Objective: This study was carried out to establish a basis for understanding and correcting the problems of the emergency physicians (EP) in Korea by examining the current status through the 2020 emergency physician survey conducted by the Korean Society of Emergency Medicine (KSEM). Methods: An online survey was conducted from January 15 to February 26, 2021, through a website and mobile application. The final questionnaire was classified into three types based on the clinical work in the emergency department (ED), current position, and the year of board certification. The contents of the questionnaire were organized into eight themes, and a subcommittee was put in charge of each. Results: Of the 400 emergency medical institutions surveyed, 295 hospitals (74.2%) had board-certified EPs, and 1,453 EPs (72.5%) out of 2,000 were working in the ED. Of these, on average, 7.2 EPs worked together, and they worked 11.6 days/153.1 hours per month and did night shifts 5.9 days per month. 30.7% showed excessive sleepiness during the day, and only 9.6% said that they could adhere to mealtimes. 27.1% responded that they suffered from depression. The level of satisfaction was 3.2 points, and 43.0% responded that they would choose emergency medicine (EM) again as their major. The most important factor in choosing EM was the availability of adequate free time. Their responses indicated that the retirement age was 59.7 years, and the upper age limit for the night shift was 54.3 years. Conclusion Though there have been improvements since the first survey in 2010, there was no notable increase in EP satisfaction. Therefore, appropriate future policies should be formulated and implemented based on these survey results.

Infective endocarditis (IE) is not a common cause of stroke. Considering the high mortality rates, however, IE should always be considered as a possible cause of stroke even when the chances are low. Atrioesophageal fistula is a life-threatening condition that can cause IE and subsequent stroke, but the diagnosis is often delayed due to its rarity. We report a case of multiple embolic infarcts caused by infective endocarditis associated with atrioesophageal fistula after radiofrequency catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation.
Atrial Fibrillation ; Catheter Ablation ; Diagnosis ; Endocarditis ; Esophageal Fistula ; Fistula ; Mortality ; Stroke

PURPOSE: Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) can be performed when node-positive disease is converted to node-negative status after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NCT). Tattooing nodes might improve accuracy but supportive data are limited. This study aimed to investigate the feasibility of charcoal tattooing metastatic axillary lymph node (ALN) at presentation followed by SLNB after NCT in breast cancers. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty patientswith cytology-proven node metastases prospectively underwent charcoal tattooing at diagnosis. SLNB using dual tracers and axillary surgery after NCT were then performed. The detection rate of tattooed node and diagnostic performance of SLNB were analyzed. RESULTS: All patients underwent charcoal tattooingwithout significant morbidity. Sentinel and tattooed nodes could be detected during surgery after NCT. Nodal pathologic complete response was achieved in 10 patients. Overall sensitivity, false-negative rate (FNR), negative predictive value, and accuracy of hot/blue SLNB were 80.0%, 20.0%, 83.3%, and 90.0%, respectively. Retrieving more nodes and favorable nodal response were associated with improved performance. The best accuracy was observed when excised tattooed node was calculated together (FNR, 0.0%). Cold/non-blue tattooed nodes of five patients were removed during non-sentinel axillary surgery but clinicopathological parameters did not differ compared to patients with hot/blue tattooed node detected during SLNB, suggesting the importance of the tattooing procedure itself to improve performance. CONCLUSION: Charcoal tattooing of cytology-confirmed metastatic ALN at presentation is technically feasible and does not limit SLNB after NCT. The tattooing procedure without additional preoperative localization is advantageous for improving the diagnostic performance of SLNB in this setting.
Breast Neoplasms* ; Breast* ; Charcoal* ; Diagnosis* ; Drug Therapy* ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes* ; Neoadjuvant Therapy ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Prospective Studies ; Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy* ; Tattooing*

Chronic cough is common in the community and causes significant morbidity. Several factors may underlie this problem, but comorbid conditions located at sensory nerve endings that regulate the cough reflex, including rhinitis, rhinosinusitis, asthma, eosinophilic bronchitis, and gastroesophageal reflux disease, are considered important. However, chronic cough is frequently non-specific and accompanied by not easily identifiable causes during the initial evaluation. Therefore, there are unmet needs for developing empirical treatment and practical diagnostic approaches that can be applied in primary clinics. Meanwhile, in referral clinics, a considerable proportion of adult patients with chronic cough are unexplained or refractory to conventional treatment. The present clinical practice guidelines aim to address major clinical questions regarding empirical treatment, practical diagnostic tools for non-specific chronic cough, and available therapeutic options for chronic wet cough in children and unexplained chronic cough in adults in Korea.
Adult* ; Asthma ; Bronchitis ; Child* ; Cough* ; Eosinophils ; Evidence-Based Medicine ; Gastroesophageal Reflux ; Humans ; Korea* ; Referral and Consultation ; Reflex ; Rhinitis ; Sensory Receptor Cells

