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Background Reexpansion pulmonary edema is a rare but potentially lethal complication. We report a case of suspected reexpansion pulmonary edema that led to cardiac arrest. Case A 16-year-old male patient underwent wedge resection due to right pneumothorax. The patient showed pink frothy sputum three hours following surgery, and a chest x-ray showed right unilateral pulmonary edema. Thirteen hours following surgery, the patient continuously showed pink frothy sputum and presented with severe hypoxemia, tachypnea, and tachycardia. After transferring to the intensive care unit (ICU), he developed ventricular tachycardia. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation was performed for 32 min. Chest X-ray showed diffuse bilateral pulmonary edema. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation was performed. During the 65 days of ICU care, the patient became mentally alert. However, follow-up echocardiography revealed severe heart failure. Conclusions Rexpansion pulmonary edema can rapidly progress to diffuse bilateral pulmonary edema. Therefore, careful observation is required for the patients who show signs of pulmonary edema after reexpansion.

Background With increasing use, the incidence of adverse events associated with sugammadex, a neuromuscular blockade reverser, is increasing. This study aimed to identify and analyze cases of adverse events caused by sugammadex reported in Korean population. Methods Out of a total of 12 cases detected using various keywords in the Korean Journal of Anesthesia, Anesthesia and Pain Medicine (Seoul), KoreaMed, PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, and The Cochrane Library-CENTRAL from 2013 to December 2020, 10 cases directly associated with sugammadex were selected. Results Adverse events included five cases of anaphylaxis, one case of cardiac arrest, one case of profound bradycardia, one case of negative pressure pulmonary edema, and two cases of incomplete recovery. Three patients had American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status ≥ 3, two had emergency surgery, and two had a history of allergic reaction. Neuromuscular monitoring was applied in nine cases. The average dose of sugammadex was 2.87 mg/kg, and there were six cases in which one full vial was used, regardless of the state of neuromuscular recovery. Sugammadex was administered immediately after surgery in two cases, at train of four (TOF) 0 in four cases, at TOF 3 in one case, and after evaluation of the clinical signs only with no neuromuscular monitoring in one case. Conclusions Even with neuromuscular monitoring, an excessive dose of sugammadex was observed. Given that adverse events tend to occur within 10 min of administration, continuous monitoring is important even after administration.

Background: The double-lumen cannula (DLC) has begun to be used worldwide for venovenous (VV) extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). We aimed to examine whether the DLC could be an effective tool in the treatment of pediatric respiratory failure in Korea.Methods: We reviewed the records of patients weighing under 15 kg who underwent ECMO due to respiratory failure between January 2017 and December 2018. Outcomes of ECMO using a DLC and conventional ECMO using central method or 2 peripheral cannulas were compared.Results: Twelve patients were treated with ECMO for respiratory failure. Among them, a DLC was used in 5 patients, the median age of whom was 3.8 months (interquartile range, 0.1–49.7 months). In these patients, the median values of pH, partial pressure of carbon dioxide, and partial pressure of oxygen were 7.09, 74 mm Hg, and 37 mm Hg before ECMO and corrected to 7.31, 44 mm Hg, and 85 mm Hg, respectively, after ECMO cannulation. Median blood flow rate in the patients treated with ECMO using a DLC was slightly higher than that in the conventional ECMO group, but this difference was not statistically signif-icant (86.1 mL/kg/min and 74.3 mL/kg/min, respectively; p=1.00). One patient from the DLC group and 3 patients from the conventional group were weaned off ECMO.Conclusion: VV ECMO using a DLC provided adequate oxygenation, ventilation, and blood flow rate in Korean pediatric patients with respiratory failure. Further prospective and randomized studies are warranted.

In this study, three recycling methods, namely, mechanical grinding, steam pyrolysis, and the supercritical solvent process, which are used to acquire recycled carbon fibers (RCFs), were compared for their application in synthesizing polymer-matrix composites. RCF-reinforced polyethylene (PE) composites were prepared to compare the mechanical properties of the composites generated using the three recycling methods. The PE/RCF composites exhibited 1.5 times higher mechanical strength than the RCF-reinforced PE composites, probably because of the surface oxidation effects during the recycling processes that consequently enhanced interfacial forces between the RCF and the matrix. Further, the steam pyrolysis process showed the highest energy efficiency and can thus be applied on a large production scale in domestic recycled CF markets.

Therapeutic hypothermia is often used for traumatic brain injury because of its neuroprotective effect and decreased secondary brain injury. However, this procedure lacks clinical evidence supporting its efficacy, and adverse outcomes have been reported during general anesthesia. A 61-year-old man with a history of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) was admitted with traumatic brain injury. Immediately after admission, he underwent mild therapeutic hypothermia with a target temperature of 33.0°C for neuroprotection. During general anesthesia for emergency surgery because he developed a mass effect, hypothermic cardiac arrest occurred following an additional decrease in the core body temperature. Moreover, myocardial infarction caused by restenosis of the previous PCI lesion also contributed to the cardiac arrest. Although the patient recovered spontaneous circulation after an hour-long cardiopulmonary resuscitation with rewarming, he eventually died of subsequent repetitive cardiac arrests. When anesthetizing patients undergoing therapeutic hypothermia, caution is required to prevent adverse outcomes that can be caused by unintentional severe hypothermia and exacerbation of underlying heart disease.

