The effects of restricted visitation on delirium incidence in the intensive care units of a tertiary hospital in South Korea.

Background: Delirium is a common but serious complication in critically ill patients. Family visitation has been shown to reduce delirium; however, during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, intensive care units (ICUs) restricted regular visitation to prevent the spread of infection. This study aimed to evaluate the association between visitation policies and incidence of delirium in the ICUs.

Associations of driving pressure and mechanical power with postoperative pulmonary complications in one-lung ventilated surgery.

Background: The potential clinical value of driving pressure (DP) and mechanical power (MP) as digital biomarkers for predicting postoperative pulmonary complications (PPC) has been emphasized. Although several studies have explored this association, evidence from clinical cohorts involving large patient populations remains limited.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted between October 2004 and May 2023 on patients who underwent OLV surgery.

The impact of enteral feeding intolerance on the prognosis of patients with septic shock in South Korea.

Background: While enteral feeding intolerance (EFI) is associated with worse clinical outcomes in critically ill patients, the relationship between the number of days of EFI and mortality outcomes remains unclear.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed adult patients admitted to the medical intensive care unit (ICU) with septic shock at a tertiary referral center. EFI was defined as the presence of vomiting, abdominal distension, pain, diarrhea, or radiographic evidence of ileus.

Cytomegalovirus reactivation in the lower respiratory tract as an independent risk factor for mortality in critically Ill patients.

Background: The clinical significance of cytomegalovirus reactivation in the lower respiratory tract (LRT) of critically ill patients remains unclear. We aimed to investigate the association between cytomegalovirus reactivation detected in LRT and intensive care unit (ICU) prognosis.

Methods: This study included critically ill patients admitted to a medical ICU at a tertiary referral center in South Korea between January 2021 and June 2023.

Connective tissue disease is associated with the risk of posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome following lung transplantation in Korea.

Background: Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) is a rare complication of lung transplantation with poorly understood risk factors and clinical characteristics. This study aimed to examine the occurrence, risk factors, and clinical data of patients who developed PRES following lung transplantation.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 147 patients who underwent lung transplantation between February 2013 and December 2023.

Feasibility of estimating tidal volume from electrocardiograph-derived respiration signal and respiration waveform.

Purpose: Estimating tidal volume (V) from electrocardiography (ECG) can be quite useful during deep sedation or spinal anesthesia since it eliminates the need for additional monitoring of ventilation. This study aims to validate and compare V estimation methodologies based on ECG-derived respiration (EDR) using real-world clinical data.

Materials And Methods: We analyzed data from 90 critically ill patients for general analysis and two critically ill patients for constrained analysis.

Clinical Efficacy and Safety of an Automatic Closed-Suction System in Mechanically Ventilated Patients with Pneumonia: A Multicenter, Prospective, Randomized, Non-Inferiority, Investigator-Initiated Trial.

Endotracheal suctioning is an essential but labor-intensive procedure, with the risk of serious complications. A brand new automatic closed-suction device was developed to alleviate the workload of healthcare providers and minimize those complications. We evaluated the clinical efficacy and safety of the automatic suction system in mechanically ventilated patients with pneumonia.

Risk factors for progressing to critical illness in patients with hospital-acquired COVID-19.

Background/aims: Risk factors for progression to critical illness in hospital-acquired coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) remain unknown. Here, we assessed the incidence and risk factors for progression to critical illness and determined their effects on clinical outcomes in patients with hospital-acquired COVID-19.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study analyzed patients admitted to the tertiary hospital between January 2020 and June 2022 with confirmed hospital-acquired COVID-19.

Early Sepsis-Associated Acute Kidney Injury and Obesity.

Importance: The prevalence of obesity is increasing in the intensive care unit (ICU). Although obesity is a known risk factor for chronic kidney disease, its association with early sepsis-associated acute kidney injury (SA-AKI) and their combined association with patient outcomes warrant further investigation.

Objective: To explore the association between obesity, early SA-AKI incidence, and clinical outcomes in patients with sepsis.

Factors influencing sleep quality in the intensive care unit: a descriptive pilot study in Korea.

Background: As sleep disturbances are common in the intensive care unit (ICU), this study assessed the sleep quality in the ICU and identified barriers to sleep.

