PURPOSE: This study aimed to determine the mortality rate in patients with severe trauma and the risk factors for trauma mortality based on 3 years' data in a regional trauma center in Korea. METHODS: We reviewed the medical records of severe trauma patients admitted to Ajou University Hospital with an Injury Severity Score (ISS) > 15 between January 2010 and December 2012. Pearson chi-square tests and Student t-tests were conducted to examine the differences between the survived and deceased groups. To identify factors associated with mortality after severe trauma, multivariate logistic regression was performed. RESULTS: There were 915 (743 survived and 172 deceased) enrolled patients with overall mortality of 18.8%. Age, blunt trauma, systolic blood pressure (SBP) at admission, Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) at admission, head or neck Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS) score, and ISS were significantly different between the groups. Age by point increase (odds ratio [OR], 1.016; P = 0.001), SBP < or = 90 mmHg (OR, 2.570; P < 0.001), GCS score < or = 8 (OR, 6.229; P < 0.001), head or neck AIS score > or = 4 (OR, 1.912; P = 0.003), and ISS by point increase (OR, 1.042; P < 0.001) were significant risk factors. CONCLUSION: In severe trauma patients, age, initial SBP, GCS score, head or neck AIS score, and ISS were associated with mortality.
Abbreviated Injury Scale ; Blood Pressure ; Glasgow Coma Scale ; Head ; Humans ; Injury Severity Score ; Korea ; Logistic Models ; Medical Records ; Mortality* ; Neck ; Risk Factors* ; Trauma Centers ; Wounds and Injuries

OBJECTIVE: The effect of acute noise on cognitive function has long been a topic of study, yet these effects remain a serious problem for learning performance in school children. METHODS: From November 15, 2010 to December 8, 2010, we enrolled 268 students from three elementary schools (135 boys and 133 girls, 10–12 years old) in Ulsan, Korea. The study subjects were divided into two groups according to their test conditions (background versus additional noise), and tests were conducted using psychological examination tools. Chi-square tests and general linear models were used to assess the differences of impacts on cognition between the two groups. RESULTS: After adjusting for socio-demographic covariates, the noise significantly affected the results of full-scale IQ, verbal IQ, Continuous Performance Test scores, and Children’s Color Trails Test and Stroop test scores. The groups at high risk of learning difficulties were more affected by noise than low-risk groups. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that noise is hazardous to the attention and performance of elementary school students, particularly for groups at greater risk for poor academic achievement. Additional studies are needed to identify subject-specific levels of noise that can affect attention and cognitive function.
Child* ; Cognition* ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Learning ; Linear Models ; Noise* ; Non-Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic* ; Stroop Test ; Ulsan

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study is to evaluate the feasibility of living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) using an right posterior sector (RPS) graft selected by liver volumetry of living donors. METHODS: From April 2008 to August 2014, 132 LDLTs were performed in our hospital. Of these, 20 recipients (15.1%) received an RPS graft. Perioperative data of LDLTs using an RPS graft were analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: Mean of the Model for End-stage Liver Disease score of the 20 recipients was 12.1+/-6.2. The mean right liver volume was 72.4%+/-3.1% of total liver volume (TLV) and the mean volume of RPS was 38.2%+/-5.3% of TLV. Anatomical anomalies were found in the portal vein (PV) of 14 donors (70%), in the hepatic artery of one donor (5%), and bile duct of seven donors (35%). All donors were discharged with normal liver function. Two donors (10%) developed bile leakage after RPS donation. None of the recipients experienced complication associated with hepatic artery and PV anastomosis. One recipient had in-hospital mortality due to pneumonia. The remaining 19 recipients were discharged with good graft function. Four recipients (20%) developed biliary stricture and one (5%) had a liver abscess during follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: The RPS donor had a high incidence of abnormal anatomy of PV. LDLT using an RPS graft might have high incidence of biliary complications. We think that selection of an RPS graft from a donor with an inappropriately large right lobe volume could expand the donor pool and be a feasible option in LDLT.
Adult* ; Bile ; Bile Ducts ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hepatic Artery ; Hospital Mortality ; Humans ; Incidence ; Liver Abscess ; Liver Diseases ; Liver Transplantation* ; Liver* ; Living Donors* ; Pneumonia ; Portal Vein ; Retrospective Studies ; Tissue Donors ; Transplants*

