Risk Factors for Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)-Associated Pulmonary Aspergillosis in Critically Ill Patients: A Nationwide, Multicenter, Retrospective Cohort Study

Background@#Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is often accompanied by secondary infections, such as invasive aspergillosis. In this study, risk factors for developing COVID-19-associated pulmonary aspergillosis (CAPA) and their clinical outcomes were evaluated. @*Methods@#This multicenter retrospective cohort study included critically ill COVID-19 patients from July 2020 through March 2021. Critically ill patients were defined as patients requiring high-flow respiratory support or mechanical ventilation. CAPA was defined based on the 2020 European Confederation of Medical Mycology and the International Society for Human and Animal Mycology consensus criteria. Factors associated with CAPA were analyzed, and their clinical outcomes were adjusted by a propensity score-matched model. @*Results@#Among 187 eligible patients, 17 (9.1%) developed CAPA, which is equal to 33.10 per 10,000 patient-days. Sixteen patients received voriconazole-based antifungal treatment. In addition, 82.4% and 53.5% of patients with CAPA and without CAPA, respectively, received early high-dose corticosteroids (P = 0.022). In multivariable analysis, initial 10-day cumulative steroid dose > 60 mg of dexamethasone or dexamethasone equivalent dose) (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 3.77; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.03–13.79) and chronic pulmonary disease (adjusted OR, 4.20; 95% CI, 1.26–14.02) were independently associated with CAPA. Tendencies of higher 90-day overall mortality (54.3% vs. 35.2%, P= 0.346) and lower respiratory support-free rate were observed in patients with CAPA (76.3% vs. 54.9%, P = 0.089). @*Conclusion@#Our study showed that the dose of corticosteroid use might be a risk factor for CAPA development and the possibility of CAPA contributing to adverse outcomes in critically ill COVID-19 patients.

Antimicrobial Susceptibility Trends and Risk Factors for Antimicrobial Resistance in Pseudomonas aeruginosa Bacteremia: 12-Year Experience in a Tertiary Hospital in Korea

Background@#Infections caused by multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa (MDRPA) have been on the rise worldwide, and delayed active antimicrobial therapy is associated with high mortality. However, few studies have evaluated increases in P. aeruginosa infections with antimicrobial resistance and risk factors for such antimicrobial resistance in Korea. Here, we analyzed changes in antimicrobial susceptibility associated with P. aeruginosa bacteremia and identified risk factors of antimicrobial resistance. @*Methods@#The medical records of patients with P. aeruginosa bacteremia who were admitted to a tertiary hospital between January 2009 and October 2020 were retrospectively reviewed. Antibiotic resistance rates were compared among the time periods of 2009–2012, 2013–2016, and 2017–2020 and between the intensive care unit (ICU) and non-ICU setting. Empirical antimicrobial therapy was considered concordant, if the organism was susceptible to antibiotics in vitro, and discordant, if resistant. @*Results@#During the study period, 295 patients with P. aeruginosa bacteremia were identified. The hepatobiliary tract (26.8%) was the most common primary site of infection. The rates of carbapenem-resistant P. aeruginosa (CRPA), MDRPA, and extensively drug-resistant P. aeruginosa (XDRPA) were 24.7%, 35.9%, and 15.9%, respectively. XDRPA showed an increasing trend, and CRPA, MDRPA, and XDRPA were also gradually increasing in non-ICU setting. Previous exposure to fluoroquinolones and glycopeptides and urinary tract infection were independent risk factors associated with CRPA, MDRPA, and XDRPA. Previous exposure to carbapenems was an independent risk factor of CRPA. CRPA, MDRPA, and XDRPA were associated with discordant empirical antimicrobial therapy. @*Conclusion@#The identification of risk factors for antimicrobial resistance and analysis of antimicrobial susceptibility might be important for concordant empirical antimicrobial therapy in patients with P. aeruginosa bacteremia.

