Background: and Purpose Previous research on patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) has shown a 0.5% incidence of major gastrointestinal bleeding (GIB) requiring blood transfusion during hospitalization. The existing literature has insufficiently explored the long-term incidence in this population despite the decremental impact of GIB on stroke outcomes. Methods: We analyzed the data from a cohort of patients with AIS admitted to 14 hospitals as part of a nationwide multicenter prospective stroke registry between 2011 and 2013. These patients were followed up for up to 6 years. The occurrence of major GIB events, defined as GIB necessitating at least two units of blood transfusion, was tracked using the National Health Insurance Service claims data. Results: Among 10,818 patients with AIS (male, 59%; mean age, 68±13 years), 947 (8.8%) experienced 1,224 episodes of major GIB over a median follow-up duration of 3.1 years. Remarkably, 20% of 947 patients experienced multiple episodes of major GIB. The incidence peaked in the first month after AIS, reaching 19.2 per 100 person-years, and gradually decreased to approximately one-sixth of this rate by the 2nd year with subsequent stabilization. Multivariable analysis identified the following predictors of major GIB: anemia, estimated glomerular filtration rate <60 mL/min/1.73 m2 , and a 3-month modified Rankin Scale score of ≥4. Conclusion Patients with AIS are susceptible to major GIB, particularly in the first month after the onset of AIS, with the risk decreasing thereafter. Implementing preventive strategies may be important, especially for patients with anemia and impaired renal function at stroke onset and those with a disabling stroke.

Background: and Purpose Previous research on patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) has shown a 0.5% incidence of major gastrointestinal bleeding (GIB) requiring blood transfusion during hospitalization. The existing literature has insufficiently explored the long-term incidence in this population despite the decremental impact of GIB on stroke outcomes. Methods: We analyzed the data from a cohort of patients with AIS admitted to 14 hospitals as part of a nationwide multicenter prospective stroke registry between 2011 and 2013. These patients were followed up for up to 6 years. The occurrence of major GIB events, defined as GIB necessitating at least two units of blood transfusion, was tracked using the National Health Insurance Service claims data. Results: Among 10,818 patients with AIS (male, 59%; mean age, 68±13 years), 947 (8.8%) experienced 1,224 episodes of major GIB over a median follow-up duration of 3.1 years. Remarkably, 20% of 947 patients experienced multiple episodes of major GIB. The incidence peaked in the first month after AIS, reaching 19.2 per 100 person-years, and gradually decreased to approximately one-sixth of this rate by the 2nd year with subsequent stabilization. Multivariable analysis identified the following predictors of major GIB: anemia, estimated glomerular filtration rate <60 mL/min/1.73 m2 , and a 3-month modified Rankin Scale score of ≥4. Conclusion Patients with AIS are susceptible to major GIB, particularly in the first month after the onset of AIS, with the risk decreasing thereafter. Implementing preventive strategies may be important, especially for patients with anemia and impaired renal function at stroke onset and those with a disabling stroke.

