• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.89-94
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• 2011

Purpose: A few studies have assessed the factors affecting the prognoses for major trauma patients and those improving the circumstances when dealing with the trauma system. In that light, we analyzed factors, such as pre-hospital factors, the time to admission, the length of stay in the emergency department (ED) and emergency operation, influencing the outcomes for trauma patients. Methods: The patients who visited our emergency department from April 1, 2009, to February 29, 2011, due to major trauma were enrolled in the study. The inclusion criterion was a revised trauma score (RTS) < 7 or injury severity score (ISS) ${\geq}$ 16. We used reviews of medical records, to analyze each step of emergency medical care with respect to patients' sex, age, visit time and visit date. Continuous variables were described as a median with an interquartile range, and we compared the variables between the survival and the mortality groups by using the Mann-Whitney U test. Fisher's exact test was used for nominal variables. Using the variables that showed statistical significance in univariate comparisons, we performed a logistic regression analysis, and we tested the model's adequacy by the using the Hosmer-Lemeshow method. Results: A total of 261 patients with major trauma satisfied either the RTS score criterion or the ISS score criterion. Excluding 12 patients with missing data, 249 patients were included in this study. The overall mortality rate was 16.9%. Time to ED arrival, time to admission, time of ED stay, RTS, ISS, and visit date being a holiday showed statistically significant differences between the survival and the mortality groups in the univariate analysis. RTS, ISS, length of ED stay, and visit date being a holiday showed statistical significance in the multivariate analysis. Conclusion: The mortality rate did not show a significant relationship with the time to ED arrival, use of 119, on time to admission. Rather, it elicited a quite significant correlation with the trauma scoring system (RTS and ISS), the time of ED stay, and the visit date being a holiday.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Illuminating and Electrical Installation Engineers
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.171-180
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• 2004

CDP(handoff Call Dropping Probability) and CBP(new Call Blocking Probability) have been used as two important call level QoS parameters in cellular mobile communications. But, many methods to reduce CDP without considering CBP have been studied, and hand-off call priority scheme has been introduced. But the use of hand-off call priority scheme increases CBP and decreases channel utilization rate depending on the number of reserved channel for priority. In this paper, we propose a CAC(Call Admission Control) algorithm with overflow and preemption to solve the problem caused by considering CDP and CBP in calculation of the number of channel reserved. The problem is the increase of CDP as the traffic load increases. In our CAC algorithm, hand-off call is permitted to use(overflow) unreserved and unused channel if there is no reserved and unused channel, and new call is permitted to use(preemption) the channel overflowed by hand-off call if there is no unreserved and unused channel. This mechanism of calculation of the number of reserved channel and CAC algorithm is expected to increase channel utilization rate, and can be applied to media-based QoS provision in cellular mobile communications.

• Quality Improvement in Health Care
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.96-108
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• 1994

Background: An appropriate use of hospital beds can improve productivity of hospital significantly. The authors' previous study revealed that approximately one third of Korean hospital bed days and one sixth of admissions were inappropriately used, when it was measured by Appropriateness Evaluation Protocol(AEP) and Delay Tool modified into Korean situation by the authors. This study aims to evaluate applicability of the instruments in a new hospital. More specifically the study aims to measure appropriateness of the instruments used by newly trained nurse reviewers at a new hospital setting. Methods: In order to evaluate applicability of these instruments, agreement rates of the scores recorded by newly trained nurse reviewers with by skilled nurse reviewer and also compared with the scores recorded by physician's implicit decision were assessed. Agreement rates were derived from concurrent application of AEP and Delay Tool to 52 admissions and 104 patient days from internal medicine, pediatrics, and general surgery of one university hospital. Overall agreement rate, specific nonacute agreement rate, and kappa statistics were used to indicate level of agreement. Results: Overall agreement rates on appropriateness between newly trained nurse reviewers and skilled nurse reviewer were 100% in admission and 98% in bed days. Overall agreement rates on reason for inappropriateness between newly trained nurse reviewers and skilled nurse reviewer were 96% in admission and 91% in bed days. Overall agreement rates between newly trained nurse reviewers and physician reviewer were 86% in admission and 87% in bed days. Conclusion: Results indicated that AEP and Delay Tool were applicable to a new hospital in detecting inappropriate utilization of beds and reasoning of the inappropriateness. These instruments could contribute to enhance efficiency of hospital use, through continuous monitoring of level of inappropriate hospital use at national or individual hospital level.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.370-376
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• 2011

