Objective: : Owing to advances in critical care treatment, the overall survival rate of preterm infants born at a gestational age (GA) <32 weeks has consistently improved. However, the incidence of severe intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) has persisted, and there are few reports on in-hospital morbidity and mortality. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate trends surrounding in-hospital morbidity and mortality of preterm infants with severe IVH over a 14-year period. Methods: : This single-center retrospective study included 620 infants born at a GA <32 weeks, admitted between January 2007 and December 2020. After applying exclusion criteria, 596 patients were included in this study. Infants were grouped based on the most severe IVH grade documented on brain ultrasonography during their admission, with grades 3 and 4 defined as severe. We compared in-hospital mortality and clinical outcomes of preterm infants with severe IVH for two time periods : 2007–2013 (phase I) and 2014–2020 (phase II). Baseline characteristics of infants who died and survived during hospitalization were analyzed. Results: : A total of 54 infants (9.0%) were diagnosed with severe IVH over a 14-year period; overall in-hospital mortality rate was 29.6%. Late in-hospital mortality rate (>7 days after birth) for infants with severe IVH significantly improved over time, decreasing from 39.1% in phase I to 14.3% in phase II (p=0.043). A history of hypotension treated with vasoactive medication within 1 week after birth (adjusted odds ratio, 7.39; p=0.025) was found to be an independent risk factor for mortality. When comparing major morbidities of surviving infants, those in phase II were significantly more likely to have undergone surgery for necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) (29.2% vs. 0.0%; p=0.027). Additionally, rates of late-onset sepsis (45.8% vs. 14.3%; p=0.049) and central nervous system infection (25.0% vs. 0.0%; p=0.049) were significantly higher in phase II survivors than in phase I survivors. Conclusion : In-hospital mortality in preterm infants with severe IVH decreased over the last decade, whereas major neonatal morbidities increased, particularly surgical NEC and sepsis. This study suggests the importance of multidisciplinary specialized medical and surgical neonatal intensive care in preterm infants with severe IVH.

Purpose: The aim of this study is to evaluate the survival rate and prognostic factors of anaplastic gliomas according to the 2016 World Health Organization classification, including extent of resection (EOR) as measured by contrast-enhanced T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and the T2-weighted MRI. Materials and Methods: The records of 113 patients with anaplastic glioma who were newly diagnosed at our institute between 2000 and 2013 were retrospectively reviewed. There were 62 cases (54.9%) of anaplastic astrocytoma, isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) wild-type (AAw), 18 cases (16.0%) of anaplastic astrocytoma, IDH-mutant, and 33 cases (29.2%) of anaplastic oligodendroglioma, IDH-mutant and 1p/19q-codeleted. Results: The median overall survival (OS) was 48.4 months in the whole anaplastic glioma group and 21.5 months in AAw group. In multivariate analysis, age, preoperative Karnofsky Performance Scale score, O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) methylation status, postoperative tumor volume, and EOR measured from the T2 MRI sequence were significant prognostic factors. The EOR cut-off point for OS measured in contrast-enhanced T1-weighted MRI and T2-weighted MRI were 99.96% and 85.64%, respectively. Conclusions We found that complete resection of the contrast-enhanced portion (99.96%) and more than 85.64% resection of the non-enhanced portion of the tumor have prognostic impacts on patient survival from anaplastic glioma.

BACKGROUND: There has been no practical guidelines for the management of patients with central nervous system (CNS) tumors in Korea for many years. Thus, the Korean Society for Neuro-Oncology (KSNO), a multidisciplinary academic society, started to prepare guidelines for CNS tumors from February 2018. METHODS: The Working Group was composed of 35 multidisciplinary medical experts in Korea. References were identified through searches of PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane CENTRAL using specific and sensitive keywords as well as combinations of keywords. RESULTS: First, the maximal safe resection if feasible is recommended. After the diagnosis of a glioblastoma with neurosurgical intervention, patients aged ≤70 years with good performance should be treated by concurrent chemoradiotherapy with temozolomide followed by adjuvant temozolomide chemotherapy (Stupp's protocol) or standard brain radiotherapy alone. However, those with poor performance should be treated by hypofractionated brain radiotherapy (preferred)±concurrent or adjuvant temozolomide, temozolomide alone (Level III), or supportive treatment. Alternatively, patients aged >70 years with good performance should be treated by hypofractionated brain radiotherapy+concurrent and adjuvant temozolomide or Stupp's protocol or hypofractionated brain radiotherapy alone, while those with poor performance should be treated by hypofractionated brain radiotherapy alone or temozolomide chemotherapy if the patient has methylated MGMT gene promoter (Level III), or supportive treatment. CONCLUSION: The KSNO's guideline recommends that glioblastomas should be treated by maximal safe resection, if feasible, followed by radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy according to the individual comprehensive condition of the patient.
Brain ; Central Nervous System ; Chemoradiotherapy ; Diagnosis ; Drug Therapy ; Glioblastoma ; Humans ; Korea ; Radiotherapy

