Acute Myeloid Leukemia in Suspected Sepsis after Caesarean Section / 대한구급학회지

The incidence of acute leukemia during pregnancy is extremely rare, and often it is not easy to differentiate it from other diseases associated with pregnancy such as sepsis or hemorrhage. Pregnancy itself is not known to affect the natural course of leukemia; however, complications of leukemia like anemia, infections, and coagulopathy can adversely influence both the fetus and the mother. In this case, a pregnant patient misdiagnosed with septic shock and severe leukocytosis was correctly diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia after surgical delivery.

ICU Acquired Weakness / 대한구급학회지

Critical care has focused on recovery from acute organ failure and resuscitation. Neuromuscular abnormalities related to critical illness is not uncommon in critically ill patients, but they were relatively underestimated and unnoticed. Intensive care unit acquired weakness (ICUAW) leading to severe functional impairments in ICU survivors can be divided into two disease entities: critical illness polyneuropathy (CIP) and critical illness myopathy (CIM). Electrophysiologic study, muscle biopsy and physical examination are helpful to diagnose ICUAW. Several researches and reviews identified many risk factors including systemic inflammation, corticosteroids, hyperglycemia, and immobility. Additional research is needed to identify the pathogenesis of this disorder and to testify its preventive or therapeutic modalities.

Implementation of the Head of Bed (HOB) Elevation Protocol on Clinical and Nutritional Outcomes in Critically Ill Patients with Mechanical Ventilator Support / 대한구급학회지

BACKGROUND: Although head of bed (HOB) elevation is an important strategy to prevent ventilator associated pneumonia (VAP), some observational studies have reported that the application of the semi-recumbent position was lower in patients receiving mechanical ventilator support. We performed this study to assess the effect of implementation of the HOB elevation protocol in the intensive care unit (ICU) on clinical and nutritional outcomes. METHODS: We developed a HOB elevation protocol including a flow chart to determine whether the HOB of newly admitted patients to ICU could be elevated. We measured the level of HOB elevation in patients with mechanical ventilator twice a day and 2 days a week for 5 weeks before and after the implementation of the protocol, respectively. Hemodynamic, respiratory and nutritional data were also collected, resulting in 251 observations from 35 patients and 467 observations from 66 patients before and after implementation. RESULTS: After implementing the protocol, the level of HOB elevation (16.7 +/- 9.9 vs. 23.6 +/-1 2.9, p 30degrees increased significantly (34 vs. 151, p 100 ml) occurred less frequently after implementing the protocol (50% vs. 17%, p = 0.001) CONCLUSIONS: Implementation of the protocol for HOB elevation could improve the level of HOB elevation, oxygenation parameter and enteral nutrition delivery.

Arterial Blood Lactate Concentrations as a Prognostic Predictor in Critically Ill Patients: in Comparison with APACHE II Scores / 대한마취과학회지

BACKGROUND: Disordered lactate metabolism which is due to tissue hypoxia and hypoperfusion is frequently encountered in critically ill patients. These patients suffer from a high hospital mortality rate and are at great risk of developing multiple organ failure. The present study was designed to evaluate the prognostic value of blood lactate as a determinant of mortality in comparison with the APACHE II score. METHODS: 29 adult ICU patients participated in this study. Blood lactate concentrations, arterial blood gas analysis, hemodynamic data and APACHE II scores were collected on the first and last days of ICU stay. These data were compared between survivor and non-survivor groups. RESULTS: On the day of admission, blood lactate concentrations and APACHE II scores of non-survivors were 48.5 +/- 27.0 mg/dl and 18.5 +/- 5.9, while those of survivors were 23.7 +/- 12.9 mg/dl and 6.7 3.1. On the day of discharge, arterial blood lactate concentrations and APACHE II scores of non-survivors were 143.2 +/- 54.0 mg/dl and 28.2 +/- 6.0, while those of survivors were 14.9 +/- 7.1 mg/dl and 4.7 +/- 2.2. There was a significant positive correlation between high arterial blood lactate concentration and fatal outcome in critically-ill patients. There was also a significant positive correlation between arterial blood lactate concentration and APACHE II score. Furthermore, decreases in arterial blood lactate levels during the course of ICU stay may indicate a favorable outcome. The mortality increased abruptly in critically-ill patients with an initial arterial blood lactate concentration higher than 40 mg/dl. CONCLUSIONS: The result shows that arterial blood lactate concentration can serve as a reliable prognostic predictor and clinical guide to therapy in critically ill patients.

Relationships between APACHE II and APACHE III Scores and Mortality Rate in Intensive Care Unit Patients / 대한마취과학회지

BACKGROUND: The APACHE II score system that evaluates prognosis has been widely applied for ICU patients. As the advent of APACHE III approaches, a comparison of effectiveness between APACHE II and APACHE III is demanded. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the relationships between APACHE II score and mortality rates, and between APACHE III scores and mortality rates in intensive care unit patients. METHODS: 289 adult ICU patients participated in this study. Their mortality rates and scores on APACHE II and APACHE III were calculated. The scores of the APACHE II and APACHE III systems were also compared between survivor and non-survivor groups. RESULTS: APACHE II scores at admission and discharge were 9+/-5, 6+/-4 in the survivor group and 20+/-9, 28+/-11 in the non-survivor group. APACHE III scores at admission and discharge were 29+/-19, 20+/-14 in the survivor group 75+/-37, 111+/-41 in the non-survivor group. The odds ratio between the mortality rate and the APACHE II score was EXP (0.2167) and the odds ratio between mortality rate and APACHE III score was EXP (0.0621). The determinant coefficient (R2) was 0.73 between the APACHE II and APACHE III scores. CONCLUSIONS: The results showed that both the APACHE II and APACHE III score systems are effective in predicting mortality rates in intensive care unit patients.

Lung Injury Score in Predicting the Outcome of the Patients in the Intensive Care Unit / 대한구급학회지

Introduction: Lung Injury Score (LIS) provides a quantitative method for scoring acute lung injury that usually occurs after sepsis. The aim of this study is to evaluate the LIS in prediction the patients outcome and determine the relationship between the LIS and mortality rate, acute physiology and chronic health evaluation II (APACHE II) score and multiple organ failure (MOF) score. METHODS: Patients admitted to Intensive Care Unit (ICU), Severance Hospital Yonsei University College of Medicine from November 1995 to March 1996 were included. LIS at admission and discharge, APACHE II score with MOF score and duration of ICU stay between survivors and nonsurvivors were compared. Relationship of LIS between mortality rate and APACHE II score and MOF score were evaluated. RESULTS: LIS is higher in nonsurvivors than survivors at admission and discharge with statistical significance. LIS of survivors and nonsurvivors at discharge was lower and higher than those at admission (p<0.05) respectively. Correlation coeffcient of LIS with mortality rate, MOF score and APACHE II score were 0.60 (p<0.05), 0.23 and 0.17. CONCLUSIONS: LIS score was highly correlated with mortality rate. Therefore LIS is a good predictor of outcome in the intensive care unit.