Discharge Decision-Making by Intensivists on Readmission to the Intensive Care Unit

Patients readmitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) have a significantly higher mortality rate. The role of intensivists in judging when to discharge patients from the ICU is very important. We undertook this study to evaluate the effect of the intensivists' discharge decision-making on readmission to ICU. The intensivists actively participated in the discharge decision-making, with the discharge guideline taken into consideration, in respect of group 1 patients, but not in respect of group 2. The readmission rate in group 1 was lower than that in group 2. The readmission in patients in each group was associated with higher mortality rates and longer lengths of stay at the ICU. Respiratory failure was the major cause of readmission. In the non-survivors out of the readmitted patients, the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) III scores on the initial discharge and readmission, the multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) scores on the initial admission, discharge and readmission were higher than the corresponding indices in the survivors. We conclude that the readmission rate was lower when intensivists participated in the discharge decision-making, and that APACHE III and MODS scores on the first discharge and readmission were significant prognostic factors in respect of the readmitted patients.

Anesthetic Management of a Patient with Congenital Long QT Syndrome: A case report / 대한마취과학회지

Long QT syndrome is characterized by syncope and fatal ventricular arrhythmia or fibrillation at an young age. A 25-year-old female patient with congenital Long QT syndrome (Jervell and Lange-Nielsen syndrome) was scheduled for cochlea implantation due to congenital deafness. During anesthetic induction, maintenance, and emergence of these patients, cardiac arrests have been reported, which may be due to asymmetrical adrenergic stimuli in the heart, especially in unrecognized cases. Beta blocker is the first-line therapeutic drug for long QT syndrome. However, there is a controversy with regard to which anesthetics are safe for the management of patients with long QT syndrome. This case report describes an anesthetic management of a patient with congenital long QT syndrome who was treated with beta blocker.

The Effect of Discharge Decision-Making of the Intensivist on Readmission to the Intensive Care Unit / 대한구급학회지

BACKGROUND: Patients readmitted to intensive care unit (ICU) have significantly higher mortality. The role of intensivists to judge when to discharge from ICU may be important. We performed this study to assess the effect of intensivist's discharge decision-making on readmission to ICU. METHODS: Data were collected prospectively from patients admitted to ICUs (group 1). Another data were collected retrospectively from the patients' record (group 2). Discharge of the patients in group 1 were based on intensivist's discharge decision-making but not in group 2. We encouraged deep breathing and expectoration to patients of group 1 at risk of pulmonary complication during ICU stay and used a guideline for making discharge decisions. Readmission cause, length of ICU stay, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) III score, and multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) score of readmitted patients were evaluated. RESULTS: Readmission rate of group 1 was lower than that of group 2 (p<0.05). The mortality of readmitted patients in each group was higher than that of non-readmitted patients (p<0.05). Respiratory disease was the major cause of readmission. In non-survivors of readmitted patients, APACHE III score on initial discharge and readmission, MODS score on initial admission, discharge and readmission were higher than those of survivors (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Readmission rate was lower when intensivists participated in discharge decision- making. ICU readmission was associated with higher hospital mortality and longer ICU stay. MODS and APACHE III score at first discharge and readmission were significant prognostic factors of the outcome in readmitted patients.

Clinical Experience of Three Dimensional Conformal Radiation Therapy for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer / 대한방사선종양학회지

PURPOSE: This prospective study has been conducted to assess the value of three dimensional conformal radiation therapy (3DCRT) for lung cancer and to determine its potential advantage over current treatment approaches. Specific aim of this study were to 1) find the most ideal 3DCRT technique 2) establish the maximum tolerance dose that can be delivered with 3DCRT and 3) identify patients at risk for development of radiation pneumonitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Beginning in Nov. 1994, 95 patients with inoperable non-small cell lung cancer (stage I; 4, stage II; 1, stage IIIa; 14, stage IIIb; 76) were entered onto this 3D conformal trial. Areas of known disease and elective nodal areas were initially treated to 45 Gy and then using 3DCRT technique 65 to 70 Gy of total dose were delivered to the gross disease. Sixty nine patients received 65 Gy of total dose and 26 received 70 Gy. Seventy eight patients (82.1%) also received concurrent MVP chemotherapy. 3DCRT plans were compared with 2D plans to assess the adequacy of dose delivery to target volume, dose volume histograms for normal tissue, and normal tissue complication probabilities (NTCP). RESULTS: Most of plans (78/95) were composed of non-coplanar multiple (4-8) fields. Coplanar segmented conformal therapy was used in 17 pateints, choosing the proper gantry angle which minimize normal lung exposure in each segment. 3DCRT gave the full dose to nearly 100% of the gross disease target volume in all patients. The mean NTCP for ipsilateral lung with 3DCRT (range ; 0.17-0.43) was 68% of the mean NTCP with 2D treatment planning (range ; 0.27-0.66). DVH analysis for heart showed that irradiated volume of heart could be significantly reduced by non-coplanar 3D approach especially in the case of left lower lobe lesion. Of 95 patients evaluable for response, 75 (79%), showed major response including 25 (26%) with complete responses and 50 (53%) with partial responses. One and two year overall survivals of stage lll patients were 62.6% and 35.2% respectively. Twenty percent (19/95) of patients had pneumonitis ; Eight patients had grade 1 pneumonitis and 11 other patients had grade 2. Comparison of the average of NTCP for lung showed a significant difference between patients with and without radiation pneumonitis. Average NTCP for patients without complication was 62% of those with complications. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that non-coplanar multiple fields (4-8) may be one of the ideal plans for 3DCRT for lung cancer. It also suggested that 3DCRT may provide superior delivery of high dose radiation with reduced risk to normal tissue and that NTCP can be used as a guideline for the dose escalation.

