1.Analysis of Mortality Outcomes and Predictive Factors Following Colorectal Emergency Surgery
Sung Hwan CHO ; Gyung Mo SON ; Byung-Soo PARK ; Hyun Sung KIM
Journal of Acute Care Surgery 2025;15(1):20-25
Purpose:
Despite improvements in surgical technology, patients who undergo colorectal emergency surgery still have high mortality and complication rates. This places a high burden on the surgeons and the medical institutions who employ them. Mortality outcomes following emergency colorectal surgery were analyzed and risk factors associated with mortality were identified.
Methods:
Data from patients who were admitted through the Emergency Room from June 2019 to December 2021 and underwent emergency colorectal surgery performed by a single surgeon were retrospectively analyzed. Surgical and medical records of various clinicopathological factors and the Mannheim peritonitis index (MPI) scores were compared between survivors and non-survivors.
Results:
During the study period, 164 patients underwent colorectal emergency surgery. Following surgery, 24 patients (14.6%) died during their hospital stay. The American Society of Anesthesiologists Classification, the MPI score, indication of surgery, and comorbid disease were factors which showed statistically significant differences between the survivor and non-survivor groups. In particular, in the patients with an MPI score of ≥ 30, 22 of 49 deaths occurred.
Conclusion
Patients undergoing emergency colorectal surgery exhibit high postoperative mortality rates. By identifying these patients before surgery, and allocating appropriate surgical and intensive care resources to them, medical resources can be utilized more efficiently, and mortality rates can be reduced.
2.Impact of Resident Shortage on Trauma Care During the 2024 Medical Conflict: A Single Regional Emergency Medical Center Experience and Recommendations
Jun Hyung KIM ; Sungho LEE ; Kwanhoon PARK ; Kang Yoon LEE ; Ji Young JANG
Journal of Acute Care Surgery 2025;15(1):13-19
Purpose:
In 2024, the South Korean government proposed an essential medical care package, including the expansion of medical college admissions, which faced strong opposition from the medical community. Consequently, residents resigned, increasing the workload of the remaining staff and putting public health at risk. This study analyzed changes in the hospitalization patterns of trauma patients during this political conflict period using single-center data from the National Health Insurance Service Ilsan Hospital.
Methods:
Data from the entire year 2023 and from March to August 2024 were used for analysis, excluding January and February 2024 when the conflict escalated. The selection criteria included patients with trauma who visited the emergency room, and comparisons were made between the periods before and during the medical conflict.
Results:
In 2023, the total number of patients with trauma were 1,182 (an average of 98.5 per month). From March to August 2024, the number dropped to 204 (34.2 per month), reflecting a significant reduction in the monthly average number of patients with trauma. Despite the overall decline, the number of severe trauma cases remained relatively stable, indicating a shift toward more critical patient care. Emergency department length of stay decreased significantly from 295 min in 2023 to 187 min in 2024.
Conclusion
The ongoing strain on emergency and support department risks leads to an irreversible collapse if critical points are reached. To address this, localized trauma centers are needed to relieve the burden on larger medical institutions and improve the efficiency of trauma care systems during crises.
3.Fournier Gangrene with Preperitoneal Extension: A Rare Case Report
Jihyun SEO ; Moon Suk CHOI ; Jae Cheol JUNG ; Sun Keun CHOI
Journal of Acute Care Surgery 2025;15(1):34-36
Fournier gangrene (FG) is a rare life-threatening infection j that can occasionally extend beyond the perineum into the retroperitoneal space. Preperitoneal involvement in female patients is extremely rare. We report a unique case of a 59-year-old female with FG, characterized by atypical preperitoneal extension. Despite initial treatment failure, the patient recovered following emergency debridement, and targeted antibiotic therapy. This case underscores the importance of early diagnosis, timely surgical intervention, and multidisciplinary care in managing atypical FG presentations in female patients. It emphasizes the need for prompt and aggressive management to improve survival in these rare instances.
