• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• 제18권2호
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• pp.155-160
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• 2005

Background: Falls are a major cause of emergency room visits. Injury secondary to falls is a largely preventable public health problem. This study helps to better understand the epidemiology of falls from height, then develops prevention strategies. Methods: We reviewed the medical records of 192 patients admitted to the emergency department of Konyang university hospital with a history of falls from January 2004 to December 2004. Collected data included the patient's age, gender, height of fall and method, outcome of management, Injury Severity Score(ISS). Results: According to the characteristics of height of fall, the ISS was higher when the patient fell from height of 2 meters or more($13.79{\pm}12.17$) than not($8.13{\pm}9.25$)(p<0.05). There were positive correlation between mean age and ISS(p<0.001, r=0.7). To gender, ISS was higher in the male group($12.73{\pm}11.78$) than the female group($8.48{\pm}10.00$)(p<0.05). Conclusion: Falls often results from multiple concurrent problems including environmental and behavioral factors. This study suggests that we need to improve the occupational environment, especially above 2meters, for decreasing injuries of fall from heights. Also we consider the prevention of children from injuries of fall from heights.

• 대한임상독성학회지
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• 제14권1호
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• pp.47-53
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• 2016

Purpose: Intentional poisoning is a major public health issue in many parts of the world. This study was conducted to provide details regarding the epidemiology of intentional poisoning in a metropolitan emergency department and to identify the changing patterns and epidemiology of poisoning. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted to evaluate intentional poisoning of patients who visited the emergency department in a tertiary teaching hospital between 2001 and 2015. All intentional poisoning-related emergency department visits over three five year periods (2001-2005 (P1), 2006-2010 (P2) and 2011-2015 (P3)) were reviewed to investigate trends in intentional poisoning patients. Information regarding patient sex, age, time from episode to admission, psychiatric history, type of intoxicants, alcohol co-ingestion, gastric lavage, charcoal administration, any previous suicide attempts, need for hospitalization and death before discharge was reviewed. Results: A total of 1269 patients were enrolled in this study. The number of patients admitted during each period was P1=515, P2=439 and P3=315. Comparison of the three groups revealed significant differences according to age (p<0.001), psychiatric history (p<0.001), alcohol co-ingestion (p=0.013), gastric lavage (p<0.001), charcoal administration (p<0.001), need for hospitalization (p=0.044), repeated attempt (p<0.001) and type of intoxicants (p<0.001). Conclusion: The average age of intentional poisoning patients has increased. While the use of sedatives and multiple drugs increased, the use of pesticides and the antihistamine decreased.

• 대한임상독성학회지
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• 제16권1호
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• pp.15-24
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• 2018

Purpose: This study was conducted to analyze the factors associated with intoxicated patient's disposition in the pediatric emergency department. Methods: We retrospectively evaluated pediatric intoxicated patients visiting the pediatric emergency department of a hospital between January 1, 2011 and December 31, 2013. Specifically, we analyzed the association between hospitalization recommended rate and the following variables: patient age group, symptoms, intentional poisoning, decontamination and toxic level of substance. Results: We collected data from 345 patients. A high incidence was noted in the 1-4 years of age group and 10-15 years of age group. Unintentional poisoning occurred in 306 patients (88.7%). A total of 115 patients (33.3%) had symptoms when visiting. Forty three patients (12.5%) ingested cleaning substances, which was the most common agent. Potentially-toxic level was the most common level of the substance. The hospitalization recommended rate associated with visits in 2011 was 2.5 times greater than in 2012 and 2013, decontamination was 2.0 times greater than no decontamination, and poisoning with potentially-toxic substances was 2.6 times greater than poisoning with other toxic substances. Additionally, the hospitalization recommended rate associated with symptomatic patients was 2.4 times greater than that of asymptomatic patients and intentional poisoning was 2.4 times greater than unintentional poisoning. Conclusion: Patients with decontamination, ingestion of potentially-toxic substances, symptoms and intentional poisoning had increased hospitalization rates. In addition, the hospitalization rate for patients who visited in 2011 was greater than that of patients who visited in 2012 or 2013.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• 제4권1호
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• pp.54-62
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• 2001

