Acute and Critical Care

Original Articles

Nursing
Quality of life among patients with supraventricular tachycardia post radiofrequency cardiac ablation in Jordan: Mohammad Tayseer Al- Betar, Rami Masa'deh, Shaher H. Hamaideh, Fatma Refaat Ahmed, Hajar Bakkali, Mohannad Eid AbuRuz; Acute Crit Care. 2023;38(3):333-342. Published online August 30, 2023; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4266/acc.2023.00052

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Abstract PDF: Background
Supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) is a common arrhythmia with associated symptoms such as palpitation, dizziness, and fatigue. It significantly affects patients’ quality of life (QoL). Radiofrequency cardiac ablation (RFCA) is a highly effective treatment to eliminate arrhythmia and improve patients’ QoL. The purpose of this study was to assess the level of QoL among patients with SVT and examine the difference in QoL before and after RFCA.
Methods
One group pre-posttest design with a convenience sample of 112 patients was used. QoL was assessed by 36-Item Short Form (SF-36). Data were collected at admission through face-to-face interviews and 1-month post-discharge through phone interviews.
Results
There was a significant difference between QoL before (33.7±17.0) and 1 month after (62.5±18.5) the RFCA. Post-RFCA patients diagnosed with atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia had higher QoL than other types of SVT. Moreover, there were significant negative relationships between QoL and the number and duration of episodes pre- and post-RFCA. There were no significant differences in QoL based on: age, sex, working status, marital status, smoking, coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus, and hypertension.
Conclusions
After RFCA, the QoL of patients with ST improved for both physical and mental component subscales.

Pulmonary
Factors influencing sleep quality in the intensive care unit: a descriptive pilot study in Korea: Yoon Hae Ahn, Hong Yeul Lee, Sang-Min Lee, Jinwoo Lee; Acute Crit Care. 2023;38(3):278-285. Published online August 11, 2023; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4266/acc.2023.00514

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Background
As sleep disturbances are common in the intensive care unit (ICU), this study assessed the sleep quality in the ICU and identified barriers to sleep.
Methods
Patients admitted to the ICUs of a tertiary hospital between June 2022 and December 2022 who were not mechanically ventilated at enrollment were included. The quality of sleep (QoS) at home was assessed on a visual analog scale as part of an eight-item survey, while the QoS in the ICU was evaluated using the Korean version of the Richards-Campbell Sleep Questionnaire (K-RCSQ). Good QoS was defined by a score of ≥50.
Results
Of the 30 patients in the study, 19 reported a QoS score <50. The Spearman correlation coefficient showed no meaningful relationship between the QoS at home and the overall K-RCSQ QoS score in the ICU (r=0.16, P=0.40). The most common barriers to sleep were physical discomfort (43%), being awoken for procedures (43%), and feeling unwell (37%); environmental factors including noise (30%) and light (13%) were also identified sources of sleep disruption. Physical discomfort (median [interquartile range]: 32 [28.0–38.0] vs. 69 [42.0–80.0], P=0.004), being awoken for procedures (36 [20.0–48.0] vs. 54 [36.0–80.0], P=0.04), and feeling unwell (31 [18.0–42.0] vs. 54 [40.0–76.0], P=0.01) were associated with lower K-RCSQ scores.
Conclusions
In the ICU, physical discomfort, patient care interactions, and feeling unwell were identified as barriers to sleep.

Citations

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Different nursing interventions on sleep quality among critically ill patients: A systematic review and network meta-analysis
Daijin Huang, Yumei Li, Jing Ye, Chang Liu, Dongyan Shen, Yunhui Lv
Medicine.2023; 102(52): e36298. CrossRef

Neurology
Muscle Growth and Anabolism in Intensive Care Survivors (GAINS) trial: a pilot randomised controlled trial: Matthew H Anstey, Rashmi Rauniyar, Ethan Fitzclarence, Natalie Tran, Emma Osnain, Bianca Mammana, Angela Jacques, Robert N Palmer, Andrew Chapman, Bradley Wibrow; Acute Crit Care. 2022;37(3):295-302. Published online June 27, 2022; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4266/acc.2021.01767

