Acute and Critical Care

Original Articles

Surgery
Effects of closed- versus open-system intensive care units on mortality rates in patients with cancer requiring emergent surgical intervention for acute abdominal complications: a single-center retrospective study in Korea: Jae Hoon Lee, Jee Hee Kim, Ki Ho You, Won Ho Han; Acute Crit Care. 2024;39(4):554-564. Published online November 25, 2024; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4266/acc.2024.00808

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Background
In this study, we aimed to compare the in-hospital mortality of patients with cancer who experienced acute abdominal complications that required emergent surgery in open (treatment decisions made by the primary attending physician of the patient's admission department) versus closed (treatment decisions made by intensive care unit [ICU] intensivists) ICUs.
Methods
This retrospective, single-center study enrolled patients with cancer admitted to the ICU before or after emergency surgery between November 2020 and September 2023. Univariate and logistic regression analyses were conducted to explore the associations between patient characteristics in the open and closed ICUs and in-hospital mortality.
Results
Among the 100 patients (open ICU, 49; closed ICU, 51), 23 died during hospitalization. The closed ICU group had higher Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II scores, vasopressor use, mechanical ventilation, and preoperative lactate levels and a shorter duration from diagnosis to ICU admission, surgery, and antibiotic administration than the open ICU group. Univariate analysis linked in-hospital mortality and APACHE II score, postoperative lactate levels, continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT), and mechanical ventilation. Multivariate analysis revealed that in-hospital mortality rate increased with CRRT use and was lower in the closed ICU.
Conclusions
Compared to an open ICU, a closed ICU was an independent factor in reducing in-hospital mortality through prompt and appropriate treatment.

Citations

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Long‐Term Outcomes and Predictors in Cancer‐Related Stroke Using the Linked Data Set
Tae Jung Kim, Ji Sung Lee, Mi Sun Oh, Soo‐Hyun Park, Kyung‐Ho Yu, Byung‐Chul Lee, Byung‐Woo Yoon, Sang‐Bae Ko
Journal of the American Heart Association.2025;[Epub] CrossRef
Impact of medical crisis on the critical care system in South Korea
Ye Rim Chang, Jae Hwa Cho, Joongbum Cho, Tae Sun Ha, Bo Gun Kho, Eunhye Kim, Im-kyung Kim, Dong Hyun Lee, Suk-Kyung Hong
Acute and Critical Care.2025; 40(3): 393. CrossRef
Patient outcomes associated with merging two paediatric cardiac intensive care units into one: A retrospective study
Sacha Mairet-Mabboux, Thibault Blache, Anthony Facchin, Catherine Koffel, Arnaud Ferraris, Christopher Blakeley, Vincent Piriou, Roland Henaine, Marc Lilot
Archives of Cardiovascular Diseases.2025;[Epub] CrossRef
The efficacy of intensivist-led closed-system intensive care units in improving outcomes for cancer patients requiring emergent surgical intervention
Eun Young Kim
Acute and Critical Care.2024; 39(4): 640. CrossRef

Ethics
Comparison of factors influencing the decision to withdraw life-sustaining treatment in intensive care unit patients after implementation of the Life-Sustaining Treatment Act in Korea: Claire Junga Kim, Kyung Sook Hong, Sooyoung Cho, Jin Park; Acute Crit Care. 2024;39(2):294-303. Published online May 24, 2024; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4266/acc.2023.01130

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Abstract PDF Supplementary Material

Background
The decision to discontinue intensive care unit (ICU) treatment during the end-oflife stage has recently become a significant concern in Korea, with an observed increase in life-sustaining treatment (LST) withdrawal. There is a growing demand for evidence-based support for patients, families, and clinicians in making LST decisions. This study aimed to identify factors influencing LST decisions in ICU inpatients and to analyze their impact on healthcare utilization.
Methods
We retrospectively reviewed medical records of ICU patients with neurological disorders, infectious disorders, or cancer who were treated at a single university hospital between January 1, 2019 and July 7, 2021. Factors influencing the decision to withdraw LST were compared between those who withdrew LST and those who did not.
Results
Among 54,699 hospital admissions, LST was withdrawn in 550 cases (1%). Cancer was the most common diagnosis, followed by pneumonia and cerebral infarction. Among ICU inpatients, LST was withdrawn from 215 (withdrawal group). The withdrawal group was older (78 vs. 75 years, P=0.002), had longer total hospital stays (16 vs. 11 days, P<0.001), and higher ICU readmission rates than the control group. There were no significant differences in the healthcare costs of ICU stay between the two groups. Most LST decisions (86%) were made by family.
Conclusions
The decisions to withdraw LST of ICU inpatients were influenced by age, readmission, and disease category. ICU costs were similar between the withdrawal and control groups. Further research is needed to tailor LST decisions in the ICU.

