Background: Current international guidelines recommend against deep sedation as it is associated with worse outcomes in the intensive care unit (ICU). However, in Korea the prevalence of deep sedation and its impact on patients in the ICU are not well known. Methods: From April 2020 to July 2021, a multicenter, prospective, longitudinal, noninterventional cohort study was performed in 20 Korean ICUs. Sedation depth extent was divided into light and deep using a mean Richmond Agitation–Sedation Scale value within the first 48 hours. Propensity score matching was used to balance covariables; the outcomes were compared between the two groups. Results: Overall, 631 patients (418 [66.2%] and 213 [33.8%] in the deep and light sedation groups, respectively) were included. Mortality rates were 14.1% and 8.4% in the deep and light sedation groups (P = 0.039), respectively. Kaplan-Meier estimates showed that time to extubation (P < 0.001), ICU length of stay (P = 0.005), and death P = 0.041) differed between the groups. After adjusting for confounders, early deep sedation was only associated with delayed time to extubation (hazard ratio [HR], 0.66; 95% confidence inter val [CI], 0.55– 0.80; P < 0.001). In the matched cohort, deep sedation remained significantly associated with delayed time to extubation (HR, 0.68; 95% 0.56–0.83; P < 0.001) but was not associated with ICU length of stay (HR, 0.94; 95% CI, 0.79–1.13; P = 0.500) and in-hospital mortality (HR, 1.19; 95% CI, 0.65–2.17; P = 0.582). Conclusion In many Korean ICUs, early deep sedation was highly prevalent in mechanically ventilated patients and was associated with delayed extubation, but not prolonged ICU stay or in-hospital death.

BACKGROUND: Chronic cough is defined as a cough lasting more than 8 weeks and socio-economic burden of chronic cough is enormous. The characteristics of chronic cough in Korea are not well understood. The Korean Academy of Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases (KATRD) published guidelines on cough management in 2014. The current study evaluated the clinical characteristics of chronic cough in Korea and the efficacy of the KATRD guidelines. METHODS: This was a multi-center, retrospective observational study conducted in Korea. The participants were over 18 years of age. They had coughs lasting more than 8 weeks. Subjects with current pulmonary diseases, smokers, ex-smokers with more than 10 pack-years or who quit within the past 1 year, pregnant women, and users of cough-inducing medications were excluded. Evaluation and management of cough followed the KATRD cough-management guidelines. RESULTS: Participants with chronic cough in Korea showed age in the late forties and cough duration of more than 1 year. Upper airway cough syndrome was the most common cause of cough, followed by cough-variant asthma (CVA). Gastro-esophageal reflux diseases and eosinophilic bronchitis were less frequently observed. Following the KATRD cough-management guidelines, 91.2% of the subjects improved after 4 weeks of treatment. Responders were younger, had a longer duration of cough, and an initial impression of CVA. In univariate and multivariate analyses, an initial impression of CVA was the only factor related to better treatment response. CONCLUSION The causes of chronic cough in Korea differed from those reported in other countries. The current Korean guidelines proved efficient for treating Korean patients with chronic cough.

Asthma ; Bronchitis ; Cohort Studies ; Cough ; Diagnosis ; Disease Management ; Eosinophils ; Epidemiology ; Female ; Gastroesophageal Reflux ; Humans ; Korea ; Lung Diseases ; Multivariate Analysis ; Observational Study ; Pregnant Women ; Retrospective Studies ; Tuberculosis

BACKGROUND: Chronic cough is defined as a cough lasting more than 8 weeks and socio-economic burden of chronic cough is enormous. The characteristics of chronic cough in Korea are not well understood. The Korean Academy of Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases (KATRD) published guidelines on cough management in 2014. The current study evaluated the clinical characteristics of chronic cough in Korea and the efficacy of the KATRD guidelines. METHODS: This was a multi-center, retrospective observational study conducted in Korea. The participants were over 18 years of age. They had coughs lasting more than 8 weeks. Subjects with current pulmonary diseases, smokers, ex-smokers with more than 10 pack-years or who quit within the past 1 year, pregnant women, and users of cough-inducing medications were excluded. Evaluation and management of cough followed the KATRD cough-management guidelines. RESULTS: Participants with chronic cough in Korea showed age in the late forties and cough duration of more than 1 year. Upper airway cough syndrome was the most common cause of cough, followed by cough-variant asthma (CVA). Gastro-esophageal reflux diseases and eosinophilic bronchitis were less frequently observed. Following the KATRD cough-management guidelines, 91.2% of the subjects improved after 4 weeks of treatment. Responders were younger, had a longer duration of cough, and an initial impression of CVA. In univariate and multivariate analyses, an initial impression of CVA was the only factor related to better treatment response. CONCLUSION The causes of chronic cough in Korea differed from those reported in other countries. The current Korean guidelines proved efficient for treating Korean patients with chronic cough.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Diagnosis by Related Groups (DRG), a system forcibly implemented in all medical institutions from July 2013, was applied to tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy in the field of Otorhinolaryngology. We analyzed the changes in medical costs and evaluated the efficiency of the DRG system by analyzing the data collected before and after the DRG implementation. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: We analyzed the total number of cases, total medical costs and per charge for tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy using the data from the Korean National Health Insurance from 2011 to 2014. We compared the number and cost of tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy by hospital type, region, and patient age. RESULTS: The total number of tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy after the application of DRG systems in July 2013 in all medical institutions was reduced, but the total costs showed a tendancy to increase, resulting in an increase per charge of case. The number of tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy was decreased in general and specialized hospitals, but the costs were increased after DRG systems. CONCLUSION: Medical costs per charge of case related to tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy was higher in the DRG system than in the 'fee for service' system. Increased medical costs, considered to be the most likely cause of patient copayments, are recognized in the DRG system. The results showed that saving effect of medical costs was not significant in the DRG system; it may appear to relieve patient burden in the short term, but the financial state of national health insurance is worsening.
Adenoidectomy ; Diagnosis* ; Diagnosis-Related Groups ; Humans ; Insurance, Health* ; Methods ; National Health Programs ; Otolaryngology ; Tonsillectomy*

