External Validation of a Pharmacokinetic Model Developed for Vancomycin Administration via Target-Controlled Infusion.

Purpose: Target-controlled infusion (TCI) could provide a patient-tailored approach for vancomycin dosing. This study aimed to externally evaluate the predictive performance of a previously constructed pharmacokinetic model of vancomycin (Choi model) specifically optimized for TCI administration of vancomycin differing from the existing model, and to assess the feasibility of administering vancomycin via TCI in clinical practice. Additionally, clinical outcomes were exploratively compared between the TCI and intermittent infusion (standard) methods for vancomycin administration.

Clinical outcomes of the implementation of acute care surgery system in South Korea: a multi-centre, retrospective cohort study.

Background: In emergency general surgery (EGS), rapid judgement and prompt emergency surgery play a significant role in determining the patient's prognosis. This study aimed to evaluate whether implementing the acute care surgery (ACS) system in Korea has improved the clinical outcomes of patients.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study was conducted at three tertiary hospitals in Korea.

Outcomes in emergency surgery following the implementation of an acute care surgery model: a retrospective observational study.

Purpose: Over the past 3 years, approximately 23,000 emergency surgeries were performed annually in South Korea, accounting for >1% of all surgeries nationwide. With the growing necessity for treating these emergency cases with dedication and proficiency, acute care surgery (ACS) teams were appointed at various hospitals. Regarding the implications of the ACS team, many studies showed promising results with a shorter time from the emergency department (ED) to the operating room (OR), shorter length of stay, and fewer complications.

The effects of environmental interventions for delirium in critically ill surgical patients.

Background: Delirium occurs at high rates among patients in intensive care units and increases the risk of morbidity and mortality. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of environmental interventions on delirium.

Methods: This prospective cohort study enrolled 192 patients admitted to the surgical intensive care unit (SICU) during the pre-intervention (June 2013 to October 2013) and post-intervention (June 2014 to October 2014) periods.

Risk factors for Pneumocystis pneumonia with acute respiratory failure among kidney transplant recipients.

Purpose: One of the rare life-threatening fungal infections is pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP). Immunocompromised patients are the main vulnerable population. We investigate the risk factors associated with the development of severe PCP infection with acute respiratory failure after kidney transplantation.

Clinical outcomes and prognostic factors of patients with sepsis caused by intra-abdominal infection in the intensive care unit: a post-hoc analysis of a prospective cohort study in Korea.

Background: Sepsis is the most common cause of death in hospitals, and intra-abdominal infection (IAI) accounts for a large portion of the causes of sepsis. We investigated the clinical outcomes and factors influencing mortality of patients with sepsis due to IAI.

Methods: This post-hoc analysis of a prospective cohort study included 2126 patients with sepsis who visited 16 tertiary care hospitals in Korea (September 2019-February 2020).

Clinical Effect of Preoperative 25-OH-Vitamin D3 Level in Liver Transplant Recipients.

Background: Vitamin D deficiency is common in patients with chronic liver disease and is associated with increased risk of infection and mortality. This study evaluated the effects of preoperative vitamin D levels on clinical outcomes after liver transplant.

Methods: This single-center retrospective study included liver transplant recipients from June to November 2017 who had preoperative 25-OH-vitamin D3 (25-OH-D3) data.

2021 KSCCM clinical practice guidelines for pain, agitation, delirium, immobility, and sleep disturbance in the intensive care unit.

We revised and expanded the "2010 Guideline for the Use of Sedatives and Analgesics in the Adult Intensive Care Unit (ICU)." We revised the 2010 Guideline based mainly on the 2018 "Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Prevention and Management of Pain, Agitation/Sedation, Delirium, Immobility, and Sleep Disruption (PADIS) in Adult Patients in the ICU," which was an updated 2013 pain, agitation, and delirium guideline with the inclusion of two additional topics (rehabilitation/mobility and sleep). Since it was not possible to hold face-to-face meetings of panels due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, all discussions took place via virtual conference platforms and e-mail with the participation of all panelists.

Development of a new pharmacokinetic model for target-concentration controlled infusion of vancomycin in critically ill patients.

The aim of this prospective study was to construct a new pharmacokinetic model of vancomycin for target-concentration controlled infusion (TCI). As the first loading dose, 25 mg/kg of vancomycin was administered during 60-90 min. Arterial blood samples were obtained at pre-set intervals to measure the serum concentrations of vancomycin.

Impact of an Acute Care Surgery Model on the Management of Acute Appendicitis in South Korea: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Background: The acute care surgery (ACS) system is a new model for the prompt management of diseases that require rapid treatment in patients with acute abdomen. This study compared the outcomes and characteristics of the ACS system and traditional on-call system (TROS) for acute appendicitis in South Korea.

Methods: This single-center, retrospective study included all patients (aged ≥18 years) who underwent surgery for acute appendicitis in 2016 and 2018.

Simplified Diagnosis of Critical Illness Polyneuropathy in Patients with Prolonged Mechanical Ventilation: A Prospective Observational Cohort Study.

Background: Although early identification of critical illness polyneuropathy (CIP) is necessary, the established diagnostic criteria have several limitations in the intensive care unit (ICU) setting. The purpose of this study was to define simplified diagnostic criteria of CIP that best predict clinical outcomes.

Methods: This prospective, single-center study included 41 ICU patients with prolonged mechanical ventilation (≥21 days).

Risk Factors of Bacteremia following Multiple Traumas.

Background: Bacteremia is a major nosocomial infection that frequently occurs in trauma patients, increasing morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study was to identify risk factors and to describe epidemiological patterns for early onset (EOB) and late onset (LOB) bacteremia after trauma.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed medical records of all trauma patients admitted to the surgical intensive care unit and general ward between January 2011 and December 2015.

The size of pelvic hematoma can be a predictive factor for angioembolization in hemodynamically unstable pelvic trauma.

Purpose: Unstable pelvic fracture with bleeding can be fatal, with a mortality rate of up to 40%. Therefore, early detection and treatment are important in unstable pelvic trauma. We investigated the early predictive factors for possible embolization in patients with hemodynamically unstable pelvic trauma.

In vitro inhibition of Toxoplasma gondii by the anti-malarial candidate, 6-(1,2,6,7-tetraoxaspiro[7.11]nonadec-4-yl)hexan-1-ol.

An anti-malarial candidate, 6-(1,2,6,7-tetraoxaspiro[7.11]nonadec-4-yl)hexan-1-ol (N-251), was studied to characterize its potential as a novel anti-Toxoplasma gondii drug. In the present study, IC50 and LC50 of N-251 on host cells and T.

Depth profiling analysis of CuIn1-xGa(x)Se2 absorber layer by laser induced breakdown spectroscopy in atmospheric conditions.

This work reports the capability of depth profile analysis of thin CuIn1-xGa(x)Se2 (CIGS) absorber layer (1.89 μm) with a sub-hundred nanometer resolution by laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS). The LIBS analysis was carried out with a commercial CIGS solar cell on flexible substrate by using a pulsed Nd:YAG laser (λ = 532 nm, τ = 5 ns, top-hat profile) and an intensified charge-coupled device spectrometer in atmospheric conditions.