4.Bowel Perforation in a Patient with Pheochromocytoma, Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Type 2B and Diffuse Intestinal Ganglioneuromatosis: A Case Report
Julian WANG ; Hilary MEGGISON ; Heather LOCHNAN ; Sylvie D. AUCOIN ; Nada GAWAD
Journal of Acute Care Surgery 2025;15(1):26-29
Pheochromocytoma and intestinal ganglioneuromatosis are rare entities, associated with Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Type 2B (MEN2B), but rarely associated with colonic pseudo-obstruction and ischemia. We report a 52-year-old patient who presented with colonic perforation and was later found to have all 3 pathologies concurrently. An exploratory laparotomy revealed toxic megacolon with rectosigmoid perforation requiring a total abdominal colectomy. Diffuse intestinal ganglioneuromatosis with no malignancy was reported by histopathology. Perioperative challenges included severe acidosis (pH 6.9) and supraventricular tachycardia requiring electrical and chemical cardioversion. Despite this, the patient was successfully managed with minimal vasopressor support (likely due to endogenous catecholamine release from his pheochromocytoma). This case of gastrointestinal emergency underlines the need for early recognition of comorbidities associated with MEN2B, and the importance of multidisciplinary care. This is the first case report describing bowel perforation in the context of MEN2B, pheochromocytoma, and intestinal ganglioneuromatosis.
5.Laparoscopic Emergency Surgery for Perforated Peptic Ulcer: A Narrative Review
Journal of Acute Care Surgery 2025;15(1):1-4
Perforated peptic ulcer (PPU) is developed in 2%-10 % of peptic ulcer. The essential treatment is emergent surgical repair. Usually, the surgical repair with or without an omental patch is performed by laparotomy. The laparoscopic emergency surgery (LES) for PPU is increasingly being preferred with the innovation of laparoscopic devices and procedures and increase of surgeon’s expertise and experiences.Generally, a laparoscopic approach is recommended in stable patient. And, in selected patient with instability, a laparoscopic approach may be adopted. The patient selection criteria is recommended in hemodynamic stability, surgeon’s skills, cardiovascular or pulmonary comorbidity and Boey score.These LES rate differences for PPU are resulted that the variability in the healthcare infrastructure and patient-related factors between countries. The surgeon’s decision about LES for PPU is affected by various factors. Even surgeon’s fatigue, physical strength, stressful feelings and poor emotional mood may be one of factors. According to published literature, the practical LES performance is affected by various limiting factors.Although guideline about laparoscopic emergency knotless suture repair for PPU is absent, the 4 retrospective studies about LES for PPU between knotless and interrupted suture repair revealed that the laparoscopic knotless suture repair using barbed suture material is alternative, feasible, safe, simple and non-inferior method. However, the recommendation evidence about single port LES for PPU is unclear.
6.Extracorporeal Blood Purification Treatments for Refractory Septic Shock Following Surgery
Journal of Acute Care Surgery 2025;15(1):5-12
Advancements in perioperative management and surgical techniques have led to an increased frequency of complex surgical procedures and emergency operations, particularly among elderly, and high-risk patients. Consequently, the incidence of severe complications such as intra-abdominal infections has risen, and in some cases, there is progression to refractory septic shock, a life-threatening condition unresponsive to typically effective source control and intensive treatments. Extracorporeal blood purification therapies, including CytoSorb, polymyxin B hemoperfusion (PMX-HP), and AN69-Oxiris, have emerged as adjunctive treatments for refractory septic shock. They remove excessive cytokines and circulating endotoxins, mitigating immune dysregulation, and improving outcomes. CytoSorb filters primarily remove cytokines based on molecular weight, whereas PMX-HP filters remove endotoxin.AN69-Oxiris combines cytokine and endotoxin removal with renal support functionality. Despite their promise, these modalities exhibit limitations such as cost considerations and variability in efficacy. PMX-HP demonstrates superior endotoxin clearance, making it preferable for severe endotoxemia, while AN69-Oxiris offers cost-effective solutions for mild endotoxemia, particularly in patients requiring renal replacement therapy. However, the absence of standardized protocols, and limited direct comparisons hinders widespread adoption. Evidence-based criteria and tailored strategies are essential to optimize the clinical application of blood purification therapies, and improve outcomes for patients with refractory septic shock.
7.Successful Non-Operative Management of Middle Colic Artery Injury Using Transcatheter Arterial Embolization Performed in a Hybrid Emergency Room System
Joo Hyun LEE ; So Ra AHN ; Sang Hyun SEO ; Chan Yong PARK
Journal of Acute Care Surgery 2025;15(1):30-33
Mesenteric injuries from blunt trauma are rare, but can result in life-threatening complications, including massive hemorrhage from mesenteric arterial disruption, bowel ischemia, necrosis, and perforation. Prompt diagnosis and treatment are critical, and surgical intervention is traditionally considered the gold standard intervention. Although transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) is an established treatment for solid organ injuries following blunt abdominal trauma, its application to mesenteric injuries is less common. A 47-year-old male was admitted to our trauma center, which employes a hybrid emergency room system, after falling from a height of 3 meters. Abdominal computed tomography revealed active contrast extravasation from the middle colic artery which had a large hemoperitoneum, but no evidence of bowel injury. After initial resuscitation and stabilization, TAE was performed to control the hemorrhage. The patient was discharged 42 days after admission without significant complications. As a possible treatment option for mesenteric injuries without intestinal damage, we suggest TAE.
