• Journal of The Korean Society of Emergency Medicine
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.430-436
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• 2018

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether or not the d-dimer level indicating hyperfibrinolysis could be a predictor of early poor outcome (massive transfusion, death within 24 hours) associated with trauma-induced coagulopathy in blunt trauma without significant brain injury. Methods: This study was a retrospective observational study using 516 blunt trauma patients without significant brain injury. The poor outcome group, including patients receiving massive transfusion and those who died within 24 hours, consisted of 33 patients (6.4%). The variables were compared between the poor outcome group and good outcome group, and logistic regression analysis was performed using statistically significant variables. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed to evaluate the poor outcome prediction ability of the initial d-dimer level. Results: The poor outcome group showed more serious anatomical, physiological, and laboratory data than the good outcome group. In the ROC curve analysis for evaluation of the poor outcome prediction of the d-dimer level, the area under the curve value was 0.87 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.84-0.90) while the cut-off value was 27.35 mg/L. In the logistic regression analysis, the high d-dimer level was shown to be an independent predictor of poor outcome (adjusted odds ratio, 14.87; 95% CI, 2.96-74.67). Conclusion: The high d-dimer level (>27.35 mg/L) can be used as a predictor for the poor outcome of patients with blunt trauma without significant brain injury.

• Quality Improvement in Health Care
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.12-24
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• 2015

Purpose: The need for the rapid evaluation and treatment of emergency department patients with major trauma is essential. A computerized physician order entry (CPOE) system can improve communication and provide immediate access to information with the goal of reducing ED time delays. The aim of this study was to report on the operation of a trauma CPOE program and demonstrate its usefulness by comparing time intervals from ED arrival to various evaluation steps before and after implementation of the program. Methods: This was a before-and-after observational study from a single emergency department at an academic center. The CPOE program was implemented for 6 months and compared with the data collected from the pre-CPOE implementation period. The efficacy of the program was assessed by comparing the time difference before and after CPOE implementation based on the following factors: total boarding time in ED, door-to-disposition decision time, door-to-blood-test report time, door-to-X-ray time, door-to-CT time, and door-to-transfusion time. Results: Over a period of 6 months, the CPOE was activated for a total of 17 patients. Total boarding time was reduced significantly after implementation [median, 641.5 minutes (IQR, 367.3-859.3) versus289.0 minutes (IQR, 140.0-508.0) for pre-CPOE vs. post-CPOE, respectively, p< 0.05). Time intervals for all evaluation steps were reduced after implementation of the program. The improvements in the door-to-blood-test and door-to-CT times were both statistically significant. Conclusion: This study demonstrated that a standard CPOE system can be successfully implemented and can reduce ED time delays in managing trauma patients.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.500-506
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• 2018

This study analyzed current prehospital emergency care for severe trauma patients administered by different number of 119 EMS (emergency medical services) teams. Out of 1,067 severe trauma patients transferred by 119 EMS teams in J province from January 1st to December 31st 2015, 438 were evaluated in this study. IBM SPSS Statistics 21.0 was used to analyze collected data. The number of patients with severe trauma during the period of study was higher in male with two and three ambulance crews of 119 EMS teams with 242 patients (70.6%) and 66 patients (69.5%) respectively. The percentage of transfers made to local emergency medical centers was highest in those two groups, being 44.0% (151 patients) and 49.5% (47 patients), respectively. Total time spent at the scene did not differ between ambulance crews of two and three, nor did the frequency of practicing advanced airway management and IV (intravenous) cannulation, or the success rate of IV cannulation (p=0.253, p=0.362, p=1.000). Overall, the results indicated that merely increasing the number of paramedics does not improve the quality of prehospital care for severe trauma patients. Measures such as securing professional paramedics, simplifying direct medical oversights, activating indirect medical oversights, and expanding the legally allowed work scope are required.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.178-187
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• 2012

