OBJECTIVE: We investigated plantar nerve injuries associated with calcaneal fracture and severity of disability. METHOD: From July, 2001 to June, 2002, twelve patients who had calcaneal fractures with persistent foot pain and paresthesia were included in our study. We examined electromyography for medial and lateral plantar nerve, inferior calcaneal nerve, also evaluated types of calcaneal fracture and severity of pain and disability with nerve injury. RESULTS: The intraarticular types were 13 cases, extraarticular type was 1 case and communited types were 2 cases. In the electromyographic findings, the 9 cases were diagnosed asneuropathy. In a cases with neuropathy, 8 persons complained over moderate degree of pain and all persons complained over moderate degree of walking disability. However one of three persons without neuropathy complained over moderate degree of walking disability. So disability tended to be more severe in cases with neuropathy. CONCLUSION: We think that neuropathy associated with calcaneal fracture is a cause of aggravation of pain and walking disability, and electromyography for nerves of foot will be needed in the calcaneal fracture.
Electromyography ; Foot ; Humans ; Paresthesia ; Walking

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the correlation of electrodiagnostic severity, severity of symptom, and clinical severity in carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). METHOD: The sixty eight patients with documented CTS in outpatient clinic from January, 2000 to June, 2001 were included (9 male, 59 female, averaged age 50.0+/-8.8 years). We evaluated the severity of symptom, functional status of ADL with the Levine' questionnaire, and clinical severity with 3 kinds of examination (thenar atrophy, sensory change, and Phalen's test). The electrodiagnostic severity was classified according to Stevens' classification and compared with the severity of symptom, functional status, and clinical severity. RESULTS: The electrodiagnostic severity was classified into three degrees. Five patients (7.4%) were classified into mild degree, 32 patients (47.1%) moderate degree, 31 patients (45.6%) severe degree. The average of severity of symptom scores were 28.4+/-8.5, 31.8+/-7.4, and 31.8+/-9.1 respectively, and there was no significant difference (p>0.05) between the groups. Functional status scales were 14.2+/-6.7, 15.6+/-5.4 and 18.9+/-7.0 respectively and no significant difference (p=0.07) but there was a tendency that the severer was electrodiagnostic severity, the more decreased functional status scale. The clinical severity showed a significant correlation with the electrodiagnostic severity (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: The electrodiagnostic severity has a significant correlation with the clinical severity, but not with the severity of symptom, the functional status in CTS.
Activities of Daily Living ; Ambulatory Care Facilities ; Atrophy ; Carpal Tunnel Syndrome* ; Classification ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Weights and Measures

It is well known that patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) often have concomitant coronary artery disease (CAD). In cases of AAA with severe CAD requiring coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), two therapeutic strategies regarding the timing of CABG can be considered: staged or simultaneous operations. However, the ideal treatment of patients with large AAA and critical CAD remains controversial. We experienced a case of successful endovascular aneurysm repair after off-pump CABG in a 70-year-old patient who had a huge AAA and critical CAD.
Aged ; Aneurysm ; Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal ; Coronary Artery Bypass ; Coronary Artery Bypass, Off-Pump ; Coronary Artery Disease ; Humans ; Transplants

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the usefulness of cardiac biomarkers in the evaluation of prognosis and cardiac involvement (CI) in patients with acute aortic syndrome (AAS). METHODS: A total of 260 AAS patients with the measurements of cardiac biomarkers were divided into 2 groups; the survived (n=215, 60.6±13.7 years, 110 males) vs the dead (n=45, 64.5±13.6 years, 19 males). N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), cardiac specific troponin-I (cTnI), C-reactive protein (CRP), creatinine kinase (CK), MB fraction of CK (CK-MB), and D-dimer were compared. RESULTS: NT-proBNP and D-dimer were significantly elevated in the dead group than in the survived group (3558.7±5497.2 vs 949.9±2307.3 pg/mL, p<0.001, 4.5±5.1 vs 2.0±3.2 ug/mL, p<0.001, respectively). CI was observed in 59 patients (22.7%), and NT-proBNP was significantly elevated in patients with CI than in patients without CI (2497.7±4671.3 vs 722.5±1489.1 pg/mL, p=0.034). In univariate analysis, Stanford type A, CI, NT-proBNP, and D-dimer were significantly associated with mortality, but NT-proBNP was the only significant independent predictor of mortality in multivariate analysis. By receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, the optimal cut-off value to predict mortality was 517.0 pg/mL for NT-proBNP (area under the curve 0.797, sensitivity 86.7%, specificity 71.7%). CONCLUSION: The elevation of cardiac biomarkers is not infrequent in patients with AAS. NT-proBNP is significantly associated with CI and is an independent predictor of mortality in patients with AAS. The measurement of NT-proBNP would be useful in the risk stratification of AAS.
Biomarkers* ; C-Reactive Protein ; Creatinine ; Humans ; Mortality ; Multivariate Analysis ; Phosphotransferases ; Prognosis* ; ROC Curve ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Troponin I