Recently, there has been a trend toward minimizing opioid use in obese patients to prevent opioid-related postoperative complications. Moreover, the use of opioid-free anesthesia has received growing interest. This case series reports the use of simple opioid-free anesthesia consisting of a mixture of dexmedetomidine, ketamine, and lidocaine in an obese male patient undergoing laparoscopic bariatric surgery and an obese pregnant woman undergoing cesarean section. These cases indicate that opioid-free anesthesia can be safely administered to obese patients and provides effective pain control without any postoperative adverse outcomes.

Vasopressin local infiltration is useful in gynecological surgery because it can reduce hemorrhage. Depending on the activities of the sympathetic system and the renin–angiotensin system, reactions to vasopressin may differ and predicting its systemic effects is difficult. Because life-threatening complications can occur, infiltration with vasopressin should be administered with caution. A 42-year-old female patient was diagnosed with uterine leiomyomas. During a robot-assisted laparoscopic myomectomy, 50 U of vasopressin, which is ten-times the recommended dose, was accidentally infiltrated. Subsequently, bradycardia with a heart rate of 25 bpm occurred, which recovered within 3 minutes. Peripheral perfusion indices and the diameter of the radial and brachial arteries also decreased markedly and recovered within 1 hour. The surgery was concluded without additional events. The patient was discharged 2 days later with no abnormal findings. Because vasopressin infiltration can cause life-threatening complications, it is necessary to determine the extent of patient reactions to vasopressin using measures such as the peripheral perfusion index or radial and brachial artery diameters. These measures may also help to predict the occurrence of complications.

Patients with double-inlet left ventricle usually have a small ascending aorta. In the Norwood procedure, which involves a staged operation, a neoaorta is constructed with a homograft, and the pulmonary artery plays a role in the systemic circulation. Dilatation or aneurysmal changes can occur over time due to the exposure o f the neoaorta t o systemic p ressure, w hich m ay i nduce a dverse effects on adj acent structures. We report a rare case of surgical repair for neoaortic root dilataiton with aortic regurgitation, compressing the left pulmohary artery, in a patient who underwent the Norwood procedure.

A 21-year-old man underwent wedge resection for treatment of pneumothorax. This patient had been diagnosed with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMTD) and had a history of surgical treatment of scoliosis, pneumothorax, foot deformity, and arm dislocation. Additionally, the patient showed signs of muscle weakness and atrophy in the upper and lower extremities. CMTD is genetically associated with motor and sensory neuropathy and reportedly has an association with malignant hyperthermia or a delayed muscle relaxation mechanism. In the present case, total intravenous anesthesia was performed with a combination of propofol and remifentanil, and rocuronium was administered as a neuromuscular blocking agent. Surgery was performed without delayed muscle relaxation or any other specific intraoperative adverse events.

Abstract Introduction The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed various health risks and inequities experienced by international migrant workers. The number of migrant workers in the Republic of Korea (ROK) is rapidly growing and is expected to continue growing. Health related research on migrant workers in ROK is limited, especially among undocumented migrant workers who were more vulnerable to the pandemic. This study aims to examine the experiences of migrant workers and their knowledge and awareness of treatment and immigration policies during the pandemic. Methods We used data from the International Migrant Workers’ COVID-19 Health Literacy and Access to Medical Care project, a cross-sectional survey conducted with international migrant workers residing in ROK in 2021 (n = 537). Descriptive statistics and multivariable regression models were employed to understand different demographic, occupational, and immigration factors affecting migrant workers’ knowledge and awareness of treatment and immigration policies. Results Undocumented migrant workers had a longer length of residence in ROK and earned less compared to workers with work visa status. None of the undocumented migrant workers had access to health insurance since they were ineligible to enroll in the national health insurance scheme. In the early days of the pandemic, most undocumented migrant workers experienced a decrease in their average income. After adjusting for demographic differences and language proficiency, undocumented migrant workers (AOR: 0.41, 95% CI: 0.21, 0.78) were less likely to be aware of the policy allowing foreigners, including undocumented individuals, to access COVID-19 testing and treatment without the risk of deportation. Workers with a longer length of residence (AOR: 1.29, 95% CI: 1.09, 1.53) were more likely to be aware of this policy. Conclusion Undocumented migrant workers were often less informed about COVID-19 policies. While most of the survey respondents were knowledgeable about governmental policies regarding COVID-19 treatment and immigration, our results reveal multiple occupational and health insurance vulnerabilities of undocumented migrant workers living in ROK. More attention is needed to understand healthcare service barriers and how to provide adequate resources for this vulnerable population.

