BACKGROUND: Hyperkalemia is a common and potentially life-threatening metabolic disorder. The electrocardiogram(ECG) is known to be a relatively sensitive diagnostic tool hyperkalemia. However many exceptions, in which patients showed normal ECG findings even though hyperkalemic, have been reported. The purpose of this study was to determine the extent of correlation between the ECG findings and hyperkalemia and to determine when the ECG has value for diagnosing hyperkalemia. METHODS: Patients who had been diagnosed as having hyperkalemia at two university hospitals during three years were enrolled in this study. We reviewed the medical records of the patients and evaluated the following 6 ECG abnormalities: tall T waves, narrow T waves, QRS widening, atrioventricular block, loss of P waves, and sine waves. We defined tall T waves and narrow T waves as 20 percentiles of heights and widths of the T waves from the 100 patients with normokalemia. RESULTS: During the study period, there were 100 hyperkalemic patients, and we analyzed 69 available electrocardiograms. Abnormal ECG findings were revealed in 67% of 69 patients. The higher the serum potassium level, the more abnormal ECG findings. The common ECG abnormalities were tall T waves and loss of P waves. The patients with normal ECGs even though hyperkalemic had relatively low potassium levels. And whether chronic renal disease was not correlated to the ECG abnormality. CONCLUSION: The electrocardiogram is a good diagnostic tool for hyperkalemia if it is used with accurate diagnostic criteria. Thus, hyperkalemia should be considered when the ECG shows tall T waves or loss of P waves.
Atrioventricular Block ; Electrocardiography* ; Hospitals, University ; Humans ; Hyperkalemia* ; Medical Records ; Potassium ; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic

BACKGROUND: Vasopressin has recently been recognized to have greater effect on improving blood flow to myocardium and brain during cardiac resuscitation than epinephrine and also improves rates of ROSC(return of spontaneous circulation) and survival in pre-hospital and in-hospital prolonged refractory cardiac angst patients who did not respond to the standard epinephrine treatment. This study was designed to investigate the effects of vasopressin on ROSC rates and survival rates in rat asphyxia arrest model. METHOD AND MATERIAL: Thirty male Sprague-Dawley rats were used. Anesthesia was induced with halothane and nitrous oxide and ventilatory cairo was maintained. EtCO2 was adjusted to 30-40mmHg and halothane was maintained. Right infernal carotid artery and right femoral vein were cannulated and EKG electrodes were attached. After 10 minutes of asphyxia, group 1 was treated with 1ml of saline, group 2 with 1ml(0.001mg/100g) of epinephrine and group 3 with 1ml(0.16u/100g) of vasopressin for resuscitation. Statistical significance was an analysed by SPSS with ANOVA and chi-square tests. RESULTS: No significant differences were seen in baseline measurements. Three ROSC and eight 60 minutes survivals were found in group 1, whereas nine ROSC and eight 60 minutes survivals were obtained in group 2 and all of the subjects in group 3 showed ROSC and 60 minutes survival, but no statistical differences were seen between group 2 and 3. CONCLUSION: Vasopressin seems to have similar effect on improving ROSC and survival rates compared to epinephrine in rat asphyxia models.
Anesthesia ; Animals ; Asphyxia* ; Brain ; Carotid Arteries ; Electrocardiography ; Electrodes ; Epinephrine* ; Femoral Vein ; Halothane ; Humans ; Male ; Myocardium ; Nitrous Oxide ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Resuscitation* ; Survival Rate ; Vasopressins*

Esophageal hiatal hernia is the hernia of a part of or the whole of stomach to posterior mediastinum through esophageal hiatus. Esophageal hiatal hernia can be classified as sliding hiatal hernia (type I), paraesophageal (type II), combined sliding and paraesophageal (type III), and complex paraesophageal (type IV). Type III and IV are clinically classified as paraesophageal hernia. The authors by chance found cystic mass filled with air in the lower lobe of the right lung during the treatment of mycoplasma pneumonia of 10 month-old patient. It was found to be paraesophageal hernia on the chest computed tomography and treated with the operation. As complex paraesophageal hernia is not usual among infants, the authors report it here with literature review.
Hernia ; Hernia, Hiatal ; Humans ; Infant ; Lung ; Mediastinum ; Mycoplasma ; Pneumonia ; Pneumonia, Mycoplasma ; Stomach ; Thorax