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The optimal blood pressure (BP) target in patients with a history of acute myocardial infarction (MI) remains as a subject of debate. The ‘J curve phenomenon’ has been suggested as a target for BP control, however, it is unclear whether this phenomenon can be applied to MI patients. We analyzed patients with acute MI and investigated whether the ‘J curve phenomenon’ exists in this population. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Data were obtained from a nationwide prospective Korea Acute Myocardial Infarction Registry, which included 10337 patients with acute MI who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) between 2011 and 2014. The patients were divided into quintiles according to systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP), which were measured during a two-year clinical follow up. Two-year cumulative incidence of major adverse cardiac events (MACE) was analyzed among the groups. RESULTS: MACE was defined as a composite of cardiac death, need for recurrent revascularization (repeated PCI or coronary arterial bypass graft due to recurrent anginal symptoms or reoccurrence of MI), ischemic cerebrovascular accident, and need for hospitalization due to heart failure. During the two-year follow up, the total cumulative incidence of MACE was 9.7% (n=1005). BP-MACE analysis showed a U-shaped curve for both SBP and DBP, with the lowest MACE rate in quintiles with an average SBP of 112.2 mmHg and DBP of 73.3 mmHg. On Cox regression analysis, the U-shaped relation was statistically significant. CONCLUSION: In patients with acute MI, a ‘U curve phenomenon’ was observed when assessing patient BP control versus MACE rate.
Blood Pressure* ; Death ; Follow-Up Studies ; Heart Failure ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Incidence ; Korea ; Myocardial Infarction* ; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention ; Prognosis ; Prospective Studies ; Stroke ; Transplants

BACKGROUND: It has been more than 15 years since infection control was first introduced in Korea, but there is little information available on the status of infection control program in the country. METHODS: Included in the study were 139 acute care hospitals with more than 300 inpatient beds. A questionnaire, modified from US SENIC (Study on the Efficacy of Nosocomial Infection Control) and Canadian RICH (Resources for Infection Control in Canadian Acute Care Hospitals) survey, was mailed to the hospitals in the winter of 2003. RESULTS: Ninety-eight (70.5%) of 139 hospitals responded. There was an average of 1.2 (SD, 0.7) Infection Control Practitioners (lCPs) in each hospital and 95.7% were nurses and only 56.5% of the ICPs worked as full-time. The 71.4% of the hospitals had a position for Infection Control Doctor. All hospitals had an Infection Control Committee, which met an average of 3.7 (SD, 1.7) times a year. The 85.7% of the hospitals performed surveillance, but only 31.6% were monitoring surgical site infections. Review of microbiology data was the most common method for case-finding. More than 90% of the hospitals had infection control policies and guidelines, but an adherence to the policies and guidelines was not monitored regularly. CONCLUSION: This study reports the first comparable profile of infection control program of general acute care hospitals in Korea. Although the foundation for infection control program appears to have been established, there is the need for a further increase in the number of ICPs, the standardization of the surveillance method, and the promotion of adherence to the infection control guidelines.
Cross Infection ; Hospitals, General* ; Humans ; Infection Control Practitioners ; Infection Control* ; Inpatients ; Korea ; Postal Service ; Surveys and Questionnaires

