Acute and Critical Care

Original Articles

Neurology
The effects of restricted visitation on delirium incidence in the intensive care units of a tertiary hospital in South Korea: Leerang Lim, Christine Kang, Minseob Kim, Jinwoo Lee, Hong Yeul Lee, Seung-Young Oh, Ho Geol Ryu, Hannah Lee; Acute Crit Care. 2025;40(3):452-461. Published online August 21, 2025; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4266/acc.000500

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Abstract PDF Supplementary Material: 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. Methods: This was a retrospective before-and-after study conducted in medical and surgical ICUs at a tertiary hospital. Adult patients admitted to an ICU during one of two periods were included: before the COVID-19 pandemic (June 2017 to May 2019) with regular visitation and during the pandemic (June 2020 to May 2022) with prohibited visitation. Delirium was assessed using the Confusion Assessment Method for the ICU. The primary outcome was association between delirium incidence and visitation policy. Results: Totals of 1,566 patients from the pre-COVID-19 period and 1,404 patients from the COVID-19 period were analyzed. The incidence of delirium was higher during the COVID-19 period (48.1% vs. 38.4%, P<0.001). After adjusting for relevant variables, the restricted visitation policy during COVID-19 remained a risk factor for delirium (odds ratio, 1.37; 95% CI, 1.13–1.65; P=0.001). Conclusions: Complete restriction of ICU visitations during the COVID-19 pandemic was associated with a significant increase in delirium incidence. These findings suggest the importance of visitation policies on patient outcomes and suggest the need for alternative strategies, such as video visitation, to mitigate the adverse effects of visitation restrictions during pandemics.

Ethics
Changes in the incidence of cardiopulmonary resuscitation before and after implementation of the Life-Sustaining Treatment Decisions Act: Hyunjae Im, Hyun Woo Choe, Seung-Young Oh, Ho Geol Ryu, Hannah Lee; Acute Crit Care. 2022;37(2):237-246. Published online February 24, 2022; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4266/acc.2021.01095

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Background
The Life-Sustaining Treatment (LST) Decisions Act allows withholding and withdrawal of LST, including cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). In the present study, the incidence of CPR before and after implementation of the Act was compared.
Methods
This was a retrospective review involving hospitalized patients who underwent CPR at a single center between February 2016 and January 2020 (pre-implementation period, February 2016 to January 2018; post-implementation period, February 2018 to January 2020). The primary outcome was monthly incidence of CPR per 1,000 admissions. The secondary outcomes were duration of CPR, return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) rate, 24-hour survival rate, and survival-to-discharge rate. The study outcomes were compared before and after implementation of the Act.
Results
A total of 867 patients who underwent CPR was included in the analysis. The incidence of CPR per 1,000 admissions showed no significant difference before and after implementation of the Act (3.02±0.68 vs. 2.81±0.75, P=0.255). The ROSC rate (67.20±0.11 vs. 70.99±0.12, P=0.008) and survival to discharge rate (20.24±0.09 vs. 22.40±0.12, P=0.029) were higher after implementation of the Act than before implementation.
Conclusions
The incidence of CPR did not significantly change for 2 years after implementation of the Act. Further studies are needed to assess the changes in trends in the decisions of CPR and other LSTs in real-world practice.