Objective : Posttraumatic cerebral infarction (PTCI), an infarction in well-defined arterial distributions after head trauma, is a known complication in patients with severe head trauma. The primary aims of this study were to evaluate the clinical and radiographic characteristics of PTCI, and to assess the effect on outcome of decompressive hemicraniectomy (DHC) in patients with PTCI. Methods : We present a retrospective analysis of 20 patients with PTCI who were treated between January 2003 and August 2005. Twelve patients among them showed malignant PTCI, which is defined as PTCI including the territory of Middle Cerebral Artery (MCA). Medical records and radiologic imaging studies of patients were reviewed. Results : Infarction of posterior cerebral artery distribution was the most common site of PTCI. Fourteen patients underwent DHC an average of 16 hours after trauma. The overall mortality rate was 75%. Glasgow outcome scale (GOS) of survivors showed that one patient was remained in a persistent vegetative state, two patients were severely disabled and only two patients were moderately disabled at the time of discharge. Despite aggressive treatments, all patients with malignant PTCI had died. Malignant PTCI was the indicator of poor clinical outcome. Furthermore, Glasgow coma scale (GCS) at the admission was the most valuable prognostic factor. Significant correlation was observed between a GCS less than 5 on admission and high mortality (p<0.05). Conclusion : In patients who developed non-malignant PTCI and GCS higher than 5 after head injury, early DHC and duroplasty should be considered, before occurrence of irreversible ischemic brain damage. High mortality rate was observed in patients with malignant PTCI or PTCI with a GCS of 3-5 at the admission. A large prospective randomized controlled study will be required to justify for aggressive treatments including DHC and medical treatment in these patients.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.254-260
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• 2012

Purpose: Ongoing treatment and care, as well as initial stabilization, are required for trauma patients. With increasing number of sickest trauma patients and shortage of surgeons, the need for advanced practice nurse to provide and coordinate trauma care has been greater. The purpose of this study is to analyze the effect of hiring a trauma clinical nurse specialist and its influence on the treatment of trauma patients. Methods: Based on the employment of the clinical nurse specialist in December 2010, the patients were divided into two groups: patients admitted from January 1, 2010 to November 30, 2010 and patients admitted from December 1, 2010 to December 31, 2011. Retrospectively, data were collected using electronic medical records. The general characteristics, clinical courses, and ICU re-admission rates, collaboration (transfers to other departments and collaborative surgery) were compared. Results: To have a clinical nurse specialist on the trauma team resulted in a statistically significant reductions in the length of general ward hospital stay (p<0.05), the ICU re-admission rate, (p<0.03), the lead-time before transfer to other departments (p<0.05). Conclusion: The clinical nurse specialist, as a professional practitioner, improved the quality of treatment through early detection and management of problems. In addition, as a coordinator, the clinical nurse specialist maintained a cooperative relationship with multi-disciplinary medical personnel. The trauma clinical nurse specialist contributed to the treatment of trauma patients positively through a decrease in ICU re-admission rate and length of hospital stay.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.20-27
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• 2024

Purpose: Severe abdominal injuries often require immediate clinical assessment and surgical intervention to prevent life-threatening complications. In Jeju Regional Trauma Center, we have instituted a protocol for emergency department (ED) laparotomy at the trauma bay. We investigated the mortality and time taken from admission to ED laparotomy. Methods: We reviewed the data recorded in our center's trauma database between January 2020 and December 2022 and identified patients who underwent laparotomy because of abdominal trauma. Laparotomies that were performed at the trauma bay or the ED were classified as ED laparotomy, whereas those performed in the operating room (OR) were referred to as OR laparotomy. In cases that required expeditious hemostasis, ED laparotomy was performed appropriately. Results: From January 2020 to December 2022, 105 trauma patients admitted to our hospital underwent emergency laparotomy. Of these patients, six (5.7%) underwent ED laparotomy. ED laparotomy was associated with a mortality rate of 66.7% (four of six patients), which was significantly higher than that of OR laparotomy (17.1%, 18 of 99 patients, P=0.006). All the patients who received ED laparotomy also underwent damage control laparotomy. The time between admission to the first laparotomy was significantly shorter in the ED laparotomy group (28.5 minutes; interquartile range [IQR], 14-59 minutes) when compared with the OR laparotomy group (104 minutes; IQR, 88-151 minutes; P<0.001). The two patients who survived after ED laparotomy had massive mesenteric bleeding, which was successfully ligated. The other four patients, who had liver laceration, kidney rupture, spleen injury, and pancreas avulsion, succumbed to the injuries. Conclusions: Although ED laparotomy was associated with a higher mortality rate, the time between admission and ED laparotomy was markedly shorter than for OR laparotomy. Notably, major mesenteric hemorrhages were effectively controlled through ED laparotomy.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.113-122
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• 2006

