No abstract available.
Humans

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to investigate the characteristics of and to analyze the factors re-lated to the cost of the resolution of a medical dispute. METHODS: We have reviewed 2,346 cases reported to the Korean Medical Association(KMA)mutual-aid association from Nov. 1. 1981 to Oct. 31. 1994. RESULTS: The percentage rate of reported cases of were related field as follows .' obstetric gynecology(OBGYN) 31.9%, general practitice 28.1%, general surgery 13.3%, orthopedics 6.9% and internal medicine 6.4% 1,829 cases (80.0%) were settled out of court and without public intervention. 310 cases(13.2%) were settled by the police, the public procurators office or the court. The mean settlement amount per case was 9,340,000 won with annual growth rate 10.8%, and median settlement amount was 5,890,000 won. The mean settlement amount for OBGYN was 930,000 won, surgical group 8,900,000 won, medical group 7,710,000 won, and general practitice 7,490,000 won. The cases of medical dispute according to the types of medical care were : operation 21.1%, injection 18.0%, treat-ment and care 18.0%, delivery 13.0%, artificial abortion 10.3%, Cesarian section 7.2% and anesthesia 2.5%. The mean settlement amount according to the types of medical care were: delivery and Cesarian section 15,190,000 won, operation and anesthesia 9,500,000 won, others 6,610,000 won, and injection and medication 6,230,000 won. The mean settlement amount that was settled out of court without public intervention was 7,940,000 won. The mean settlement with public intervention in the court was 17,290,000 won. The cases of medical dispute according to the patients status were .' death 37.5%, complications 20.8%, disability 12.2% and others 28.9%. The mean settlement amout for death was 16,150,000 won, disability 9,430,000 won, others 4,850,000 won and complications 3,550,000 won. The mean settlement amount where doctors have asserted that the outcome was inevitable or have not agreed that it was their fault was higher than the cost of cases where they had admitted responsibility. The settlement amout where there was a misdiagnosis present had not shown to be higher than when the misdiagnosis was absent. The mean settlement amount for cases where multiple doctors were involved was higher than for cases of a single doctor. The mean settlement amount for disturbing the medical practice and suspension of are high. The mean settlement amount for complications was lower than others, and the mean settlement amount for disability and death presented were high. Concerning the types of care, the mean settlement amount for operation/anesthesia, delivery/ Cesarian sections were higher than for injection/medication. Concerning the type of settlement, the mean settlement amount in the police and public procurators office was higher than in out of court without public intervention. CONCLUSIONS: The mean settlement amount depended on the patient's status, the type of settlement, and the disturbance of medical practice regardless of the doctors misdiagnosis, fault, and standard care. Therefore, a reason-able method of resolution for medical dispute is needed.
Anesthesia ; Diagnostic Errors ; Dissent and Disputes ; Humans ; Internal Medicine ; Malpractice* ; Orthopedics ; Police

Eighteen patients with primary hyperparathyroidism were treated by one of the authors (SKO) from 1981 through 1988 at the Department of Surgery, Seoul National University Hospital and the data were analyzed retrospectively. Eighteen patients comprised 6 males and 12 females, with the male to female ratio of 1 to 2. The age distribution was between 18 and 64 years. The chief complaints were associated with skeletal symptoms in 9 urinary symptoms in 5, and neurologic manifestation in 1 patient. There were 3 patients with asymptomatic hypercalcemia. All patients showed hypercalcemia and hypophosphatemia was found in 11 patients. Serum PTH level was elevated in 13 cases. performing preoperative localization with computed tomorgam, ultrasonogram and thallium-technetium subtraction scan, positive localization was made in 62.5% (10/16), 53.8% (7/13) and 85.7% (12/14), respectively. one patient, angiography and selective venous sampling were peformed and positive localization was made. All patients were treated by surgery. There were 17 patients with solitary adenoma and one with double tumors. Pathologic findings revealed adenoma of the parathyroid in all patients except one which was proved later to be carcinoma. There were no recurrent cases except one with carcinoma. There were no postoperative complications. primary hyperparathyroidism is a very rare disease in Korea. Causes of primary hyperparathyroidism in our study was confined to tumors of the parathyroid, such as adenoma and carcinoma.There was no hyperplasia causing primary hyperparathyroidism. Thallium-technetium subtraction scan was proved to be the best method for localization of the parathyroid tumors Excision of the tumor with involved parathyroid followed by frozen-section biopsy of the univolved parathyroid was the best way to treat primary hyperparathyroidism in our study.
Adenoma ; Age Distribution ; Angiography ; Biopsy ; Female ; Humans ; Hypercalcemia ; Hyperparathyroidism ; Hyperparathyroidism, Primary* ; Hyperplasia ; Hypophosphatemia ; Korea ; Male ; Methods ; Neurologic Manifestations ; Postoperative Complications ; Rare Diseases ; Retrospective Studies ; Seoul ; Ultrasonography

