BACKGROUND: Care for prehospital cardiac arrest is one of the major concerns of emergency medical services. But, in Korea, prehospital emergency medical service systems are not yet well established. We tried to offer one of the fundamental data for development of these systems. METHODS: After application of exclusion criteria, 183 patients who transferred to emergency center of our hospital after cardiac arrest in consecutive 24 months from Jan,1,1994 to Dec,31,1995 were included in this study. Retrospective review of the hospital charts of these patients was done. For statistical analysis, we divided patients to some categories. t-test or chi-square analysis was used. RESULTS: 24 patients of the 183 patients were secondary visitors(cardiac arrest was occurred during transfer from other hospitals), 159 patients were primary visitors. In the primary visitor group, only one third was ambulance visitors, and there is no statistical differences between arrest time of ambulance visitors and non-ambulance visitors(35+/-27 vs 37+/-24 min, p=NS). No organized bystander CPR was done. After arrival, 131 patients received CPR and 87 patients(66.4%) were not responded, 31 patients(23.1%) experienced transient ROSC, 13 patients(10.0%) survived until discharge, and only 2 patients(1.5%) were returned to their lives. CONCLUSION: We failed to find significant statistical survival differences between ambulance visitors and non-ambulance visitors, between presumed cardiac etiology group and non-cardiac etiology group. Survival rate was high in witnessed arrest group than unwitnessed arrest group(14.5% vs 2.1%, p=0.015).
Ambulances ; Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation ; Emergencies ; Emergency Medical Services ; Heart Arrest* ; Humans ; Korea ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate

In a modern medical delivery system, it is very difficult to provide adequate, timely, and equitable medical care for severely injured patients. Trauma is a leading cause of deaths under the age of 40 and a source of expensive socioeconomic losses in Korea. Korean government has been making a major effort to establish a trauma system since 2000, but inadequacies of the current trauma system still result in many preventable deaths from accidental injuries. The designation and support program for regional trauma centers is the first step in a national plan for trauma system development. At present, there are 9 regional trauma centers and 7 candidates for trauma centers. Regional trauma centers must play a key role in a regionally inclusive trauma system that integrates emergency medical services systems and healthcare delivery systems to deliver optimal medical care for injured patients.
Cause of Death ; Delivery of Health Care ; Emergency Medical Services ; Humans ; Korea ; Trauma Centers*

The branch retinal vein occlusion is the second most common retinal vascular disease after diabetic retinopathy. Complications such as macular edema, retinal neovascularization, vitreous hemorrhage, epiretinal membrane may be associated. But, the retinal detachment may occur rarely in BRVO patients. We studied the clinical features of retinal detachment associated with branch retinal vein occlusion. We reviewed the medical records of 15 retinal detachment patients associated with branch retinal vein occlusion. Mean age was 54.7 years old and 10 patients(66.7%) were female. Hypertension was associated in 13cases(86.7%). The duration between the development of BRVO and the development of retinal detachment was shorter than 4 years in all cases and shorter than 2 years in 9 cases(60.0%). Retinal break was identified in 14 cases(93.3%), among which 13 cases(92.2%) were located inside the lesion of branch vein occlusion. The epiretinal membrane was frequently combined 8 cases(53.3%). The preoperative laser photocoagulation was done in 4 cases(26.7%). The primary surgical procedures included scleral buckling in 8 cases(53.3%), pars plana vitrectomy in 6 cases(40.0%), and scleral buckling with pars plana vitrectomy in 1 case(6.7%). Three cases(20.0%) required reoperations. The postoperative complications included the progression of cataract in 6 cases(40.0%), iatrogenic retinal tear in 3 cases(20.0%), epiretinal membrane in 2 cases(13.3%), and proliferative vitreoretinopathy in 1 case(6.7%). The anatomic retinal reattachment was achieved in 14 cases(93.5%) and the visual recovery in 11 cases(73.3%).
Cataract ; Diabetic Retinopathy ; Epiretinal Membrane ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Light Coagulation ; Macular Edema ; Medical Records ; Postoperative Complications ; Retinal Detachment* ; Retinal Neovascularization ; Retinal Perforations ; Retinal Vein Occlusion* ; Retinal Vein* ; Retinaldehyde* ; Scleral Buckling ; Vascular Diseases ; Veins ; Vitrectomy ; Vitreoretinopathy, Proliferative ; Vitreous Hemorrhage

The reliability of emergency ultrasonographic(US) detection of hemoperitoneum and solid organ injury in blunt abdominal trauma was evaluated retrospectively. From October 1,1995 to August 31,1996,90 patients were included in the study. Ultra- sonographic findings showed a sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of 97.6%, 97.9%, and 98.1%, respectively, in detecting intraabdominal fluid collection. We believe that US in an emergency center is a quick, safe screening method in the evaluation of blunt abdominal trauma. In our department, US has replaced diagnostic peritonaeal lavage(DPL) and computed tomography(CT) as the screening study of first choice.
Emergencies* ; Hemoperitoneum* ; Humans ; Mass Screening ; Retrospective Studies ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Ultrasonography*

