PURPOSE: Triage is an important process in a hospital emergency department (ED). The Korean Triage and Acuity Scale (KTAS)-based triage system was developed for use in Korean EDs as a triage tool. Nevertheless, there is limited evidence of its reliability in KTAS. This study assessed the KTAS reliability by comparing skilled nurses and poly-clinic students. METHODS: This study was a prospective study. All adult patients over the age of 15 years who visited the ED during the study period were included. The patients were triaged independently by a primary triage nurse and poly-clinic student using KTAS, and their scores were compared. RESULTS: A total of 168 patients were enrolled in this study. In the nurse group, 3%, 8.9%, 45.8%, 38.1%, and 4.2% were assigned to levels 1,2,3,4, and 5, respectively. In the poly-clinic group, 3.6%, 10.7%, 43.5%, 33.9%, and 8.3% were assigned to levels 1,2,3,4, and 5, respectively. The percentage of each level using KTAS was similar. Using the interrater agreement, the weighted Kappa was 0.721 (95% confidence interval, 0.215 to 1.000). CONCLUSION: KTAS appears to be a good tool for triaging patients according to the severity, and it is helpful to order the priority for utilization in a Korean ED.
Adult ; Emergencies* ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Humans ; Prospective Studies ; Severity of Illness Index ; Triage*

PURPOSE: Red cell distribution width (RDW) was introduced as a new biomarker for the prognosis of sepsis patients. In addition, the definition of sepsis has changed recently to sepsis-3 criteria. The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of RDW as a prognostic factor for sepsis-3 patients in the emergency department. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study of patients who were suspected of having sepsis between October, 2015 and April, 2016. The demographic data, comorbidities, blood test results, including RDW, lactate, C-reactive protein, and procalcitonin at admission, as well as the Mortality in Emergency Department Sepsis score were compared between the 30-day survivors and nonsurvivors. Analysis compared the areas under the receiver operator characteristic curves for 30-day mortality. Multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression analysis was performed to determine the risk factors for mortality. RESULTS: A total of 222 patients were included. The mean age was 75, 51.8% of the patient population was male, and the overall mortality rate was 16.7%. The non-survival group had higher RDW levels than the survivor group (14.5% vs 13.4%). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of RDW to predict mortality was 0.724. In a Cox proportional hazards analysis, RDW had 1.292 hazard ratio. Setting the RDW cutoff value to 14.3, we found that sensitivity and specificity of predicting mortality was 75.1% and 70.3%, respectively. CONCLUSION: It may be possible to use RDW to predict mortality in sepsis-3 patients.
C-Reactive Protein ; Comorbidity ; Emergencies* ; Emergency Service, Hospital* ; Erythrocyte Indices* ; Erythrocytes ; Hematologic Tests ; Humans ; Lactic Acid ; Male ; Mortality ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; ROC Curve ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Sepsis ; Survivors

Eosinophilic gastrointestinal disorder (EGID) is a rare disease in children that affects the bowel wall, with eosinophilic infiltration in the absence of any other causes for eosinophilia. The etiology remains unknown, but allergies and immunological imbalance are suspected triggers. We encountered a case of serosal EGID presenting as intractable vomiting and ascites in a 9-year-old girl, after influenza virus infection. Peripheral eosinophilia was not present. The diagnosis was confirmed by biopsy of the bowel wall through laparotomy and endoscopy, and controlled by 2 courses of steroid therapy due to recurring symptoms. Influenza virus infection was assumed to play a role in the onset of EGID through a Th2 response that stimulated eosinophilic infiltration in the GI tract. We therefore report this case along with a literature review.
Ascites* ; Biopsy ; Child ; Diagnosis ; Endoscopy ; Eosinophilia ; Eosinophils* ; Female* ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Influenza A virus ; Laparotomy ; Orthomyxoviridae ; Rare Diseases ; Serous Membrane ; Vomiting*

