Dr. Josef studies ways to enhance medical treatments and rehabilitation techniques for patients facing serious health challenges. He has investigated the effectiveness of educational programs for anesthesiologists to improve lung ventilation during surgeries, which helps prevent complications. He also explores the use of advanced treatments for severe pneumonia, such as ECMO, which can support damaged lungs. Additionally, he researches how stroke patients interact with tablet technology during rehabilitation to improve their recovery processes. Furthermore, he examines the long-term benefits of rapid transport to specialized heart care centers for heart attack patients and investigates cardiovascular risks in children with Crohn's disease.
Key findings
Dr. Josef's educational program improved adherence to lung-protective ventilation guidelines in anesthesia from 4% to 24%.
In a severe bacterial pneumonia case, veno-venous ECMO support led to lung recovery after 30 days of treatment and 50 days on a ventilator.
69.2% of stroke patients could complete basic gestures on tablets with their strong hand, but only 18.6% managed to do so with their weaker hand.
Patients with direct transportation to PCI-capable centers after STEMI had an 8-year death rate of 26.8%, compared to 32.6% for those who were transferred.
Children with Crohn's disease exhibited a significantly lower reactive hyperaemia index than healthy controls, indicating worse blood vessel function.
Frequently asked questions
Does Dr. Josef study treatments for pneumonia?
Yes, he researches advanced treatments like veno-venous ECMO for severe pneumonia.
What improvements has Dr. Josef identified in stroke rehabilitation?
He found that many stroke patients are able to use tablet gestures with their stronger hand, which can guide better app designs for their recovery.
Is Dr. Josef's research important for heart attack patients?
Absolutely, his work shows that direct transport to specialized care centers can significantly decrease long-term mortality in heart attack patients.
What does Dr. Josef's research reveal about children with Crohn's disease?
His studies indicate that children with Crohn's disease may have a higher risk of heart issues due to poor blood vessel function.
How does Dr. Josef's work help anesthesiology?
His educational initiatives have led to increased adherence to lung-protective ventilation guidelines, reducing the risk of complications during anesthesia.
Publications in plain English
The mandatory educational module increases the effect of implementing the standard operating procedure and adherence to the lung-protective ventilation concept during anaesthesia.
2025
BMC medical education
Michal K, Jan B, Josef Š, Patricia V, Adéla B +2 more
Plain English This study examined how a new educational program combined with a standardized operating procedure could improve adherence to lung-protective ventilation during anesthesia, which is important for reducing lung complications after surgery. Before the program, only 4% of anesthesiologists followed all the guidelines, but after the program, compliance increased to 24%. Additionally, more recruitment maneuvers were performed, and the average pressure used in ventilation also improved significantly.
Who this helps: This benefits patients undergoing anesthesia by reducing their risk of lung complications.
Veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in devastating bacterial pneumonia: a case report and review of the literature.
2024
Journal of medical case reports
Josef Š, Jiří Š, Bohuslav K, Richard T, Dita S +2 more
Plain English This study looked at a severe case of bacterial pneumonia in a 39-year-old woman with multiple health issues and found that a treatment called veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) was successful, even after 30 days of using this support system and over 50 days on a ventilator. Despite facing many complications, including significant bleeding that required multiple procedures, the patient showed signs of lung recovery, suggesting that ECMO can effectively support damaged lungs if used long enough. This is important because it provides hope for patients in similar dire situations and helps refine when to use ECMO in treating severe pneumonia.
Who this helps: Patients with severe pneumonia and their doctors.
Successful performance of basic gestures in tablet technology in post stroke patients: A feasibility study.
2019
Technology and health care : official journal of the European Society for Engineering and Medicine
Kotzian ST, Haider S, Grabovac I, Schubert N, Josef S
Plain English This study looked at how well stroke patients can use basic gestures, like clicking and double-clicking, on tablets during rehabilitation. Out of 129 participants, 69.2% could complete all the gestures with one hand, but only 18.6% managed to use their weaker hand for all gestures, highlighting difficulties especially with double-clicking and zooming. The findings are important because they can help improve tablet app designs for rehabilitation, making it easier for more stroke patients to use these tools effectively during recovery.
Who this helps: Patients recovering from a stroke.
Mortality benefit of primary transportation to a PCI-capable center persists through an eight-year follow-up in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction.
2017
Journal of interventional cardiology
Almawiri A, Jan V, Ziad A, Martin J, Josef S
Plain English This study examined the long-term effects of taking patients directly to hospitals that provide specialized heart care (primary transport) versus transferring them from regional hospitals (secondary transport) after a severe heart attack called STEMI. It found that 8 years later, the death rate for patients who were directly transported was 26.8%, compared to 32.6% for those who were transferred, showing a significant benefit for those who went directly (P=0.035). These results highlight that getting immediate care at the right facility can save lives over the long term.
Who this helps: Patients experiencing a severe heart attack.
Reactive hyperaemia index as a marker of endothelial dysfunction in children with Crohn's disease is significantly lower than healthy controls.
2014
Acta paediatrica (Oslo, Norway : 1992)
Petr J, Michal H, Jan S, Ladislav T, Jiri K +1 more
Plain English This study looked at children with Crohn's disease to see how their blood vessels function compared to healthy kids. It found that the children with Crohn's had a lower reactive hyperaemia index (RHI) score, indicating worse blood vessel function, with RHI values significantly lower than the healthy group. This matters because it highlights that children with Crohn's disease may face a higher risk for heart-related issues due to inflammation affecting their blood vessels.
Who this helps: This helps patients with Crohn's disease and their doctors by identifying cardiovascular risks early.