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Abstract PDF Supplementary Material: Background
To explore the feasibility, safety, and potential benefits of administration of the anabolic steroid nandrolone to patients in the recovery phase from critical illness weakness.
Methods
In this phase II, double blind, randomized, controlled trial, adult critically ill patients admitted to one of two tertiary Intensive Care Units in Western Australia for longer than 7 days with significant weakness were enrolled. Patients received nandrolone (200 mg males, 100 mg females) intramuscularly or placebo weekly for up to 3 weeks in addition to standard care. The primary outcome measures were improvement in grip strength, Medical Research Council muscle strength sum score, and functional activity level (Chelsea critical care assessment tool [CPAx]).
Results
A total of 22 patients was enrolled between September 2017 and May 2019. No significant adverse events were detected. Median grip strength change was non-significantly greater in the nandrolone group (8.5 vs. 13.0, P=0.185), while hospital length of stay (36 vs. 26 days, P=0.023) and duration of mechanical ventilation (377 vs. 168, P=0.032) were lower. The discharge CPAx and intensive care unit mobility scores were higher in the nandrolone group, although there was no difference in the change in CPAx score (17.0 vs. 17.7, P=0.865). There were no changes in ultrasound-detected muscle thickness between the two groups.
Conclusions
In patients with prolonged critical illness, nandrolone appears to be safe. However, a larger study, potentially combined with resistance exercise, is needed to definitively address the potential benefits of nandrolone.

Ethics
The quality of dying and death for patients in intensive care units: a single center pilot study: Yanghwan Choi, Myoungrin Park, Da Hyun Kang, Jooseon Lee, Jae Young Moon, Heejoon Ahn; Acute Crit Care. 2019;34(3):192-201. Published online April 8, 2019; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4266/acc.2018.00374

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Abstract PDF Supplementary Material

Background
To identify the necessary care for dying patients in intensive care units (ICUs), we designed a retrospective study to evaluate the quality of dying and death (QODD) experienced by the surrogates of patients with medical illness who died in the ICU of a tertiary referral hospital.
Methods
To achieve our objective, the authors compared the QODD scores as appraised by the relatives of patients who died of cancer under hospice care with those who died in the ICU. For this study, a Korean version of the QODD questionnaire was developed, and individual interviews were also conducted.
Results
Sixteen people from the intensive care group and 23 people from the hospice care group participated in the survey and completed the questionnaire. The family members of patients who died in the ICU declined participation at a high rate (50%), with the primary reason being to avoid bringing back painful memories (14 people, 87.5%). The relatives of the intensive care group obtained an average total score on the 17-item QODD questionnaire, which was significantly lower than that of the relatives of the hospice group (48.7±15.5 vs. 60.3±14.8, P=0.03).
Conclusions
This work implies that there are unmet needs for the care of dying patients and for the QODD in tertiary hospital ICUs. This result suggests that shared decision making for advance care planning should be encouraged and that education on caring for dying patients should be provided to healthcare professionals to improve the QODD in Korean ICUs.

Citations

Citations to this article as recorded by

Recent Trends in the Withdrawal of Life-Sustaining Treatment in Patients with Acute Cerebrovascular Disease : 2017–2021
Seung Hwan Kim, Ji Hwan Jang, Young Zoon Kim, Kyu Hong Kim, Taek Min Nam
Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society.2024; 67(1): 73. CrossRef
Quality of dying and death in intensive care units: family satisfaction
Fur-Hsing Wen, Ming Chu Chiang, Chung-Chi Huang, Tsung-Hui Hu, Wen-Chi Chou, Li-Pang Chuang, Siew Tzuh Tang
BMJ Supportive & Palliative Care.2023; 13(e3): e1217. CrossRef
Development of an End-of-Life Nursing Care Protocol for Intensive Care Units
Jungeun Kim, Hye Young Yun, Euni Ji Kim, Hyunsook Kim, Geon Ah Kim, Sung Ha Kim, Jayoung Koo, Ju Youn Park, Aisoon Park, Eugene Han, So Yeon Kim, Jihye Jeong, Sanghee Kim
Journal of Hospice & Palliative Nursing.2022; 24(4): E159. CrossRef
Nurses’ perceptions of barriers and supportive behaviors in end-of-life care in the intensive care unit: a cross-sectional study
Dan-dan Xu, Dan Luo, Jie Chen, Ji-li Zeng, Xiao-lin Cheng, Jin Li, Juan-juan Pei, Fen Hu
BMC Palliative Care.2022;[Epub] CrossRef
The Quality of Dying and Death of Advanced Cancer Patients in Palliative Care and Its Association With Place of Death and Quality of Care
Daniel Gutiérrez-Sánchez, Rafael Gómez-García, María Luisa Martín Roselló, Antonio I. Cuesta-Vargas
Journal of Hospice & Palliative Nursing.2021; 23(3): 264. CrossRef
The Role of Anesthesiologists in Perioperative Limitation of Potentially Life-Sustaining Medical Treatments: A Narrative Review and Perspective
Tera Cushman, David B. Waisel, Miriam M. Treggiari
Anesthesia & Analgesia.2021; 133(3): 663. CrossRef
Decision-Making Processes in Surrogates of Cancer Patients in a Taiwan Intensive Care Unit
Wan-Na Sun, Hsin-Tien Hsu, Nai-Ying Ko, Yu-Tung Huang
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.2020; 17(12): 4443. CrossRef