BACKGROUND: There was no practical guideline for the management of patients with central nervous system tumor in Korea for many years. Thus, the Korean Society for Neuro-Oncology (KSNO), a multidisciplinary academic society, has developed the guideline for glioblastoma. Subsequently, the KSNO guideline for World Health Organization (WHO) grade II cerebral glioma in adults is established. METHODS: The Working Group was composed of 35 multidisciplinary medical experts in Korea. References were identified by searching PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane CENTRAL databases using specific and sensitive keywords as well as combinations of keywords regarding diffuse astrocytoma and oligodendroglioma of brain in adults. RESULTS: Whenever radiological feature suggests lower grade glioma, the maximal safe resection if feasible is recommended globally. After molecular and histological examinations, patients with diffuse astrocytoma, isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH)-wildtype without molecular feature of glioblastoma should be primarily treated by standard brain radiotherapy and adjuvant temozolomide chemotherapy (Level III) while those with molecular feature of glioblastoma should be treated following the protocol for glioblastomas. In terms of patients with diffuse astrocytoma, IDH-mutant and oligodendroglioma (IDH-mutant and 1p19q codeletion), standard brain radiotherapy and adjuvant PCV (procarbazine+lomustine+vincristine) combination chemotherapy should be considered primarily for the high-risk group while observation with regular follow up should be considered for the low-risk group. CONCLUSION: The KSNO's guideline recommends that WHO grade II gliomas should be treated by maximal safe resection, if feasible, followed by radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy according to molecular and histological features of tumors and clinical characteristics of patients.
Adult ; Astrocytoma ; Brain ; Central Nervous System ; Drug Therapy ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Follow-Up Studies ; Glioblastoma ; Glioma ; Humans ; Isocitrate Dehydrogenase ; Korea ; Oligodendroglioma ; Radiotherapy ; World Health Organization

BACKGROUND: There was no practical guideline for the management of patients with central nervous system tumor in Korea in the past. Thus, the Korean Society for Neuro-Oncology (KSNO), a multidisciplinary academic society, developed the guideline for glioblastoma successfully and published it in Brain Tumor Research and Treatment, the official journal of KSNO, in April 2019. Recently, the KSNO guideline for World Health Organization (WHO) grade III cerebral glioma in adults has been established. METHODS: The Working Group was composed of 35 multidisciplinary medical experts in Korea. References were identified by searches in PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane CENTRAL databases using specific and sensitive keywords as well as combinations of keywords. Scope of the disease was confined to cerebral anaplastic astrocytoma and oligodendroglioma in adults. RESULTS: Whenever radiological feature suggests high grade glioma, maximal safe resection if feasible is globally recommended. After molecular and histological examinations, patients with anaplastic astrocytoma, isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH)-mutant should be primary treated by standard brain radiotherapy and adjuvant temozolomide chemotherapy whereas those with anaplastic astrocytoma, NOS, and anaplastic astrocytoma, IDH-wildtype should be treated following the protocol for glioblastomas. In terms of anaplastic oligodendroglioma, IDH-mutant and 1p19q-codeletion, and anaplastic oligodendroglioma, NOS should be primary treated by standard brain radiotherapy and neoadjuvant or adjuvant PCV (procarbazine, lomustine, and vincristine) combination chemotherapy. CONCLUSION: The KSNO's guideline recommends that WHO grade III cerebral glioma of adults should be treated by maximal safe resection if feasible, followed by radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy according to molecular and histological features of tumors.
Adult ; Astrocytoma ; Brain ; Brain Neoplasms ; Central Nervous System ; Drug Therapy ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Glioblastoma ; Glioma ; Humans ; Isocitrate Dehydrogenase ; Korea ; Lomustine ; Oligodendroglioma ; Radiotherapy ; World Health Organization