Purpose: In Korea, the nation's medical expenses were 12 billion won in 2010. The medical costs for individuals can also be overwhelming. If a patient has sustained severe trauma, his/her insurance company responsible may pay only part of the medical bills. In Korean, there are diverse types of medical insurance, such as health insurance, automobile insurance, and industrial accident compensation insurance. And each insurance system has a different type of payment system. Our study will be essential for establishing the optimal medical expense payment system. Methods: From January to December 2011, we retrospectively reviewed the medical charts of 161 patients who were admitted to our hospital's emergency room after having undergone severe trauma. Of those 161 patients, 125 were retrospectively reviewed. Written permission was obtained from all of the patients. We analysed the demographic characteristics, clinical outcomes, data of the trauma, type of the patient's insurance, and the entire bill when the patient was discharged. Results: Seventy-one patients had health insurance, 48 automobile insurance, and six industrial accident compensation insurance. High-deductible insurance included health insurance and industrial accident compensation insurance, with the deductibles up to 20.6% and 19.1%, respectively. We attempted to analyze the cause of the high deductible rate. In patients with health insurance, medicines, primarily sedatives, pain killers, antibiotics, and fluids. comprised a large proportion. On the other hand, industrial accident compensation insurance deducted for a high-grade hospital room charge. Conclusion: We found that medical expenses were diverse according to the type of insurance. In particular, health insurance forced patients to pay too much of the medical expenses. Therefore, in Korea we should try to identify the insurance problems and improve the wage system.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.108-114
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• 2022

Purpose: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has had major effects worldwide, including sudden and forceful setbacks to the healthcare system. The COVID-19 pandemic has also led to changes in the plastic and reconstructive management of emergency cases, including those due to road traffic accidents. This study analyzed changes in patterns of plastic surgery emergencies and modifications in consultation policies to minimize the exposure of healthcare workers. Methods: Data on plastic surgery emergency calls received from the trauma and emergency department were collected for a period of 2 months before and during lockdown. The data were then analyzed with respect to the cause, mechanism, and site of the injury, as well as other variables. Results: During lockdown, there was a 40.4% overall decrease in the plastic surgery emergency case volume (168 vs. 100). The average daily number of consultations before lockdown was 2.8 as compared to 1.6 during lockdown. Road traffic accidents remained the most common mechanism of injury in both groups (45.8% vs. 39.0%) but decreased in number during the lockdown (77 vs. 39). Household accidents, including burns, were the second most common cause of injury in both phases (7.7% vs. 20.0%), but their proportion increased significantly from 7.7.% to 20.0% in the lockdown phase (P=0.003). The percentage of minor procedures done in the emergency department increased from 53.5% to 72.0% during lockdown (P=0.002). Procedures in the operating room decreased by 73.1% during lockdown (67 vs. 18, P=0.001). Conclusions: The COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown orders in India greatly influenced trends in traumatic emergencies as observed by the plastic surgery team at our tertiary care center. Amidst all the chaos and limitations of the pandemic period, providing safe and prompt care to the patients presenting to the emergency room was our foremost priority.

• Korean Journal of Cleft Lip And Palate
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.49-58
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• 2017

We report the rehabilitation of Class II malocclusion with multiple teeth fracture due to trauma. A multidisciplinary team approach was necessary to treat patient's problems such as bone fracture, malocclusion, and multiple teeth fracture. Emergency conservative treatment, orthodontic treatment and prosthetic restoration successfully restored the occlusion. However, special considerations were needed along the orthodontic treatment process due to the unexpected complications such as ankylosis, root resorption and detection of additional teeth fractures.

• Quality Improvement in Health Care
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.42-57
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• 2014

Objective: The objective of this research was to develop a guideline for more effective use of physical restraint on patients in the intensive care unit and training the nurses on it and applying it on clinical practice to assess its effectiveness. Method: This research analyzed the before and after effect of the development of a guideline for physical restraint by dividing the category into nurse and patient. In the case of nurse, a comparison of knowledge and nursing service regarding the use of physical restraint from before the training on physical restraint guideline(Jan. 2011) and after the training on physical restraint guideline(Dec. 2011) was made. In the case of patient, a comparison of physical restraint usage rate and average usage time, the number of unplanned extubation cases were compared from before the use of physical restraint (Jan.~Apr. 2011) and after the use of physical restraint (Sep.~Dec. 2011) were made. Result: After the training on the physical restraint guideline, the knowledge of the nurse and the nursing practice showed notable improvement by (p<0.000) and (p<0.048) respectively and in patient, physical restraint usage rate and average time of usage decreased by (p<0.001) and (p<0.001) respectively. And despite the decrease in the number of cases in which the physical restraint was used, the number of unplanned extubation cases remained the same. Conclusion: Physical restraint guideline training and guideline usage can be stated to have brought out positive effect in both the nurse and patient. In order to maintain such positive effects, continuous training is necessary and continuous revaluation is necessary, regarding knowledge and nursing practices.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.224-227
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• 1993