Rapid response system
Rapid Response Systems Reduce In-Hospital Cardiopulmonary Arrest: A Pilot Study and Motivation for a Nationwide Survey: Yeonhee Park, Jong-Joon Ahn, Byung Ju Kang, Young Seok Lee, Sang-Ook Ha, Jin-Soo Min, Woo-Hyun Cho, Se-Hee Na, Dong-Hyun Lee, Seung-Yong Park, Goo-Hyeon Hong, Hyun-Jung Kim, Sangwoo Shim, Jung-Hyun Kim, Seok-Jeong Lee, So-Young Park, Jae Young Moon; Korean J Crit Care Med. 2017;32(3):231-239. Published online August 31, 2017; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4266/kjccm.2017.00024

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Abstract PDF Supplementary Material

Background
Early recognition of the signs and symptoms of clinical deterioration could diminish the incidence of cardiopulmonary arrest. The present study investigates outcomes with respect to cardiopulmonary arrest rates in institutions with and without rapid response systems (RRSs) and the current level of cardiopulmonary arrest rate in tertiary hospitals. Methods: This was a retrospective study based on data from 14 tertiary hospitals. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) rate reports were obtained from each hospital to include the number of cardiopulmonary arrest events in adult patients in the general ward, the annual adult admission statistics, and the structure of the RRS if present. Results: Hospitals with RRSs showed a statistically significant reduction of the CPR rate between 2013 and 2015 (odds ratio [OR], 0.731; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.577 to 0.927; P = 0.009). Nevertheless, CPR rates of 2013 and 2015 did not change in hospitals without RRS (OR, 0.988; 95% CI, 0.868 to 1.124; P = 0.854). National university-affiliated hospitals showed less cardiopulmonary arrest rate than private university-affiliated in 2015 (1.92 vs. 2.40; OR, 0.800; 95% CI, 0.702 to 0.912; P = 0.001). High-volume hospitals showed lower cardiopulmonary arrest rates compared with medium-volume hospitals in 2013 (1.76 vs. 2.63; OR, 0.667; 95% CI, 0.577 to 0.772; P < 0.001) and in 2015 (1.55 vs. 3.20; OR, 0.485; 95% CI, 0.428 to 0.550; P < 0.001). Conclusions: RRSs may be a feasible option to reduce the CPR rate. The discrepancy in cardiopulmonary arrest rates suggests further research should include a nationwide survey to tease out factors involved in in-hospital cardiopulmonary arrest and differences in outcomes based on hospital characteristics.

