• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.147-156
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• 2007

Purpose: Any battery impacted in the esophagus must be removed urgently because of the possibility of serious complications such as perforation, fistula, and mediastinitis. The use of endoscopic procedures was compared to find the most rapid, effective, and safe method to remove disk batteries. Methods: The cases of 24 children (9 males, mean age, 1.5 years) that had accidentally ingested disk batteries were reviewed. The patients had visited the Department of Pediatrics, Kyungpook National University Hospital from July 1997 to June 2007 for the removal of disk batteries. Endoscopic removal was attempted using a retrieval net or a magnetic extractor with a balloon (condom). The procedure times for removing the ingested battery were compared. Results: Children that ingested batteries with a larger diameter (20 mm) had a greater chance to have esophageal impaction with serious injury, such as esophageal mucosal necrosis or ulcers, as compared to the ingestion of smaller diameter batteries (10 mm) (p<0.01). Endoscopic removal of disk batteries was attempted either using a retrieval net in 10 children or by using a magnetic extractor with a balloon in 6 children. Endoscopic removal using a retrieval net was more effective (mean procedure time: 1.5 min) as compared to using a magnetic extractor with a balloon (mean procedure time: 3.3 min) (p<0.05). Conclusion: Both procedures, either using a retrieval net or a magnetic extractor with a balloon were effective in removing ingested disk batteries. Based on our experience, an endoscopic procedure using a retrieval net was a more effective method for foreign body removal.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.19 no.2 s.20
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• pp.193-202
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• 1986

The activities of general physicians (GPs) in health subcenters and their competency for clinical skills were assessed to develop a scheme to improve the training program. One hundred-twenty GPs in southern four provinces (Kyungpook, Kyungnam, Chunpook, Chunnam) were randomly selected and 97 were interviewed between January 9 and February 10, 1984. Of the 97 GPs, 86 provided all the information we requested. Average number of patient visits per health subcenter in a day was 30-40 in the demonstration project area for the class II medical insurance whereas it was 3-4 visits in other area. The interviewees were asked to rate their competency in 63 clinical skills. The skills in which over 50% of the interviewees rated themselves competent were only 12 items including IM injection, IV injection, wound dressing, etc. Less than 10% of the interviewees rated themselves competent in such skills as maternal health care, emergency medical care, preventive and promotive health services. Most part of the training program of the NIH for the GPs were not applicable to their field work as the training contents were unrealistic. Clinical training at a local general hospital was of great help in 38.8% and the rest of training was not much helpful as the training was inadequate due to lack of trainer or indifference of the trainer. For more effective training of the GPs, the training program of the NIH should be modified to be more realistic and utilize competent field workers as the instructors. It may be more effective if the training is carried out at several local centers. Ideal length of the clinical training for the GPs is 4 months. A pocketbook should be developed that includes specific skills to master during the clinical training and require the trainer to confirm the achievement. The Ministry of Health and Social Affairs should provide the training hospitals with a training guideline and evaluate the training activities and make sure that the training hospital has specialist for each of the 4 major clinical departments. The Ministry of Health and Social Affairs should provide the GPs with a continuing education to assist the problem solving in the field and motivate them to actively carry out the health program. A province may be divided into several regions and a supervisory committee may be organized with specialists in each region. The committee may hold a meeting for the GPs periodically and respond to the specific questions of the GPs by mail.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.197-205
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• 2009

The purpose of this study was to investigate the treatment pattern of patients with neuropathic pain (NeP) in Korea through computerized database of Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service (HIRAS) over three years' period from 2003 to 2005. The results showed that the numbers of treatment visits were the highest for diabetic neuropathy (DN), followed by postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) and trigeminal neuralgia (TN) in order. Top 3 specialties for treatment visits due to NeP conditions were neurology, neurosurgery and anesthesiology. While cost of a treatment visit was higher in anesthesiology and emergency clinics compared to other clinics, there was a tendency to increase costs for visits to clinics of rehabilitation medicine and family medicine over the three years. Cost of dental visits was relatively high for TN, atypical facial pain (AFP) and atypical odontalgia (AO). Surgeries frequently applied to patients with NeP were sympathetic plexus or ganglion block, block of peripheral branch of spinal nerve and cranial nerve or its peripheral branch block. Most common prescribed medication were anticonvulsants, anti-inflammatory analgesics and anti-psychotic drugs while anti-inflammatory analgesics were overwhelmingly frequently prescribed for AO and glossodynia. Based on the results of this study, NeP disorders more relevant to dentists were AO, TN and AFP, TN of which seems to be the most important in terms of patients' number and cost for treatment visits. This indicates that dentists, especially oral medicine specialists should actively participate in management of TN, AO and AFP and share relevant information with patients and community.