Acute and Critical Care

Original Articles

Pulmonary
Characteristics and management of mechanically ventilated patients in South Korea compared with other high-income Asian countries and regions: Kyung Hun Nam, Kyeongman Jeon, Suk-Kyung Hong, Ah Young Leem, Jee Hwan Ahn, Hang Jea Jang, Ki Sup Byun, So Hee Park, Sojung Park, Yoon Mi Shin, Jisoo Park, Sung Wook Kang, Jin Hyoung Kim, Jinkyeong Park, Deokkyu Kim, Bo young Lee, Woo Hyun Cho, Kwangha Lee, Song I Lee, Tai Sun Park, Yun Jung Jung, Sang-Hyun Kwak, Sang-Beom Jeon, Sung Hyun Kim, Won Jai Jung, Sang-Min Lee, Sunghoon Park, Yun Su Sim, Young-Jae Cho, Younsuck Koh; Acute Crit Care. 2025;40(3):413-424. Published online August 21, 2025; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4266/acc.003336

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Abstract PDF: Background
This study investigated the characteristics of mechanically ventilated patients in South Korean intensive care units (ICUs). Methods: We conducted a subgroup analysis of a multinational observational study. Data from 271 mechanically ventilated patients in South Korean ICUs were analyzed for demographics, ventilation practices, and mortality, and were compared with those of 327 patients from other high-income Asian countries. Results: South Korean patients were older (mean age: 67 vs. 62 years, P<0.001) and had lower ratio of the partial pressure of arterial oxygen to the fraction of inspired oxygen (255.5 vs. 306.2, P<0.001). South Korean ICUs exhibited higher patient-to-nurse ratios (2.6 vs. 1.9, P<0.001) and more beds per unit (20.5 vs. 16.0, P=0.017). The use of sufficient positive end-expiratory pressure for patients (PEEP) for acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) was less frequent in South Korea (62.2% vs. 91.2%, P=0.005). Mortality rates were similar between South Korean patients and those in other high-income Asian countries (38.0% vs. 34.2%, P=0.401). Significant mortality predictors in South Korea included age ≥65 years (odds ratio [OR], 4.03; P=0.039) and a Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score ≥8 (OR, 2.36; P=0.031). The presence of respiratory therapists was associated with reduced mortality (OR, 0.52; P=0.034). Conclusions: Despite higher age and patient-to-nurse ratios in South Korean ICUs, outcomes were comparable to those in other high-income Asian countries. The suboptimal use of sufficient PEEP with ARDS indicates potential areas for improvement. Additionally, the beneficial impact of respiratory therapists on mortality rates warrants further investigation.

Epidemiology
Characteristics, management and clinical outcomes of patients with sepsis: a multicenter cohort study in Korea: Kyeongman Jeon, Soo Jin Na, Dong Kyu Oh, Sunghoon Park, Eun Young Choi, Seok Chan Kim, Gil Myeong Seong, Jeongwon Heo, Youjin Chang, Won Gun Kwack, Byung Ju Kang, Won-Il Choi, Kyung Chan Kim, So Young Park, Sang Hyun Kwak, Yoon Mi Shin, Heung Bum Lee, So Hee Park, Jae Hwa Cho, Beongki Kim, Chae‐Man Lim; Acute Crit Care. 2019;34(3):179-191. Published online July 1, 2019; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4266/acc.2019.00514

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Background
Mortality rates associated with sepsis have increased progressively in Korea, but domestic epidemiologic data remain limited. The objective of this study was to investigate the characteristics, management and clinical outcomes of sepsis patients in Korea.
Methods
This study is a multicenter retrospective cohort study. A total of 64,021 adult patients who visited an emergency department (ED) within one of the 19 participating hospitals during a 1-month period were screened for eligibility. Among these, patients diagnosed with sepsis based on the third International Consensus Definitions for Sepsis and Septic Shock (Sepsis-3) were included in the study.
Results
Using the Sepsis-3 criteria, 977 sepsis patients were identified, among which 36.5% presented with septic shock. The respiratory system (61.8%) was the most common site of infection. The pathogen involved was identified in 444 patients (45.5%) and multi-drug resistance (MDR) pathogens were isolated in 171 patients. Empiric antibiotic therapy was appropriate in 68.6% of patients, but the appropriateness was significantly reduced in infections associated with MDR pathogens as compared with non-MDR pathogens (58.8% vs. 76.0%, P<0.001). Hospital mortality was 43.2% and 18.5% in sepsis patients with and without shock, respectively. Of the 703 patients who survived to discharge, 61.5% were discharged to home and 38.6% were transferred to other hospitals or facilities.
Conclusions
This study found the prevalence of sepsis in adult patients visiting an ED in Korea was 1.5% (15.2/1,000 patients). Patients with sepsis, especially septic shock, had a high mortality and were often referred to step-down centers after acute and critical care.

