No abstract available.
Actinomycosis*

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the aspiration of saliva itself in bedridden patients with brain lesion using the response of radionuclide salivagram, and its association with patient characteristics and clinical factors. METHOD: Thirty two patients (21 men and 11 women) in bedridden state with brain lesion were performed the radionuclide salivagram. (99m)Tc sulfur colloid (1.0 mCi in a drop of saline) was instilled into patients' tongue with supine position. The sequential images were obtained at first 5 minutes and 10 minutes interval for 1 hour, and evaluated the presence of saliva aspiration as the entrance of tracer into major airways or lung parenchyma. The characteristics of patients and the states of cooperation, drooling, tracheostomy, and method of feed were also assessed. RESULTS: Seven out of 32 subjects exhibited positive response of saliva aspiration by radionuclide salivagram. Men, uncooperative, and anterior drooling was significantly associated with positive finding of salivagram (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: In bedridden patients with brain lesion, it seems that radionuclide salivagram may be one of methods for detection of the aspiration of saliva itself.
Brain ; Colloids ; Humans ; Lung ; Male ; Saliva ; Sialorrhea ; Sulfur ; Supine Position ; Tongue ; Tracheostomy

PURPOSE: This study analyzed the prognostic factors affecting admission in acute alcohol-intoxicated traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients visiting the emergency room. METHODS: A multicenter, retrospective observational study was conducted on 821 acute alcohol-intoxicated adult trauma patients, who visited 10 university hospital emergency centers from April to November 2016. The primary outcome was hospital admission. The secondary outcome was in-hospital mortality. RESULTS: One hundred sixty-eight patients diagnosed with acute alcohol-intoxicated TBI were analyzed. The increase in blood alcohol concentration was associated significantly with a mild decrease in admission (adjusted odds ratio, 0.993; 95% confidence interval, 0.989 to 0.998; p=0.01). Moderate to severe TBI patients showed a significant increase in admission compared to mild TBI patients (adjusted odds ratio, 12.449; 95% confidence interval, 3.316 to 46.743; p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: This study showed that the admission was inversely correlated with the blood alcohol concentration and is correlated directly with the increase in the severity in TBI. Therefore, emergency physicians may be required to identify the severity of TBI rapidly and accurately in acute alcohol-intoxicated trauma patients visiting the emergency room.
Adult ; Alcohol Drinking ; Blood Alcohol Content ; Brain Injuries* ; Emergencies* ; Emergency Service, Hospital* ; Hospital Mortality ; Humans ; Observational Study ; Odds Ratio ; Patient Admission ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies