PURPOSE: With the recent increase in underwater activity, the number of people at risk for decompression sickness has greatly increased. However, an organized medical system for emergency treatment, evacuation, and hyperbaric oxygen therapy of decompression sickness has not been established yet. We collected information about domestic hyperbaric chambers available for treating decompression sickness. METHODS: We identified 95 hyperbaric chambers in hospitals, hydrospace construction corporations, military, maritime police, 119 rescue services, and other organizations through a telephone survey. We visited the 95 chambers and collected information about location, operating institutes, chamber specifications, and operational status. Twenty-four oxygen capsules were excluded from the study because of inadequate working pressure. RESULTS: Seventy-one hyperbaric chambers available for hyperbaric oxygen therapy were identified among 59 organizations. The hyperbaric chambers were distributed evenly along coastal lines; that is, 21 on the east coast, 26 on the west coast, 21 on the southern coast, and three on Jeju Island. Thirty-eight chambers with maximal working pressure of > or =5 atm could be used for severe decompression sickness and arterial gas embolism treatment. Twenty-nine chambers had a seating capacity equal to-or more than three patients. Twenty-eight chambers had two or more compartments; thus, they could handle complex medical situations. Thirty-eight chambers with medical locks were useful for severe decompression sickness treatment. CONCLUSION: A sufficient number of domestic hyperbaric chambers available for treating decompression sickness were distributed evenly along the coastal lines. However, potential barriers need to be overcome to establish an efficient decompression sickness treatment system.
Academies and Institutes ; Capsules ; Decompression ; Decompression Sickness ; Diving ; Embolism, Air ; Emergency Treatment ; Humans ; Hyperbaric Oxygenation ; Military Personnel ; Oxygen ; Police ; Republic of Korea ; Telephone

PURPOSE: As a result of the development and the supply of vaccination, the epochal progress in vaccination against measles has been made. Nevertheless measles intermittent prevalence throughout the world was reported and measles prevailed throughout country in 1993 & 1994. So, we studied the epidemics of measles which prevailed in the Kyungi-Incheon districts and then evaluated the effects of the present vaccination indirectly and estimated the necessity of booster vaccination in addition to initial and second vaccination. METHODS: This study was based on the questionnaires to 233 patient who were diagnosed as measles in Holy Family Hospital and Our Lady Of Mercy Hospital from July, 1993 to June, 1994. RESULTS: 1) The incidence peaked in Jan(24.0%) and April(23.2%). 2) In sex distribution, we could not find any difference between boys(116 case) and girls(117 case). 3) The age distribution showed that the children between 0 and 12 month of age were 81 cases(34.8%), the children between 13 and 24 month of age 28 cases(12.0%), 8 year old children 21 cases(9.0%), 6 year old children 18 cases(7.7%), 7 year old children 16 cases(6.9%) and 9 year old children 14 cases(6.0%). 4) 6 month age group with one-dose schedule of vaccination was 2 cases. 9 month age group with one-dose schedule of vaccination was 14 cases and their outbreak age was 4.1+/-3.3 years old. 12 month age group with one-dose schedule of vaccination was 1 case. 15 month age group with one-dose schedule of vaccination was 48 cases and their outbreak age was 7.8+/-2.9 years old. Age group with two-dose schedule of vaccination was 51 cases and their outbreak age was 7.3+/-2.9 years old. Therefore, trimed mean age of 15 month age group with one-dose schedule was 7.8+/-2.0 years old and their 99% confidence interval was 7.0~9.2 years old. Trimed mean age of two-dose schedule age group was 8.3+/-2.0 years old and their 99% confidence interval was 7.6~9.2 years old. 5) Among the siblings(n=236) of subjects 224 cases were vaccinated and among vaccinated children 18 cases infected(8.0%). 6) There were no reinfected subjects. CONCLUSIONS: 15 months age group with one-dose schedule and two-dose schedule group showed similar outbreak age. In the case that measles prevails, the proper time for vaccination seems to be at or earlier than 6 months of age and the booster dose should also be considered at age 6.
Age Distribution ; Appointments and Schedules ; Child ; Epidemiology* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Measles* ; Prevalence ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Sex Distribution ; Vaccination

A gastrointestinal lipoma, though rare, is a mesencymal tumor of the large bowel, and the second most common benign colonic tumor detected after an adenomatous polyp. The lesion may be asymoptomatic when small and may be detected incidentally, usually during a colonoscopic examination for another purpose. Lipomas of the large bowel that are not causing symptoms probably need no treatment, as malignant transformation has not been documented. If the mass is large, it can cause pain, anal bleeding due to intussusception, bowel obstruction and diarrhea, and thus resection should be considered. Due to the risk of perforation, endoscopic resection of large colonic lipomas has been discouraged. However, large colonic lipomas can be removed safely by endoscopic resection with the use of an endoscopic ultrasonogram and submucosal injection to elevate the lesion.
Adenomatous Polyps ; Colon* ; Diarrhea ; Hemorrhage ; Intussusception ; Lipoma* ; Ultrasonography

Primary care providers should be alert to travel-related infections. Around 10-40% of returning travelers from all destinations and 15-70% of travelers from tropical settings experience ill health, either overseas or upon returning home.1 A systematic approach concentrating on possible infections should be undertaken based on the patient’s travel location, immunization history, presence of malaria chemoprophylaxis at the destination, other potential exposures, incubation period, and clinical presentation.2-3 The World Health Organization (WHO) website is constantly being updated on specific travel-related infections and recent geographical outbreaks. In this paper, we report a case of severe falciparum malaria in a returned traveler.