Citations

Citations to this article as recorded by

Characteristics and outcomes of patients with do-not-resuscitate and physician orders for life-sustaining treatment in a medical intensive care unit: a retrospective cohort study
Song-I Lee, Ye-Rin Ju, Da Hyun Kang, Jeong Eun Lee
BMC Palliative Care.2024;[Epub] CrossRef
For the Universal Right to Access Quality End-of-Life Care in Korea: Broadening Our Perspective After the 2018 Life-Sustaining Treatment Decisions Act
Hye Yoon Park, Min Sun Kim, Shin Hye Yoo, Jung Lee, In Gyu Song, So Yeon Jeon, Eun Kyung Choi
Journal of Korean Medical Science.2024;[Epub] CrossRef
Changes in Pediatric End-of-Life Process After the Enforcement of the Act on Life-Sustaining Treatment Decisions—The Experience of a Single Children’s Hospital
Da-Eun Roh, Jung-Eun Kwon, Young-Tae Lim, Yeo-Hyang Kim
Healthcare.2024; 12(21): 2156. CrossRef
Comparison of the end-of-life decisions of patients with hospital-acquired pneumonia after the enforcement of the life-sustaining treatment decision act in Korea
Ae-Rin Baek, Sang-Bum Hong, Soohyun Bae, Hye Kyeong Park, Changhwan Kim, Hyun-Kyung Lee, Woo Hyun Cho, Jin Hyoung Kim, Youjin Chang, Heung Bum Lee, Hyun-Il Gil, Beomsu Shin, Kwang Ha Yoo, Jae Young Moon, Jee Youn Oh, Kyung Hoon Min, Kyeongman Jeon, Moon S
BMC Medical Ethics.2023;[Epub] CrossRef
Will implementation of the Life-sustaining Treatment Decisions Act reduce the incidence of cardiopulmonary resuscitation?
In-Ae Song
Acute and Critical Care.2022; 37(2): 256. CrossRef
Effect of life-sustaining treatment decision law on pediatric in-hospital cardiopulmonary resuscitation rate: A Korean population-based study
Jaeyoung Choi, Ah Young Choi, Esther Park, Meong Hi Son, Joongbum Cho
Resuscitation.2022; 180: 38. CrossRef

Rapid response system
Effectiveness of a daytime rapid response system in hospitalized surgical ward patients: Eunjin Yang, Hannah Lee, Sang-Min Lee, Sulhee Kim, Ho Geol Ryu, Hyun Joo Lee, Jinwoo Lee, Seung-Young Oh; Acute Crit Care. 2020;35(2):77-86. Published online May 13, 2020; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4266/acc.2019.00661

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Abstract PDF Supplementary Material

Background
Clinical deteriorations during hospitalization are often preventable with a rapid response system (RRS). We aimed to investigate the effectiveness of a daytime RRS for surgical hospitalized patients.
Methods
A retrospective cohort study was conducted in 20 general surgical wards at a 1,779-bed University hospital from August 2013 to July 2017 (August 2013 to July 2015, pre-RRS-period; August 2015 to July 2017, post-RRS-period). The primary outcome was incidence of cardiopulmonary arrest (CPA) when the RRS was operating. The secondary outcomes were the incidence of total and preventable cardiopulmonary arrest, in-hospital mortality, the percentage of “do not resuscitate” orders, and the survival of discharged CPA patients.
Results
The relative risk (RR) of CPA per 1,000 admissions during RRS operational hours (weekdays from 7 AM to 7 PM) in the post-RRS-period compared to the pre-RRS-period was 0.53 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.25 to 1.13; P=0.099) and the RR of total CPA regardless of RRS operating hours was 0.76 (95% CI, 0.46 to 1.28; P=0.301). The preventable CPA after RRS implementation was significantly lower than that before RRS implementation (RR, 0.31; 95% CI, 0.11 to 0.88; P=0.028). There were no statistical differences in in-hospital mortality and the survival rate of patients with in-hospital cardiac arrest. Do-not-resuscitate decisions significantly increased during after RRS implementation periods compared to pre-RRS periods (RR, 1.91; 95% CI, 1.40 to 2.59; P<0.001).
Conclusions
The day-time implementation of the RRS did not significantly reduce the rate of CPA whereas the system effectively reduced the rate of preventable CPA during periods when the system was operating.

