• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.83 no.3
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• pp.248-254
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• 2020

Background: Although few studies have reported improved clinical outcomes with the administration of vitamin B1 and C in critically ill patients with septic shock or severe pneumonia, its clinical impact on patients with sepsis-related acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the association with vitamin B and C supplementation and clinical outcomes in patients with ARDS. Methods: Patients with ARDS requiring invasive mechanical ventilation, admitted to the medical intensive care unit (ICU) were included in this study. Clinical outcomes were compared between patients administered with vitamin B1 (200 mg/day) and C (2 g/day) June 2018-May 2019 (the supplementation group) and those who did not receive vitamin B1 and C administration June 2017-May 2018 (the control group). Results: Seventy-nine patients were included. Thirty-three patients received vitamin B1 and C whereas 46 patients did not. Steroid administration was more frequent in patients receiving vitamin B1 and C supplementation than in those without it. There were no significant differences in the mortality between the patients who received vitamin B1 and C and those who did not. There were not significant differences in ventilator and ICU-free days between each of the 21 matched patients. Conclusion: Vitamin B1 and C supplementation was not associated with reduced mortality rates, and ventilator and ICU-free days in patients with sepsis-related ARDS requiring invasive mechanical ventilation.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.28 no.9
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• pp.847-850
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• 1995

For the purpose of evaluation of clinical characteristics in multiple rib fracture due to accident , 24 cases treated by surgical rib fixation using Judet`s strut for multiple rib fracture and flail chestduring the period from June 1993 to October 1994 were reviewed. There were 17 males and 7 females.They ranged in age from 19 years old to 56 years old. The causes of rib fracture were traffic accident in 18 cases, fall down in 3 cases, compression in 2 cases stab wound in 1 case. The number of rib fracture were five in 7 cases, six in 5 cases, four in 5 cases, three in 3 cases. Associated intrathoracic injuries were hemopneumothorax in 12 cases, hemothorax in 10 cases, lung laceration or hemorrhagic contusion in 7 cases. Associated extrathoracic injuries were abdominal injuries in 21 cases, orthopedic problem in 7 cases, head trauma in 4 cases. The most common fractured site was posterolateral portion of the ribs. The causes for operation were flail chest, severe rib displacement and pain, hemothorax or hemopneumothorax with continuous air leakage and stab wound. There were 6 postoperative complications ; one with hydrothorax, two with fibrothorax, two with wound infection and one case of death due to multiful organ failure. Postoperatively, all patients became comfortable and complained less painful. Twenty patients restored spontaneous breathing without ventilator support, three patients were ventilated during a day and one patient expired after 2 days. There were no morbidity and mortality related to operation.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.122-127
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• 1994

A retrospective study of 737 consecutive patients surviving the first 24 hours who underwent valve replacement surgery from July 1980 to June 1993 was undertaken to determine the prevalence, variables that could be used to predict outcome and results of therapy for postoperative acute renal failure[ARF]. Twenty-one patients[2.8 %] developed acute renal failure. Positive risk factors noted in the development of postoperative renal failure included age, New York Heart Association class III & IV, endocarditis and elevated preoperative concentration of serum creatinine. The duration of cardiopulmonary bypass, aortic cross-clamping and the total duration of the operation also closely correlated with the incidence of ARF. The mortality rate for established ARF was 38.1% and ARF was associated with a significant increase in the length of hospitalization, ventilator support and intensive care unit stay. The incidence and mortality rate of oliguric renal failure was 38.1% and 85.7%. The highest mortality rate was associated with two or more postoperative complications and serum creatinine value exceeded 5 mg/dl. We concluded that therapy should be aimed at prevention of oliguric renal failure, or at least its conversion to nonoliguric renal failure, and early institution of renal replacement therapy with intensive support probably gives the best chance for survival.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.654-658
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• 1990

Between January of 1980 and December of 1989, we are encountered 121 cases of Down syndrome here at Yonsei University Medical Center. of these being endocardial cushion defect, ventricular septal defect, tetralogy of Fallot, atrial septal defect, patent ductus arteriosus and complicated anomalies. The mean age was 1 month 2 years with the sexual division at 31 males and 29 females. Among these 60 patients, 10 of them were treated trough surgical management, 8 of them being open heart surgeries, the 8 open heart surgeries are broken down as follow: 4 total correction of ECD, 2 patch repair of VSD, 1 total correction of TOF, 1 patch repair of ASD secundum. Another 2 operative management are ligation of PDA and modified Blalock - Taussig shunt of TOF. Postoperatively all patients were weaned and extubated on an artificial ventilator without any respiratory complications, and were discharged without incident.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.49 no.5
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• pp.624-632
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• 2000