목 적: 응급실을 내원한 환아들에 대한 보고들 가운데 소화기질환 환아들의 응급실 이용양상에 대한 연구는 미미한 실정이다. 이에 저자들은 소아과의사가 응급실에서도 흔히 보게 되는 비외과적 소화기질환 환아들의 응급실 이용양상에 대한 기초자료를 제공하고자 하였다. 대상 및 방법: 1998년 1월 1일부터 1999년 12월 31일까지 만 2년간 서울적십자병원 응급실에 내원한 (15세 미만의) 환아 중 비외과적 소화기질환 환아 1,228명을 대상으로 응급일지 및 병력일지를 근거로 하여 초진여부, 성, 연령, 계절, 질병종류, 내원시간, 체류시간, 입원율 등 응급실 이용에 관한 사항들을 전향적으로 관찰 조사하였다. 결 과: 1) 초진 환아는 60.7%이었고 1세에서 3세 사이의 환자가 30.7%로 가장 많았으며, 학동 전기인 6세 미만은 80.4%를 차지하였다. 남녀비는 1.3대 1이었다. 2) 월별 계절별로 비교적 고른 분포를 보이고 있으나 동절기와 하절기에 비교적 많았으며 내원시간은 오후 8시에서 자정까지가 35.9%로 가장 많았고 오전 4시에서 7시까지가 7.6%로 가장 적었다. 3) 체류시간은 30분에서 1시간 사이가 46.1%로 가장 많았으며 2시간 이내가 95%를 차지했는데 전체환아의 평균 체류시간은 0.86시간이었다. 4) 질환별 분포에서 급성 위장관염이 44.3%로 제일 많았고 분변폐색 및 변비 21.3%, 급성 위염16.4%, 장중첩증 4.6%, 영아 산통 4.3%, 장염 3.6%, 장폐색 1.1%, 장경련 0.6%, 장간막 림프절염 0.5%, 기능성 위장장애 0.4%, 궤양 0.2%의 순이었으며 위장관 출혈, 식중독, 식도염은 각각 0.1%이었고 특별히 진단명을 추정하지 못했던 경우는 2.4%이었다. 5) 주요 질환 5가지의 연령별 분포를 살펴볼 때 급성 위장관염과 급성 위염은 1~2세 사이에서 각각 37.7%와 26.4%로 가장 빈도가 높은 데 비해서 분변폐색 및 변비는 3~5세에서 33.2%로 빈도가 가장 높았으며, 장중첩증은 1세 미만에서 54.4%로 가장 빈도가 높았고 영아 산통은 1세 미만에서 83.0%이었다. 월별 분포에서는 급성 위장관염과 급성 위염이 동절기인 12월에 각각 12.7%와 17.9%로 가장 빈도가 높았으며 분변폐색 및 변비는 11월에 13.4%, 6월에 12.2%로 동절기와 하절기에 빈도가 높았고, 장중첩증은 5월에 24.6%로 가장 빈도가 높았으며 영아 산통은 비교적 고른 분포를 보였으나 7월과 9월에 동일하게 13.2%로 가장 빈도가 높았다. 시간별 분포에서는 5가지 주요 질환 모두 오후 8시에서 자정 사이에 가장 많았다. 6) 입원은 19.6%를 차지했으며 치료 후 귀가는 80.0%이었고 전원은 0.1%이었으며 사망은 한 명도 없었다. 결 론: 응급실에 내원한 비외과적 소화기질환 환아는 보호자에게나 담당 소아과 의사에게나 가볍게 여겨질 수 없는데 전체적인 분포는 이전의 연구에서와 큰 차이가 없었지만 각각의 질병에 따른 분포에는 차이가 있었다.

• 대한임상독성학회지
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• 제15권1호
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• pp.51-55
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• 2017

Colchicine is a drug that has long been used to treat a variety of illnesses; however, it reportedly has adverse effects at apparent toxic doses as well as at lower and therapeutically recommended doses. The typical therapeutic dose of colchicine is up to 2.4 mg daily, although it is sometimes as high as 8-10 mg daily. Here, we describe a case in which the patient showed sudden deterioration and died because of unintentional colchicine poisoning with a relatively small dose. When a colchicine poisoned patient visits the hospital, the physician should identify the patient's colchicine poisoning dose and concomitant drugs. Moreover, the patients should be monitored intensively for 24 to 72 hours and managed with various supportive treatment methods early and actively.

• 대한임상독성학회지
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• 제21권2호
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• pp.92-107
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• 2023

Purpose: This study investigated the characteristics and treatment outcomes of patients who visited the emergency department due to intoxication and analyzed the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on their visits. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted using data from the National Emergency Department Information System (NEDIS) on patients who visited the emergency department due to intoxication between January 2014 and December 2020. In total, 277,791 patients were included in the study, and their demographic and clinical data were analyzed. A model was created from 2014 to 2019 and applied to 2020 (i.e., during the COVID-19 pandemic) to conduct a time series analysis distinguishing between unexpected accidents and suicide/self-harm among patients who visited the emergency department. Results: The most common reason for visiting the emergency department was unintentional accidents (48.5%), followed by self-harm/suicide attempts (43.8%). Unexpected accident patients and self-harm/suicide patients showed statistically significant differences in terms of sex, age group, hospitalization rate, and mortality rate. The time series analysis showed a decrease in patients with unexpected accidents during the COVID-19 pandemic, but no change in patients with suicide/self-harm. Conclusion: Depending on the intentionality of the intoxication, significant differences were found in the age group, the substance of intoxication, and the mortality rate. Therefore, future analyses of patients with intoxication should be stratified according to intentionality. In addition, the time series analysis of intentional self-harm/suicide did not show a decrease in 2010 in the number of patients, whereas a decrease was found for unintentional accidents.