Citations

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The effect of nurses' perceptions and satisfaction with hospital rapid response teams on burnout related to emergency situations in Korea: a cross-sectional study
Bumin Kim, Nahyun Kim
Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science.2025; 27(2): 234. CrossRef
Education, Implementation, and Teams: 2025 International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation Consensus on Science With Treatment Recommendations
Robert Greif, Adam Cheng, Cristian Abelairas-Gómez, Katherine S. Allan, Jan Breckwoldt, Andrea Cortegiani, Aaron J. Donoghue, Kathryn J. Eastwood, Barbara Farquharson, Ming-Ju Hsieh, Tracy Kidd, Ying-Chih Ko, Kasper G. Lauridsen, Yiqun Lin, Andrew S. Lock
Resuscitation.2025; 215: 110807. CrossRef
Education, Implementation, and Teams: 2025 International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation Consensus on Science With Treatment Recommendations
Robert Greif, Adam Cheng, Cristian Abelairas-Gómez, Katherine S. Allan, Jan Breckwoldt, Andrea Cortegiani, Aaron J. Donoghue, Kathryn J. Eastwood, Barbara Farquharson, Ming-Ju Hsieh, Tracy Kidd, Ying-Chih Ko, Kasper G. Lauridsen, Yiqun Lin, Andrew S. Lock
Circulation.2025;[Epub] CrossRef
Médecine périopératoire et situations particulières
Julien Amour, Paul Balendraud, Jacques Boddaert, Pierre Bouzat, Laure Champ-Rigot, Olivier Clovet, Judith Cohen-Bittan, Isabelle Constant, Charles Court, Sabine Drevet, Christophe Hulet, Eric Jeziorski, Olivier Joannes-Boyau, Hélène Kovacsik, Morgan Le Gu
Anesthésie & Réanimation.2025;[Epub] CrossRef
Development and Validation of a Machine Learning Algorithm Using Clinical Pages to Predict Imminent Clinical Deterioration
Bryan D. Steitz, Allison B. McCoy, Thomas J. Reese, Siru Liu, Liza Weavind, Kipp Shipley, Elise Russo, Adam Wright
Journal of General Internal Medicine.2024; 39(1): 27. CrossRef
Effects of a Rapid Response Team on Patient Outcomes: A Systematic Review
Qiuxia Zhang, Khuan Lee, Zawiah Mansor, Iskasymar Ismail, Yi Guo, Qiao Xiao, Poh Ying Lim
Heart & Lung.2024; 63: 51. CrossRef
Development and Validation of a Deep Learning Model for Prediction of Adult Physiological Deterioration
Supreeth P. Shashikumar, Joshua Pei Le, Nathan Yung, James Ford, Karandeep Singh, Atul Malhotra, Shamim Nemati, Gabriel Wardi
Critical Care Explorations.2024; 6(9): e1151. CrossRef
Clinical significance of acute care surgery system as a part of hospital medical emergency team for hospitalized patients
Kyoung Won Yoon, Kyoungjin Choi, Keesang Yoo, Eunmi Gil, Chi-Min Park
Annals of Surgical Treatment and Research.2023; 104(1): 43. CrossRef
The associations between rapid response systems and their components with patient outcomes: A scoping review
Rebecca J. Piasecki, Cheryl R. Dennison Himmelfarb, Kelly T. Gleason, Rachel M. Justice, Elizabeth A. Hunt
International Journal of Nursing Studies Advances.2023; 5: 100134. CrossRef
Changes in the incidence of cardiopulmonary resuscitation before and after implementation of the Life-Sustaining Treatment Decisions Act
Hyunjae Im, Hyun Woo Choe, Seung-Young Oh, Ho Geol Ryu, Hannah Lee
Acute and Critical Care.2022; 37(2): 237. CrossRef
Estructura y función de los equipos de respuesta rápida para la atención de adultos en contextos hospitalarios de alta complejidad: Revisión sistemática de alcance
Juliana Vanessa Rincón-López, Diego Larrotta-Castillo, Kelly Estrada-Orozco, Hernando Gaitán-Duarte
Revista Colombiana de Obstetricia y Ginecología.2021; 72(2): 171. CrossRef
Characteristics and Prognosis of Hospitalized Patients at High Risk of Deterioration Identified by the Rapid Response System: a Multicenter Cohort Study
Sang Hyuk Kim, Ji Young Hong, Youlim Kim
Journal of Korean Medical Science.2021;[Epub] CrossRef
Effects of a Rapid Response Team on the Clinical Outcomes of Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation of Patients Hospitalized in General Wards
Mi-Jung Yoon, Jin-Hee Park
Journal of Korean Academy of Fundamentals of Nursing.2021; 28(4): 491. CrossRef