PURPOSE: We aimed to evaluate whether the modified Alvarado score-which is currently being used to diagnose acute appendicitis-can be applicable in the diagnosis of diseases in pregnant women. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the medical records of 252 pregnant women who visited our emergency department (ED) with a chief complaint of abdominal pain and a suspicion of acute appendicitis, and ultimately underwent appendix ultrasonography or appendix magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The modified Alvarado score was calculated for each pregnant woman. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was drawn for each subject, those in the first trimester, second trimester, and third trimester, from which the best cut-off value, sensitivity and specificity were induced. RESULTS: For all 252 pregnant women who visited our ED, the area under the curve was 0.742 (p<0.001), with sensitivity and specificity of 75.41% and 62.30%, respectively, when using the value of 5 as the cut-off point for the modified Alvarado score. The area under the curve was 0.811 (p<0.001) for those in their first trimester and 0.749 (p<0.001) for those in the second trimester, while it was 0.641, with the p-value of 0.109, for those in the third trimester. CONCLUSION: There is a limitation using the modified Alvarado score alone in pregnant woman, and if there is uncertainty in the diagnosis, other imaging studies, such as appendix ultrasonography or appendix MRI, should be considered.
Abdominal Pain ; Appendicitis* ; Appendix ; Diagnosis ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Female ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Medical Records ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Trimester, First ; Pregnancy Trimester, Second ; Pregnancy Trimester, Third ; Pregnant Women* ; Retrospective Studies ; ROC Curve ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Ultrasonography ; Uncertainty

PURPOSE: The number of geriatric patients transferred from long-term care hospitals to emergency department (ED) is increasing because the number of long-term care hospitals has increased significantly in recent years. Only a few studies showing the characteristics of geriatric patients transferred from long-term care hospitals to ED have been reported. We assessed factors affecting length of hospital stay in geriatric non-trauma patients transferred from long-term care hospital to ED. METHODS: This study was a retrospective review of the medical records of 143 patients who were transferred from long-term care hospital to ED. Admitted patients were classified according to two groups (general ward group and intensive care unit group). Univariate analyses were performed relating initial vital signs and laboratory methods for prediction of the length of hospital stay. Cox proportional hazard analysis was then derived, with all variables in the final model significant at p<0.05. RESULTS: A total of 189 patients were enrolled in the study. Results of univariate analysis for Glasgow Coma Scale, heart rate, oxygen saturation, white blood cell count, segmented granulocyte percent, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and C-reactive protein were significant. In multivariate analysis results for oxygen saturation (p=0.014, hazard ratio=1.065) and segmented granulocyte percent (p=0.025, hazard ratio=0.975) were significant. CONCLUSION: Higher oxygen saturation and lower segmented granulocyte percent are independent factors leading to earlier discharge from the hospital in geriatric non-trauma patients transferred from long-term care hospitals.
Blood Sedimentation ; C-Reactive Protein ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Glasgow Coma Scale ; Granulocytes ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Intensive Care Units ; Length of Stay* ; Leukocyte Count ; Long-Term Care* ; Medical Records ; Multivariate Analysis ; Oxygen ; Retrospective Studies ; Vital Signs