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: There has been no nationwide population-based study of the prevalence of self-perceived snoring/apnea in Korean adolescents. The purpose of this study was to estimate prevalence of self-perceived snoring/apnea in Korean high-school students and to evaluate their association with daytime sleepiness. METHODS: An online survey was used to investigate 12,672 students at 75 high schools across the 15 nationwide districts of South Korea. The variables were obtained using a self-reported questionnaire. The students answered questions about self-perceived snoring/apnea during the past 30 days. Daytime sleepiness was measured using a validated Korean version of the Epworth Sleepiness Scale, which was modified for adolescents. Covariates were the sex, school grade, frequency of self-perceived snoring/apnea, body mass index, sleep duration during a school day, and subjective perception of sleep duration. RESULTS: The prevalence of self-perceived snoring/apnea was 22.8% (26.4% for males vs. 18.8% for females, p<0.001) and 9.2% (10.5% for males vs. 7.7% for females, p<0.001). Obesity was significantly associated with self-perceived snoring [odds ratio (OR)=2.18, 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.94–2.46] and apnea (OR=1.57, 95% CI=1.33–1.86). Multivariate analysis showed that any frequency of self-perceived snoring/apnea was significantly associated with excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS). The OR of EDS increased significantly with the frequency of snoring and apnea. Female, sleep duration of <5 hours during a school day, and subjective perceptions of insufficient and considerable sleep durations were also significantly associated with EDS. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of self-perceived snoring/apnea was significantly higher in students who were male and obese. Students with self-perceived snoring/apnea exhibited more significant EDS and an increased risk of EDS as the frequency of snoring and apnea increased.
Adolescent ; Apnea* ; Body Mass Index ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Multivariate Analysis ; Obesity ; Prevalence* ; Snoring*

Systematic literature review. To review the evidence from high-quality studies regarding the treatment of neuropathic pain originating specifically from spinal disorders. In general, treatment guidelines for neuropathic pain cover all its various causes, including medical disease, peripheral neuropathy, and cancer. However, the natural history of neuropathic pain originating from spinal disorders may differ from that of the pain originating from other causes or lesions. An expert research librarian used terms related to neuropathic pain and spinal disorders, disc herniation, stenosis, and spinal cord injury to search in MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane CENTRAL for primary research from January 2000 to October 2015. Among 2,313 potential studies of interest, 25 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and 21 systematic reviews (SRs) were included in the analysis. The selection was decided based on the agreement of two orthopedic surgeons. There was a lack of evidence about medication for radiculopathy arising from disc herniation and stenosis, but intervention procedures, including epidural block, showed positive efficacy in radiculopathy and also limited efficacy in spinal stenosis. There was some evidence based on the short-term follow-up regarding surgery being superior to conservative treatments for radiculopathy and stenosis. There was limited evidence regarding the efficacy of pharmacological and electric or magnetic stimulation therapies for neuropathic pain after spinal cord injury. This review of RCTs and SRs with high-quality evidence found some evidence regarding the efficacy of various treatment modalities for neuropathic pain related specifically to spinal disorders. However, there is a need for much more supportive evidence.
Constriction, Pathologic ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Librarians ; Magnetic Field Therapy ; Natural History ; Neuralgia* ; Orthopedics ; Peripheral Nervous System Diseases ; Radiculopathy ; Spinal Cord Injuries ; Spinal Stenosis ; Surgeons

This study was performed to measure early changes in the serotype distribution of pneumococci isolated from children with invasive disease during the 3-year period following the introduction of 10- and 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs) in Korea. From January 2011 to December 2013 at 25 hospitals located throughout Korea, pneumococci were isolated among children who had invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD). Serotypes were determined using the Quellung reaction, and the change in serotype distribution was analyzed. Seventy-five cases of IPD were included. Eighty percent of patients were aged 3-59 months, and 32% had a comorbidity that increased the risk of pneumococcal infection. The most common serotypes were 19A (32.0%), 10A (8.0%), and 15C (6.7%). The PCV7 serotypes (4, 6B, 9V, 14, 18C, 19F, 23F, and 6A) accounted for 14.7% of the total isolates and the PCV13 minus PCV7 types (1, 3, 5, 7F and 19A) accounted for 32.0% of the total isolates. Serotype 19A was the only serotype in the PCV13 minus PCV7 group. The proportion of serotype 19A showed decreasing tendency from 37.5% in 2011 to 22.2% in 2013 (P = 0.309), while the proportion of non-PCV13 types showed increasing tendency from 45.8% in 2011 to 72.2% in 2013 (P = 0.108). Shortly after the introduction of extended-valent PCVs in Korea, serotype 19A continued to be the most common serotype causing IPD in children. Subsequently, the proportion of 19A decreased, and non-vaccine serotypes emerged as an important cause of IPD. The impact of extended-valent vaccines must be continuously monitored.
Adolescent ; Bacteremia/complications/diagnosis ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Hospitals ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Pneumococcal Infections/microbiology/*prevention & control ; Pneumococcal Vaccines/*immunology ; Republic of Korea ; Serotyping ; Streptococcus pneumoniae/*classification/isolation & purification ; Vaccines, Conjugate/*immunology