Concurrent Chemoradiotherapy in Locally Advanced Carcinoma of The Uterine Cervix : A Phase I/II Prospective Study / 대한방사선종양학회지

PURPOSE: Prospective, single arm, Phase I/II clinical trial was performed to assess the efficacy and toxicity of the concurrent chemotherapy and definitive radiotherapy (RT) in patients with previously untreated locally advanced carcinoma of the uterine cervix. METHODS AND MATERIALS: From May 1992 to January 1997, a total of 73 patients with advanced cervical carcinoma were entered on the protocol but 5 patients were excluded in analysis because of patients' refusal of treatment. Their ages ranged from 31 to 77 years, median 58 years. The International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage distribution was as follows: IIB 46, IIIA 2, IIIB 15 and IVA 5. RT consisted of external beam irradiation to 4,140-5,040 cGy/23-28 fractions plus high dose rate intracavitary treatments to deliver a dose of 30-35 Gy to point A in 6-7 fractions. During the intracavitary treatments parametrial boost was delivered for point B dose of 60 Gy in stage IIB and 65 Gy in stage IIIB. Two cycles of concurrent 5-fluorouracil and cisplatin (FP) chemotherapy (5-fluorouracil 1,000 mg/m2/day continuous infusion for 4 days, day 1-4, 29-32 and cisplatin 20 mg/m2/day intravenous bolus for 3 days, day 1-3, 29-31) administered starting on day 1 of RT. RESULTS: The median follow-up was 24 months (range 4-68+). Sixty-four patients were evaluable for survival rate in this protocol; The 5-year actuarial and disease-free survival rate were 52% and 64%, respectively. The 5-year actuarial survival for stage IIB and III+IVA patients were 58% and 36%, respectively. The 5-year disease-free survival rate for stage IIB andIII+IVA patients were 71% and 46%, respectively. Of the 68 patients evaluated for patterns of failure, overall recurrence rate was 27.9% (19/68): local failure in 5.9% (4/68), distant metastasis in 10.3% (7/68) and both in 11.8% (8/68). Of the 64 patients evaluated for response at one month after the completion of treatment, the complete response rate was 78% (50/64). Concurrent chemoradiation appear to be a well-tolerated regimen but there were two treatment-related deaths. CONCLUSION: Concurrent chemotherapy of FP with high-dose definitive RT in locally advanced carcinoma of the uterine cervix is feasible and effective with acceptable toxicities. This chemoradiation regimen may offer a modest survival benefit for advanced stage. Further follow-up of these patients will evaluate the impact of this regimen on the long-term local control and their survival.

Radiation Therapy of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma / 대한치료방사선과학회지

PURPOSE: This is a retrospective study to evaluate the results of radiation therapy and prognostic factors influencing the results in nasopharyngeal carcinoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From October 1989 to May 1996, 56 patients were treated for nasopharyngeal carcinoma at Department of Radiation Oncology. According to stage, patients were distributed as follows: stage I (2), II (13), III (11), IV (30). Twenty-eight patients were treated with radiation therapy only, 7 patients were treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by radiation therapy. Twenty-one patients were treated with radiation therapy and weekly CDDP. After external beam radiotherapy of 60Gy, 46 patients received boost dose with intracavitary radiation and 9 patients with 3D conformal therapy. One patient received boost dose with 2 dimensional photon beam therapy. The tumor dose ranged from 69.4Gy to 86.2Gy with median dose of 74.4Gy. The follow-up period ranged from 5 months to 92 months with a median of 34 months. RESULTS: Forty-seven patients achieved complete response and 8 patients showed partial response. One patient showed minimal response. Patterns of failure were as follows : locoregional recurrence (8) and distant metastasis (18). Among these patients, 2 patients failed locoregionally and distantly. The sites of distant metastasis were bone (8), lung (8) and liver (4). Five years survival rate was 67.2% and 5 years disease-free survival rate was 53.6%. KPS (P=0.005) and response of radiation therapy (P=0.0001) were significant prognostic factors for overall survival. KPS (P=0.02) and response of radiation therapy (P=0.005) were significant prognostic factors for disease-free survival. CONCLUSION: This retrospective study showed that distant metastasis was the predominant pattern of relapse in nasopharyngeal cancer. Neoadjuvantchemotherapy or weekly CDDP did not influence the distant metastasis-free survival. For advanced T stage, 3D conformal therapy provided an improved dose coverage compared to ICR. But further follow-up was needed in patients with 3D conformal therapy to assess the efficacy of this therapy. Development of techniques of radiation therapy to improve locoregional control and of more effective systemic chemotherapy regimen are needed.