PURPOSE: The aim of the study was to determine the factors associated with complicated acute cholecystitis of initial clinical findings during an emergency department (ED) visit, and to use them as a guideline for consideration of early and active surgical intervention, to improve the prognosis of acute cholecystitis. METHODS: Medical records of adult patients diagnosed and treated in the ED as acute cholecystitis were reviewed retrospectively. Clinical findings including demographic data, past medical history, symptoms, physical exam, and laboratory test results were included in the analysis. A case associated with gall bladder empyema, gangrene, perforation, hydrops, or failure of initial laparoscopic approach was defined as complicated acute cholecystitis. Factors showing significance in univariate analyses were included in binary logistic regression analysis for prediction of complicated acute cholecystitis. RESULTS: Age, sex, hypertension history, anorexia, body temperature, white blood cell count (WBC), aspartate aminotransferase, creatinine, total bilirubin, amylase, and lipase were significant in univariate analyses, and included in multivariate analysis. Age (p=0.039), male sex (p=0.004), and WBC (p=0.019) were significant in multivariate analysis. CONCLUSION: Age, sex, and initial WBC of patients diagnosed and treated in the ED as acute cholecystitis were independently associated with complicated acute cholecystitis.
Adult ; Amylases ; Anorexia ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; Bilirubin ; Body Temperature ; Cholecystitis ; Cholecystitis, Acute* ; Creatinine ; Edema ; Emergencies* ; Emergency Service, Hospital* ; Gangrene ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Leukocyte Count ; Lipase ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Medical Records ; Multivariate Analysis ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies

PURPOSE: Upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB) is one of the most common causes of emergency department (ED) presentation which can lead to a fatal condition. Many clinical scoring systems intended to predict the prognosis of UGIB patients were developed and validated, including Glasgow-Blatchford score (GBS) and Rockall score (RS). In particular, GBS has shown its superiority in prediction of mortality, the necessity of endoscopic intervention and admission, compared with other scoring systems, in recent studies. However, GBS does not include the age of the patient as its component and has clearly shown its efficacy only in subjects under age 70. Hence, we aimed to assess whether GBS could also be used in old age UGIB patients as a useful risk stratifying method as in younger age. METHODS: UGIB patients who visited our ED for one year were retrospectively enrolled in the analysis. Medical records of the subjects were reviewed, and their GBS and clinical RS were calculated. Receiver-operating characteristics (ROC) curve of each score in prediction of high risk UGIB was drawn and area under curve (AUC) was calculated. Correlation analysis of each score and hospital length of stay was also performed. To assess the validity of each score for use in old age patients, all analyses were also performed in subgroups of age over 60 years, and under that. RESULTS: ROC curves suggest that GBS has significant detecting power for high risk UGIB in overall subjects, subgroups of age over 60 and under (p=<0.001 for all, AUC=0.919, 0.935, 0.901, respectively). Otherwise, clinical RS only showed significant results in overall group and subgroup of age over 60 with lower AUC. CONCLUSION: GBS may also be used safely as an initial risk stratifying method in old age UGIB patients visiting the ED, as in other age groups.
Area Under Curve ; Emergency Service, Hospital* ; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage ; Geriatric Assessment ; Hemorrhage* ; Humans ; Length of Stay ; Medical Records ; Mortality ; Patient Acuity ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; ROC Curve

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to search for factors which can help in deciding on proper treatment for patients who visit the Emergency department (ED) with symptoms of foreign body ingestion. METHODS: This study was a retrospective review of medical records of ED patients with primary symptoms of foreign body ingestion. The patients' demographic data, elapsed time since the ingestion, type of foreign body, symptoms, and the method of removal were analyzed. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used for analysis of whether these factors can be used to decide on proper treatment. RESULTS: Among 321 patients, a foreign body was removed successfully in 285 patients and the foreign body was not found in the remaining 36 patients. Of the successfully treated cases, 76 were removed grossly, 133 were removed using a laryngoscope, 74 were removed with endoscopy, and 2 were removed spontaneously. Comparing the group in which a foreign body was found and the other group, there was a significant difference in elapsed time since the onset of symptoms (p=0.013) and the type of foreign body (p=0.001). There was no significant reliable factor which can predict the existence of a foreign body. CONCLUSION: There was no significant factor which can predict the existence of a foreign body. Considering that the foreign body was found in most suspected patients, and that numerous patients in which a foreign body was not found had shown signs of complications due to foreign body, constructive treatment should be advocated.
Adult* ; Eating* ; Emergencies* ; Emergency Service, Hospital* ; Endoscopes ; Endoscopy ; Foreign Bodies ; Gastrointestinal Tract* ; Humans ; Laryngoscopes ; Medical Records ; Retrospective Studies ; ROC Curve