Ischemic stroke and myocardial infarction share common risk factors and pathophysiologic mechanisms. Unrecognized coronary artery disease typically occurs in 20-30% of patients with ischemic stroke, and its presence helps to predict the outcome. Coronary artery disease is also an important cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with ischemic stroke. Therefore, applying a screening test for asymptomatic coronary artery disease may be considered in ischemic stroke patients who have a high cardiovascular risk profile. Coronary computed tomography (CT) angiography, myocardial perfusion imaging, or stress echocardiography can be used as a screening test. Coronary CT angiography is recommended in the absence of allergy to contrast media and renal insufficiency.
Angiography ; Contrast Media ; Coronary Artery Disease* ; Coronary Vessels* ; Echocardiography, Stress ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Mass Screening* ; Mortality ; Myocardial Infarction ; Myocardial Perfusion Imaging ; Renal Insufficiency ; Risk Factors ; Stroke*

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Colonoscopic perforations have been managed with exploratory laparotomy, and have resulted in some morbidity and mortality. Recently, laparoscopic surgery is commonly performed for this purpose. The aim of this study was to compare the outcomes of several management strategies for iatrogenic colonoscopic perforations. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients who had been treated for colonoscopic perforation between January 2004 and April 2013 at CHA Bundang Medical Center in Korea. RESULTS: A total of 41 patients with colonoscopic perforation were enrolled. Twenty patients underwent conservative management with a success rate of 90%. Surgical management was performed in 23 patients including two patients who were converted to surgical management after the failure of the initial conservative management. Among 14 patients who underwent surgery at 8 hours after the perforation, there was no considerable difference in adverse outcomes between the laparotomy group and the laparoscopic surgery group. The medical costs and claim rate were 1.45 and 1.87 times greater in the exploratory laparotomy group, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Conservative management of colonoscopic perforation could be an option for patients without overt symptoms of peritonitis or with a small defect size. If surgical management is required, laparoscopic surgery may be considered as the initial procedure even with a delayed diagnosis.
Colonoscopy ; Delayed Diagnosis ; Humans ; Korea ; Laparoscopy ; Laparotomy ; Medical Records ; Methods* ; Mortality ; Peritonitis ; Retrospective Studies

A healthy 72-year-old male was referred to the emergency department (ED) for removal of a foreign body (FB) in the right bronchi from a local medical clinic. The FB was a dental part measuring 5×15 mm in size, which had been accidently aspirated into the lung during a dental procedure. On arrival at the ED, he only complained of mild chest discomfort, and there were no abnormal findings in on physical examination. ED physicians prepared bronchoscopic FB removal while the patient rested in bed. During the wait for bronchoscopy, the patient felt discomfort in the chest and epigastric area, and then he coughed forcefully and at the same time, epigastric thrust was performed with his fist. After several strong coughs with epigastric thrusts, the FB was expelled from his mouth. Chest roentgenogram showed no FB, and the patient was discharged from the ED with no complications. Bronchoscopy has been the only treatment option for bronchoscopic FB, and self-removal of FB is rare. This case report may be helpful to understanding a possible mechanism of self-clearance of FB in some healthy adult patients with a small-sized endobronchial FB.
Adult ; Aged ; Bronchi ; Bronchoscopy* ; Cough* ; Emergencies* ; Emergency Service, Hospital* ; Foreign Bodies* ; Humans ; Lung ; Male ; Mouth ; Physical Examination ; Thorax

PURPOSE: The predisposition infection response organ failure (PIRO) score has been developed to be used in the emergency department (ED) to risk stratify sepsis case but has not been well studied domestically. The aim of this study was to compare the usefulness between the PIRO score and the mortality in emergency department sepsis (MEDS) score in predicting the mortality of septic patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU). METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study of patients who were suspected to have sepsis and were admitted to the ICU via the ED during a period between January 2013 and June 2015. PIRO and MEDS scores were calculated from the ED data. A comparative analysis was performed the evaluate the areas under the receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curves for 28-day mortality. RESULTS: During the 30-month period, a total of 199 patients diagnosed with sepsis were enrolled. Fifty-seven patients (28.6%) died within 28 days of presentation. The PIRO score showed increasing mortality with higher scores. The area under the ROC curve (AUC) for mortality was 0.890 (95% confidence interval [CI]=0.830 to 0.950) for PIRO and 0.705 (95% CI=0.609 to 0.801) for MEDS score. CONCLUSION: The MEDS score in the ED did not predict mortality better than PIRO score. The PIRO score was a good predictor of the outcome for patients with suspected sepsis. We believe that the PIRO score may be the most useful and appropriate clinical prediction tool for patients with suspected sepsis in the ED.
Critical Care* ; Emergencies* ; Emergency Service, Hospital* ; Hospital Mortality ; Humans ; Intensive Care Units* ; Mortality* ; Organ Dysfunction Scores* ; Prognosis* ; Retrospective Studies ; ROC Curve ; Sepsis*