BACKGROUND: Decision about life sustaining treatments ought to be based on the patient's informed preferences. This study was to see if there were any differences in acceptance by patients, their primary care givers and doctors for end-of-life care according to situations, and if any, to analyse the factors related with different attitudes. METHODS: A structured questionnaire survey of end-of-life care preferences was performed on 162 cancer patients and their primary care givers in four university hospitals and one general hospital from March 1, 1999 to February 29, 2000. A similar survey was done for doctors practicing at the above hospitals during the same period to investigate their attitudes toward providing end-of-life care to an assumed nearly bed-ridden patients. ANOVA, t-test and Wilcoxon rank sum test were used to compare acceptance of intervention among the groups or according to the various situations. Factors presumed to be related to the acceptance were sought and analysed by stepwise multiple regression. RESULTS: The difference in acceptance of intervention between the primary care giver group and the doctor group was not significant in almost every situation, showing significantly higher than the patient group (P<0.001). All three groups showed higher acceptance when a therapeutic intervention rather than a diagnostic test was proposed (P<0.001), when expected survival was 30 days rather than 7 (P<0.01), and when the therapeutic intervention was thought as non-invasive rather than invasive (P<0.001). The less anxious the patient was, the higher the acceptance from the patient. Patients with a religion had higher acceptance rate than non-religious patients. Primary care givers who expected cure of the disease accepted more of the postulated care than those who did not (P<0.05). Wives or mother-in-laws of patients showed lower acceptance than those in other relationship (P<0.05). The longer the patient had been diagnosed with cancer, the higher the acceptance of the primary care giver (P<0.1). Direct relatives showed higher acceptance than that of collaterals (P<0.1). Family doctors specializing in family medicine had lower acceptance than doctors of other specialties and interns (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: The acceptance of intervention by patients was lower than that of primary care givers and doctors and depended on the expected survival and the type of intervention.
Attitude to Death ; Diagnostic Tests, Routine ; Hospitals, General ; Hospitals, University ; Humans ; Palliative Care ; Primary Health Care* ; Spouses ; Surveys and Questionnaires

BACKGROUND: Recent advances have been made in the treatment of acute stroke, but the effectiveness of the new therapies is highly time dependent. Patients with acute stroke often arrive at the hospital too late to receive the maximum benefit from these new stroke therapies. Efforts to reduce delay time of therapy for acute stroke may be more effective if the factors that delay hospital arrival are identified and targeted for specific intervention. So we studied about reason of delay of hospital presentation in patients with acute stroke. METHODS: The 85 acute stroke patients group who admitted to the Young-dong severance hospital from April to August 1999 were enrolled in this study. We collected clinical data from the medical record, including demographic characteristics, date and time of symptom onset, date and time of presentation to the hospital, medical history, and symptoms at stroke onset. And informants about stroke, method of transportation, the patient's interpretation of the symptoms were interviewed. We defined early arrival as within 3 hours of awareness of symptoms. RESULTS: The 85 patient were interviewed, early arrival were more likely to arrive by ambulance(P<0.001), admit via emergency department(P=0.001), interpret their symptoms as a stroke(P=0.005) and use readings as a informants about stroke(P=0.027) than late arrivals. Also they were younger than late arrivals(P=0.027). Main reason of delay of hospital presentation was because they expect spontaneous improvement(43%), mistake as other disease(23.3%), arrive via other medical institute(20%). CONCLUSION: Late arrivals expected spontaneous improvement, misinterpreted their symptoms as those of other disease and didn't choose proper medical institute for acute management. Considerable education is needed to increase the knowledge about stroke and proper acute management.
Education ; Emergencies ; Humans ; Medical Records ; Reading ; Stroke* ; Transportation