Background : Home ventilation can decrease hospital-acquired infection, increase physical activity, improve nutritional status, enhance quality of life, and reduce medical costs. The number of patient using home ventilators has been increasing, particularly in Europe and United States. Although the number of patients with home ventilation has been increasing in Korea, the current status of these patients is not well known. This study was undertaken to obtain basic information upon these patients in addition to evaluating any problems related to patients' home care in our country. Methods : A register of 92 patients with home ventilators in Seoul and Kyunggi Province were obtained from commercial ventilator supply companies. The patients were contacted by phone and 29 of them accepted our visit. Information concerning education about home care before discharge, equipment cost, and problems related to home care were documented. The mode and preset variables of the home ventilator were checked; tidal volume (TV), peak airway pressure, and oxygen saturation were measured. Results : There were 26 males (90%) and their mean age was 48.0 (${\pm}20.1$) years. The underlying diseases were : 21 neuromuscular disorders, 2 spinal cord injuries, 6 chronic lung diseases. Among the caregivers, spouses (n=14) predominated. Education for home care before discharge was performed primarily by intensive care unit nurses and the education for ventilator management by commercial companies. Twenty-five of the 29 patients had tracheostomies. Volume targeted type (VTT ; n=20, 69%) was more frequently used than the pressure targeted type (PTT). Twenty-three of the 29 patients purchased a ventilator privately, which cost 7,450,000 (${\pm}$3,290,000) won for a PTT, and 14,280.000 (${\pm}$3,130,000) won for a VTT. Total cost for the equipment was 11,430,000 (${\pm}$634,000) won. The average cost required for home care per month was 1,120,000 (${\pm}$1,360, 000) won. Conclusion : The commonest underlying disease of the patients was neuromuscular disease. The VTT ventilator was primarily used with tracheostomy. Patients and their families considered the financial difficulties associated with purchasing and maintaining equipment for home care an urgent problem. Some patients were aided by a visiting nurse, however most patients were neglected and left without professional medical supervision.

• The Journal of Korean society of community based occupational therapy
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.39-49
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• 2020

Objective : The aim of this study was to investigate the care burden and life quality in family caregivers of community-dwelling patients using home mechanical ventilator(HMV) in Yeognam region. Methods : Survey performed to family caregivers of the patients using HMV in Yeognam region, Korea. The questionnaire is composed with patient care and the burden on caring. Korean version of Short Form Zarit Burden Interview(K-ZBI-12) and 3-Level version of EuroQol-5 Dimension applying Korean weight(KEQ-5D-3L) were also investigated. Statistical significance was accepted for p<.05. Results : A total 98 out of 150 questionnaires were analyzed. The K-ZBI-12(33.08±10.34) had a correlation with KEQ-5D-3L(0.71±0.25) negatively(p=.038). Patients' age, duration of HMV, financial burden and professional caregivers' care time had correlations with K-ZBI-12 positively(p<.05). KEQ-5D-3L correlated duration of HMV negatively(p=.017). Invasive ventilator group had lower KEQ-5D-3L than the non-invasive ventilator group(p=.008). K-ZBI-12 was lower in more than one caregiver care of patients than in one(p=.001). Conclusion : This study revealed high care burden and low quality of life in family caregivers of the patients with HMV in Yeongnam region, Korea. Efforts are needed to continually identify the needs of patients and their families, and the socioeconomic support and medical services associated with HMV.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.321-330
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• 1999

Background : Early diagnosis and proper antibiotic treatment are very important in the management of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) because of its high mortality. Bronchoscopy with a protected specimen brush (PSB) has been considered the standard method to isolate the causative organisms of VAP. However, this method burdens consumer economically to purchase a PSB. Another useful method for the diagnosis of VAP is quantitative cultures of aspirated specimens through bronchoscopic bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL), for which the infusion of more than 120 m1 of saline has been recommended for adequate sampling of a pulmonary segment. However, occasionally it leads to deterioration of the patient's condition. We studied the diagnostic efficacy of minibronchoalveolar lavage (miniBAL), which retrieves only 25 ml of BAL fluid, in the isolation of causative organisms of VAP. Methods: We included 38 consecutive patients (41 cases) suspected of having VAP on the basis of clinical evidence, who had received antibiotics before the bronchoscopy. The two diagnostic techniques of PSB and miniBAL, which were performed one after another at the same pulmonary segment, 'were compared prospectively. The cut-off values for quantitative cultures to define causative bacteria of VAP were more than $10^3$ colony-forming units (cfu)/ml for PSB and more than $10^4$ cfu/ml for BAL. Results: The amount of instilled normal saline required to retrieve 25 ml of BAL fluid was $93{\pm}32 ml$ (mean${\pm}$SD). The detection rate of causative agents was 46.3% (19/41) with PSB and 43.9% (18/41) with miniBAL. The concordance rate of PSB and miniBAL in the bacterial culture was 85.4% (35/41). Although arterial blood oxygen saturation dropped significantly (p<0.05) during ($92{\pm}10%$) and 10 min after ($95{\pm}3%$) miniBAL compared with the baseline ($97{\pm}3%$), all except 3 cases were within normal ranges. The significantly elevated heart rate during ($l25{\pm}24$/min, p<0.05) miniBAL compared with the baseline ($1l1{\pm}22$/min) recovered again in 10 min after ($111{\pm}26$/min) miniBAL. Transient hypotension was developed during the procedure in two cases. The procedure was stopped in one case due to atrial flutter. Conclusion: MiniBAL is a safe and effective technique to detect the causative organisms of VAP.