Citations

Citations to this article as recorded by

Society of Critical Care Medicine Guidelines on Recognizing and Responding to Clinical Deterioration Outside the ICU: 2023
Kimia Honarmand, Randy S. Wax, Daleen Penoyer, Geoffery Lighthall, Valerie Danesh, Bram Rochwerg, Michael L. Cheatham, Daniel P. Davis, Michael DeVita, James Downar, Dana Edelson, Alison Fox-Robichaud, Shigeki Fujitani, Raeann M. Fuller, Helen Haskell, Ma
Critical Care Medicine.2024; 52(2): 314. CrossRef
2020 Korean Guidelines for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation. Part 4. Adult advanced life support
Jaehoon Oh, Kyoung-Chul Cha, Jong-Hwan Lee, Seungmin Park, Dong-Hyeok Kim, Byung Kook Lee, Jung Soo Park, Woo Jin Jung, Dong Keon Lee, Young Il Roh, Tae Youn Kim, Sung Phil Chung, Young-Min Kim, June Dong Park, Han-Suk Kim, Mi Jin Lee, Sang-Hoon Na, Gyu C
Clinical and Experimental Emergency Medicine.2021; 8(S): S26. CrossRef
Intensivists' Direct Management without Residents May Improve the Survival Rate Compared to High-Intensity Intensivist Staffing in Academic Intensive Care Units: Retrospective and Crossover Study Design
Jin Hyoung Kim, Jihye Kim, SooHyun Bae, Taehoon Lee, Jong-Joon Ahn, Byung Ju Kang
Journal of Korean Medical Science.2020;[Epub] CrossRef
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
Rapid response systems in Korea
Bo Young Lee, Sang-Bum Hong
Acute and Critical Care.2019; 34(2): 108. CrossRef

Review

Policy
How to Enhance Critical Care in Korea: Challenges and Vision: Younsuck Koh; Korean J Crit Care Med. 2014;29(4):246-249. Published online November 30, 2014; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4266/kjccm.2014.29.4.246

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Abstract PDF

The goal of critical care is to reverse patients' acute problems in effective and ethical ways with minimum costs. Unlike in other medical fields, the quality of Korean critical care has lagged behind that of advanced countries. Moreover, the level of critical care quality differs significantly between university hospitals. The suboptimal critical care level has multifactorial causes. The major challenge to Korean intensivists is, therefore, how to overcome barriers in the current critical care delivery system to improve outcomes for critically ill patients and reduce medical errors in error-prone Intensive Care Unit (ICUs). A long-term task force including all stakeholders should address the multifactorial barriers to better outcomes. The Korean Society of Critical Care Medicine should perform the central role to dismantle the barriers step by step with a long-term vision for a desirable critical care delivery system in our society. A capable critical care team with full-time intensivists is the most urgent requirement for proper, timely care in ICUs. Intensivists should focus on basic but essential management so scarcity of resources can be minimized. Publicity about ICU to the general public is also urgently required to draw the attention of medical policy makers to the current suboptimal level of our critical care system.

Citations

Citations to this article as recorded by

Mortality among adult patients with sepsis and septic shock in Korea: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Myeong Namgung, Chiwon Ahn, Yeonkyung Park, Il-Youp Kwak, Jungguk Lee, Moonho Won
Clinical and Experimental Emergency Medicine.2023; 10(2): 157. CrossRef
Major Obstacles to Implement a Full-Time Intensivist in Korean Adult ICUs: a Questionnaire Survey
Jun Wan Lee, Jae Young Moon, Seok Wha Youn, Yong Sup Shin, Sang Il Park, Dong Chan Kim, Younsuk Koh
Korean Journal of Critical Care Medicine.2016; 31(2): 111. CrossRef

Original Articles

Effect of Cardiac Arrest Team Training Using Script on the Quality of Simulated Resuscitation: Mao Lung Sun, Hyun Jong Kim, Sung Phil Chung, Hahn Shick Lee, Wen Joen Chang; Korean J Crit Care Med. 2012;27(1):5-9.; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4266/kjccm.2012.27.1.5

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Abstract PDF: BACKGROUND
The purpose of this study was to compare the quality of simulated resuscitation between the conventional simulation training group and the script based training group.
METHODS
This was a retrospective analysis of video clips from a previous study of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) team simulation training. A total of eighty-four video clips were analyzed. Each video clip belonged to either the conventional group or the script group, of either pre-training or post-training. One of the authors analyzed all the video clips. The qualities of resuscitation team plays were compared in terms of the hands-on compression time, the interval to meaningful measures and the number of utterances of the team leader and members.
RESULTS
The hands-on time of the conventional group improved after training whereas that of the script group deteriorated (22.2 vs -7.0 sec, p = 0.009). The time to defibrillation also improved in the conventional group whereas that of the script group deteriorated (-24.0 vs 33.0 sec, p = 0.002). There were no differences in the utterances of team leaders and members between groups and between pre- and post-training.
CONCLUSIONS
This study suggested that the effect of script-based training on quality of CPR was less useful than that of conventional training using simulation and debriefing. Therefore, CPR team training using a script alone should not be recommended.

