Lung ultrasound (LUS) is an emerging tool for intensivists to diagnose and monitor thoracic diseases of critically ill patients. It is easily applied at the bedside in real time and is free of radiation hazards. In the intensive care units (ICUs) lung ultrasound can be used to diagnose pneumothorax and interstitial syndrome. It can also be used to monitor changes in the lung. However, the major limitations of LUS is that it is highly operator dependent and cannot be applied in patients with thoracic dressings, subcutaenous emphysema or pleural calcifications. This article reviews the basic principles of lung ultrasound and discusses how it can be used in ICUs.
Bandages ; Critical Illness* ; Emphysema ; Humans ; Intensive Care Units ; Lung* ; Pneumothorax ; Thoracic Diseases ; Ultrasonography*

Scrub typhus is a mite-borne infectious disease caused by Orientia tsutsugamushi . Although early diagnosis and appropriate antibiotic therapy improve the prognosis for the majority of patients, life-threatening complications are not uncommon. Here, we present a case of successful veno-veno-type extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for scrub typhus-induced complications, including acute respiratory distress syndrome, myocarditis and multi-organ dysfunction. To our knowledge, this is the first case report of successful extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in complicated scrub typhus in Korea.
Communicable Diseases ; Early Diagnosis ; Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation* ; Humans ; Korea ; Myocarditis ; Orientia tsutsugamushi ; Prognosis ; Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Adult ; Scrub Typhus*

Diffuse alveolar hemorrhage (DAH) is associated with severe outcomes. We report a case of acute respiratory failure that required mechanical ventilation and was clinically and pathologically diagnosed as DAH related to exposure to organic dust. A 39-year-old man, who had visited a warehouse to grade beans for purchase, was referred to our hospital for impending respiratory failure. His initial radiographic examinations revealed diffuse bilateral ground-glass opacities in his lungs and bronchoalveolar lavage resulted in progressively bloodier returns, which is characteristic of DAH. He underwent bedside open lung biopsy of his right lower lobe in the intensive care unit. Biopsy results revealed DAH and organization with accumulation of hemosiderin-laden macrophages and a few fibroblastic foci. The patient was treated with empirical antibiotics and high-dose corticosteroids and successfully weaned from mechanical ventilation. DAH might be considered in the differential diagnosis of patients with acute respiratory failure after exposure to organic particles.
Adrenal Cortex Hormones ; Adult ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Biopsy ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Dust* ; Fibroblasts ; Hemoptysis ; Hemorrhage* ; Humans ; Intensive Care Units ; Lung ; Macrophages ; Respiration, Artificial ; Respiratory Insufficiency*

　　When we use haloperidol (HP) parenterally to treat delirium in cancer patients, sometimes akathisia appears. So, we are pressed to give treat this symptom. The aim of this study was to investigate the occurrence rate of akathisia after HP injection and the effectiveness of biperiden injection in the treatment of akathisia. 　　We retrospectively worked out the rate of the use of Hp injection, the rate of the occurrence of akathisia by using Hp and the effectiveness of biperiden injection in the treatment for delirium in 67 patients out of 100 patients who died in the palliative care unit (PCU) and 10 patients with delirium out of 23 patients who were under care of our palliative care team (PCT) in the sections other than the PCU from August to December of 2012. In the PCU, Hp injections were used in 52 patients (78%) out of 67 with delirium, and akathisia was suspected in 23 patients. Biperiden was injected into all of them and it was effective in 21 patients (91%). Our palliative care team gave Hp injections to seven patients (70%) out of 10 with delirium, and akathisia was suspected in one patient. At that time Hp injection was suspended but biperiden was not used. To sum up, Hp was administered to a total of 59 patients (76%) out of 77 with delirium, and akathisia was suspected in 24 patients (40%). Biperiden was used in 23 patients, all of whom were PCU patients, and effective in 21 (91%). 　　When Hp was used to treat cancer patients with delirium, the onset of akathisia was suspected in 40% of them, but biperiden was considerably beneficial in patients with delirium.