Background: and Purpose Previous research on patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) has shown a 0.5% incidence of major gastrointestinal bleeding (GIB) requiring blood transfusion during hospitalization. The existing literature has insufficiently explored the long-term incidence in this population despite the decremental impact of GIB on stroke outcomes. Methods: We analyzed the data from a cohort of patients with AIS admitted to 14 hospitals as part of a nationwide multicenter prospective stroke registry between 2011 and 2013. These patients were followed up for up to 6 years. The occurrence of major GIB events, defined as GIB necessitating at least two units of blood transfusion, was tracked using the National Health Insurance Service claims data. Results: Among 10,818 patients with AIS (male, 59%; mean age, 68±13 years), 947 (8.8%) experienced 1,224 episodes of major GIB over a median follow-up duration of 3.1 years. Remarkably, 20% of 947 patients experienced multiple episodes of major GIB. The incidence peaked in the first month after AIS, reaching 19.2 per 100 person-years, and gradually decreased to approximately one-sixth of this rate by the 2nd year with subsequent stabilization. Multivariable analysis identified the following predictors of major GIB: anemia, estimated glomerular filtration rate <60 mL/min/1.73 m2 , and a 3-month modified Rankin Scale score of ≥4. Conclusion Patients with AIS are susceptible to major GIB, particularly in the first month after the onset of AIS, with the risk decreasing thereafter. Implementing preventive strategies may be important, especially for patients with anemia and impaired renal function at stroke onset and those with a disabling stroke.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to identify prognostic factors related to outcomes of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest caused by pesticide poisoning. Methods: This retrospective observational study used countrywide population-based data from the Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest Surveillance of the Korean Centers for Disease Control and Prevention from January 2008 to December 2018. Adult out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) patients (over the age of 18) poisoned by a pesticide who experienced cardiac arrest and a subsequent return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) were included in the study. The primary outcome variables were prognostic factors related to survival at hospital discharge, and the secondary outcome variable was good neurological outcome (Cerebral Performance Categories 1 or 2) at hospital discharge. Results: Three hundred and three patients were enrolled in the study, and 48 (15.8%) survived until hospital discharge (the hospital discharge group), and 255 (84.2%) died in hospital (the in-hospital death group). Fifteen (4.9%) of the 303 study subjects had a good neurological outcome, and 288 (95.1%) had a poor neurological outcome. Multivariate logistic regression showed that sustained pre-hospital ROSC was significantly associated with survival to discharge (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]=3.186; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.436-7.068; P=0.004) and good neurological outcome (AOR=8.945; 95% CI, 2.974-26.907; P≤0.001). Conclusion Sustained pre-hospital ROSC is associated with a favorable outcome in cases of OHCA induced by pesticide poisoning.

Background: For acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients with history of prior stroke (PS) and diabetes mellitus (DM), intravenous recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (IV-tPA) therapy in the 3- to 4.5-hour window is off-label in Korea. This study aimed to assess the safety and efficacy of IV-tPA in these patients. Methods: Using data from a prospective multicenter stroke registry between January 2009 and March 2021, we identified AIS patients who received IV-tPA in the 3- to 4.5-hour window, and compared the outcomes of symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (SICH), 3-month mortality, 3-month modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score 0-1 and 3-month mRS distribution between patients with both PS and DM (PS/DM, n=56) versus those with neither PS nor DM, or with only one (non-PS/DM, n=927). Results: The PS/DM group versus the non-PS/DM group was more likely to have a prior disability, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, coronary heart disease and less likely to have atrial fibrillation. The PS/DM and the non-PS/DM groups had comparable rates of SICH (0% vs. 1.7%; p>0.999) and 3-month mortality (10.7% vs. 10.2%; p=0.9112). The rate of 3-month mRS 0-1 was non-significantly lower in the PS/DM group than in the non-PS/DM group (30.4% vs. 40.7%; adjusted odds ratio [95% confidence interval], 0.81 [0.41-1.59]). Conclusions In the 3- to 4.5-hour window, AIS patients with PS/DM, as compared to those with non-PS/DM, might benefit less from IV-tPA. However, given the similar risks of SICH and mortality, IV-tPA in the late time window could be considered in patients with both PS and DM.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the type of video laryngoscope training that is appropriate for emergency medical technicians (EMT) familiar with direct laryngoscopes, to prepare them for tracheal intubation while they are wearing personal protective equipment (PPE). Methods: Thirty-eight healthy EMTs were recruited. The participants underwent two tests with four different laryngoscopes: Macintosh, McGrath, Pentax Airway Scope (PENTAX-AWS), and A-LRYNGO. The first test was conducted just after a lecture without any hands-on workshops. The second test was conducted after a hands-on workshop. In each test, we measured the time required for tracheal intubation, intubation success rate, etc., and asked all the participants to respond to a short questionnaire. Results: The time to complete the insertion of the endotracheal tube with the Macintosh laryngoscope did not significantly change (P=0.098), but the rest of the outcomes significantly improved after the hands-on workshop (all P<0.05). Despite the unfamiliarity of the practitioners with video laryngoscopes and their wearing PPE, intubation-related performances were good with the two-channel type video laryngoscopes after the hands-on workshop (all P<0.05). Conclusion In preparation for an infectious disease pandemic such as the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), it would be reasonable to train EMTs who would be wearing PPE on the procedure for intubating a trachea with a channeltype video laryngoscope.