Citations

Citations to this article as recorded by

Closed intensive care units and sepsis patient outcomes: a secondary analysis of data from a multicenter prospective observational study in South Korea
Kyeongman Jeon, Jin Hyoung Kim, Kyung Chan Kim, Heung Bum Lee, Hongyeul Lee, Song I Lee, Jin-Won Huh, Won Gun Kwack, Youjin Chang, Yun-Seong Kang, Won Yeon Lee, Je Hyeong Kim
Acute and Critical Care.2025; 40(2): 209. CrossRef
Evaluating the diagnostic performance of adult sepsis event criteria in the emergency department: impact of including isolated serum lactate elevations
Hyojun Park, Ryoung-Eun Ko, Hyo-Seok Oh, Jae Young Moon, Youjin Chang, Gee Young Suh
Journal of Intensive Care.2025;[Epub] CrossRef
Effects of adjunctive dobutamine on outcomes among patients with septic shock: a propensity score matching analysis
Sung Yoon Lim, Kyu Jin Lee, Yeonhoon Jang, Yeon Joo Lee, Ryoung-Eun Ko, Gee Young Suh, Dong Kyu Oh, Su Yeon Lee, Mi Hyeon Park, Chae-Man Lim, Sunghoon Park
The Korean Journal of Internal Medicine.2025; 40(6): 990. CrossRef
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Kyeongman Jeon
Acute and Critical Care.2025; 40(4): 627. CrossRef
Regional Adherence to Early Sepsis Management Bundle and Associated Mortality in Hong Kong Between 2009–2018
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Deficits in blood culture collection in the emergency department if sepsis is suspected: results of a retrospective cohort study
Charlotte Berninghausen, Frank Schwab, Alexander Gropmann, Bernd A. Leidel, Rajan Somasundaram, Lydia Hottenbacher, Petra Gastmeier, Sonja Hansen
Infection.2024; 52(4): 1385. CrossRef
Pre-Sepsis Length of Hospital Stay and Mortality: A Nationwide Multicenter Cohort Study
Joong-Yub Kim, Hong Yeul Lee, Jinwoo Lee, Dong Kyu Oh, Su Yeon Lee, Mi Hyeon Park, Chae-Man Lim, Sang-Min Lee
Journal of Korean Medical Science.2024;[Epub] CrossRef
Development and validation of an interpretable model for predicting sepsis mortality across care settings
Young Seok Lee, Seungbong Han, Ye Eun Lee, Jaehwa Cho, Young Kyun Choi, Sun-Young Yoon, Dong Kyu Oh, Su Yeon Lee, Mi Hyeon Park, Chae-Man Lim, Jae Young Moon, Sang‑Bum Hong, Suk‑Kyung Hong, Gee Young Suh, Kyeongman Jeon, Ryoung‑Eun Ko, Young‑Jae Cho, Yeon
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Namkee Oh, Won Chul Cha, Jun Hyuk Seo, Seong-Gyu Choi, Jong Man Kim, Chi Ryang Chung, Gee Young Suh, Su Yeon Lee, Dong Kyu Oh, Mi Hyeon Park, Chae-Man Lim, Ryoung-Eun Ko
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Predicting Neutropenic Sepsis in Patients with Hematologic Malignancy: A Retrospective Case–Control Study
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Antibiogram of Multidrug-Resistant Bacteria Based on Sepsis Onset Location in Korea: A Multicenter Cohort Study
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Case Reports

Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) and Iliac Vein Injury: Sang Ook Ha, Jae Seok Park, So Hee Park, Chae Man Lim, Younsuck Koh, Sang Bum Hong; Korean J Crit Care Med. 2013;28(3):197-200.; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4266/kjccm.2013.28.3.197

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Abstract PDF: The use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) has increased after the 2009 pandemic H1N1 infections, and the ECMO-related complications have also increased. Specifically, the mechanical vessel injury due to catheter cannulation seems to be less frequent than other complications, but there is a risk of hemorrhagic shock which requires special attention. We experienced a case of successful management with graft stenting during ECMO operation for iliac vein injury. A 56-year-old female patient with non-small cell lung cancer developed endobronchial obstruction, and ECMO was applied for the ECMO-assisted rigid bronchoscopy. During catheter cannulation, hypovolemic shock was developed due to her right external iliac vein injury. We detected the hemorrhage with bedside ultrasound at an early stage and the hemorrhage was effectively managed with graft stenting on ECMO.

