A widened mediastinum is not always caused by aortic dissection, which is the default diagnosis among emergency physicians. Other acute aortic syndromes should be included in differential diagnosis, such as penetrating atherosclerotic ulcer (PAU), intraluminal hematoma, aneurismal leak, and traumatic transection. When an ulcerative lesion is found in the atherosclerotic aorta, especially the descending aorta of an elderly, PAU should be considered as the possible cause of widened mediastinum. We present a case of PAU, the diagnosis of which was delayed without the knowledge of PAU even though thoracic computed tomography showed widened mediastinum and suspious pericardial effusion.
Aged ; Aorta ; Aorta, Thoracic ; Aortic Aneurysm ; Aortic Rupture ; Chest Pain ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Emergencies ; Hematoma ; Humans ; Mediastinum ; Pericardial Effusion ; Ulcer

Hematocrit is an important determinant of oxygen delivery. Of particular interest, its target level is very wide for different kinds of shock: from 30% for hemorrhagic or septic shock to 56% for secondary polycythemia. This range is not only wide but also deviated to the higher level from the optimal value of 40%. In this letter, the authors determine the mathematical basis of the wide and deviated range of hematocrit starting from the Hagen-Poisseuille equation.
Hematocrit ; Hemoglobins ; Oxygen ; Polycythemia ; Shock ; Shock, Septic

Superwarfarin, such as brodifacoum, is a highly lethal vitamin K antagonist used as a rodenticide. Brodifacoum has a particularly long half-life in the body, which ranges to several months, and therefore requires prolonged treatment with antidotal vitamin K. We experienced a case whereby an 18-year-old male was presented to the hospital with a severe bleeding disorder. It was discovered that he had ingested brodifacoum rodenticide with intent to commit suicide. Despite continual treatment with vitamin K, the bleeding disorder persisted for several months before he recovered. We report this case with literature review.
4-Hydroxycoumarins ; Adolescent ; Half-Life ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Male ; Suicide ; Vitamin K ; Vitamins

It is very difficult to discern edible mushrooms such as Naematololma sublateritium from toxic mushrooms such as Naematololma. fasciculare in the natural environment. We experienced a case of a patient who accidentally ingested Naematololma. fasciculare. The patient was admitted to the emergency department with nonspecific abdominal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain and diarrhea. Treatment involved supportive care instead of gastric lavage and charcoal, since their effectiveness is unproven for relief of mushroom intoxication.
Abdominal Pain ; Agaricales ; Charcoal ; Diarrhea ; Emergencies ; Gastric Lavage ; Humans ; Nausea ; Vomiting

Fluconazole is a fungistatic agent that is used for treating systemic and superficial fungal infections like onychomycosis and tinea pedis. Various adverse effects of fluconazole have been reported regardless of the total dosage and the duration of treatment. We consider the number of patients who visit the emergency room with nonspecific symptoms that are related to antifungal agents are not inconsiderable. In this case, 44-year-old male patient experienced mental change during taking fluconazole to treat tinea pedis. The understanding of the side effects and the drug interactions with antifungal agents like fluconazole can help to treat patients with nonspecific symptoms that are related to antifungal agents.
Adult ; Antifungal Agents ; Consciousness ; Drug Interactions ; Emergencies ; Fluconazole ; Humans ; Hyperammonemia ; Male ; Onychomycosis ; Tinea ; Tinea Pedis

Glechoma longituba is a common medicinal plant that is common in wet and sunny land. This plant is used to treat various illnesses including jaundice and edema. But, ingestion of the plant can cause severe pain and swelling on lip and mouth. We experienced three cases that had oral pain and sensory change after ingestion of G. longituba, which we report with a literature review.
Eating ; Edema ; Jaundice ; Lamiaceae ; Lip ; Mouth ; Paresthesia ; Plants ; Plants, Medicinal

