate improvement of $PaO_2/FIO_2$ ratio at 0.5h after application is thought to be a predictor of successful NIV.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.38 no.12 s.257
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• pp.873-877
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• 2005

Jeune's asphyxiating thoracic dystrophy is a rare, complex malformation with a broad spectrum of clinical expression. The degree of chest wall deformity is the most important prognostic factor and the only part which is correctable. A 11 month-old male infant was diagnosed as having Jeune's syndrome and received right side lateral thoracic expansion surgery. But because respiratory distress symptom was sustained postoperatively, we performed left side procedure 3 months after the initial operation. Respiratory distress symptom got worse after fracturing the left titanium plate which was inserted to fix the expanded thoracic wall and reimplantation was performed. The patient was discharged 6 months after the initial operation. He was readmitted and received ventilator care for respiratory failure and died 10 months after the initial operation.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.182-192
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• 1985

[here are so many reports that pulsatile blood flow provides physiologic organ perfusions during cardiopulmonary bypass. So, we compared the recent 30 cases undergoing cardiac surgery by Cobe-Stckert pulsatile roller pump with another 30 cases by Polystan nonpulsatile roller pump. Pulsatile flow was applied during aortic-cross clamping period when synchronized to internal EKG simulator, and perfusion mode was changed to continuous nonpulsatile flow after declamping of aorta. Age, sex, weight, and disease entities were comparable and operative techniques were similar between two groups. 1. There were no differences in average ACC time, ECC time, and Operation time. 2. Postoperative artificial respiration time was 6hrs 30mins in nonpulsatile group and 4hrs 48mins in pulsatile group, and detubation time after ventilator weaning was 2hrs 44mins in nonpulsatile group and 1hrs 43mins in pulsatile group. 3. Average pulse pressure was 8mmHg in nonpulsatile group and 55mmHg in pulsatile group, and a mean arterial pressure was 66.0mmHg in nonpulsatile group and 60.7mmHg in pulsatile group. 4. Mean urine-output during ACC;ECC period was 9.717.3;9.913.2ml/kg/hr in nonpulsatile group and 14.215.0;15.817.5 in pulsatile group [p<0, 05], and thereafter progressive decrease of differences in urine output between two groups until POD 2, and lesser amounts of diuretics was needed in pulsatile group during same postoperative period. Serum BUN/Cr level showed no specific difference and urine concentration power was well preserved in both groups. 5. Plasma proteins and other Enzymes showed no differences between two groups, but serum GOT/GPT level was higher in nonpulsatile group till POD 2. 6. Serum Electrolytes showed no differences between two groups. 7. WBC, RBC, Platelet counts, Hgb and Hct were not different and Coagulogram was well preserved in both groups. 8. Plasma free Hgb level was 7.09mg% in pulsatile group compared with 3.48mg% in pulsatile group on POD 1 but was normalized on POD 2. Gross hemoglobinuria after ECC was noted in 6 cases [20%] of pulsatile group and 4 cases [13%] of nonpulsatile group. 9. In both groups, most patients were included in NYHA class III to IV [28 cases;93% in nonpulsatile group, 22 cases;73% in pulsatile group] preoperatively, and well improved to class I to 11[22 cases; 73% in nonpulsatile group, 30 cases; 100% in pulsatile group] postoperatively. There were 7 operative mortalities in nonpulsatile group only, which were 5 cases of TOF with hepatic failure, 1 case of multiple VSDs with low out-put syndrome, and 1 case of mitral valvular heart disease with cardiomyopathy. We concluded that the new, commercially available Cobe-Stckert pulsatile roller pump device was safe, simple, and reliable.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.48 no.5
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• pp.523-526
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• 2005

