Long-term mortality of patients discharged from the hospital after successful critical care in the ICU in Korea: a retrospective observational study in a single tertiary care teaching hospital / 대한마취과학회지

Background@#The long-term outcomes of patients discharged from the hospital after successful care in intensive care unit (ICU) are not briskly evaluated in Korea. The aim of this study was to assess long-term mortality of patients treated in the ICU and discharged alive from the hospital and to identify predictive factors of mortality. @*Methods@#In 3,679 adult patients discharged alive from the hospital after ICU care between 2006 and 2011, the 1-year mortality rate (primary outcome measure) was investigated. Various factors were entered into multivariate analysis to identify independent factors of 1-year mortality, including sex, age, severity of illness (APACHE II score), mechanical ventilation, malignancy, readmission, type of admission (emergency, elective surgery, and medical), and diagnostic category (trauma and non-trauma). @*Results@#The 1-year mortality rate was 13.4%. Risk factors that were associated with 1-year mortality included age (hazard ratio: 1.03 [95% CI, 1.02–1.04], P < 0.001), APACHE II score (1.03 [1.01–1.04], P < 0.001), mechanical ventilation (1.96 [1.60–2.41], P < 0.001), malignancy (2.31 [1.82–2.94], P < 0.001), readmission (1.65 [1.31–2.07], P < 0.001), emergency surgery (1.66 [1.18–2.34], P = 0.003), ICU admission due to medical causes (4.66 [3.68–5.91], P < 0.001), and non-traumatic diagnostic category (6.04 [1.50–24.38], P = 0.012). @*Conclusions@#The 1-year mortality rate was 13.4%. Old age, high APACHE II score, mechanical ventilation, malignancy, readmission, emergency surgery, ICU admission due to medical causes, and non-traumatic diagnostic category except metabolic/endocrinologic category were associated with 1-year mortality.

Undiagnosed light chain systemic amyloidosis: does it matter to anesthesiologists?: a case report / 대한마취과학회지

Light chain systemic amyloidosis is rare but may accompany laryngeal or pulmonary involvement, which may increase the risk in airway management. We present a case of a patient planned for resection of cervical epidural mass. The patient had face and neck ecchymoses and purpuras with an unknown cause. Mask ventilation and intubation were successful, but the operation was cancelled to evaluate bleeding from facial skin lesions. A diagnosis of light chain systemic amyloidosis prompted evaluation of involvement of other organs and treatment. This case shows the importance of preoperative evaluation and careful airway management in patients with systemic amyloidosis.