Communication Experiences and Needs among the Critically Ill with an Artificial Airway: An Integrative Review / 중환자간호학회지

Purpose@#: The aim of this integrative review was to describe communication experiences and needs among the critically ill with an artificial airway and evaluate relevant intervention studies. @*Methods@#: Using the method employed by Whittemore and Knafl (2005), we searched for papers on PubMed, CINAHL, and Web of Science published from January 1, 2015 to September 25, 2020. A total of 26 papers (11 descriptive studies, 15 experimental ones) were identified and evaluated. @*Results@#: Communication experiences while having an artificial airway, identified either by patients’ recall or direct observation, were predominantly negative. However, positive experiences were reported in patients with improvements in physical conditions and functions. Patients’ communication needs were diverse, encompassing physical, psycho-emotional, social, spiritual, and medical issues. Interventions tested included alternative and augmentative communication strategies, communication intervention packages, and voice restorative devices. Physical, psychosocial, and communication-related patient outcomes were evaluated using various methods including self-report surveys, interviews, and observations. @*Conclusions@#: The findings from this review represent the state of science regarding communication of the critically ill whose vocal abilities are inhibited by the presence of an artificial airway. Future studies with rigorous experimental designs and measures are warranted to better understand and support the complex needs of this highly vulnerable patient population.

Communication Experiences and Needs among the Critically Ill with an Artificial Airway: An Integrative Review / 중환자간호학회지

Purpose@#: The aim of this integrative review was to describe communication experiences and needs among the critically ill with an artificial airway and evaluate relevant intervention studies. @*Methods@#: Using the method employed by Whittemore and Knafl (2005), we searched for papers on PubMed, CINAHL, and Web of Science published from January 1, 2015 to September 25, 2020. A total of 26 papers (11 descriptive studies, 15 experimental ones) were identified and evaluated. @*Results@#: Communication experiences while having an artificial airway, identified either by patients’ recall or direct observation, were predominantly negative. However, positive experiences were reported in patients with improvements in physical conditions and functions. Patients’ communication needs were diverse, encompassing physical, psycho-emotional, social, spiritual, and medical issues. Interventions tested included alternative and augmentative communication strategies, communication intervention packages, and voice restorative devices. Physical, psychosocial, and communication-related patient outcomes were evaluated using various methods including self-report surveys, interviews, and observations. @*Conclusions@#: The findings from this review represent the state of science regarding communication of the critically ill whose vocal abilities are inhibited by the presence of an artificial airway. Future studies with rigorous experimental designs and measures are warranted to better understand and support the complex needs of this highly vulnerable patient population.

Factors Associated with Postoperative Recovery among Lung Cancer Patients with Walking Exercise after Lung Resection

Background@#Treatment for lung cancer, which has high incidence and mortality rates, involves lung resection; however, the risk of postoperative pulmonary complications is high. Early walking exercise is a core strategy for preventing complications and promoting postoperative recovery, which is essential for returning to everyday life. This study aims to identify the factors associated with the postoperative recovery of patients who performed walking exercises in an intensive care unit after having a lung resection. @*Methods@#This cross-sectional study collected data from 90 patients on the day before discharge at a tertiary hospital in Seoul between April and June 2019. Patients’ postoperative recovery was measured using the Postoperative Recovery Profile. @*Results@#The mean score for postoperative recovery was 0.70±0.41 out of 3, 0 being none of the problems. Among the five subcategories, the psychological dimension had the highest recovery level at 0.57±0.58, while physical symptoms were rated lowest at 0.89±0.50. As a result of regression analysis, employment status (β=4.353, P=0.005), symptoms of nausea and vomiting during walking (β=0.596, P=0.043), and perceived exertion during walking (β=1.105, P=0.007) were associated with postoperative recovery. @*Conclusions@#The study indicated unemployed patients, those with more nausea and vomiting, and those who perceived severe exertion during walking showed lower perceived postoperative recovery levels. Not only multidisciplinary, patient-tailored interventions to facilitate return to work after surgery but also interventions to control physical symptoms actively should be developed and implemented to achieve higher postoperative recovery levels. Patients also need to exercise at an appropriate subjective level of perceived exertion.

Renal Artery Stenosis Presenting at Sudden Flash Pulmonary Edema in a Patient with Solitary Kidney / 대한내과학회지

Flash pulmonary edema is characterized by a sudden episode of dyspnea resulting from acute pulmonary venous congestion, which resolves rapidly. We report a case of renal artery stenosis presenting as flash pulmonary edema in a patient with solitary kidney treated by angioplasty with stent implantation. A 75-year-old man with solitary kidney visited the emergency room with acute shortness of breath. His blood pressure had risen to 206/90 mmHg and a chest radiograph revealed pulmonary edema. Echocardiography and coronary arteriography showed no clear abnormalities, but abdominal computed tomography revealed severe focal stenosis in the left proximal renal artery. A captopril renal scan found that the time to peak and half-time of radioactivity were delayed in the left kidney. Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty was performed, followed by stent implantation. After this procedure, the stenotic segment was completely dilated and blood pressure returned to the normal range.

