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.

Early management of adult sepsis and septic shock: Korean clinical practice guidelines.

Background: Despite recent advances and global improvements in sepsis recognition and supportive care, mortality rates remain high, and adherence to sepsis bundle components in Korea is low. To address this, the Korean Sepsis Alliance, affiliated with the Korean Society of Critical Care Medicine, developed the first sepsis treatment guidelines for Korea based on a comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis.

Methods: A de novo method was used to develop the guidelines.

Risk Factors for Invasive Candidiasis in Critically Ill Patients Who Underwent Emergency Gastrointestinal Surgery for Complicated Intra-Abdominal Infection.

species account for approximately 15% of hospital-associated infections, causing fatal consequences, especially in critically ill patients. This study aimed to evaluate invasive candidiasis (IC) risk factors in critically ill patients undergoing surgery. We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 583 patients who underwent emergency surgery for complicated intra-abdominal infections between January 2016 and December 2021.

Oncologic outcome of colon cancer with perforation and obstruction.

Purpose: Perforation and obstruction in colorectal cancer are poor prognostic factors. We aimed to evaluate the oncological outcomes of patients with colon cancer presenting with perforation or obstruction.

Methods: A total of 260 patients underwent surgery for colon cancer between January 2015 and December 2017.

Analysis of Critical COVID-19 Cases Among Children in Korea.

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is generally asymptomatic or mild in otherwise healthy children, however, severe cases may occur. In this study, we report the clinical characteristics of children classified as critical COVID-19 in Korea to provide further insights into risk factors and management in children.

Methods: This study was a retrospective case series of children < 18 years of age classified as critical COVID-19.

Early supplemental parenteral nutrition is associated with reduced mortality in critically ill surgical patients with high nutritional risk.

Background & Aims: Adequate nutritional provision is important for critically ill patients to improve clinical outcomes. Starting enteral nutrition (EN) as early as possible is recommended and preferred to parenteral nutrition (PN). However, patients who undergo emergency abdominal operations may have alterations in their intra-abdominal environment and gastrointestinal motility leading to limitation in starting an enteral diet.

Prediction of culture-positive sepsis and selection of empiric antibiotics in critically ill patients with complicated intra-abdominal infections: a retrospective study.

Purpose: To compare the mortality rates between culture-positive and culture-negative sepsis in complicated intra-abdominal infections (cIAI) and investigate the predictors of culture-positivity and their causative microorganisms.

Materials And Methods: The medical records of 1581 adult patients who underwent emergency gastrointestinal surgery between January 2013 and December 2018 were reviewed retrospectively. A total of 239 patients with sepsis or septic shock who were admitted to an emergency department, underwent emergency surgery for cIAI, and needed postoperative intensive care unit care were included and divided into two groups according to their initial blood and peritoneal culture results.

Association between postoperative fluid balance and mortality and morbidity in critically ill patients with complicated intra-abdominal infections: a retrospective study.

Background: Postoperative fluid overload may increase the risk of developing pulmonary complications and other adverse outcomes. We evaluated the impact of excessive fluid administration on postoperative outcomes in critically ill patients.

Methods: We reviewed the medical records of 320 patients admitted to intensive care unit (ICU) after emergency abdominal surgery for complicated intra-abdominal infection (cIAI) between January 2013 and December 2018.

Impact of a multidisciplinary quality improvement initiative to reduce inappropriate usage of stress ulcer prophylaxis in hospitalized patients.

Aims: To promote effective methods to improve overutilization patterns of acid-suppressive therapy in hospitalized patients and to evaluate the impact of multidisciplinary team efforts to reduce inappropriate use of stress ulcer prophylaxis in low-risk patients.

Methods: A multidisciplinary quality improvement initiative incorporating education, medication use reviews and reconciliation, and pharmaceutical intervention was implemented in June 2018 for surgical patients hospitalized via emergency department. For the pre-post analysis and time series analysis, patients admitted during April and May were classified into the pre-intervention cohort and those admitted during July and August into the post-intervention cohort.

Association of Initial Low Serum Selenium Level with Infectious Complications and 30-Day Mortality in Multiple Trauma Patients.

Low serum selenium levels are commonly observed in critically injured multiple trauma patients. This study aimed to identify the association between initial serum selenium levels and in-hospital infectious complications in multiple trauma patients. We retrospectively reviewed multiple trauma patients admitted between January 2015 and November 2017.

Association of Inadequate Caloric Supplementation with 30-Day Mortality in Critically Ill Postoperative Patients with High Modified NUTRIC Score.

Modified NUTRIC (mNUTRIC) score is a useful assessment tool to determine the risk of malnutrition in patients on mechanical ventilation (MV). We identified associations between postoperative calorie adequacy, 30-day mortality, and surgical outcomes in patients with high mNUTRIC scores. Medical records of 272 patients in the intensive care unit who required MV support for >24 h after emergency gastro-intestinal (GI) surgery between January 2007 and December 2017 were reviewed.

Predictors of early weaning failure from mechanical ventilation in critically ill patients after emergency gastrointestinal surgery: A retrospective study.

Mechanical ventilation (MV) is the most common therapeutic modality used for critically ill patients. However, prolonged MV is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Therefore, it is important to avoid both premature extubation and unnecessary prolongation of MV.

Treatment strategies using adefovir dipivoxil for individuals with lamivudine-resistant chronic hepatitis B.

Aim: To investigate retrospectively the long-term efficacy of various treatment strategies using adefovir dipivoxil (adefovir) in patients with lamivudine-resistant chronic hepatitis B.

Methods: We included 154 consecutive patients in two treatment groups: the "add-on" group (n = 79), in which adefovir was added to ongoing lamivudine treatment due to lamivudine resistance, and the "switch/combination" group (n = 75), in which lamivudine was first switched to adefovir and then re-added later as needed. The "switch/combination" group was then divided into two subgroups depending on whether participants followed (group A, n = 30) or violated (group B, n = 45) a proposed treatment strategy that determined whether to add lamivudine based on the serum hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA levels (< 60 IU/mL or not) after 6 mo of treatment (roadmap concept).

[A case of acute cholestatic hepatitis induced by Corydalis speciosa Max].

Herbs are widely used as treatments for various symptoms. However, several herbs have been reported to be inducers of liver injury. We report herein a case of hepatotoxicity induced by Corydalis speciosa Max.