A Simulation Study for Quality of Chest Compression Provided by Health Personnel: Jun Mo Yeo, Min Hong Choa, Sang Won Chung, In Byung Kim, Ji Hoon Kang, Kyung Wuk Kim, Jai Woog Ko; Korean J Crit Care Med. 2011;26(2):64-68.; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4266/kjccm.2011.26.2.64

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Abstract PDF

BACKGROUND
Effective chest compression may improve the return of spontaneous circulation and neurologic outcome in arrest victims. For fear of rescuer's fatigue, guidelines for cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) recommended that chest compression (CC) should be switched every 2 minutes, but there is little evidence. We investigated whether health personnel could provide consistent quality of CC for 2 minutes.
METHODS
We recruited prospectively health personnel working on one university hospital. On the day assigned randomly, CPR performance data was collected with use of CPR recording technology. Quality of CPR was calculated every 30 seconds interval. To identify the quality decay, we used repeated measure analysis of variance with SPSS 17.0 for analysis.
RESULTS
We analyzed 8,485 CCs performed by 41 subjects. Total number of CC decayed between 90 to 120 seconds (51.6 +/- 3.3 to 50.8 +/- 3.5, p = 0.020) within recommended range. The ratio of correct depth CC decayed between 90 to 120 seconds, falling from 83.4 +/- 24.9% to 68.3 +/- 38.4% (p = 0.002). The ratio of low depth CC increased significantly over time (10.2 +/- 20.7% to 31.3 +/- 38.5%, p < 0.001).
CONCLUSIONS
Health personnel may provide adequate number of CC for 2 minutes. But, the number of correct depth CC may decay between 90 to 120 seconds. Also the number of low depth CC may increase over time.

Citations

Citations to this article as recorded by

Comparisons of the qualities of chest compression according to various positions of rescuer to patient at the in-hospital cardiopulmonary resuscitation model
Geon-Nam Kim, Seong-Woo Choi, Jin-Yeong Jang, So-Yeon Ryu
The Korean Journal of Emergency Medical Services.2014; 18(1): 7. CrossRef
Comparison on the Quality and fatigue of hands-Only CPR According to the Presence or Absence of Verbal counting by Some Middle-aged Women
Geon-Nam Kim, Sung-Soo Choi, Seong-Woo Choi
Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society.2013; 14(3): 1320. CrossRef

A Study on the Health-related Quality of Life after ICU Care: Min Young Kim, Yong Kyung Lee, Seo Rim Park, In Soon Hwang, Sook Ja Lee, Cheung Soo Shin; Korean J Crit Care Med. 2005;20(2):144-151.

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Abstract PDF: BACKGROUND
This study was designed to analyze the influences of ICU patients' experiences in the ICU setting and the effect of ICU patient families' stress derived from their needs and daily life stress on the patients' quality of life. METHODS: ICU patients' quality of life was evaluated with KQOLS surveying 144 patients alive. The data was classified into 2 groups according to severity of illness and analyzed with an ANOVA. With a t-test, comparative analysis was made to examine deficiency of responses on patient families' needs and patients' quality of life. RESULTS: The patients in the group of higher severity of illness showed lower quality of life. The APACHEII score had a negative correlation with all domains except health status change domain, health status perception domain, and spiritual domain. There was a negative correlation between patients' age and three domains of physical function, role limitation, and social function and a positive correlation between patients' hospital LOS and health status change domain. The families in the group of lower severity of illness showed higher level of deficiency of responses on their needs for medical treatment and nursing information, and emotional support. Also, patients' quality of life in lower daily life stress group was higher than that in higher stress group especially in psychological health domain. CONCLUSIONS: The findings show that ICU patients `quality of life was influenced by not only medical factors but also psychosocial factors and suggest that multidimensional intervention plans are required for improving patients' quality of life and recovering their health.

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