Citations

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Awareness, attitudes, and educational needs regarding the life-sustaining treatment decision-making act in Korea among healthcare providers and medical students: a comparative analysis
Jooseon Lee, So-yun Kim, Duk-ki Kim, Green Hong, Song I Lee
BMC Medical Ethics.2026;[Epub] CrossRef
Cardiac arrest after hanging: A scoping review
Thomas Fisher, Clodagh Beattie, Quentin Otto, Joanna Hooper, Jerry P. Nolan, Jasmeet Soar
Resuscitation.2025; 207: 110510. CrossRef
Determinants of Limiting Life-Sustaining Treatment in Critically Ill COVID-19 Patients: A Multicenter Study in Korean Intensive Care Units
I Re Heo, Tae Hoon Kim, Won Jai Jung, Gil Myeong Seong, Sun Jung Kwon, Jae Young Moon, Song-I Lee, Do Sik Moon, Tae-Ok Kim, Chul Park, Eun Young Choi, Jung-Wan Yoo, Sunghoon Park, Ae Rin Baek, Sung Yoon Lim, Jung Soo Kim, Jongmin Lee, Chi Ryang Chung, San
Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases.2025; 88(3): 557. CrossRef
Public Perspectives on Palliative and Hospice Care: Social Media Content Analysis Using Topic Modeling and Multiclass Sentiment Analysis
Aeri Kim, Kyungmi Woo
Journal of Medical Internet Research.2025; 27: e70836. CrossRef
End-of-life care among Koreans in critical care and community-dwelling Korean Americans: A cross-cultural scoping review
Soo Hyun Kim, Changhwan Kim, Erh-Chi Hsu, Zackary Berger, Hae-Ra Han, Binu Koirala, Jung Kwak, Katherine A. Ornstein, Rebecca Wright
Palliative and Supportive Care.2025;[Epub] CrossRef

Rapid response system
Utilization of a rapid response team and associated outcomes in patients with malignancy: Jongmin Lee, Woo Ho Ban, Sei Won Kim, Eun Young Kim, Mi Ra Han, Seok Chan Kim; Acute Crit Care. 2020;35(1):16-23. Published online February 29, 2020; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4266/acc.2019.00675

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Abstract PDF

Background
Recent advances in diagnosis and treatment have improved long-term outcomes in cancer patients. As a result, the requirement for a rapid response team (RRT) for cancer patients is also increasing. This study aimed to analyze utilization of an RRT and the associations between related factors and mortality in a population of cancer patients. Methods: This retrospective cohort study included hospitalized patients at a single academic medical center in Seoul, Korea, who required RRT activation during a 6-year period from June 2013 to December 2018. Results: Overall, 164 of the 457 patients who met the above criteria were cancer patients, and they had a significantly higher Charlson comorbidity score than the non-cancer patients (5.0 vs. 7.0, P<0.001). A significantly larger proportion of cancer patients required intensive care unit transfer (51.8% vs. 41.0%, P=0.032). Cancer patients also had significantly higher in-hospital mortality compared with other patients (39.6% vs. 10.9%, P<0.001). Furthermore, presence of cancer was independently associated with in-hospital mortality (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 2.09; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.11 to 3.93). Among cancer patients, higher Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II at the time of RRT activation was significantly associated with in-hospital mortality regardless of malignancy (adjusted OR, 1.08; 95% CI, 1.01 to 1.15). Conclusions: Cancer patients requiring RRT activation have significantly higher rates of inhospital mortality than patients not using RRT. Higher severity score at the time of RRT activation in patients with malignancy was significantly associated with in-hospital mortality.