Purpose : Hypoalbuminemia is a rare cause of pleural effusion. The relationship between the severity of hypoalbuminemia and the clinical course of pleural effusion is unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate the change of clinical course according to the severity of hypoalbuminemia due to pleural effusion in children. Methods : A total of 96 patients admitted to Pusan National University Hospital with pleural effusion from August 1998 to August 2004 were studied retrospectively. The 79 patients who had only infectious causes were evaluated according to their albumin levels. They were divided into the two groups : group 1 had serum albumin levels of ${\leq}2.5g/dL$; group 2 : >2.5 g/dL. The clinical courses of each group were compared. Results : The nature of pleural effusion was transudates in seven cases and exudates in 89 cases. The most commom causes of transudates were renal failure(four cases) and the most common causes of exudates were parapneumonic effusion(58 cases). There was no statistical significance in mean ages, BUN, creatinine, potassium, bilirubin and WBC in each group. Four patient in group 1 and 26 patients in group 2 improved after medication of antibiotics or anti-tuberculosis agents only. Fourteen patients in group 1 and 26 patients in group 2 improved after thoracostomy with use of antibiotics. Eight patients in group 1 and one patient in group 2 had ventilator care with use of antibiotics therapy. Conclusion : Children who were diagnosed as pleural effusion with low serum albumin levels on admission had poorer prognoses than those with normal levels. We conclude that lower serum albumin level on admission is an important prognosis factor in a patient with pleural effusion.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.31 no.12
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• pp.1159-1164
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• 1998

Background: Although operative outcome is progressing due to the development of operative techniques and myocardial protection, some patients face an increased morbidity and mortality. Therefore, it has become increasingly important to predict the operative morbidity and mortality. Material and Method: This retrospective study reports the results of risk factor analysis of morbidity and mortality of 137 consecutive patients who were underwent coronary artery bypass graft surgery(CABG). Preoperative variables were age, sex, preoperative myocardial infarction, operative priority, left ventricular ejection fraction, obesity and triple vessel disease. Postoperative morbidities were arrhythmia, wound infection, cerebral infarction, prolonged postoperative hospitalization, pneumonia, acute renal failure, prolonged use of ventilator and operative death. Result: The mean age of total patients was 56.7 years, from 27 to 74. The overall mortality was 6.6%(9 of 137) with the mortality of 3.9%(5 of 128) for elective operation, and 44.4%(4 of 9) for emergent or urgent cases. The morbidity of patients over 65 years was stastistically higher than that of under 65 years. Sex distribution showed no difference in morbidity, however operative mortality rate was slightly higher in women (5/41, 12.19%) than in men(4/96, 4.17%). Morbidity of emergent or urgent operation was 100%, much higher than that of the elective operation. Mortality of the patients whose left ventricular ejection fraction was under 50% was higher than that of those over 50%. Conclusion: We concluded that the risk factors of morbidity after CABG were old age above 65 years and emergent or urgent operation, and that risk factors of mortality were low left venticular ejection fraction under 50% and emergent or urgent operation.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.45 no.5
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• pp.295-300
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• 2012

Background: With growing attention to the aortopathy associated with aortic valve diseases, the number of candidates for accompanying ascending aorta and/or root replacement is increasing among the patients who require aortic valve replacement (AVR). However, such procedures have been considered more risky than AVR alone. This study aimed to compare the surgical outcome of isolated AVR and AVR combined with aortic procedures. Materials and Methods: A total of 86 patients who underwent elective AVR between 2004 and June 2010 were divided into two groups: complex AVR (n=50, AVR with ascending aorta replacement in 24 and the Bentall procedure in 26) and simple AVR (n=36). Preoperative characteristics, surgical data, intra- and postoperative allogenic blood transfusion requirement, the postoperative clinical course, and major complications were retrospectively reviewed and compared. Results: The preoperative mean logistic European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation (%) did not differ between the groups: $11.0{\pm}7.8%$ in the complex AVR group and $12.3{\pm}8.0%$ in the simple AVR group. Although complex AVR required longer cardiopulmonary bypass ($152.4{\pm}52.6$ minutes vs. $109.7{\pm}22.7$ minutes, p=0.001), the quantity of allogenic blood products did not differ ($13.4{\pm}14.7$ units vs. $13.9{\pm}11.2$ units). There was no mortality, mechanical circulatory support, stroke, or renal failure requiring hemodialysis/filtration. No difference was found in the incidence of bleeding (40% vs. 33.3%) which was defined as red blood cell transfusion ${\geq}5$ units, reoperation, or intentional delayed closure. The incidence of mediastinitis (2.0% vs. 0%), ventilator ${\geq}24$ hours (4.0% vs. 2.8%), atrial fibrillation (18.0% vs. 25.0%), mean intensive care unit stay (34.5 hours vs. 38.8 hours), and median hospital stay (8 days vs. 7 days) did not differ, either. Conclusion: AVR combined with additional aortic or root replacement showed an excellent outcome and recovery course equivalent to that after isolated AVR.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.21 no.11
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• pp.1256-1264
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• 2020