We experienced one case of orthotopic cardiac transplantation in a patient with end stage dilated cardiomyopathy. This 50 year-old female recipient was suffered from NYHA functional class IV cardiac failure and dependent upon intravenous inotropic support for 2 months [recipient category 1]. Her preoperative condition was grave with left ventricular ejection fraction of 20% and estimated systolic pulmonary arterial pressure [from Doppler study] was 50mmHg. The brain-dead donor was 31 year-old male with head trauma. The body sizes [weight, height] of the donor/recipient were 70 Kg, 165 cm / 43 Kg, 160 cm and appropriately overmatched. Preoperatively, identical ABO/Rh blood group [A+] and nonreacting HLA crossmatching were confirmed. On November 11 1992 cardiac transplantation was performed without complication. Multiple organ procurement team and heart transplantation team were organized the operation schedule appropriately to minimize the ischemic time. The pump time was 126 minutes and aortic crossclamping time of recipient heart was 73 minutes and, as a result, total ischemic time of the transplanted heart was 75 minutes. Postoperatively, the vital signs were stable with minimal inotropic support. The immunosuppressive therapy was commenced from preoperatively and cyclosporine, azathioprine, and corticosteroid were used as a combination therapy as scheduled and monitored with blood drug concentration, WBC count, renal function and most importantly regular endomyocardial biopsy.Now, 5 months after transplantation, the patient is in NYHA functional class II with minimal cardiac drug support.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.55 no.1
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• pp.85-100
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• 2022

Purpose: This study is aimed to examine the association between initial enteral nutrition (EN) and the clinical prognosis among patients with severe and multiple traumatic injuries, and to investigate whether this association is modified by the patients' catabolic status. Methods: This was a retrospective study of 302 adult patients with severe and multiple traumatic injuries admitted between January 2017 and September 2020 at Ajou University hospital in Suwon, Korea. The initial nutritional support by EN and parenteral nutrition were monitored up to day 7 after admission. Patients were classified into "No", "Low", and "High" EN groups according to the level of initial EN. Multivariable-adjusted logistic regression and linear regression models were used to estimate the association of the initial EN levels at hospital admission with the risk of mortality, morbidities, and levels of nutrition-associated biochemical markers. Results: High EN support was associated with reduced mortality (odds ratio, 0.07; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.02, 0.32) and lower levels of C-reactive protein (β, -0.22; 95% CI, -8.66, 1.48), but longer stay in the intensive care unit (β, 0.19; 95% CI, 1.82, 11.32). In analyses stratified by catabolic status, there were fewer incidences of hospital-acquired infections with increasing EN levels in the moderate or higher nitrogen balance group than in the mild nitrogen balance group. Conclusion: Our observation of the inverse association between levels of initial EN administration with mortality risk and inflammatory markers may indicate the possible benefits of active EN administration to the recovery process of severe and multiple trauma patients. Further studies are warranted on whether the catabolic status modifies the association between the initial EN and prognosis.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.52 no.4
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• pp.414-416
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• 2012

A 38-year-old man fell from a chair with a chopstick in his hand. The chopstick penetrated his left eye. He noticed pain, swelling, and numbness around his left eye. On physical examination, a linear wound was noted at the medial aspect of the left eyelid. Noncontrast computed tomography (CT) study showed a linear hypodense structure extending from the medial aspect of the left orbit to the occipital bone, suggesting a foreign body. This foreign body was hyperdense relative to normal parenchyma. From a CT scan with 3-dimensional reconstruction, the foreign body was found to be passing through the optic canal into the cranium. The clear plastic chopstick was withdrawn without difficulty. The patient was discharged home 3 weeks after his surgery. A treatment plan for a transorbital penetrating injury should be determined by a multidisciplinary team, with input from neurosurgeons and ophthalmologists.