Modified Double-Eyelid Blepharoplasty Using the Single-Knot Continuous Buried Non-Incisional Technique

BACKGROUND: Buried non-incisional double-eyelid blepharoplasty is a popular aesthetic procedure. Although various modified continuous suture techniques have been used to create a more natural appearance and to reduce downtime, complications such as loosening of the double fold, asymmetry, and foreign body reactions have been observed. METHODS: This study included 250 patients who underwent double-eyelid blepharoplasty between March 1997 and November 2012 using a modified single-knot continuous buried non-incisional technique. With 4 stab incisions in the upper eyelids, one of two needles loaded with double-armed 7-0 nylon was passed in one direction alternately through the dermis and the conjunctiva, while the other needle was passed subconjunctivally in the opposite direction. Both ends of the sutures were knotted within a lateral stab incision of the upper eyelids and were buried in the orbicularis oculi muscle. RESULTS: Most patients displayed satisfactory aesthetic results, and no significant complications occurred. There was no obvious regression of the double fold; however, 3 patients required reoperation to correct loosening of the fold on one side during the follow-up period. One patient presented with the suture knot subcutaneously, and the knot was removed in the clinic. CONCLUSIONS: The modified single-knot continuous buried non-incisional technique is a simple and less time-consuming method for a durable double fold and provides satisfactory aesthetic results.

Finite Element Analysis of Reconstruction of Mandibular Symphysis Defects Using Reconstruction Plates

Comparison of a 0.1% Bupivacaine/Morphine and 0.1% Ropivacaine/Morphine Infusion for Postoperative Epidural Analgesia after a Total Abdominal Hysterectomy / 대한마취과학회지

BACKGROUND: Local anesthetics combined with an opioid are frequently used as a postoperative epidural analgesia, to minimize individual doses and to reduce unwanted side effects. The aims of this study were to compare analgesic effectiveness, occurrence of motor block and other side effects of a 48 hr postoperative continuous epidural infusion of 0.1% bupivacaine/morphine or 0.1% ropivacaine/ morphine. METHODS: Forty female patients scheduled for an elective total abdominal hysterectomy under general anesthesia were randomized in a double-blind fashion to receive either 0.1% bupivacaine with 0.02 mg/ml morphine or 0.1% ropivacaine with 0.02 mg/ml morphine using a continuous epidural analgesia pump at a rate of 4 ml/hr during the postoperative 48 hours. After the operation, we assessed the blood pressure, heart rate, visual analog scale (VAS), side effects, additional analgesic requirement and time to ambulation for 48 hours in 12-hour intervals. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in VAS on rest and cough between the groups, but VAS on deep breathing and position change were significantly lower in the bupivacaine group compared to the ropivacaine group. Side effects were similar in both groups except paresthesia. Time to ambulation was earlier in the ropivacaine group compared to the bupivacaine group. CONCLUSIONS: Both the postoperative continuous epidural infusion of 0.1% bupivacaine with morphine and 0.1% ropivacaine with morphine provided similar pain relief and side effects. However, earlier recovery of ambulation in patients receiving ropivacaine/morphine will improve outcome after abdominal surgery.

Effectiveness of Current Perception Threshold in Follow up of the Patients with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

OBJECTIVE: To compare the degree of change of current perception threshold (CPT) results with the degree of nerve conduction study (NCS) change and evaluate the effectiveness of the CPT in following up patients who went through operation for carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). METHOD: Twenty hands with CTS were examined with CPT and NCS, before, 2 weeks after and 2 months after operation. In the CPT, the threshold of the median nerve was measured, in the NCS, amplitude and latency of the median nerve was measured. Subjects were divided into 3 groups according to the severity by NCS results and into 2 groups according to the subjective perception of improvement. RESULTS: The subjects mean age was 51.4. Changes of NCS results in amplitude and latency showed no statistical relevance. CPT study result changes demonstrated to be statistically significant. Improvement of CPT results seen in the period of 2 weeks and 2 months and the initial first 2 weeks showed no difference. Change of CPT results showed correlation not in accordance with the severity of the NCS study, but with the symptomatic improvement of the patients. CONCLUSION: CPT can be an effective tool in evaluating the improvement of symptoms and may be used as a follow up tool in patients with CTS.