Background: We aimed to investigate the analgesic efficacy of an erector spinae plane block (ESPB) in immediate breast reconstruction (IBR) with a tissue expander. Methods: Adult women undergoing IBR with a tissue expander after mastectomy were randomly assigned to either intravenous patient-controlled analgesia (IV-PCA) alone (group P) or IV-PCA plus ESPB (group E). The primary outcome was the total amount of opioid consumption during 24 hours postoperatively between the two groups. Secondary outcomes were patient satisfaction, pain score at rest and on shoulder movement using numerical rating scale, incidences of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV), and a short form of the brief pain inventory (BPI-SF) at 3 and 6 months after surgery between the groups. Results: Fifty eight patients completed the study. At 24 hours postoperatively, total opioid consumption was significantly less in group E than in group P (285.0 ± 92.0, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 250.1 to 320.0 vs. 223.2 ± 83.4, 95% CI: 191.5 to 254.9, P = 0.005). Intraoperative and cumulative PCA fentanyl consumption at 3, 6, 9, and 24 hours were also less in group E than in group P (P = 0.004, P = 0.048, P = 0.020, P = 0.036, and P < 0.001, respectively). Patient satisfaction was higher in group E (6.9 ± 1.8 vs. 7.8 ± 1.4, P = 0.042). The incidences of PONV was similar. Conclusions The ESPB decreased postoperative opioid consumption and increased patient satisfaction without significant complications after IBR with a tissue expander after mastectomy.

Background: We aimed to investigate the analgesic efficacy of an erector spinae plane block (ESPB) in immediate breast reconstruction (IBR) with a tissue expander. Methods: Adult women undergoing IBR with a tissue expander after mastectomy were randomly assigned to either intravenous patient-controlled analgesia (IV-PCA) alone (group P) or IV-PCA plus ESPB (group E). The primary outcome was the total amount of opioid consumption during 24 hours postoperatively between the two groups. Secondary outcomes were patient satisfaction, pain score at rest and on shoulder movement using numerical rating scale, incidences of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV), and a short form of the brief pain inventory (BPI-SF) at 3 and 6 months after surgery between the groups. Results: Fifty eight patients completed the study. At 24 hours postoperatively, total opioid consumption was significantly less in group E than in group P (285.0 ± 92.0, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 250.1 to 320.0 vs. 223.2 ± 83.4, 95% CI: 191.5 to 254.9, P = 0.005). Intraoperative and cumulative PCA fentanyl consumption at 3, 6, 9, and 24 hours were also less in group E than in group P (P = 0.004, P = 0.048, P = 0.020, P = 0.036, and P < 0.001, respectively). Patient satisfaction was higher in group E (6.9 ± 1.8 vs. 7.8 ± 1.4, P = 0.042). The incidences of PONV was similar. Conclusions The ESPB decreased postoperative opioid consumption and increased patient satisfaction without significant complications after IBR with a tissue expander after mastectomy.

Purpose: This study was conducted to update nursing practice guidelines for intravenous infusion published in 2017. Methods: The guideline update process was carried out using 22 steps developed by NICE and SIGN. It was agreed to update domains related to central venous infusion therapy. Contents related to peripheral infusion would be updated later. Results: Updated guidelines for central venous infusion therapy consisted of 6 domains and 195 recommendations. The number of recommendations by domain was 11 for general instruction, 14 for central vascular access devices (CVAD) and add-on devices, 13 for nursing management before insertion of CVAD, 30 for management during insertion of CVAD, 51 for management after insertion of CVAD, and 76 for complications. A grade was 29 (14.9%), B grade was 87 (44.6%), and C grade was 79 (40.5%) in the strength of recommendations. A total of 37 (19.0%) recommendations were newly developed and 23 (12.3%) previous recommendations have been modified. The newly developed recommendations were mainly related to the infection control methods. Conclusion The updated guideline is focused on safe maintenance of central venous infusion therapy. Through this guideline, it is hoped to minimize the occurrence of complications and improve the standardization and efficiency of nursing practice.