Rapid response system
Effect of a rapid response system on code rates and in-hospital mortality in medical wards: Hong Yeul Lee, Jinwoo Lee, Sang-Min Lee, Sulhee Kim, Eunjin Yang, Hyun Joo Lee, Hannah Lee, Ho Geol Ryu, Seung-Young Oh, Eun Jin Ha, Sang-Bae Ko, Jaeyoung Cho; Acute Crit Care. 2019;34(4):246-254. Published online November 29, 2019; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4266/acc.2019.00668

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Abstract PDF

Background
To determine the effects of implementing a rapid response system (RRS) on code rates and in-hospital mortality in medical wards.
Methods
This retrospective study included adult patients admitted to medical wards at Seoul National University Hospital between July 12, 2016 and March 12, 2018; the sample comprised 4,224 patients admitted 10 months before RRS implementation and 4,168 patients admitted 10 months following RRS implementation. Our RRS only worked during the daytime (7 AM to 7 PM) on weekdays. We compared code rates and in-hospital mortality rates between the preintervention and postintervention groups.
Results
There were 62.3 RRS activations per 1,000 admissions. The most common reasons for RRS activation were tachypnea or hypopnea (44%), hypoxia (31%), and tachycardia or bradycardia (21%). Code rates from medical wards during RRS operating times significantly decreased from 3.55 to 0.96 per 1,000 admissions (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.29; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.10 to 0.87; P=0.028) after RRS implementation. However, code rates from medical wards during RRS nonoperating times did not differ between the preintervention and postintervention groups (2.60 vs. 3.12 per 1,000 admissions; aOR, 1.23; 95% CI, 0.55 to 2.76; P=0.614). In-hospital mortality significantly decreased from 56.3 to 42.7 per 1,000 admissions after RRS implementation (aOR, 0.79; 95% CI, 0.64 to 0.97; P=0.024).
Conclusions
Implementation of an RRS was associated with significant reductions in code rates during RRS operating times and in-hospital mortality in medical wards.

Citations

Citations to this article as recorded by

Nurses' decisions to recognize and respond to deterioration not meeting rapid response system activation criteria: A qualitative descriptive study
Gabrielle Burdeu, Bodil Rasmussen, Grainne Lowe, Julie Considine
Applied Nursing Research.2026; 87: 152040. CrossRef
Education, Implementation, and Teams: 2025 International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation Consensus on Science With Treatment Recommendations
Robert Greif, Adam Cheng, Cristian Abelairas-Gómez, Katherine S. Allan, Jan Breckwoldt, Andrea Cortegiani, Aaron J. Donoghue, Kathryn J. Eastwood, Barbara Farquharson, Ming-Ju Hsieh, Tracy Kidd, Ying-Chih Ko, Kasper G. Lauridsen, Yiqun Lin, Andrew S. Lock
Resuscitation.2025; 215: 110807. CrossRef
Education, Implementation, and Teams: 2025 International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation Consensus on Science With Treatment Recommendations
Robert Greif, Adam Cheng, Cristian Abelairas-Gómez, Katherine S. Allan, Jan Breckwoldt, Andrea Cortegiani, Aaron J. Donoghue, Kathryn J. Eastwood, Barbara Farquharson, Ming-Ju Hsieh, Tracy Kidd, Ying-Chih Ko, Kasper G. Lauridsen, Yiqun Lin, Andrew S. Lock
Circulation.2025;[Epub] CrossRef
The role of emergency medical services in the management of in-hospital emergencies: Causes and outcomes of emergency calls – A descriptive retrospective register-based study
Henna Myrskykari, Timo Iirola, Hilla Nordquist
Australasian Emergency Care.2024; 27(1): 42. CrossRef
Effects of a Rapid Response Team on Patient Outcomes: A Systematic Review
Qiuxia Zhang, Khuan Lee, Zawiah Mansor, Iskasymar Ismail, Yi Guo, Qiao Xiao, Poh Ying Lim
Heart & Lung.2024; 63: 51. CrossRef
Society of Critical Care Medicine Guidelines on Recognizing and Responding to Clinical Deterioration Outside the ICU: 2023
Kimia Honarmand, Randy S. Wax, Daleen Penoyer, Geoffery Lighthall, Valerie Danesh, Bram Rochwerg, Michael L. Cheatham, Daniel P. Davis, Michael DeVita, James Downar, Dana Edelson, Alison Fox-Robichaud, Shigeki Fujitani, Raeann M. Fuller, Helen Haskell, Ma
Critical Care Medicine.2024; 52(2): 314. CrossRef
Rapid Response Systems
Bradford D. Winters
Critical Care Clinics.2024; 40(3): 583. CrossRef
Improving sepsis recognition and management
Merrilee I Cox, Hillary Voss
Current Problems in Pediatric and Adolescent Health Care.2021; 51(4): 101001. CrossRef
A Somogy Megyei Kaposi Mór Oktató Kórház által bevezetett gyors reagálású rendszer hatása a kórházi mortalitásra
János Fogas, Rita Koroseczné Pavlin, Krisztina Szabó, Eszter Héra, Imre Repa, Mariann Moizs
Orvosi Hetilap.2021; 162(20): 782. CrossRef
Evidence revealed the effects of rapid response system
Jae Hwa Cho
Acute and Critical Care.2019; 34(4): 282. CrossRef