Comparison of Epidural Ropivacaine and Bupivacaine in Patients Undergoing Lower Extremity Surgery / 대한마취과학회지

BACKGROUND: Ropivacaine is an amide local anesthetic structurally related to bupivacaine. A randomized, double-blind study was performed to compare the clinical effectiveness of ropivacaine and bupivacaine in patients undergoing lower-extremity surgery. METHODS: Forty-nine patients (ASA I-II) were randomized to receive 15 ml of 0.5% ropivacaine or bupivacaine. Twenty patients received 15 ml of ropivacaine and 20 patients received 15 ml of bupivacaine at the L3,4 or L4,5 interspace. Parameters measured were the onset time, duration and spread of sensory block, the onset time, duration and degree of motor block, the quality of anesthesia and the heart rate and blood pressure profile during the block onset. RESULTS: Demographic characteristics were similar among the groups. Seven patients were excluded from the study due to technical failure of the block, two patients were excluded due to insufficient data. The onset and duration of analgesia at T10 dermatome (mean SD) was 18.9 7.0 minutes and 187.5 34.6 minutes respectively for ropivacaine, and was 15.2 8.8 minutes and 187.8 40.0 minutes respectively for bupivacaine. Maximum block height (mean SD) was T6.5 2.0 for ropivacaine and T6.4 2.0 for bupivacaine. The incidence of complete motor block (Bromage scale 3) was low in the ropivacaine group, being 3/20 for ropivacaine and 12/20 for bupivacaine. CONCLUSIONS: The sensory blockade profile of ropivacaine, administered epidurally, is similar to that obtained with an equal dose of bupivacaine. However motor blockade with ropivacaine is less intense, less frequent, and of shorter duration than with bupivacaine.

Chemical Lumbar Sympathetic Block: Comparison of One- Versus Two-needle Techniques / 대한마취과학회지

BACKGROUND: It was frequently noticed in the course of performing a two-needle sympathectomy, that satisfactory spread of contrast solution could be produced by injection through only one of the needles. This led to a closer examination of the merits of single-needle technique. METHODS: Forty patients were randomized into two groups. Patients in the single-needle group (n = 20) were injected at the second or third lumbar sympathetic ganglia, while patients in the two-needle group (n = 20) were injected at the second and third lumbar sympathetic ganglia. Lumbar sympathetic blocks were performed using 3 ml of alcohol and the spread of injectate was verified with C-arm fluoroscopy. The indicators of a successful sympathetic block are increasing skin temperature, decreasing pain, and anhidrosis in the distal extremity. RESULTS: The duration of anhidrosis was 12.2 2.6 months (mean SD) in the single-needle group versus 13.6 3.6 months (mean SD) in the two-needle group. CONCLUSIONS: As these results were not significantly different from those obtained in patients having a two-needle sympathectomy, blockade of the single-needle technique under C-arm fluoroscopy is considered to be effective for a neurolytic lumbar sympathectomy.

Comparison of Epidural Ropivacaine and Bupivacaine in Patients Undergoing Lower Extremity Surgery / 대한마취과학회지

BACKGROUND: Ropivacaine is an amide local anesthetic structurally related to bupivacaine. A randomized, double-blind study was performed to compare the clinical effectiveness of ropivacaine and bupivacaine in patients undergoing lower-extremity surgery. METHODS: Forty-nine patients (ASA I-II) were randomized to receive 15 ml of 0.5% ropivacaine or bupivacaine. Twenty patients received 15 ml of ropivacaine and 20 patients received 15 ml of bupivacaine at the L3,4 or L4,5 interspace. Parameters measured were the onset time, duration and spread of sensory block, the onset time, duration and degree of motor block, the quality of anesthesia and the heart rate and blood pressure profile during the block onset. RESULTS: Demographic characteristics were similar among the groups. Seven patients were excluded from the study due to technical failure of the block, two patients were excluded due to insufficient data. The onset and duration of analgesia at T10 dermatome (mean SD) was 18.9 7.0 minutes and 187.5 34.6 minutes respectively for ropivacaine, and was 15.2 8.8 minutes and 187.8 40.0 minutes respectively for bupivacaine. Maximum block height (mean SD) was T6.5 2.0 for ropivacaine and T6.4 2.0 for bupivacaine. The incidence of complete motor block (Bromage scale 3) was low in the ropivacaine group, being 3/20 for ropivacaine and 12/20 for bupivacaine. CONCLUSIONS: The sensory blockade profile of ropivacaine, administered epidurally, is similar to that obtained with an equal dose of bupivacaine. However motor blockade with ropivacaine is less intense, less frequent, and of shorter duration than with bupivacaine.