BACKGROUND: Urinalysis is a useful laboratory test in the diagnosis of various diseases. In sampling for the urinalysis, there is much concern about contamination that can lead to misdiagnosis in the mid-stream urine sampling method. We conducted this study to determine, in terms of concordance of results and contamination in culture, whether there was any superiority in mid-stream sampling methods with or without disinfection measures compared to the catheterization method. MATERIALS AND EMTHODS: We used three kinds of urine sampling methods sequentially, mid-stream non-clean catch, mid-stream clean catch, and catheterization, for ambulatory, non-pregnant, non-menstruating female patients who visited NHIC Ilsan Hospital emergency department during a one-week period in September 2001. Each sample was electrophotometrically analyzed for leukocyte esterase, nitrite, and blood by using a reagent strip and was cultured immediately or after overnight refrigeration. RESULTS: Of the 41 patients, 9 had culture-proven urinary tract infections. The concordance rates(kappa) for nitrite, blood, and leukocyte esterase were 0.875, 0.403, and 0.406 between non-clean catch and catheterized samples and 0.875, 0.481, and 0.560 between clean catch and catheterized samples, respectively. The contamination rate of the non-clean catch, the clean catch, and the catheterized samples were statistically different: 51.2%, 29.3% and 0%, respectively. CONCLUSION: We found that cleaning with disinfectant was effective for reducing the contamination rate, even though the best urine sampling method for zero contamination was catheterization. We recommend considering cost, patients' comfort, an acceptable threshold for contamination, and the necessity for a culture before choosing a urine sampling method for women who visit the emergency department.
Catheterization ; Catheters ; Diagnosis ; Diagnostic Errors ; Disinfection ; Emergencies* ; Emergency Service, Hospital* ; Female ; Humans ; Leukocytes ; Reagent Strips ; Refrigeration ; Urinalysis ; Urinary Tract Infections

A 40-year-old female patient, known angiocenteric T-cell lymphoma on nasal cavity, was transfered from the department of hemato-oncology for the evaluation of egg sized pinkish-yellow indurated mass with central necrotic tissue on the left medial elbow. Histopathologic findings revealed angiocentric, angioinvasive, and angiodestructive infiltrate containing atypical lymphocytes. The infiltrative cells were positivly stained with antibody to CD45RO, LCA, but not with antibody CD20. The atypical infiltrated perivascular lymphoid cells were positive to Epstein-Barr virus in situ polymerase chain reaction. She was treated with combined chemotherapy and radiation therapy, but she died due to sepsis. We herein report a rare case of angiocentric T-cell lymphoma on the nasal cavity and skin associated with Epstein-Barr virus.
Adult ; Drug Therapy ; Elbow ; Female ; Herpesvirus 4, Human ; Humans ; Lymphocytes ; Lymphoma, T-Cell* ; Nasal Cavity ; Ovum ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Sepsis ; Skin ; T-Lymphocytes*

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to report medical care activities of Disaster Medical Assistance Team (DMAT) and medical facilities that responded to the Goyang Bus Terminal fire on May 26, 2014, and to draw improvement of the current disaster medical response system. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed emergency medical service (EMS) run sheet and medical records of patients who visited the emergency department the day of the fire. We also interviewed the officials involved in disaster response. RESULTS: A total of 73 patients participated in this study. Among them, 9 were classified as Emergency, 60 as Non-Emergency, and 4 as Death on arrival (DOA). Fifty one patients visited the nearest hospital, and 17 patients were transported by EMS. DMAT arrived at the scene in 58 minutes, however there was little medical activity. CONCLUSION: Initial Triage and distribution of patients was rather inadequate and DMAT arrived late. For the future, we recommend constant training of the paramedics and leaders of 119, and to mend DMAT requesting and response system.
Allied Health Personnel ; Disasters* ; Emergencies ; Emergency Medical Services ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Fires* ; Humans ; Mass Casualty Incidents ; Medical Assistance ; Medical Records ; Retrospective Studies ; Triage