Objective: Lung segmentation using volumetric quantitative computed tomography (CT) analysis may help predict outcomes of patients with coronavirus disease (COVID-19). The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between CT volumetric quantitative analysis and prognosis in patients with COVID-19. Materials and Methods: CT images from patients diagnosed with COVID-19 from February 18 to April 15, 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. CT with a negative finding, failure of quantitative analysis, or poor image quality was excluded. CT volumetric quantitative analysis was performed by automated volumetric methods. Patients were stratified into two risk groups according to CURB-65: mild (score of 0-1) and severe (2-5) pneumonia. Outcomes were evaluated according to the critical event-free survival (CEFS). The critical events were defined as mechanical ventilator care, ICU admission, or death. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards analyses were used to evaluate the relationship between the variables and prognosis. Results: Eighty-two patients (mean age, 63.1 ± 14.5 years; 42 females) were included. In the total cohort, male sex (hazard ratio [HR], 9.264; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.021-42.457; p = 0.004), C-reactive protein (CRP) (HR, 1.080 per mg/dL; 95% CI, 1.010-1.156; p = 0.025), and COVID-affected lung proportion (CALP) (HR, 1.067 per percentage; 95% CI, 1.033-1.101; p < 0.001) were significantly associated with CEFS. CRP (HR, 1.164 per mg/dL; 95% CI, 1.006-1.347; p = 0.041) was independently associated with CEFS in the mild pneumonia group (n = 54). Normally aerated lung proportion (NALP) (HR, 0.872 per percentage; 95% CI, 0.794-0.957; p = 0.004) and NALP volume (NALPV) (HR, 1.002 per mL; 95% CI, 1.000-1.004; p = 0.019) were associated with a lower risk of critical events in the severe pneumonia group (n = 28). Conclusion: CRP in the mild pneumonia group; NALP and NALPV in the severe pneumonia group; and sex, CRP, and CALP in the total cohort were independently associated with CEFS in patients with COVID-19.

• The Korean journal of internal medicine
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.295-305
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• 2024

Background/Aims: The prognosis of patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and respiratory failure requiring mechanical ventilation is poor. Therefore, mechanical ventilation is not recommended. Recently, outcomes of mechanical ventilation, including those for patients with IPF, have improved. The aim of this study was to investigate changes in the use of mechanical ventilation in patients with IPF and their outcomes over time. Methods: This retrospective, observational cohort study used data from the National Health Insurance Service database. Patients diagnosed with IPF between January 2011 and December 2019 who were placed on mechanical ventilation were included. We analyzed changes in the use of mechanical ventilation in patients with IPF and their mortality using the Cochran-Armitage trend test. Results: Between 2011 and 2019, 1,227 patients with IPF were placed on mechanical ventilation. The annual number of patients with IPF with and without mechanical ventilation increased over time. However, the ratio was relatively stable at approximately 3.5%. The overall hospital mortality rate was 69.4%. There was no improvement in annual hospital mortality rate. The overall 30-day mortality rate was 68.7%, which did not change significantly. The overall 90-day mortality rate was 85.3%. The annual 90-day mortality rate was decreased from 90.9% in 2011 to 83.1% in 2019 (p = 0.028). Conclusions: Despite improvements in intensive care and ventilator management, the prognosis of patients with IPF receiving mechanical ventilation has not improved significantly.