Chemical Lumbar Sympathetic Block: Comparison of One- Versus Two-needle Techniques / 대한마취과학회지

BACKGROUND: It was frequently noticed in the course of performing a two-needle sympathectomy, that satisfactory spread of contrast solution could be produced by injection through only one of the needles. This led to a closer examination of the merits of single-needle technique. METHODS: Forty patients were randomized into two groups. Patients in the single-needle group (n = 20) were injected at the second or third lumbar sympathetic ganglia, while patients in the two-needle group (n = 20) were injected at the second and third lumbar sympathetic ganglia. Lumbar sympathetic blocks were performed using 3 ml of alcohol and the spread of injectate was verified with C-arm fluoroscopy. The indicators of a successful sympathetic block are increasing skin temperature, decreasing pain, and anhidrosis in the distal extremity. RESULTS: The duration of anhidrosis was 12.2 2.6 months (mean SD) in the single-needle group versus 13.6 3.6 months (mean SD) in the two-needle group. CONCLUSIONS: As these results were not significantly different from those obtained in patients having a two-needle sympathectomy, blockade of the single-needle technique under C-arm fluoroscopy is considered to be effective for a neurolytic lumbar sympathectomy.

The Effect of Excimer Laser PRK Using Single-pass Multizone Technique on High Myopia

Corneal haze and myopic regression are not uncommon complications following photorefractive keratectomy(PRK). To avoid these problems, multipass multizone technique has been introduced. However, it is quite difficult to coincide the center of the each ablation zone during the procedure and needs to take longer operation time. Single-pass multizone software was replaced by Summit technology(USA). The current study evaluates the clinical results of single-pass multizone PRK for high myopia. We performed PRK using single-pass multizone technique on 48 eyes of 44 patients for the treatment of high myopia. Preoperative spherical equivalent refractions ranged from -8.00 diopters((D) to -16.00 D (mean+/-SD, -11.01 +/- 1.84 D). Mean postoperative refraction was +1.12 +/- 1.20 D at one month, -0.42 +/- 1.24 D at six months, and -0.92 +/- 1.09 D at one year. The percentage of patients achieving correction within +/-2.0 D was 79.2% at one month, 85.4% at six months, and 88.2% at one year postoperatively. There was no serious complications after surgery. This study provides evidence that single-pass multizone PRK is a safe, simple and fairly predictable method for high myopic correction. But further studies are needed to confirm the longer-term stability.

The Effect of Excimer Laser PRK Using Single-pass Multizone Technique on High Myopia

Corneal haze and myopic regression are not uncommon complications following photorefractive keratectomy(PRK). To avoid these problems, multipass multizone technique has been introduced. However, it is quite difficult to coincide the center of the each ablation zone during the procedure and needs to take longer operation time. Single-pass multizone software was replaced by Summit technology(USA). The current study evaluates the clinical results of single-pass multizone PRK for high myopia. We performed PRK using single-pass multizone technique on 48 eyes of 44 patients for the treatment of high myopia. Preoperative spherical equivalent refractions ranged from -8.00 diopters((D) to -16.00 D (mean+/-SD, -11.01 +/- 1.84 D). Mean postoperative refraction was +1.12 +/- 1.20 D at one month, -0.42 +/- 1.24 D at six months, and -0.92 +/- 1.09 D at one year. The percentage of patients achieving correction within +/-2.0 D was 79.2% at one month, 85.4% at six months, and 88.2% at one year postoperatively. There was no serious complications after surgery. This study provides evidence that single-pass multizone PRK is a safe, simple and fairly predictable method for high myopic correction. But further studies are needed to confirm the longer-term stability.

Treatment of Near Esotropia with High AC/A Ratio

The patients with accommodative esotropia due to high AC/A(accommodative convergence/accommodation) ratio show prominent esodeviation and can not fuse without bifocals at near. The purpose of this study is to eliminate prominent near esotropia in those patients and let them fuse at near without bifocals. We performed unilateral or bilateral medial recti recti recessions according to the angle of near esotropia in 14 patients. Twelve patients showed orthophcria or small esophoria less than 12 delta. Eleven of these patients obtained solid fusion after surgery except 3-year-old patient who could not understand the stereopsis test. One patient had esophoria of 20 delta after surgery and showed gross stereopsis. The other patient recurred 27 delta of intermittent esotropia. Twelve of 13 patients(92.3%) could fuse without bifocals at near. The recession of medial rectus or recti was effective on the removal of prominent near esotropia and obtaining fusion without bifocals. Furthermore it did not disturb angle of deviation and fusion at distant. We recommend this procedure as a secure and effective treatment for near esotropia caused by high AC/A ratio.