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Although current guidelines recommend early initiation of statin in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI), there is no consensus for optimal timing of statin initiation. METHODS: A total of 3,921 statin-naïve patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention were analyzed, and divided into 3 groups according to statin initiation time: group 1 (statin initiation <24 hours after admission), group 2 (24–48 hours) and group 3 (≥48 hours). We also made 3 stratified models to reduce bias: model 1 (<24 hours vs. ≥24 hours), model 2 (<48 hours vs. ≥48 hours) and model 3 (<24 hours vs. 24–48 hours). The endpoint was major adverse cardiac events (MACE; composite of cardiac death, myocardial infarction and target-vessel revascularization) during median 3.8 years. RESULTS: During follow-up, incidence of MACE was lower in early statin group in both model 1 (14.3% vs. 18.4%, hazard ratio [HR], 0.77; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.66–0.91; p=0.002) and model 2 (14.6% vs. 19.7%, HR, 0.81; 95% CI, 0.67–0.97; p=0.022). After propensity-score matching, results remained unaltered. Statin initiation <24 hours reduced MACE compared to statin initiation ≥24 hours in model 1. Statin initiation <48 hours also reduced MACE compared to statin initiation later in model 2. However, there was no difference in incidence of MACE between statin initiation <24 hours and 24–48 hours) in model 3. CONCLUSIONS: Early statin therapy within 48 hours after admission in statin-naïve patients with AMI reduced long-term clinical outcomes compared with statin initiation later. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02385682
Bias (Epidemiology) ; Consensus ; Death ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors ; Incidence ; Myocardial Infarction ; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Although current guidelines recommend early initiation of statin in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI), there is no consensus for optimal timing of statin initiation. METHODS: A total of 3,921 statin-naïve patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention were analyzed, and divided into 3 groups according to statin initiation time: group 1 (statin initiation <24 hours after admission), group 2 (24–48 hours) and group 3 (≥48 hours). We also made 3 stratified models to reduce bias: model 1 (<24 hours vs. ≥24 hours), model 2 (<48 hours vs. ≥48 hours) and model 3 (<24 hours vs. 24–48 hours). The endpoint was major adverse cardiac events (MACE; composite of cardiac death, myocardial infarction and target-vessel revascularization) during median 3.8 years. RESULTS: During follow-up, incidence of MACE was lower in early statin group in both model 1 (14.3% vs. 18.4%, hazard ratio [HR], 0.77; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.66–0.91; p=0.002) and model 2 (14.6% vs. 19.7%, HR, 0.81; 95% CI, 0.67–0.97; p=0.022). After propensity-score matching, results remained unaltered. Statin initiation <24 hours reduced MACE compared to statin initiation ≥24 hours in model 1. Statin initiation <48 hours also reduced MACE compared to statin initiation later in model 2. However, there was no difference in incidence of MACE between statin initiation <24 hours and 24–48 hours) in model 3. CONCLUSIONS Early statin therapy within 48 hours after admission in statin-naïve patients with AMI reduced long-term clinical outcomes compared with statin initiation later.TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02385682

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The impact of the timing of anemia during hospitalization on future clinical outcomes after surviving discharge from an index heart failure (HF) has been poorly studied in patients with acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF). METHODS: A total of 384 surviving patients with acute ADHF were divided into two groups: an anemia group (n = 270, 199 anemia at admission and 71 pre-discharge anemia) and a no anemia group (n = 114). All-cause mortality and HF re-hospitalization were compared between groups. RESULTS: During the follow-up period (median, 528 days), death occurred in 60 patients (15.6%) and HF re-hospitalization occurred in 131 patients (34.1%). Overall anemia was associated with increased mortality (hazard ratio [HR], 1.74; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.03 to 3.01; p = 0.039), but not HF re-hospitalization (HR, 0.92; 95% CI, 0.59 to 1.42; p = 0.707). Pre-discharge anemia was significantly associated with increased mortality (HR, 1.68; 95% CI, 1.01 to 2.82; p = 0.048), but anemia at admission did not predict increased mortality or re-hospitalization. CONCLUSIONS Pre-discharge anemia, rather than anemia at admission, was identified as an independent predictor of mortality in patients with ADHF after surviving discharge. The results of the present study suggest that the identification and optimal management of anemia during hospitalization are important in patients with ADHF.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The aim of this study was to investigate useful cardiac biomarkers in the differential diagnosis of acute pulmonary embolism (APE) with troponin elevation from acute non-ST elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI). METHODS: A total of 771 consecutive NSTEMI patients with D-dimer measurements and 90 patients with troponin-I (TnI) elevation out of 233 APE patients were enrolled, and cardiac biomarkers were compared. RESULTS: D-dimer elevation was noted in 382 patients with NSTEMI (49.5%), and TnI elevation was noted 90 out of 233 APE patients (38.6%). Unnecessary coronary angiography was performed in 10 patients (11.1%) among 90 APE patients with TnI elevation. D-dimer was significantly elevated in APE than in NSTEMI (9.9 ± 11.6 mg/L vs. 1.8 ± 4.3 mg/L, p < 0.001), whereas TnI was significantly elevated in NSTEMI (22.4 ± 41.5 ng/mL vs. 0.7 ± 1.4 ng/mL, p < 0.001). D-dimer/TnI ratio was significantly higher in APE than in NSTEMI (50.6 ± 85.3 vs. 1.6 ± 5.7, p < 0.001). On receiver operation characteristic curve analysis, the optimal cut-off value for differentiating APE from NSTEMI was 1.12 mg/L for D-dimer (sensitivity 81.1%, specificity 70.2%), 0.72 ng/mL for TnI (sensitivity 80.6%, specificity 78.9%), and 1.82 for D-dimer/TnI ratio (sensitivity 93.3%, specificity 86.6%). CONCLUSIONS D-dimer/TnI ratio would be a simple and useful parameter for differentiating APE with cardiac troponin elevation from NSTEMI. Optimal cardiovascular imaging to identify APE should be considered in patients with D-dimer/TnI ratio > 1.82 before performing coronary angiography to avoid unnecessary invasive procedure.