This study was primarily undertaken to assess the value of continuous spinal anesthesia for total hip replacements (Charnley's low friction arthroplasty), which had been done under the Filtered Air Flow System for the prevention of wound contamination due to long term exposure. The results were as follows: 1. Preoperative diagnosis was in 4 cases hip joint tuberculosis,in 2 cases avascular necreosis, in 2 cases femur fracture, and in 2 cases osteoarthritis of the hip joint. 2. Average blood loss was 2, 800 ml for a one side operation and 5, 000 ml for a bilateral one. Overall average blood loss with continuous spinal anesthesia was 2, 600 ml and with general anesthesia was 1, 725 ml, and with amount of difference being 1. 175 ml more in the spinal anesthesia group (p<0. 025). 3. In 4 eases (40%) the hypotensive range was over 30% of the preoperative level, but recovery occurred soon after administration of Effortil. 4. Practically management of a patient with continuous spinal anesthesia is easier' thai with general anesthesia for total hip replacement, with fieeing of the anesthesio1ogist'a hands for better care of the patient during anesthesia.
Anesthesia ; Anesthesia, General ; Anesthesia, Spinal* ; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip* ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Diagnosis ; Etilefrine ; Femur ; Friction ; Hand ; Hip Joint ; Humans ; Osteoarthritis ; Wounds and Injuries

Situs inversus totalis is a rare inherent disease in which the thoracic and abdominal organs are transposed. Symptoms of appendicitis in situs inversus (SI) may appear in the left lower quadrant, and the diagnosis of appendicitis is very difficult. We report a case of left-sided appendicitis diagnosed preoperatively after dextrocardia that was detected by chest X-ray, although the chief complaint of the patient was left lower-quadrant pain. The patient underwent an emergent laparoscopic appendectomy under the diagnosis of appendicitis after abdominal computed tomography (CT). In patients with left lower quadrant pain, if the chest X-ray shows dextrocardia, one should suspect left-sided appendicitis. A strong suspicion of appendicitis and an emergency laparoscopic operation after confirmation of the diagnosis by imaging modalities including abdominal CT or sonography can reduce the likelihood of misdiagnosis and complications including perforation and abscess. Laparoscopic appendectomy in SI was technically more challenging because of the mirror nature of the anatomy.
Abscess ; Appendectomy ; Appendicitis ; Dextrocardia ; Diagnostic Errors ; Emergencies ; Humans ; Situs Inversus ; Thorax

The incidence of cardiac arrhythmias has been studied in 50 unselected surgical patients with preexisting ECG abnormailties preoperatively, by means of continuous monitoring, utilixingan eIectrocardioscope, Burdick CS-515 Monitor, and was recorded by EK-4S ECG, at the Kyung Hee University Hospital, Seoul, Korea. The results are as follows: 1) Among 50 patients, 32 cases (64%) developed a variety of arrhythmias during general anesthesia and operation. It also showed arrhythmias excluding sinus tachycardia in 14 cases. The 28 per cent incidence of arrhythmias was rather high compared with the patient groups without preexisting heart disease or arrhythmias, such as in our previous report in 1972 of 20%, Dodds 19, 9% and Vaniks 16. 3%. 2) The most common arrhythmia seen was sinus tachycardia (26 cases, 65% of the total arrhythmias) and the next one was premature ventrieular contraction. 3) Nine cases (22. 5%) were considered serious in nature, such as premature ventricular contractions. 4) There was an increased incidence of new arrhythmias in the patients in poor general condition. 5) The vast majority of arrhythmias seen during anesthesia, except for 3 cases did not require drug treatment. It is usual to eliminate the cause of the arrhythmia by lowering anesthetic depth, eliminating excess carbon dioxide by hyperventilation and proper oxygenation of the lungs. 6) Constant electrocardiographic monitoring of patients under anesthesia has proven to be valuable adjunct to the administration of clinical anesthesia.
Anesthesia ; Anesthesia, General* ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac* ; Carbon Dioxide ; Clinical Study* ; Electrocardiography* ; Heart Diseases ; Humans ; Hyperventilation ; Incidence ; Korea ; Lung ; Oxygen ; Seoul ; Tachycardia, Sinus ; Ventricular Premature Complexes