PurposeThe use of implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) to prevent sudden cardiac death is increasing in children and adolescents. This study investigated the use of ICDs in children with congenital heart disease.MethodsThis retrospective study was conducted on the clinical characteristics and effectiveness of ICD implantation at the department of pediatrics of a single tertiary center between 2007 and 2011.ResultsFifteen patients underwent ICD implantation. Their mean age at the time of implantation was 14.5±5.4 years (range, 2 to 22 years). The follow-up duration was 28.9±20.4 months. The cause of ICD implantation was cardiac arrest in 7, sustained ventricular tachycardia in 6, and syncope in 2 patients. The underlying disorders were as follows: ionic channelopathy in 6 patients (long QT type 3 in 4, catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia [CPVT] in 1, and J wave syndrome in 1), cardiomyopathy in 5 patients, and postoperative congenital heart disease in 4 patients. ICD coils were implanted in the pericardial space in 2 children (ages 2 and 6 years). Five patients received appropriate ICD shock therapy, and 2 patients received inappropriate shocks due to supraventricular tachycardia. During follow-up, 2 patients required lead dysfunction-related revision. One patient with CPVT suffered from an ICD storm that was resolved using sympathetic denervation surgery.ConclusionThe overall ICD outcome was acceptable in most pediatric patients. Early diagnosis and timely ICD implantation are recommended for preventing sudden death in high-risk children and patients with congenital heart disease.

Takayasu arteritis is a chronic inflammatory disease of unknown etiology primarily affecting the aorta and its major branches and usually occurring in the second or third decade of life. Here, we report a case of Takayasu arteritis in a 10-month-old patient. The infant presented with signs of congestive heart failure and severe aortic regurgitation. Echocardiography and computed tomography angiography showed an abnormally dilated thoracic and abdominal aorta. The infant was initially treated with prednisolone, followed by commissuroplasty of the aortic valve but neither approach ameliorated the heart failure. The patient was eventually treated with a mechanical aortic valve replacement surgery at the age of 12 months, and her condition stabilized. Although unusual, this case indicates that the diagnosis of Takayasu arteritis should be considered in children with unexplained systemic symptoms, aortic valve regurgitation, and heart failure. Because severe aortic regurgitation may be a fatal complication of Takayasu arteritis, early aortic valve replacement surgery should be considered, even in very young children.

Various studies have been conducted to minimize the damage and loss of stored grain. For safe storage, the moisture content must be reduced, or respiration must be suppressed. In this study, grain respiration rates were analyzed under various nitrogen atmospheric conditions, and the quality of stored rice was evaluated. As the nitrogen content of the storage space increases, the respiration rate of the grain decreases accordingly. In this study, the effect of the modified atmospheric nitrogen concentration on reducing respiration was determined. When predicting weight loss due to respiration, low moisture content, and high nitrogen concentration could reduce loss. Quality analysis was performed to compare different respiration rate conditions and showed that lower oxygen concentration and moisture content were associated with safer storage. Our results indicate that changes in atmospheric conditions depending on climate and storage conditions can be considered for the safe storage of harvested rice.

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed various health risks and inequities experienced by international migrant workers. The number of migrant workers in the Republic of Korea (ROK) is rapidly growing and is expected to continue growing. Health related research on migrant workers in ROK is limited, especially among undocumented migrant workers who were more vulnerable to the pandemic. This study aims to examine the experiences of migrant workers and their knowledge and awareness of treatment and immigration policies during the pandemic. Methods: We used data from the International Migrant Workers' COVID-19 Health Literacy and Access to Medical Care project, a cross-sectional survey conducted with international migrant workers residing in ROK in 2021 (n = 537). Descriptive statistics and multivariable regression models were employed to understand different demographic, occupational, and immigration factors affecting migrant workers' knowledge and awareness of treatment and immigration policies. Results: Undocumented migrant workers had a longer length of residence in ROK and earned less compared to workers with work visa status. None of the undocumented migrant workers had access to health insurance since they were ineligible to enroll in the national health insurance scheme. In the early days of the pandemic, most undocumented migrant workers experienced a decrease in their average income. After adjusting for demographic differences and language proficiency, undocumented migrant workers (AOR: 0.41, 95% CI: 0.21, 0.78) were less likely to be aware of the policy allowing foreigners, including undocumented individuals, to access COVID-19 testing and treatment without the risk of deportation. Workers with a longer length of residence (AOR: 1.29, 95% CI: 1.09, 1.53) were more likely to be aware of this policy. Conclusion: Undocumented migrant workers were often less informed about COVID-19 policies. While most of the survey respondents were knowledgeable about governmental policies regarding COVID-19 treatment and immigration, our results reveal multiple occupational and health insurance vulnerabilities of undocumented migrant workers living in ROK. More attention is needed to understand healthcare service barriers and how to provide adequate resources for this vulnerable population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]