Purpose: A retrospective study was performed to assess the efficacy and tolerance of ${\beta}-blocker$ administration in patients with heart failure and diabetes. Method: Records of 164 patients who were treated for the heart failure condition more than a year were studied retrospectively. Patients were divided into 4 groups based on their diabetes(DM) status and the administration of ${\beta}-blockers$ ($DM+{\beta}-blocker$ group: 14, DM w/o ${\beta}-blocker$: 19, No DM + ${\beta}-blocker$: 62, No DM + no ${\beta}-blocker$: 69). All patients had been receiving conventional therapy such as digoxin, ACE-I, ARB, diuretics, nitrates, aspirin, anticoagulants or lipid-lowering agents. The primary endpoints (death and hospital admission) were recorded during 1 year period and hemodynamic factors (HR, LVEF, SBP, DBP) were obtained from all patient groups before and after 12 months of ${\beta}-blocker$ treatment. To evaluate toxicity of ${\beta}-blocker$, SCr, BUN, AST, ALT and Alkaline phosphatase were obtained. Result: There were less death and hospital admission in DM + ${\beta}-blocker$ group than in DM without ${\beta}-blocker$ group (p=0.014). Relative risk of hospital admission for $DM+{\beta}-blocker$ group over no DM group was 1.17. Long term ${\beta}-blocker$ administration was associated with an improvement of heart rate in patients with DM (P< 0.02) with no significant improvement of LVEF, SBP, DBP. in DM patient. In patient without DM, ${\beta}-blocker$ was associated with improvement in LVEF, HR and DBP (P<0.01, P<0.03), but not in SBP. The incidence of toxicity was similar between the four group with no significant difference. Conculsion: Treatment of heart failure patients with ${\beta}-blocker$ appears to be beneficial in terms of hospital admission event and several hemodynamic factors. The toxicities of ${\beta}-blocker$ treatment were not significant and the treatment is generally well-tolerated in most of the heart failure patients.

• The Journal of Korean Institute of Communications and Information Sciences
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• v.34 no.6B
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• pp.595-604
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• 2009

The HCCA reserves the channel resources based on the mean data rate in IEEE 802.11e. It may cause either the waste of channel resource or the increase of transmission delay at MAC layer if the frame size is rapidly varied when a compressed mode video codec such as MPEG video is used. To solve these problems, it is developed that the packet scheduler allocates the wireless resource adaptation by according to the packet size. However, it is difficult to perform the admission control because of the difficulty with calculating the available resources. In this paper, we propose a CAC mechanism to solve the problem that may not satisfy the QoS by increasing traffic load in case of using EDCA. Especially, the proposed CAC mechanism calculates the EB of TSs using the traffic information transmitted by the application layer and the number of average transmission according to the wireless channel environment, and then determines the admission of the TS based on the EB. According to the simulation results of the proposed CAC mechanism, it admitted the TSs under the loads which are satisfied within the delay bound. Therefore, the proposed mechanism guarantees QoS of streaming services effectively.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.73 no.1
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• pp.38-47
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• 2012

Background: The prevalence rate of pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) is steadily decreasing in South Korea. However, PTB is a disease with relatively high mortality and morbidity rates throughout Korea. Although there are many studies and statistics about the risk factors of PTB mortality in many countries, there are only a limited number of domestic papers on this topic. The aim of this study is to determine predictive factors for mortality among in-hospital patients associated with PTB. Methods: From December 2006 to January 2011, we reviewed medical records of 2,122 adult patients diagnosed with tuberculosis at a single tertiary hospital in a suburban area. In this study period, 960 patients were diagnosed with PTB by positive Acid fast bacilli smear and/or mycobacterial culture of the respiratory specimen. We compared the groups of patients deceased and patients discharged alive with PTB. The number of dead patients was 82 (47 males, 35 females). Results: Mortality was significantly associated with increased values of white blood cells (WBC), blood urine nitrogen (BUN), creatinine, C-reactive protein (CRP), numbers of involved lung field, and length of hospitalization. Also, it was associated with the decreased values of hemoglobin, lymphocyte, sodium, albumin, and cholesterol. Furthermore, admission through the emergency department, initial intensive care unit admission, and drug resistant PTB affected mortality in PTB patients. Independent predictors associated with PTB mortality are BUN, initial intensive care unit care, and admission during treatment of tuberculosis. Conclusion: In our study, mortality of pulmonary tuberculosis was related with parameters associated with nutritional status, disease severity at the time of admission, and drug resistance.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Emergency Medicine
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.679-686
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• 2018

Objective: The aim of this study was to identify the clinical characteristics and risk factors associated with the admission of patients in the emergency department (ED) within 30 days after discharge. Methods: A retrospective, observational study was conducted on adult patients presenting with abdominal pain to the ED of a single, urban, university hospital, between January 2014 and December 2015, who revisited the ED within 30 days after discharge. Data was collected on the emergency severity index level, time to contact doctors, physical examination, laboratory tests, use of computed tomography (CT), and patient disposition on revisitation. The primary outcome was hospital admission following an ED revisit in the 30-day period after the first visit. Results: During the study period, 19,480 patients visited the ED with the chief complaint of abdominal pain, and 13,577 were discharged. A total of 251 patients (1.29%) revisited the ED within 30 days, of which 89 were eligible for the study. The primary outcome was associated with not performing a CT scan on the initial visit and an increased C-reactive protein (CRP) value. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed that a cut-off baseline CRP value of >0.35 mg/dL can predict the primary outcome with a sensitivity and specificity of 75% and 62.1%, respectively (area under the curve, 0.701; 95% confidence interval, 0.569-0.833; P=0.007). Conclusion: An increased CRP value and not performing abdominal CT were associated with a higher rate of admission following ED revisits of patients with abdominal pain. Future prospective studies on the role of abdominal CT imaging in patients presenting to the ED with abdominal pain will be needed.