8.Analysis of Mortality Outcomes and Predictive Factors Following Colorectal Emergency Surgery
Sung Hwan CHO ; Gyung Mo SON ; Byung-Soo PARK ; Hyun Sung KIM
Journal of Acute Care Surgery 2025;15(1):20-25
Purpose:
Despite improvements in surgical technology, patients who undergo colorectal emergency surgery still have high mortality and complication rates. This places a high burden on the surgeons and the medical institutions who employ them. Mortality outcomes following emergency colorectal surgery were analyzed and risk factors associated with mortality were identified.
Methods:
Data from patients who were admitted through the Emergency Room from June 2019 to December 2021 and underwent emergency colorectal surgery performed by a single surgeon were retrospectively analyzed. Surgical and medical records of various clinicopathological factors and the Mannheim peritonitis index (MPI) scores were compared between survivors and non-survivors.
Results:
During the study period, 164 patients underwent colorectal emergency surgery. Following surgery, 24 patients (14.6%) died during their hospital stay. The American Society of Anesthesiologists Classification, the MPI score, indication of surgery, and comorbid disease were factors which showed statistically significant differences between the survivor and non-survivor groups. In particular, in the patients with an MPI score of ≥ 30, 22 of 49 deaths occurred.
Conclusion
Patients undergoing emergency colorectal surgery exhibit high postoperative mortality rates. By identifying these patients before surgery, and allocating appropriate surgical and intensive care resources to them, medical resources can be utilized more efficiently, and mortality rates can be reduced.
9.Impact of Resident Shortage on Trauma Care During the 2024 Medical Conflict: A Single Regional Emergency Medical Center Experience and Recommendations
Jun Hyung KIM ; Sungho LEE ; Kwanhoon PARK ; Kang Yoon LEE ; Ji Young JANG
Journal of Acute Care Surgery 2025;15(1):13-19
Purpose:
In 2024, the South Korean government proposed an essential medical care package, including the expansion of medical college admissions, which faced strong opposition from the medical community. Consequently, residents resigned, increasing the workload of the remaining staff and putting public health at risk. This study analyzed changes in the hospitalization patterns of trauma patients during this political conflict period using single-center data from the National Health Insurance Service Ilsan Hospital.
Methods:
Data from the entire year 2023 and from March to August 2024 were used for analysis, excluding January and February 2024 when the conflict escalated. The selection criteria included patients with trauma who visited the emergency room, and comparisons were made between the periods before and during the medical conflict.
Results:
In 2023, the total number of patients with trauma were 1,182 (an average of 98.5 per month). From March to August 2024, the number dropped to 204 (34.2 per month), reflecting a significant reduction in the monthly average number of patients with trauma. Despite the overall decline, the number of severe trauma cases remained relatively stable, indicating a shift toward more critical patient care. Emergency department length of stay decreased significantly from 295 min in 2023 to 187 min in 2024.
Conclusion
The ongoing strain on emergency and support department risks leads to an irreversible collapse if critical points are reached. To address this, localized trauma centers are needed to relieve the burden on larger medical institutions and improve the efficiency of trauma care systems during crises.
10.Fournier Gangrene with Preperitoneal Extension: A Rare Case Report
Jihyun SEO ; Moon Suk CHOI ; Jae Cheol JUNG ; Sun Keun CHOI
Journal of Acute Care Surgery 2025;15(1):34-36
Fournier gangrene (FG) is a rare life-threatening infection j that can occasionally extend beyond the perineum into the retroperitoneal space. Preperitoneal involvement in female patients is extremely rare. We report a unique case of a 59-year-old female with FG, characterized by atypical preperitoneal extension. Despite initial treatment failure, the patient recovered following emergency debridement, and targeted antibiotic therapy. This case underscores the importance of early diagnosis, timely surgical intervention, and multidisciplinary care in managing atypical FG presentations in female patients. It emphasizes the need for prompt and aggressive management to improve survival in these rare instances.

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