BACKGROUND: Recently Live blood analysis was populated in korean society. so we evaluated clinical utility of Live blood analysis, as compared the Live blood analysis result of patients who have confirmed diagnosis of disease with that of controls who have no known health problems. METHODS: We carried out Live blood analysis to patients(n=30) who was entered to an admission in Yongdong severance hospital from February 2000 to March 2000 and to controls(n=30) who worked in that hospital at same time. We examined 3 abnormal finding; rouleau formation, spicule, protoplast, which were often observed in Live blood analysis. RESULTS: At comparison of patient group and control group, rouleau formation was observed in 27 patients except 3 patients and it was observed in all 30 controls. Spicule was observed 2in 9 patients except 1 patients and it was observed in all 30 controls. Protoplast was observed in 16 patients and 13 controls. There was no difference between patients and controls in observing 3 abnormal finding. CONCLUSION: We conclude that Live blood analysis may have no clinical significance.
Complementary Therapies ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Protoplasts

OBJECTIVES: Patients with dementia are accompanied with poor autonomy and multiple disability. Therefore moer cost and medical service are required than non-dementia patients. In order to insure comprehensive, systematic care for dementia patients, knowledge of the associated disease of different types of dementia is warranted. This study evaluate the characteristics of associated disease in inpatients with dementia, to be used as basic reference for effective treatment. METHODS: The study popultion consist of 92 patients with dementia admitted between January 1, 1996 and September 30, 1997 to geriatric department, Yosei University Kwangju Severance Psychiatric Hospital. Diagnoses were based on DSM-IV and NINCDS. Severity of dementia was evaluated by GDS (Global Deterioration Scale). Associated diseases was recorded in separated checklist. chi-test, Fisher's exact test, ANOVA, T-test, Wilcoxon rank sum test, Kruskal-Wallis test were used to determine statistical differences among the dementia subgroup. RESULTS: The mean age was 71.8+/-9.2 with 31 male (33.7%) subjects and 61 female subject (66.3%). The types of dementia among the 92 demented patients were as follows:50 (54%) with Alzheimer's disease, 30 (33%) with vascular dementia, 12 (13%) with unclassified dementia. Mean GDS score was 5.4+/-1.1. The mean duration of admission was 66.9+/-88.9 days. Types of discharge were normal discharge 33 (35.9%), discharge against doctors' advice 28 (30.4%), transfer 23 (25.0%). The average number of diagnoses was 4.9+/-2.4. (4.5+/-2.4 in Alzheimer's disease, 6.1+/-2.4 in vascular dementia, 5.3+/-2.1 in unclassified dementia in respectively (p<0.05). The most common associated disease were gastrointestinal disorders (24.8%), cardiovascular disorders (11.8%), urinary tract infection (6.8%), musculoskeletal disorder (6.6%), diabetes mellitus (4.5%). Associated diseases that their frequency showed significant differences in different types of dementia were hypertension, diabetes mellitus, urinary incontinence, oral cavity disease, anemia (p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Associated disease are different in different type of dementia. Patients with vascular dementia had more associated disease and received more drugs for associated disease than Alzheimer's disease. Our data emphasize comprehensive and systematic treatment plan according to type of dementia.
Alzheimer Disease ; Anemia ; Checklist ; Dementia* ; Dementia, Vascular ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Diagnosis ; Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders ; Female ; Gwangju ; Hospitals, Psychiatric ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Inpatients* ; Male ; Mouth ; Urinary Incontinence ; Urinary Tract Infections