Bronchial carcinosarcoma is a very rare malignant tumor that is composed of carcinomatous and sarcomatous elements. We describe the first case in which digital tomosynthesis was useful for the evaluation of airway obstruction by bronchial carcinosarcoma that was overlooked on initial chest radiography.
Airway Obstruction* ; Carcinosarcoma* ; Radiography ; Thorax

Varicella, more commonly known as chickenpox, is caused by the varicella-zoster virus. It is a common benign childhood illness. In adults, Varicella is uncommon but is more severely associated with complications including pneumonia, hepatitis, disseminated intravascular coagulation, encephalitis and myocarditis. A serious and life-threatening complication is the development of varicella-zoster virus pneumonia (VZVP). Although VZVP is well described in immunocompromised hosts, it is rarely seen in immunocompetent adults. The VZVP in healthy adults is more prevalent in cigarette smokers and during pregnancy. However, reports of VZVP in healthy adults are scarce in Korea. The authors report here a case of VZVP in an immunocompetent adult and present a literature review.
Adult ; Chickenpox ; Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation ; Encephalitis ; Hepatitis ; Herpesvirus 3, Human ; Humans ; Immunocompetence ; Immunocompromised Host ; Korea ; Myocarditis ; Pneumonia ; Pregnancy ; Tobacco Products

PURPOSE: Several studies have shown that finasteride limits hematuria in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia(BPH). However, there are few reports addressing dutasteride therapy. We evaluated the effect of dutasteride on intraoperative blood loss and on microvessel density(MVD) in patients with BPH. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We studied 39 patients with BPH who underwent transurethral resection of the prostate(TURP). Group I included 22 patients who received dutasteride 0.5mg daily for 2 weeks preoperatively, and group II included 17 patients who did not. Blood loss was evaluated by comparing preoperative and postoperative hemoglobin. Sections from the prostatic suburothelium and hyperplastic prostate were individually stained for CD 34. MVD was calculated by counting the number of positively stained blood vessels in 5 random high power fields. There were no significant differences between the groups in terms of age, total prostatic volume, resected prostatic weight, or prostate-specific antigen (PSA). RESULTS: The mean MVD in the suburethral portion in dutasteride-treated patients was significantly lower than that seen in untreated patients(14.47 versus 22.19 vessels per high power field, p=0.026). In nodular hyperplasia, there was no significant difference in MVD between the two group(14.72 versus 15.24 vessels per high power field, p=0.801). CONCLUSIONS: Short term pretreatment with dutasteride decreases suburethral prostatic MVD in patients with BPH and may help reduce blood loss during TURP, particularly in huge BPH, which sometimes bleeds excessively during operation.
Azasteroids ; Blood Vessels ; Finasteride ; Hematuria ; Hemoglobins ; Humans ; Hyperplasia ; Microvessels ; Prostate ; Prostate-Specific Antigen ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; Transurethral Resection of Prostate ; Dutasteride

A primary signet ring cell carcinoma (PSRCC) of the urinary bladder is a rare variant of a mucin-producing adenocarcinoma. The prognosis of a PSRCC is poor, as silent progression in a linitis platica fashion leads to delayed diagnosis. Herein, the case of a PSRCC of the bladder, which extended to the prostate, which was treated with a cystoprostatectomy, is reported.
Adenocarcinoma ; Carcinoma, Signet Ring Cell* ; Delayed Diagnosis ; Prognosis ; Prostate* ; Urinary Bladder*

Pulmonary aneurysm is a rare vascular anomaly.Infection is one of major causes of pulmonary aneurysms. Pulmonary aneurysm by pulmonary actinomycosis is a rare case. Our case is maybe the first case in Korea,so far similar case has not been reported Worldwide written in English. We describe a 73-year-old man with aneurysm of pulmonary artery caused by actinomycosis infection on lung. We detected aneurysm by angiography of pulmonary artery, and actinomycosis infection was revealed by confirm sulfur granules on specimens taken by percutaneous needle aspiration(PCNA). Antibiotic therapy was applied to this patient and aneurym was embolized with coils.With this therapy,the patient was successfully managed and improved.
Actinomycosis* ; Aged ; Aneurysm* ; Angiography ; Hemoptysis ; Humans ; Lung ; Needles ; Pulmonary Artery* ; Sulfur