PURPOSE: Although the use of intravenous gamma-globulin(IVGG) in Kawasaki disease(KD) is effective in reducing clinical symptoms and coronary artery complications, 20-30% of patients have persistent or recrudescent fever and ongoing clinical symptoms. In these patients, the additional infusion of IVGG is considered. The authors studied the characteristics of patients who received IVGG retreatment, and compared them with the patients who did not need IVGG retreatment, for determination of IVGG retreatment. METHODS: We reviewed the medical records of 117 KD patients who could be followed up at least six months. We studied the conventional laboratory findings, electrocardiogram(EKG), signal averaged ECG(SAECG) and echocardiogram. RESULTS: Twenty three patients had early cardiac complications during the six months of follow-up. Four patients had late cardiac complications after six months. The early cardiac complication rate was higher in the IVGG retreatment group than the single infusion group(P<0.0001). The late complication rate was also higher in the retreatment group(P<0.0001). The patients who received methyl-prednisolone(m-PD) pulse therapy had much higher rates of early and late cardiac complications than those who received a single IVGG infusion. Among the clinical data and laboratory findings, only CRP increased significantly in patients who have had the cardiac complications. The IVGG retreatment group had increased CRP than the single infusion group. CONCLUSION: The patients with increased initial CRP may have an increased incidence of complications and an increased possibility of IVGG retreatment. We thought that retreated KD patients might have inflammations severe enough to need high dose IVGG as shown by high CRP levels, and IVGG retreatment could not prevent coronary artery lesions sufficiently.
Coronary Vessels ; Fever ; Follow-Up Studies ; gamma-Globulins* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Inflammation ; Medical Records ; Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome* ; Retreatment*

No abstract available.
Forearm* ; Humerus*

Tissue array contains hundreds or thousands tissues from different cases, and has been known useful for rapid analysis of markers in a large numbered work. This has mainly been used in investigative purpose, and few has been reported for diagnostic trial. Diagnosis of early myocardial infarction is important in medicolegal field. Immunohistochemical staining using various antibodies has become a popular tool for this purpose, but standardization and reproducibility have been problems. Use of tissue array is promising in this points. We have made two cardiac tissue arrays using 87 different cases and have verified the feasibility of tissue array in forensic field. Experiences and several issues concerning tissue array are discussed.
Antibodies ; Diagnosis* ; Heart ; Immunohistochemistry ; Myocardial Infarction*

PURPOSE: Bronchiolitis obliterans (BO) is a type of chronic obstructive lung disease. In children, the most common presentation is a post infectious origin. The aim of this study was to determine the clinical features, etiology, and radiologic findings of post infectious BO, which was diagnosed by high resolution computed tomography (HRCT). The results were then compared to those of the control group. METHODS: We diagnosed 52 children with BO by a review of all performed HRCT findings at Severance Children's Hospital between January 2007 and March 2011. A retrospective study was conducted to define the clinical features, etiology, symptoms, and radiologic findings of post infectious BO. Sixty-five children who were diagnosed with lower respiratory infection confirmed by HRCT were defined as the control group for comparison with post infectious BO patients. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients at the time of diagnosis with BO was 41.3+/-5.9 months, and that of the control group was 57.1+/-5.1 months. The initial insult age of BO patients was 14.6+/-2.8 months, and that of the control group was 50.9+/-5.0 months. The frequency of previous admissions due to lower respiratory infection was relatively higher in BO patients than the control group. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that the development of post infectious BO should be early suspected and HRCT should be performed in children with a recurrent admission history of lower respiratory infection, especially in those younger than 2 years of age. Furthermore, continued management of prevent additional infection should be conducted.
Bronchiolitis ; Bronchiolitis Obliterans ; Child ; Humans ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive ; Retrospective Studies

PURPOSE: Plasma cholinesterase is a sensitive measure determining the severity of organophosphate intoxication. The author evaluated the usefulness of the plasma cholinesterase level as a prognostic indicator of the severity of organophosphate intoxication. METHODS: From June 1999 to May 2001, 55 patients presented with organophosphate insecticide intoxication to the Emergency Medical Center of the Chonnam National University Hospital, and these were enrolled in this study. The plasma cholinesterase activities of these 55 patients were determined at the time of presentation. The relationships between the plasma cholinesterase level and the clinical variables of organophosphate toxicity, quantity of ingested poison, elapsed time to gastric lavage, and the APACHE score at the time of hospitalization were analyzed. RESULTS: The plasma cholinesterase activity significantly decreased in association with the degree of toxicity of the poison (p<0.001), elapsed time to gastric lavage (p<0.001), and the quantity of organophosphate ingested (p=0.013). In the 55 patients, lower plasma values of cholinesterase were observed in patients with longer durations of mechanical ventilation (r=-0.717, p<0.001) and in patients who developed pneumonia during treatment (r=-0.538, p<0.001). Also, decreased cholinesterase activity correlated with a higher APACHE score (r=-0.672, p<0.001). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that immediate determination of the plasma cholinesterase level at the time of hospitalization may be useful as a prognostic indicator in patients with organophosphate intoxication.
APACHE ; Cholinesterases* ; Eating* ; Emergencies ; Gastric Lavage ; Hospitalization* ; Humans ; Jeollanam-do ; Plasma* ; Pneumonia ; Respiration, Artificial

A 42-year-old woman who has had the past history of heart failure due to the congestive cardiomyopathy, was scheduled to he taken abdominal hysterectomy. Preoperative electrocardiography showed complete Left Bundle Branch Block(LBBB) without any subjective symptom. The anesthetic managements, pre- and post-operative, as well as intra-operative, were satisfactory.
Adult ; Bundle-Branch Block* ; Cardiomyopathy, Dilated ; Electrocardiography ; Female ; Heart Failure ; Humans ; Hysterectomy