Infection
Sepsis in Patients Receiving Immunosuppressive Drugs in Korea: Analysis of the National Insurance Database from 2009 to 2013: Seung-Young Oh, Songhee Cho, Hannah Lee, Eun Jin Chang, Se Hee Min, Ho Geol Ryu; Korean J Crit Care Med. 2015;30(4):249-257. Published online November 30, 2015; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4266/kjccm.2015.30.4.249

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Abstract PDF

Background
The aim of this study is to evaluate the influence of immunosuppressants on in-hospital mortality from sepsis.
Methods
Using data of the Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service, we collected data from patients who were admitted to the hospital due to sepsis from 2009 to 2013. Based on drugs commonly used for immunosuppression caused by various diseases, patients were divided into three groups; immunosuppressant group, steroid-only group, and control group. Patients with no history of immunosuppressants or steroids were assigned to the control group. To identify risk factors of in-hospital mortality in sepsis, we compared differences in patient characteristics, comorbidities, intensive care unit (ICU) care requirements, and immunodeficiency profiles. Subgroup analysis according to age was also performed.
Results
Of the 185,671 included patients, 13,935 (7.5%) were in the steroid-only group and 2,771 patients (1.5%) were in the immunosuppressant group. The overall in-hospital mortality was 38.9% and showed an increasing trend with age. The steroid-only group showed the lowest in-hospital mortality among the three groups except the patients younger than 30 years. The steroid-only group and immunosuppressant group received ICU treatment more frequently (p < 0.001), stayed longer in the hospital (p < 0.001), and showed higher medical expenditure (p < 0.001) compared to the normal group. Univariate and multivariate analyses revealed that age, male gender, comorbidities (especially malignancy), and ICU treatment had a significant effect on in-hospital mortality.
Conclusions
Despite longer hospital length of stay and more frequent need for ICU care, the in-hospital mortality was lower in patients taking immunosuppressive drugs than in patients not taking immunosuppressive drugs.

Citations

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Predictive performance of NEWS and qSOFA in immunocompromised sepsis patients at the emergency department
Lisanne Boekhoud, Helena M. E. A. Schaap, Rick L. Huizinga, Tycho J. Olgers, Jan C. ter Maaten, Douwe F. Postma, Hjalmar R. Bouma
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Effects of Early Initiation of High-Dose Dexamethasone Therapy on Pro-Inflammatory Cytokines and Mortality in LPS-Challenged Mice
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Gayoung Kim, Kyeong-Hun Choi, Hangeun Kim, Dae-Kyun Chung
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Critical Care Research Using “Big Data”: A Reality in the Near Future
Kwangha Lee
Acute and Critical Care.2018; 33(4): 269. CrossRef
Should Very Old Patients Be Admitted to the Intensive Care Units?
Jun Kwon Cha, In-Ae Song
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Sepsis in Immunocompromised Patients: Current Status in Korea
Kwangha Lee
The Korean Journal of Critical Care Medicine.2015; 30(4): 239. CrossRef

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