Methods: Patients admitted to the ICUs of a tertiary hospital between June 2022 and December 2022 who were not mechanically ventilated at enrollment were included. The quality of sleep (QoS) at home was assessed on a visual analog scale as part of an eight-item survey, while the QoS in the ICU was evaluated using the Korean version of the Richards-Campbell Sleep Questionnaire (K-RCSQ).

Association between the timing of ICU admission and mortality in patients with hospital-onset sepsis: a nationwide prospective cohort study.

Background: Based on sparse evidence, the current Surviving Sepsis Campaign guideline suggests that critically ill patients with sepsis be admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) within 6 h. However, limited ICU bed availability often makes immediate transfer difficult, and it is unclear whether all patients will benefit from early admission to the ICU. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine the association between the timing of ICU admission and mortality in patients with hospital-onset sepsis.

Effect of high-flow oxygen versus T-piece ventilation strategies during spontaneous breathing trials on weaning failure among patients receiving mechanical ventilation: a randomized controlled trial.

Background: A spontaneous breathing trial (SBT) is used to determine whether patients are ready for extubation, but the best method for choosing the SBT strategy remains controversial. We investigated the effect of high-flow oxygen versus T-piece ventilation strategies during SBT on rates of weaning failure among patients receiving mechanical ventilation.

Methods: This randomized clinical trial was conducted from June 2019 through January 2022 among patients receiving mechanical ventilation for ≥ 12 h who fulfilled the weaning readiness criteria at a single-center medical intensive care unit.

Comparison of mNUTRIC-S2 and mNUTRIC scores to assess nutritional risk and predict intensive care unit mortality.

Background: Nutritional status is associated with mortality. The modified Nutrition Risk in the Critically Ill (mNUTRIC) score is one of the most commonly used nutritional risk assessment tools in intensive care units (ICUs). The purpose of this study was to compare the mortality predictive ability of the mNUTRIC score to that of the mNUTRIC-S2 score, which uses the Simplified Acute Physiology Score (SAPS) II instead of the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II.

Association between timing of intubation and mortality in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

Background: Delayed intubation is associated with poor prognosis in patients with respiratory failure. However, the effect of delayed intubation in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) remains unknown. This study aimed to analyze whether timing of intubation after high-concentration oxygen therapy was associated with worse clinical outcomes in IPF patients.

Effect of prone positioning on gas exchange according to lung morphology in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome.

Background: There are limited data on the clinical effects of prone positioning according to lung morphology. We aimed to determine whether the gas exchange response to prone positioning differs according to lung morphology.

Methods: This retrospective study included adult patients with moderate-to-severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).

The effects of hypomagnesemia on delirium in middle-aged and older adult patients admitted to medical intensive care units.

Background: In critically ill patients, the most common manifestation of brain dysfunction is delirium, which is independently associated with higher morbidity and mortality. While electrolyte imbalance is one of the precipitating factors, the impact of hypomagnesemia on the incidence of delirium remains unknown.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed patients admitted to the medical intensive care unit (ICU) of a tertiary referral center between January and June 2020.

Successful treatment of induced oligometastasis and repeated oligoprogression of advanced lung adenocarcinoma with immunotherapy and radiotherapy.

Highly active and durable systemic therapies such as targeted therapy and immunotherapy can convert widespread metastatic disease into oligometastatic status, for which metastasis-directed local intervention can control and potentially prolong survival. Radiation therapy is an effective therapeutic option for oligometastatic and oligoprogressive disease. Here, we present a case of induced oligometastasis and repeated oligoprogressive lung cancer in which more than 6 years of survival was achieved with a combination of immunotherapy and radiotherapy.

Continuous versus Intermittent Enteral Tube Feeding for Critically Ill Patients: A Prospective, Randomized Controlled Trial.

The appropriate strategy for enteral feeding remains a matter of debate. We hypothesized that continuous enteral feeding would result in higher rates of achieving target nutrition during the first 7 days compared with intermittent enteral feeding. We conducted an unblinded, single-center, parallel-group, randomized controlled trial involving adult patients admitted to the medical intensive care unit who required mechanical ventilation to determine the efficacy and safety of continuous enteral feeding for critically ill patients compared with intermittent enteral feeding.