Acute and Critical Care

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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.

Pulmonary
The Role of Transbronchial Lung Biopsy in Diagnosing Pulmonary Mucormycosis in a Critical Care Unit: Yoonki Hong, Jinkyeong Park; Korean J Crit Care Med. 2017;32(2):205-210. Published online May 31, 2017; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4266/kjccm.2017.00150

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3 Web of Science
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Abstract PDF

Background
Pulmonary mucormycosis (PM) is an emerging infectious disease and a life-threatening infection with high mortality. The clinical outcomes of PM have not improved significantly over the last decade because early diagnosis of PM is difficult and antifungal agents show limited activity. We evaluated the clinical manifestations of PM in a Korean tertiary hospital and identified the role of transbronchial lung biopsy (TBLB) in diagnosing PM in patients admitted to an intensive care unit.
Methods
The medical records of adult patients (aged 16 years and older) who met the criteria for proven or probable PM in a Korean tertiary hospital were retrospectively reviewed from January 2003 to December 2013. The clinical features, computed tomographic findings, diagnostic methods, treatment, and outcomes in patients with PM were evaluated.
Results
Of the nine patients, four were male. The median age was 64 years (range, 12 to 73 years). PM was proven and probable in seven and two cases, respectively. Computed tomography findings of PM were unilateral involvement in eight cases (89%), consolidation in eight (89%), ground glass opacity in four (44%), and reverse halo sign in one (11%). Six of nine cases (67%) were diagnosed as PM from TBLB via portable bronchoscopy. There were no complications after TBLB. Mortality rate was 56% (five of nine cases).
Conclusions
TBLB can be an easy and useful technique for diagnosing PM in the intensive care unit.

Citations

Citations to this article as recorded by

Pulmonary mucormycosis and Achromobacter xylosoxidans co-infection in an immunocompromised host: a case report
Balkrishna Subedi, Naveen Gautam, Anuja Upadhyay, Manish Sharma, Daniel Bitetto
Annals of Medicine & Surgery.2025; 87(12): 8860. CrossRef

Letter to the Editor

CPR/Resuscitation
Refractory Ventricular Arrhythmia Induced by Aconite Intoxication and Its Treatment with Extracorporeal Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation: Mi Kyoung Hong, Jeong Hoon Yang, Chi-Ryang Chung, Jinkyeong Park, Gee Young Suh, Kiick Sung, Yang Hyun Cho; Korean J Crit Care Med. 2017;32(2):228-230. Published online May 31, 2017; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4266/kjccm.2017.00017

9,482 View
106 Download
4 Web of Science
4 Crossref

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Citations

Citations to this article as recorded by

Aconitine poisoning as a rare cause of pulseless diffuse ventricular arrhythmia: a case report
Bernhard Baumeister, Eiko Bassfeld, Nikolaos Evangelatos
The American Journal of Emergency Medicine.2026; 103: 99. CrossRef
A Narrative Review of Aconite Poisoning and Management
Christine Lawson, Daniel J. McCabe, Ryan Feldman
Journal of Intensive Care Medicine.2025; 40(8): 811. CrossRef
Extracorporeal cardio-pulmonary resuscitation in poisoning: A scoping review article
Mingwei Ng, Zi Yang Wong, R. Ponampalam
Resuscitation Plus.2023; 13: 100367. CrossRef
Accidental poisoning with Aconitum: Case report and review of the literature
Giuseppe Bonanno, Mariachiara Ippolito, Alessandra Moscarelli, Giovanni Misseri, Rosaria Caradonna, Giuseppe Accurso, Andrea Cortegiani, Antonino Giarratano
Clinical Case Reports.2020; 8(4): 696. CrossRef

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