Pachydermoperiostosis (PDP) is a primary hypertrophic osteoarthropathy characterized by digital clubbing, pachydermia, and periostosis, which is inherited as an autosomal dominant or recessive trait. We report on a patient suffering from bilateral knee arthritis for 6 years who was newly diagnosed as PDP. PDP was confirmed by bilateral digital clubbing, hyperhidrosis, and cutis verticis gyrata, findings of pachydermatosis on the forehead and scalp, X-ray findings of proliferative periostitis. This case indicates that PDP is one of several possible rare diseases that should be considered in patients with undifferentiated arthritis.
Arthritis* ; Forehead ; Humans ; Hyperhidrosis ; Knee ; Osteoarthropathy, Primary Hypertrophic* ; Periostitis ; Rare Diseases ; Scalp

Occupational lung diseases are caused by several toxic substances including heavy metals; however, the exact pathologic mechanisms remain unknown. In the workplace, dental technicians are often exposed to heavy metals such as cobalt, nickel, or beryllium and occasionally develop occupational lung diseases. We described a case of occupational lung disease in a patient who was employed as a dental technician for over a decade. A 31-year-old, non-smoking woman presented with productive cough and shortness of breath of several weeks duration. Chest computed tomography revealed a large number of scattered, bilateral small pulmonary nodules throughout the lung field, and multiple mediastinal lymph nodes enlargement. Percutaneous needle biopsy showed multifocal small granulomas with foreign body type giant cells suggestive of heavy metals inhalation. The patient's condition improved on simple avoidance strategy for several months. This case highlighted the importance of proper workplace safety.
Adult ; Beryllium ; Biopsy, Needle ; Cobalt ; Cough ; Dental Technicians* ; Dyspnea ; Female ; Foreign Bodies* ; Giant Cells, Foreign-Body ; Granuloma ; Humans ; Inhalation ; Lung ; Lung Diseases ; Lymph Nodes ; Metals, Heavy ; Nickel ; Thorax

Gastric mucosal damage by iron pills is often reported. However, iron pill aspiration is uncommon. Oxidation of the impacted iron pill causes bronchial mucosal damage that progresses to chronic bronchial inflammation, necrosis, endobronchial stenosis and rarely, perforation. We reported a case of a 92-year-old woman with chronic productive cough and significant left-sided atelectasis. Bronchoscopy revealed substantial luminal narrowing with exudative inflammation of the left main bronchus. Bronchial washing cytology showed necroinflammatory exudate and a small amount of brown material. Mucosal biopsy showed diffuse brown pigments indicative of ferrous pigments, crystal deposition, and marked tissue degeneration. After vigorous coughing, she expectorated dark sediments and her symptoms and radiological abnormalities improved. There are a few such reports worldwide; however, this was the first case reported in Korea. Careful observation of aspiration-prone patients and early detection of iron pill aspiration may prevent iron pill-induced bronchial injury.
Biopsy ; Bronchi ; Bronchoscopy ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Cough ; Exudates and Transudates ; Female ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Iron* ; Korea ; Necrosis ; Phenobarbital ; Pulmonary Atelectasis

Desmoid tumors are rare soft tissue tumors considered to have locally infiltrative features without distant metastasis until now. Although they are most commonly intraabdominal, very few cases have extra-abdominal locations. The origin of intrathoracic desmoid tumors is predominantly the chest wall with occasional involvement of pleura. True intrathoracic primary desmoid tumors with no involvement of the chest wall or pleura are extremely rare. We recently experienced a case of true intrathoracic desmoid tumor presenting as multiple lung nodules at 13 years after resection of a previous intraabdominal desmoid tumor.
Abdominal Wall* ; Fibromatosis, Aggressive* ; Lung* ; Multiple Pulmonary Nodules ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Pleura ; Thoracic Wall ; Thorax

Acute pancreatitis is an inflammatory disease that can extend to extra-pancreatic tissues and distant organs. Detecting the underlying cause is important because it helps provide an appropriate treatment plan and improve prognosis. An underlying cause cannot be identified after initial evaluation in 10-30% of patients with acute pancreatitis, and they are diagnosed with idiopathic acute pancreatitis. Here, we report a case of a 77-year-old woman with acute recurrent pancreatitis caused by a branch duct-type intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (IPMN) and an ampulla of Vater adenoma. Abdominal computed tomography and magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography revealed only IPMN. However, endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography revealed a mucosal abnormality of the ampulla of Vater. The mucosal abnormality was documented to be an ampulla of Vater adenoma with high-grade dysplasia.
Adenoma* ; Aged ; Ampulla of Vater* ; Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde ; Cholangiopancreatography, Magnetic Resonance ; Female ; Humans ; Mucins ; Pancreatitis* ; Prognosis