Citations

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Intensivmedizinisches Kontinuum in der Versorgung von Krebskranken
Catherina Lück
InFo Hämatologie + Onkologie.2023; 26(5): 10. CrossRef
Characteristics and outcomes of patients screened by rapid response team who transferred to the intensive care unit
Song-I. Lee, Jeong Suk Koh, Yoon Joo Kim, Da Hyun Kang, Jeong Eun Lee
BMC Emergency Medicine.2022;[Epub] 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
Novel Adaptive T-Cell Oncological Treatments Lead to New Challenges for Medical Emergency Teams: A 2-Year Experience From a Tertiary-Care Hospital in Switzerland
Anna Sarah Messmer, Yok-Ai Que, Christoph Schankin, Yara Banz, Ulrike Bacher, Urban Novak, Thomas Pabst
Critical Care Explorations.2021; 3(10): e0552. CrossRef
Outcomes of second-tier rapid response activations in a tertiary referral hospital: A prospective observational study
Ken Junyang Goh, Hui Zhong Chai, Lit Soo Ng, Joanna Phone Ko, Deshawn Chong Xuan Tan, Hui Li Tan, Constance Wei-Shan Teo, Ghee Chee Phua, Qiao Li Tan
Annals of the Academy of Medicine, Singapore.2021; 50(11): 838. CrossRef
Effectiveness of Rapid Response Team on In-hospital Mortality in Patients with Hematologic Malignancy
So-Jung Park, Sang-Bum Hong, Chae-Man Lim, Youn-Suck Koh, Jin-Won Huh
Quality Improvement in Health Care.2021; 27(2): 18. CrossRef

Hematology
Characteristics and Clinical Outcomes of Critically Ill Cancer Patients Admitted to Korean Intensive Care Units: Soo Jin Na, Tae Sun Ha, Younsuck Koh, Gee Young Suh, Shin Ok Koh, Chae-Man Lim, Won-Il Choi, Young-Joo Lee, Seok Chan Kim, Gyu Rak Chon, Je Hyeong Kim, Jae Yeol Kim, Jaemin Lim, Sunghoon Park, Ho Cheol Kim, Jin Hwa Lee, Ji Hyun Lee, Jisook Park, Juhee Cho, Kyeongman Jeon; Acute Crit Care. 2018;33(3):121-129. Published online August 31, 2018; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4266/acc.2018.00143

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Abstract PDF

Background
The objective of this study was to investigate the characteristics and clinical outcomes of critically ill cancer patients admitted to intensive care units (ICUs) in Korea.
Methods
This was a retrospective cohort study that analyzed prospective collected data from the Validation of Simplified Acute Physiology Score 3 (SAPS3) in Korean ICU (VSKI) study, which is a nationwide, multicenter, and prospective study that considered 5,063 patients from 22 ICUs in Korea over a period of 7 months. Among them, patients older than 18 years of age who were diagnosed with solid or hematologic malignancies prior to admission to the ICU were included in the present study.
Results
During the study period, a total of 1,762 cancer patients were admitted to the ICUs and 833 of them were deemed eligible for analysis. Six hundred fifty-eight (79%) had solid tumors and 175 (21%) had hematologic malignancies, respectively. Respiratory problems (30.1%) was the most common reason leading to ICU admission. Patients with hematologic malignancies had higher Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (12 vs. 8, P<0.001) and SAPS3 (71 vs. 69, P<0.001) values and were more likely to be associated with chemotherapy, steroid therapy, and immunocompromised status versus patients with solid tumors. The use of inotropes/ vasopressors, mechanical ventilation, and/or continuous renal replacement therapy was more frequently required in hematologic malignancy patients. Mortality rates in the ICU (41.7% vs. 24.6%, P<0.001) and hospital (53.1% vs. 38.6%, P=0.002) were higher in hematologic malignancy patients than in solid tumor patients.
Conclusions
Cancer patients accounted for one-third of all patients admitted to the studied ICUs in Korea. Clinical characteristics were different according to the type of malignancy. Patients with hematologic malignancies had a worse prognosis than did patients with solid tumor.