Chrome may have a corrosive, necrotizing effect on tissue, so repeated skin contact to chromate might induce perforations or ulcers on the skin. This condition is called a "chrome ulcer" or "chrome hole". It appears as a small, punched-out mark with a rolled-out border. It is rarely associated with pain, but a severe itching sensation is common. We report a case of a 33-year-old man who presented with a 3 month history of several ulcers on his abdomen. He was employed at a chromate alloying process. He had several hole-like atrophic scars and unbearable pruritus. After changing his occupation, plus treatment with oral corticosteroids and antihistamines, the lesions were healed and the itching sensation faded away. However, atrophic scarring remained.
Abdomen ; Adrenal Cortex Hormones ; Adult ; Cicatrix ; Histamine Antagonists ; Humans ; Occupations ; Pruritus ; Sensation ; Skin ; Ulcer*

Vitiligo and morphea are two distinct entities of unknown etiology, although their existence implies that the immune system and/or the central or peripheral nervous system has been incriminated. Only a few reports of their simultaneous occurrence are on record. Here we report a case of a 39 year old woman affected with both vitiligo of the face, chest and hand and morphea of shoulder and trunk. Since the two diseases appeared after bone marrow transplantation, if could be deduced that there is a possible association between them. Two diseases observed simultaneously in this patient may be derived from the common pathomechanism. An autoimmune etiology is thought to play a part in both of these diseases.
Adult ; Bone Marrow Transplantation* ; Bone Marrow* ; Female ; Hand ; Humans ; Immune System ; Peripheral Nervous System ; Scleroderma, Localized ; Shoulder ; Thorax ; Vitiligo

Chronic exogenous steroid therapy can result in hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis dysfunction; this usually results from systemic steroid therapy, and is rarely associated with topical steroid therapy. We report a case of suspected iatrogenic Cushing syndrome that developed after the treatment of annular pustular psoriasis. The patient applied clobetasol-17-propionate cream (Betabate(R)) 15~30 g daily, for 4 months, without a dermatologist's prescription. After 4 months of application, the following symptoms developed; a moon face; facial flushing; hypertrichosis; central obesity; purple striae; and multiple erythematous scaly annular patches. The development of Cushing syndrome from exogenous corticosteroid treatment was supported by the typical clinical manifestations and the low basal state of the blood cortisol level, which was perhaps due to secondary suppression of the hypothalamic pituitary-adrenal axis. Steroid-containing drugs, especially during childhood, should be used with caution and monitored carefully.
Axis, Cervical Vertebra ; Cushing Syndrome* ; Flushing ; Humans ; Hydrocortisone ; Hypertrichosis ; Obesity, Abdominal ; Prescriptions ; Psoriasis

Opioids are the one of the most commonly used drugs to control cancer pain all over the world. But, we should not overlook the potential risk of opioid intoxication because they have well-known detrimental side effects. The opioid intoxication can be diagnosed thorough various clinical manifestations. The altered mental status, respiratory depression, and miosis is very representative clinical features although these symptoms don't always appear together. Unfortunately the opioid-toxidrome can be varied. A 42 years old man came to our emergency room after taking about 900 mg morphine sulfate per oral. He was nearly alert and his respiration was normal. Even though his symptoms didn't deteriorated clinically, serial arterial blood gas analysis showed increase in PaCO2. So we decided to use intravenous naloxone. Soon, he was fully awaked and his pupils size was increased. After a continuous infusion of intravenous naloxone for 2 hours, PaCO2 decreased to normal range and his pupil size also returned to normal after 12 hours. Though the levels of serum amylase and lipase increased slightly, his pancreas was normal according to the abdominal computed tomography. He had nausea, vomit, and whole body itching after naloxone continuous infusion, but conservatively treated. We stopped the continuos infusion after 1 day because his laboratory results and physical examinations showed normal. As this case shows, it is very important to prescribe naloxone initially. If you suspect opioid intoxication, we recommend the initial use of naloxone even though a patient has atypical clinical features. In addition, we suggest intranasal administration of naloxone as safe and effective alternative and it's necessary to consider nalmefene that has a longer duration for opioid intoxication.
Administration, Intranasal ; Amylases ; Analgesics, Opioid ; Blood Gas Analysis ; Emergencies ; Humans ; Lipase ; Miosis ; Morphine ; Naloxone ; Naltrexone ; Nausea ; Pancreas ; Physical Examination ; Porphyrins ; Pruritus ; Pupil ; Reference Values ; Respiration ; Respiratory Insufficiency