PURPOSE
This study is a descriptive research to analyze prognostic factors of barbiturate coma therapy (BCT) for severe brain damage patients, to develop a critical pathway (CP) based on the results of analysis and to examine the effect of its clinical application.
METHOD
We analyzed medical records of 76 patients who received BCT for more than three days between January 1999 to July 2005. Based on the results of the analysis, we developed a CP and applied it to 12 people during August-December of 2005.
RESULT
By application of BCT CP, the mortality rate decreased from 31.6% to 16.7%. It was found that the period of staying at ICU and total period of hospitalization were shortened by 2.78 (13.9%) days and 16.43 (29.4%) days, respectively. The Glasgow coma scale of the recovery group by CP application was 9.03 (4.64) at 72 hours post of BCT and 14.28 (1.82) at discharge from hospital, and DRS was 6.62 (6.38) points.
CONCLUSION
By verifying clinical validity of the suggested CP, we believe that we have obtained visible effects standardizing the treatment pathway of BCT for brain damage patients.

Citations

• Early prediction of neurological outcome after barbiturate coma therapy in patients undergoing brain tumor surgery
  Jeong-Am Ryu, Wonkyung Jung, Yoo Jin Jung, Do Yeon Kwon, Kina Kang, Hyeok Choi, Doo-Sik Kong, Ho Jun Seol, Jung-Il Lee, Jonathan H. Sherman
  PLOS ONE.2019; 14(4): e0215280.     CrossRef
• Development and Long Term Evaluation of a Critical Pathway for the Management of Microvascular Decompression
  Jeong A Lee, Jung Sook Kim, Kwan Park, Doo-Sik Kong
  Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing Administration.2014; 20(1): 117.     CrossRef
• Reduction of Length of Stay in Emergency Room by Using Critical Pathway for Stroke Patients
  Yeo Ok Yun, Min Young Kim, Woo Jeong Kim, Young Joon Kang, Ju Ok Park, Kyung Hye Park
  Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing Administration.2011; 17(1): 66.     CrossRef