Citations

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Mortality-Related Risk Factors in Patients with Hematologic Neoplasm Admitted to the Intensive Care Unit: A Systematic Review
Jhon H. Quintana, Cesar David López-Vanegas, Giovanna Patricia Rivas-Tafurt, Leidy Tatiana Ordoñez-Mora, Heiler Lozada-Ramos, Jorge Enrique Daza-Arana
Current Oncology.2025; 32(3): 132. CrossRef
The critical role of timely medical emergency team activation in oncological and non-oncological patients
Kaspar F. Bachmann, Samuel J. Michimura, Luca Cioccari, Joerg C. Schefold, Anna S. Messmer, Vinaya Satyawan Tari
PLOS One.2025; 20(5): e0324831. CrossRef
Outcomes of Acute Respiratory Failure in Patients With Cancer in the United States
Kiyan Heybati, Jiawen Deng, Archis Bhandarkar, Fangwen Zhou, Cameron Zamanian, Namrata Arya, Mohamad Bydon, Philippe R. Bauer, Ognjen Gajic, Allan J. Walkey, Hemang Yadav
Mayo Clinic Proceedings.2024; 99(4): 578. CrossRef
Characteristics and outcomes of cancer patients admitted to intensive care units in cancer specialized hospitals in China
Wensheng Liu, Dongmin Zhou, Li Zhang, Mingguang Huang, Rongxi Quan, Rui Xia, Yong Ye, Guoxing Zhang, Zhuping Shen
Journal of Cancer Research and Clinical Oncology.2024;[Epub] CrossRef
Short-term and long-term outcomes of critically ill patients with solid malignancy: a retrospective cohort study
Su Yeon Lee, Jin Won Huh, Sang-Bum Hong, Chae-Man Lim, Jee Hwan Ahn
The Korean Journal of Internal Medicine.2024; 39(6): 957. CrossRef
Intensive Care Unit Outcomes and Mortality in Elderly Oncology Patients
Arif TIMUROGLU, Selda MUSLU, Aysegul DANACI, Erce CAN URESIN, Suheyla UNVER
Turkish journal of Geriatrics.2024; 27(1): 118. CrossRef
Predictors of ICU mortality in patients with hemoblastosis and infectious complications
A.V. Lyanguzov, A.S. Luchinin, S.V. Ignatyev, I.V. Paramonov
Russian Journal of Anesthesiology and Reanimatology.2023; (1): 33. CrossRef
Etiologies and Outcome of Patients with Solid Tumors Admitted to ICU with Acute Respiratory Failure: A Secondary Analysis of the EFRAIM Study
Soraya Benguerfi, Guillaume Dumas, Marcio Soares, Anne-Pascale Meert, Ignacio Martin-Loeches, Frederic Pene, Philippe Bauer, Sangeeta Mehta, Victoria Metaxa, Gaston Burghi, Achille Kouatchet, Luca Montini, Djamel Mokart, Andry Van de Louw, Elie Azoulay, V
Respiratory Care.2023; 68(6): 740. CrossRef
Effect of the underlying malignancy on critically ill septic patient's outcome
Man‐Yee Man, Hoi‐Ping Shum, Sin‐Man Lam, Jacky Li, Wing‐Wa Yan, Mei‐Wan Yeung
Asia-Pacific Journal of Clinical Oncology.2022; 18(4): 473. CrossRef
Impacts of Corticosteroid Therapy at Acute Stage of Hospital-Onset Clostridioides difficile Infections
Ching-Chi Lee, Jen-Chieh Lee, Chun-Wei Chiu, Pei-Jane Tsai, Wen-Chien Ko, Yuan-Pin Hung
Infection and Drug Resistance.2022; Volume 15: 5387. CrossRef
Hospital mortality and prognostic factors in critically ill patients with acute kidney injury and cancer undergoing continuous renal replacement therapy
Da Woon Kim, Geum Suk Jang, Kyoung Suk Jung, Hyuk Jae Jung, Hyo Jin Kim, Harin Rhee, Eun Young Seong, Sang Heon Song
Kidney Research and Clinical Practice.2022; 41(6): 717. CrossRef
A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Evaluating Geographical Variation in Outcomes of Cancer Patients Treated in ICUs
Lama H. Nazer, Maria A. Lopez-Olivo, Anne Rain Brown, John A. Cuenca, Michael Sirimaturos, Khader Habash, Nada AlQadheeb, Heather May, Victoria Milano, Amy Taylor, Joseph L. Nates
Critical Care Explorations.2022; 4(9): e0757. CrossRef
Clinico-demographic and Outcome Predictors in Solid Tumor Patients with Unplanned Intensive Care Unit Admissions: An Observational Study
Jigeeshu Divatia, Amit M Narkhede, Harish K Chaudhari, Ujwal Dhundi, Natesh Prabu Ravisankar, Satish Sarode
Indian Journal of Critical Care Medicine.2021; 25(12): 1421. CrossRef