• Journal of Korean Clinical Nursing Research
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.131-140
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• 2020

Purpose: This study aims to describe the characteristics of safety incidents and factors associated with injury for patients with Home Mechanical Ventilation (HMV) at the hospital. Methods: This is a retrospective study. Data were collected from the work log of respiratory home care nurses and the patients' electronic medical records were investigated. In order to compare group differences, independent t-test and χ² test were used. Associated factors with injury development were identified by generalized mixed modeling analysis controlling for age and gender. Results: A total of 304 patients on HMV were included in this study, among which 129 (42.4%) experienced 352 HMV-related incidents. Mean frequency of incidents for each patient was 5.11±3.98, ranged from 1 to 15 times. In 19.0% of the incidents, injury was developed. Types of incident and persons involved in the incidents were significantly associated with the patient's injury. In the case of the safety incidents, patient's injury was significantly higher in accidents caused by respiratory circuit problems compared to those caused by problems with the ventilator operation by the medical staff (coefficient=1.25, p=.020). In addition, in the case of those involved in the safety incidents, patient's injury was significantly higher in the accident caused by the patient family members or caregivers than that caused by the medical personnel (coefficient=1.25, p=.019). Conclusion: In order to minimize injury caused by incidents in patients with HMV, hospitals need to provide systemic education to their medical staff and caregivers to enhance awareness of the importance of reporting and safety management.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.64 no.3
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• pp.194-199
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• 2008

Background: Early identification of pathogens can improve the prognosis of patients with ventilator associated pneumonia (VAP). In the present study, we evaluated the feasibility of performing multiplex PCR for endotracheal aspirates to detect three important pathogens (P. aeruginosa, K. pneumoniae and MRSA) in patients with VAP. Methods: The endotracheal aspirates of 24 patients were collected within 24 hours of the diagnosis of VAP for performing multiplex PCR. Forward and reverse primers were designed to target the specific site of each pathogen (the oprL gene for P. aeruginosa, 16S rRNA for K. pneumoniae and the mec gene for MRSA). We analyzed the clinical data of the VAP patients, including the culture reports for the endotracheal aspirates. Results: Twenty-four patients (M:F=18:6, mean age=$70{\pm}11$) with VAP were enrolled. Pathogens were isolated from 11 patients (P. aeruginosa in 2, K. pneumoniae in 1, MRSA in 2, other enteric Gram negative bacilli in 3, S. pneumoniae in 2 and mixed infection in 1). Multiplex PCR detected three cases of P.aeruginosa (2 cases coincided with the culture reports) and four cases of K. pneumoniae (1 matched with the culture report). PCR detected two MRSA cases, which did not coincide with the culture reports. Conclusion: Multiplex PCR of the endotracheal aspirate showed some ability to detect Gram negative bacilli, although caution is required when interpreting the results.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.72 no.3
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• pp.293-301
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• 2012

Background: Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) requires prompt and appropriate treatment. Since methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a frequent pathogen in VAP, rapid identification of it, is pivotal. Our aim was to evaluate the utility of quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) as a useful method for etiologic diagnoses of MRSA pneumonia. Methods: We performed qPCR for mecA, S. aureus-specific femA-SA, and S. epidermidis-specific femA-SE genes from bronchoalveolar lavage or bronchial washing samples obtained from clinically-suspected VAP. Molecular identification of MRSA was based on the presence of the mecA and femA-SA gene, with the absence of the femA-SE gene. To compensate for the experimental and clinical conditions, we spiked an internal control in the course of DNA extraction. We estimated number of colony-forming units per mL (CFU/mL) of MRSA samples through a standard curve of a serially-diluted reference MRSA strain. We compared the threshold cycle (Ct) value with the microbiologic results of MRSA. Results: We obtained the mecA gene standard curve, which showed the detection limit of the mecA gene to be 100 fg, which corresponds to a copy number of 30. We chose cut-off Ct values of 27.94 (equivalent to $1{\times}10^4$ CFU/mL) and 21.78 (equivalent to $1{\times}10^5$ CFU/mL). The sensitivity and specificity of our assay were 88.9% and 88.9% respectively, when compared with quantitative cultures. Conclusion: Our results were valuable for diagnosing and identifying pathogens involved in VAP. We believe our modified qPCR is an appropriate tool for the rapid diagnosis of clinical pathogens regarding patients in the intensive care unit.