A Case of Pumpless Interventional Lung Assist Application in a Tuberculosis Destroyed Lung Patient with Severe Hypercapnic Respiratory Failure: So Hee Park, Sang Ook Ha, Jae Seok Park, Sang Bum Hong, Tae Sun Shim, Chae Man Lim, Younsuck Koh; Korean J Crit Care Med. 2013;28(3):192-196.; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4266/kjccm.2013.28.3.192

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Abstract PDF: Pumpless extracorporeal interventional lung assist (iLA) is a rescue therapy allowing effective carbon dioxide removals and lung protective ventilator settings. Herein, we report the use of a pumpless extracorporeal iLA in a tuberculosis destroyed lung (TDL) patient with severe hypercapnic respiratory failures. A 35-year-old male patient with TDL was intubated due to CO2 retention and altered mentality. After 11 days, Ventilator Associated Pneumonia (VAP) had developed. Despite the maximal mechanical ventilator support, his severe respiratory acidosis was not corrected. We applied the iLA for the management of refractory hypercapnia with respiratory acidosis. This case suggests that the iLA is an effective rescue therapy for TDL patients with ventilator refractory hypercapnia.

Original Article

Usefulness of Screening Criteria System Used by Medical Alert Team in a General Hospital: Hyejin Joo, So Hee Park, Sang Bum Hong, Chae Man Lim, Younsuck Koh, Young Seok Lee, Jin Won Huh; Korean J Crit Care Med. 2012;27(3):151-156.; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4266/kjccm.2012.27.3.151

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Abstract PDF

BACKGROUND
Rapid response team (RRT) is becoming an essential part of patient safety by the early recognition and management of patients on general hospital wards. In this study, we analyzed the usefulness of screening criteria of RRT used at Asan Medical Center.
METHODS
On a retrospective basis, we reviewed the records of 675 cases in 543 patients that were managed by RRT (called medical alert team in the Asan Medical Center), from July 2011 to December 2011. The medical alert team was acted by requests of attending doctors or nurses or the medical alert system (MAS) criteria composed of abnormal vital sign, neurology, laboratory data and increasing oxygen demand. We investigated the patterns of MAS criteria for targeting the patients who were managed by the medical alert team.
RESULTS
Respiratory distress (RR > 25/min) was the most common item for identifying patients whose condition had worsened. The criteria consist with respiratory distress and abnormal blood pressure (mean BP < 60 mmHg or systolic BP < 90 mmHg) found 70.0% of patients with deteriorated conditions. Vital sign (RR > 25/min, mean BP < 60 mmHg or systolic BP < 90 mmHg, pulse rate, PR > 130/min or < 50/min) and oxygen demand found 79.2% of them. Vital signs, arterial blood gas analysis (ABGA) with lactate level (pH, pO2, pCO2, and lactate) and O2 demand found 98.6% of patient conditions had worsened.
CONCLUSIONS
Vital signs, especially RR > 25/min is useful criteria for detecting patients whose conditions have deteriorated. The addition of ABGA data with lactate levels leads to a more powerful screening tool.

Citations

Citations to this article as recorded by

Influence of the Rapid Response Team Activation via Screening by Nurses on Unplanned Intensive Care Unit Admissions
Ye-Ji Huh, Seongmi Moon, Eun Kyeung Song, Minyoung Kim
Korean Journal of Adult Nursing.2020; 32(5): 539. CrossRef
Early Experience of Medical Alert System in a Rural Training Hospital: a Pilot Study
Maru Kim
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Temporal patterns of change in vital signs and Cardiac Arrest Risk Triage scores over the 48 hours preceding fatal in‐hospital cardiac arrest
HyunSoo Oh, KangIm Lee, WhaSook Seo
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A combination of early warning score and lactate to predict intensive care unit transfer of inpatients with severe sepsis/septic shock
Jung-Wan Yoo, Ju Ry Lee, Youn Kyung Jung, Sun Hui Choi, Jeong Suk Son, Byung Ju Kang, Tai Sun Park, Jin-Won Huh, Chae-Man Lim, Younsuck Koh, Sang Bum Hong
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