Considerable evidence has been published since the 2020 Korean Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Guidelines were reported. The International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation (ILCOR) also publishes the Consensus on CPR and Emergency Cardiovascular Care Science with Treatment Recommendations (CoSTR) summary annually. This review provides expert opinions by reviewing the recent evidence on CPR and ILCOR treatment recommendations. The authors reviewed the CoSTR summary published by ILCOR in 2021 and 2022. PICO (population, intervention, comparator, outcome) questions for each topic were reviewed using a systemic or scoping review methodology. Two experts were appointed for each question and reviewed the topic independently. Topics suggested by the reviewers for revision or additional description of the guidelines were discussed at a consensus conference. Forty-three questions were reviewed, including 15 on basic life support, seven on advanced life support, two on pediatric life support, 11 on neonatal life support, six on education and teams, one on first aid, and one related to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Finally, the current Korean CPR Guideline was maintained for 28 questions, and expert opinions were suggested for 15 questions.

In this report we present a case of disseminated diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) in a 79-year-old man affecting the bone, soft tissue, testis, and both kidneys, which are rarely affected sites. The formation of a large mass in the bone, soft tissue, and testis due to DLBCL is rarely seen nowadays. In this article, we describe the imaging findings and clinical significance of multifocal extranodal involvement in DLBCL, focusing on involvement of bone, soft tissue, and testis.

Objective: With the increased incidence and prevalence rates of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), emergency physicians (EPs) are expected to diagnose STEMI accurately and quickly based on electrocardiograms (ECGs) with minimal clinical information. However, a misdiagnosed ECG by EPs could be diagnosed as STEMI by a cardiologist. We evaluated the diagnostic performance of EPs in interpreting ECGs of STEMI in terms of the agreement of this diagnosis with that of a cardiologist. Methods: This study was performed using 122 de-identified ECGs of STEMI patients who had their diagnosis confirmed through emergent coronary arteriography and percutaneous coronary intervention. Three EPs and a cardiologist participated in the survey. For each ECG, physicians were asked, “Based on the ECG provided, is there ST elevation, ST depression, or no ST-segment change?” The overall agreement for ST change diagnosis between the EPs and a cardiologist was analyzed using Cohen’s kappa coefficient (κ). Fleiss’s kappa was used to determine the level of agreement of the three EPs. Results: There was a substantial level (k>0.6) of inter-rater agreement of the ECG interpretation (IRAE) between the EPs and the cardiologist and between the three EPs. However, in subgroups according to the culprit artery for the overall STEMI ECG, the level of IRAE between the EPs and a cardiologist and between the three EPs was substantially lower (k<0.6) when relating to the anteroseptal wall due to occlusion of the left anterior descending artery. Conclusion In evaluating STEMI ECGs, the accuracy of the EPs suggests a substantial level of IRAE relating to the lateral and inferior wall and a relatively low level of IRAE with respect to the anteroseptal wall.

Objective: This study aimed to analyze the association between the culprit artery and the diagnostic accuracy of automatic electrocardiogram (ECG) interpretation in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Methods: This single-centered, retrospective cohort study included adult patients with STEMI who visited the emergency department between January 2017 and December 2020. The primary endpoint was the association between the culprit artery occlusion and the misinterpretation of ECG, evaluated by the chi-square test or Fisher exact test. Results: The rate of misinterpretation of the automated ECG for patients with STEMI was 26.5% (31/117 patients). There was no significant correlation between the ST segment change in the four involved leads (anteroseptal, lateral, inferior, and aVR) and the misinterpretation of ECG (all P > 0.05). Single culprit artery occlusion significantly affected the misinterpretation of ECG compared with multiple culprit artery occlusion (single vs. multiple, 27/86 [31.3%] vs. 4/31 [12.9%], P = 0.045). There was no association between culprit artery and the misinterpretation of ECG (P = 0.132). Conclusion Single culprit artery occlusion might increase misinterpretation of ECG compared with multiple culprit artery occlusions in the automatic interpretation of STEMI.