Generation of Food Waste and Plate Waste Reduction Strategies in School Food Services in Gyeonggi Province / 대한지역사회영양학회지

OBJECTIVES: The purposes of the study were to assess wastes generated in school foodservice and to identify factors influencing the generation of plate waste. METHODS: A survey was administered from November 18–30 in 2015 to dietitians and nutrition teachers that were employed in schools located in Gyeonggi province. A questionnaire file and on-line survey site link were sent to the dietitians and nutrition teachers by e-mail. A total of 622 dietitians and nutrition teachers responded and 594 responses were used for data analysis after excluding 28 responses with significant missing data. RESULTS: Plate waste was the major part of food waste generated in school foodservice. Vegetable menus and soup/stews were discarded the most as plate waste. The dietitians and nutrition teachers perceived students' unbalanced diet and lack of appreciation of food as causes of the plate waste. Regarding waste management, they were concerned about environmental contamination by food waste and felt uncomfortable about discarding food. No plate waste day was the most frequently used plate waste reduction activity, followed by newsletters on plate waste reduction. Difficulty in getting teachers' support for dietary education during meal time was rated the greatest barrier to implementing the activities. To reduce plate waste, they perceived that students should understand the importance of environment conservation, teachers should supervise students' eating during meal time, students should be educated about proper portion, and foodservice staff should improve food quality. CONCLUSIONS: To improve students' intake and reduce plate waste in school foodservice, foodservice staff need to involve students in school foodservice and improve the palatability of meals, especially vegetable dishes. School nutrition teachers and dietitians should educate students about healthy eating and environment conservation and the school community needs to understand and support plate waste reduction and healthy eating in schools.

Chordae Rupture and Acute Mitral Regurgitation Associated with Infective Endocarditis in a Patient Undergoing Hemodialysis / 대한내과학회지

Acute pulmonary edema in patients undergoing hemodialysis is a common cause of hospital admission and is often associated with fluid overload or congestive heart failure. Here, we report a rare case of chordae rupture and consequent severe mitral valve regurgitation due to infective endocarditis presenting as sudden onset pulmonary edema after properly conducted hemodialysis.

Endogenous catalase delays high-fat diet-induced liver injury in mice

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has become the most prevalent liver disease in parallel with worldwide epidemic of obesity. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) contributes to the development and progression of NAFLD. Peroxisomes play an important role in fatty acid oxidation and ROS homeostasis, and catalase is an antioxidant exclusively expressed in peroxisome. The present study examined the role of endogenous catalase in early stage of NAFLD. 8-week-old male catalase knock-out (CKO) and age-matched C57BL/6J wild type (WT) mice were fed either a normal diet (ND: 18% of total calories from fat) or a high fat diet (HFD: 60% of total calories from fat) for 2 weeks. CKO mice gained body weight faster than WT mice at early period of HFD feeding. Plasma triglyceride and ALT, fasting plasma insulin, as well as liver lipid accumulation, inflammation (F4/80 staining), and oxidative stress (8-oxo-dG staining and nitrotyrosine level) were significantly increased in CKO but not in WT mice at 2 weeks of HFD feeding. While phosphorylation of Akt (Ser473) and PGC1α mRNA expression were decreased in both CKO and WT mice at HFD feeding, GSK3β phosphorylation and Cox4-il mRNA expression in the liver were decreased only in CKO-HF mice. Taken together, the present data demonstrated that endogenous catalase exerted beneficial effects in protecting liver injury including lipid accumulation and inflammation through maintaining liver redox balance from the early stage of HFD-induced metabolic stress.

Psychological and Physical Health in Family Caregivers of Intensive Care Unit Survivors: Current Knowledge and Future Research Strategies

PURPOSE: This article provides an overview of current knowledge on the impact of caregiving on the psychological and physical health of family caregivers of intensive care unit (ICU) survivors and suggestions for future research. METHODS: Review of selected papers published in English between January 2000 and October 2015 reporting psychological and physical health outcomes in family caregivers of ICU survivors. RESULTS: In family caregivers of ICU survivors followed up to five years after patients' discharge from an ICU, psychological symptoms, manifested as depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder, were highly prevalent. Poor self-care, sleep disturbances and fatigue were identified as common physical health problems in family caregivers. Studies to date are mainly descriptive; few interventions have targeted family caregivers. Further, studies that elicit unique needs of families from diverse cultures are lacking. CONCLUSION: Studies to date have described the impact of caregiving on the psychological and physical health in family caregivers of ICU survivors. Few studies have tested interventions to support unique needs in this population. Therefore, evidence for best strategies is lacking. Future research is needed to identify ICU caregivers at greatest risk for distress, time points to target interventions with maximal efficacy, needs of those from diverse cultures and test interventions to mitigate family caregivers' burden.