PURPOSE: Addressing a patient's chief complaint is the first and key element of treating patients. This study determined the effectiveness of emergency medical technician and residents of an emergency department in addressing a patient's chief complaints. If emergency and hospital personnel misunderstand the chief symptoms of patients it could result in erroneous transport and treatment, thus losing precious time in finding the proper treatment. METHODS: A retrospective chart review study was performed in 1137 patients (at least 18 years of age), who visited one university hospital, for a period of 3 months. Patients who were did not undergo trauma, addiction, and cardiac arrest were included. RESULTS: A total of 150 cases (13.2%) did not match the chief symptoms reported by 119 emergency medical personnel and emergency medicine residents. Systemic symptoms, nervous system symptoms, and psychiatric symptoms were the main categories inconsistently assessed. The rank and certification of emergency medical technicians did not make a difference, but older patients (59 years of age or older) were statistically different. The assessment fo chief symptoms by an emergency medical resident tended to be more accurate than assessment of emergency medical technicians in the final diagnosis. CONCLUSION: Systemic symptoms, nervous symptoms, and psychiatric symptoms, were chief complaines easily misreported for older patients. This likely reflects a difficulty in the evaluation of obscure symptoms in older patients. It will require specific additional training programs to improve the response to these chief complaints.
Certification ; Emergencies ; Emergency Medical Technicians ; Emergency Medicine ; Heart Arrest ; Humans ; Nervous System ; Personnel, Hospital ; Retrospective Studies

Lung ultrasound has proven to be useful in detecting pneumothorax, interstitial syndrome, and lung consolidation. It is easily applied at the bedside, in real-time, and free of radiation hazards. Recently, the use of lung ultrasound has moved from a diagnostic tool to a monitoring tool for lung aeration quantification. This article reviewed the use of lung ultrasound in monitoring acute pulmonary edema, acute respiratory distress syndrome, and pneumonia, and how it could be used to monitor changes during the application of mechanical ventilation or other treatments for respiratory failure.

Lung ultrasound has proven to be useful in detecting pneumothorax, interstitial syndrome, and lung consolidation. It is easily applied at the bedside, in real-time, and free of radiation hazards. Recently, the use of lung ultrasound has moved from a diagnostic tool to a monitoring tool for lung aeration quantification. This article reviewed the use of lung ultrasound in monitoring acute pulmonary edema, acute respiratory distress syndrome, and pneumonia, and how it could be used to monitor changes during the application of mechanical ventilation or other treatments for respiratory failure.

Black spot of sweet persimmon, caused by Alternaria alternata, occurred in an orchard in Gyeongnam province, Korea in 2012. The symptom was appearance of 0.5 to 4 cm black spots on the surface of fruit. The pathogen was isolated from flesh of disease lesions. The causal agent was identified as A. alternata by morphological characteristics and sequencers of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) 1 and ITS4 regions of rRNA. Artificial inoculation of the pathogen resulted in development of disease symptoms and the re-isolated pathogen showed characteristics of A. alternata.
Alternaria* ; Diospyros* ; Fruit* ; Korea

Lung ultrasound (LUS) is an emerging tool for intensivists to diagnose and monitor thoracic diseases of critically ill patients. It is easily applied at the bedside in real time and is free of radiation hazards. In the intensive care units (ICUs) lung ultrasound can be used to diagnose pneumothorax and interstitial syndrome. It can also be used to monitor changes in the lung. However, the major limitations of LUS is that it is highly operator dependent and cannot be applied in patients with thoracic dressings, subcutaenous emphysema or pleural calcifications. This article reviews the basic principles of lung ultrasound and discusses how it can be used in ICUs.
Bandages ; Critical Illness ; Emphysema ; Humans ; Intensive Care Units ; Lung ; Pneumothorax ; Thoracic Diseases ; Ultrasonography

OBJECTIVES: In establishing policies for agricultural safety, evaluating injury burdens as well as investigating the rates and characteristics of work injury is important. This study investigated the types and characteristics of agricultural injury subjective burdens. METHODS: By analyzing the injured farmers identified in the 2013 Korean Farmers' Occupational Injury Survey, the burdens caused by injuries were categorized using one direct cost item (medical costs) and five indirect cost items (including productivity decreases and wage increases). Statistical differences among the burden items were analyzed using logistic regression analysis according to the characteristics of the farmers and their farm injuries. RESULTS: Among the subjective burdens indicated by the 457 injured farmers, disruption to work was most common. The major influences on each subjective burden item are as follows: for the item of disruption to work, age, time of injury occurrence, treatment period, and farming machine use were influential; for an increased family member's burden of farm works, the number of family members and treatment period were influential. Regarding cost burden of treatment, the results varied according to whether or not the patient was hospitalized and annual income. CONCLUSION: Subjective burdens induced by indirect costs rather than those induced by direct costs were found to be higher in ratio. In regard to each burden item, the results varied according to the characteristics of the farmers and their farm injuries. To support injured farmer, setting goals to reduce indirect cost burdens and preparing concrete methods is necessary.
Efficiency ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Occupational Injuries ; Salaries and Fringe Benefits