Case Report

Pulmonary
Successful Treatment with Empirical Erlotinib in a Patient with Respiratory Failure Caused by Extensive Lung Adenocarcinoma: Suk Hyeon Jeong, Sang-Won Um, Hyun Lee, Kyeongman Jeon, Kyung Jong Lee, Gee Young Suh, Man Pyo Chung, Hojoong Kim, O Jung Kwon, Yoon La Choi; Korean J Crit Care Med. 2016;31(1):44-48. Published online February 29, 2016; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4266/kjccm.2016.31.1.44

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Abstract PDF

We herein describe a 70-year-old woman who presented with respiratory failure due to extensive lung adenocarcinoma. Despite advanced disease, care in the intensive care unit with ventilator support was performed because she was a newly diagnosed patient and was considered to have the potential to recover after cancer treatment. Because prompt control of the cancer was needed to treat the respiratory failure, empirical treatment with an oral epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitor was initiated before confirmation of EGFR-mutant adenocarcinoma, and the patient was successfully treated. Later, EGFR-mutant adenocarcinoma was confirmed.

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Lazarus effect in a patient initially empirically treated with osimertinib for EGFR L858R mutant non-small cell lung cancer with leptomeningeal disease: a case report
Shreya Bhatia, Manuel G. Cortez, Spencer Lessans, Wade T. Iams
Oncotarget.2024; 15(1): 27. CrossRef
Lung cancer with superior vena cava syndrome diagnosed by intravascular biopsy using EBUS-TBNA
Daegeun Lee, Seong Mi Moon, Dongwuk Kim, Juwon Kim, Haseong Chang, Bumhee Yang, Suk Hyeon Jeong, Kyung Jong Lee
Respiratory Medicine Case Reports.2016; 19: 177. CrossRef

Original Article

Effect of the Neutrophil Elastase Inhibitor on Acute Lung Injury after Pulmonary Resection for Lung Cancer: A Preliminary Study: So Young Park, Sunghoon Park, Kyeongman Jeon, So Yeon Lim, Maeng Real Park, Sueah Kim, Jae Uk Song, Jhin Gook Kim, O Jung Kwon, Gee Young Suh; Korean J Crit Care Med. 2009;24(3):124-128.; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4266/kjccm.2009.24.3.124

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Abstract PDF: BACKGROUND
Acute lung injury (ALI) and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) are the leading causes of death after lungresection. Neutrophil elastase is thought to be an important mediator in the pathogenesis of ALI. Sivelestat is a new neutrophil elastase inhibitor which may improve the outcome in patients with ALI/ARDS after lung resection. The objective of this study was to determine whether or not sivelestat can reduce mortality in patients with ALI after pulmonary resection for lung cancer.
METHODS
This study was a retrospective case-control study of twenty three patients who developed ALI/ARDS within seven days of lung resection for lung cancer. The control group (n = 12) received standard care, while the sivelestat group (n = 11) received a continuous infusion of sivelestat (0.2 mg/kg/hr) for seven days in addition to standard care.
RESULTS
There was no significant difference in the baseline characteristics between the control and sivelestat groups, except for heart rate. Six of twelve patients (50%) in the control group survived, while seven of twelve patients (64%) survived in the sivelestat group (p = 0.34). There was also no significant difference between the two groups in the progression to ARDS. In the sivelelestat group, survivors had lower APACHE II and SOFA scores than the patients in the control group.
CONCLUSIONS
There was no additional effect of a neutrophil elastase inhibitor in the treatment of ALI after pulmonary resection for lung cancer.

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