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.

Pulmonary
Effects of high-flow nasal cannula in patients with mild to moderate hypercapnia: a prospective observational study: Kyung Hun Nam, Hyung Koo Kang, Sung-Soon Lee, So-Hee Park, Sung Wook Kang, Jea Jun Hwang, So Young Park, Won Young Kim, Hee Jung Suh, Eun Young Kim, Ga Jin Seo, Younsuck Koh, Sang-Bum Hong, Jin Won Huh, Chae-Man Lim; Acute Crit Care. 2021;36(3):249-255. Published online July 26, 2021; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4266/acc.2020.01102

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7 Web of Science
9 Crossref

Background
Evidence for using high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) in hypercapnia is still limited. Most of the clinical studies had been conducted retrospectively, and there had been conflicting reports for the effects of HFNC on hypercapnia correction in prospective studies. Therefore, more evidence is needed to understand the effect of the HFNC in hypercapnia.
Methods
We conducted a multicenter prospective observational study after applying HFNC to 45 hospitalized subjects who had moderate hypercapnia (arterial partial pressure of carbon dioxide [PaCO2], 43–70 mm Hg) without severe respiratory acidosis (pH <7.30). The primary outcome was a change in PaCO2 level in the first 24 hours of HFNC use. The secondary outcomes were changes in other parameters of arterial blood gas analysis, changes in respiration rates, and clinical outcomes.
Results
There was a significant decrease in PaCO2 in the first hour of HFNC application (-3.80 mm Hg; 95% confidence interval, -6.35 to -1.24; P<0.001). Reduction of PaCO2 was more prominent in subjects who did not have underlying obstructive lung disease. There was a correction in pH, but no significant changes in respiratory rate, bicarbonate, and arterial partial pressure of oxygen/fraction of inspired oxygen ratio. Mechanical ventilation was not required for 93.3% (42/45) of our study population.
Conclusions
We suggest that HFNC could be a safe alternative for oxygen delivery in hypercapnia patients who do not need immediate mechanical ventilation. With HFNC oxygenation, correction of hypercapnia could be expected, especially in patients who do not have obstructive lung diseases.

Citations

Citations to this article as recorded by

Management of hypercapnic acute respiratory failure with high-flow nasal cannula therapy: A narrative review
Christophe Girault, Elise Artaud-Macari, Pierre-Louis Declercq, Jean-Pierre Frat, Jean-Damien Ricard, Arnaud W. Thille, Gaëtan Béduneau
Annals of Intensive Care.2026; 16: 100053. CrossRef
A high-flow nasal cannula versus noninvasive ventilation in acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Oguzhan Haciosman, Huseyin Ergenc, Adem Az, Yunus Dogan, Ozgur Sogut
The American Journal of Emergency Medicine.2025; 87: 38. CrossRef
Successful Asymmetric Nasal High-Flow Therapy in CO₂ Narcosis Triggered by Pneumonia in an Elderly Patient: A Case Report
Keita Takahashi, Shigeto Ishikawa, Akari Kusaka, Hiroyuki Takeuchi, Tomohiko Akahoshi
Cureus.2025;[Epub] CrossRef
Gas composition and pressure in the hypopharynx during high-flow oxygen therapy through a nasal cannula in healthy volunteers with different breathing patterns
Andrey I. Yaroshetskiy, Anna P. Krasnoshchekova, Fedor D. Tkachenko, Alina V. Rubashchenko, Daniil D. Zubarev, Vasiliy D. Konanykhin, Maxim I. Savelenok, Maxim M. Nosenko, Zamira M. Merzhoeva, Sergey N. Avdeev
BMC Anesthesiology.2025;[Epub] CrossRef
Oxygénothérapie nasale à haut débit et insuffisance respiratoire aiguë hypercapnique
C. Girault, E. Artaud-Macari, G. Jolly, D. Carpentier, A. Cuvelier, G. Béduneau
Revue des Maladies Respiratoires.2024; 41(7): 498. CrossRef
Safety and efficacy of high flow nasal canula in patients with mild hypercapnia
Mohammed A. Ibrahim, Magdy Emara, Mohammed Shehta
The Egyptian Journal of Bronchology.2023;[Epub] CrossRef
Current status of treatment of acute respiratory failure in Korea
Yong Jun Choi, Jae Hwa Cho
Journal of the Korean Medical Association.2022; 65(3): 124. CrossRef
High-flow nasal cannula: Evaluation of the perceptions of various performance aspects among Chinese clinical staff and establishment of a multidimensional clinical evaluation system
Ruoxuan Wen, Xingshuo Hu, Tengchen Wei, Kaifei Wang, Zhimei Duan, Zhanqi Zhao, Lixin Xie, Fei Xie
Frontiers in Medicine.2022;[Epub] CrossRef
The Application Progress of HFNC in Respiratory Diseases
迪吴
Advances in Clinical Medicine.2022; 12(11): 10617. CrossRef

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