PURPOSE: Radiological readings of possible or suspicious appendicitis are often unhelpful for clinicians, and normal readings may be misleading if the patient has appendicitis. We conducted a retrospective study to determine whether the efficiency of computed tomography (CT) or ultrasonography (USG) in diagnosing acute appendicitis is altered by clinical manifestations. METHODS: Data were collected from all the pathologicallyproven acute appendicitis patients who underwent CT or USG and subsequently had appendectomy between January 2009 and March 2010 at Kangwon National University Hospital. We classified radiological findings of "compatible with" and "probable" appendicitis as "highly efficient" and "possible" or "suspicious" appendicitis and "normal appendix" as "less efficient." The following clinical manifestations were included: duration of the chief complaint prior to performing CT or USG, right lower quadrant pain, pain migration, body temperature, abdominal tenderness, rebound tenderness, muscle guarding, wall rigidity, white blood cell count, percentage of polymorphonuclear cells, and C-reactive protein level. RESULTS: A total of 202 patients underwent appendectomies after imaging studies (37.2+/-20.3-years-of-age; male-to-female ratio, 1.08). Of these, 154(76.2%) received CT, 44 (21.8%) received USG, and four (2.0%) received magnetic resonance imaging. Radiological findings were highly efficient in 155 cases (76.7%) but less efficient in 47 cases (23.3%). Multiple logistic regression analysis demonstrated that the absence of pain migration was related to less efficient results (adjusted odds ratio, 3.26; 95% confidence interval, 1.16-9.12). CONCLUSION: The 'efficient' sensitivity of CT or USG in diagnosing acute appendicitis is low in the absence of a history of pain migration.
Appendectomy ; Appendicitis ; Body Temperature ; C-Reactive Protein ; Humans ; Leukocyte Count ; Logistic Models ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Muscles ; Odds Ratio ; Reading ; Retrospective Studies

Emergency physicians often have to treat patients suffering from testicular pain. Testicular torsion is a critical disease which can, in the worst situation, require orchiectomy. Testicular torsion is more common among neonates and adolescents than adults, and there are very few adults reported to have testicular torsion. There are several cases of testicular torsion among adults aged 20 to 40. However, there have been almost no reports of patients with testicular torsion over the age of 50. Patients over the age of 50 have a greater possibility of a delayed diagnosis. Therefore, they also have a greater possibility of requiring an orchiectomy. In our case, 57-year-old male patient complained of testicular pain that developed during his sleep after golf practice. After exploratory surgery, he was diagnosed as having testicular torsion. In conclusion, emergency physicians should consider the possibility of testicular torsion when older adults complain of testicular pain. Also, patients who suffer from intermittent testicular pain show higher rates of developing testicular torsion.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Delayed Diagnosis ; Emergencies ; Golf ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Orchiectomy ; Scrotum ; Spermatic Cord Torsion ; Stress, Psychological

Cardiothoracic ratio (CTR), the ratio of cardiac diameter (CD) to thoracic diameter (TD), is a useful screening method to detect cardiomegaly, but is reliable only on posteroanterior chest radiography (chest PA). We performed this cross-sectional 3-phase study to establish reliable CTR from anteroposterior chest radiography (chest AP). First, CDChest PA/CDChest AP ratios were determined at different radiation distances by manipulating chest computed tomography to simulate chest PA and AP. CDChest PA was inferred from multiplying CDChest AP by this ratio. Incorporating this CD and substituting the most recent TDChest PA, we calculated the 'corrected' CTR and compared it with the conventional one in patients who took both the chest radiographies. Finally, its validity was investigated among the critically ill patients who performed portable chest AP. CDChest PA/CDChest AP ratio was {0.00099 x (radiation distance [cm])} + 0.79 (n = 61, r = 1.00, P < 0.001). The corrected CTR was highly correlated with the conventional one (n = 34, difference: 0.00016 +/- 0.029; r = 0.92, P < 0.001). It was higher in congestive than non-congestive patients (0.53 +/- 0.085; n = 38 vs 0.49 +/- 0.061; n = 46, P = 0.006). Its sensitivity and specificity was 61% and 54%. In summary, reliable CTR can be calculated from chest AP with an available previous chest PA. This might help physicians detect congestive cardiomegaly for patients undergoing portable chest AP.
Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Cardiomegaly/*radiography ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Dyspnea ; Female ; Heart/*radiography ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Point-of-Care Systems ; Radiography, Thoracic/*methods ; Thorax/anatomy & histology/physiology ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed/methods

Objective: Adults with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) experience significant difficulties with executive functioning (EF) and related adaptive skills, yet the lack of interventions in South Korea targeting these areas has resulted in a heightened need to develop an evidence- based program. Therefore, we developed a novel intervention aiming to enhance everyday EF and daily adaptive skills in adults with high-functioning ASD and conducted a pilot study to evaluate the validity and feasibility of the program. Methods: A behavioral intervention of 10-weekly sessions was developed based on literature searches and focus group interviews. Seven adults with high-functioning ASD (mean age=20.29) participated in a single-group pilot trial. We used self and parent-report questionnaires as well as skills measured by assessment instruments to analyze differences before and after the intervention. Results: Significant improvements were shown in everyday EF, including time management, organization, self-restraint, and regulation of emotions. Additionally, results demonstrated an enhancement in adaptive functioning, especially in the subdomains of daily living skills. Analyses of parental outcomes only revealed a significant decrease in the scores of emotion regulation. Conclusion The current study provides good evidence for the validity and feasibility of an intervention to improve everyday EF and adaptive skills in adults with ASD.