• Child Health Nursing Research
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• 제14권2호
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• pp.146-154
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• 2008

Purposes: The purposes of this study are to describe the health problems experienced by VLBW premature infants and their health care services utilization during the first year of life Method: Eighteen mothers of VLBW premature infants completed a survey questionnaire, asking socioeconomic/demographic information, health/developmental problems experienced by their infants, and their use of health care services. Results: Of the 18 infants, 78% experienced respiratory problems such as cold/running nose and wheezing during the first year and 33% experienced gastrointestinal problems such as vomiting, diarrhea and constipation. Twelve (67%) infants visited the emergency department at least one time and 10 infants (56%) were hospitalized at least once during their first year of age. Interestingly, infants without chronic lung disease visited the emergency department more than infants without chronic lung disease (p=.213). Infants living in non-disadvantaged neighborhoods were hospitalized more than infants living in disadvantaged neighborhoods (p=.000). Conclusions: Health care providers should initiate educating mothers, particularly those living in disadvantaged neighborhoods, about post-NICU discharge health care needs of their VLBW premature infants while their infants were still in the NICU so that unnecessary visits to the emergency department and rehospitalizations can be possibly prevented.

• 대한통합의학회지
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• 제9권3호
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• pp.99-110
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• 2021

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to understand the experience and meaning of falls among care workers caring for the elderly. Methods: The participants comprised 10 care workers in Seoul and Gyeonggi Province, South Korea. The data collection period was from September to November 2020, and the data were obtained through individual in-depth interviews. The collected data were analyzed using the content analysis method of qualitative research. The main interview questions were as follows: First, in the event of a fall, "can you tell us about your experience and how you dealt with the fall?; second, "can you tell us about your role and the role of family members or the center that manages falls that occur outside of nursing visits.", third, "can you tell us about the difficulties in managing falls based on your experience?", and fourth, "how are falls that occur during nursing visits managed?" Results: As a result of analyzing the experiences of nursing care workers of falls while caring for elders in their homes, five main themes were derived. These were understanding the characteristics of the elderly at home, understanding possible emergency situations, providing caring services, minimizing physical harm, and delivering clear information. Conclusion: A significant finding of this study was that care workers who visit and provide care to elders at home confirmed the need for standard guidelines on appropriate responses in the event of a fall at home and the importance of managing emergencies arising from falls among elders at home. These results highlight the need for the development of emergency response education programs, such as programs on fall care among nurses and care workers who provide care to the elderly, and for enhanced understanding of the fall risk of elders who live at home.

• 대한임상독성학회지
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• 제18권2호
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• pp.110-115
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• 2020

Purpose: Acute kidney injury (AKI) in patients with glyphosate poisoning has a poor prognosis. This study aimed to predict the risk factors for AKI in patients with glyphosate poisoning at the emergency department (ED). Methods: Clinical data on glyphosate poisoning patients at ED who were older than 18 years were collected retrospectively between January 2013 and December 2019. The clinical characteristics and clinical outcomes of the AKI group in patients with glyphosate poisoning were compared with the non-AKI (NAKI) group. Results: Of 63 glyphosate poisoning patients, AKI was observed in 15 (23.8%). The AKI patients group showed the following: old age (p=0.038), low systolic blood pressure (p=0.021), large amount of ingestion (p=0.026), delayed hospital visits (p=0.009), high white blood cells (WBC) (p<0.001), high neutrophil counts (p<0.001), high neutrophil-lymphocyte (LN) ratios (p<0.001), high serum potassium (p=0.005), low arterial blood pH (p=0.015), and low pO2 (p=0.021), low bicarbonate (p=0.009), and high Poisoning Severity Score (PSS) (p<0.001). AKI patients required hemodialysis, ventilator care (p<0.001, p=0.002), and inotropics (p<0.001). They also showed more intensive care unit admission (p<0.001), longer hospitalization (p<0.001), and high mortality (p<0.001). Logistic multivariate regression analysis showed that high WBCs (OR, 1.223) and increased LN ratios (OR, 1.414) were independently associated with the occurrence of AKI. Conclusion: In patients with glyphosate poisoning at ED, high WBCs and increased LN ratios can help predict the occurrence of AKI.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• 제29권4호
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• pp.99-104
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• 2016

Purpose: There are many patients visited to ED in an alcohol intoxicated state. For these patients, it is difficult to predict by only clinical examination whether he/she would have brain lesion. The purpose of this study is to research whether it is possible to predict brain lesion by only clinical examination findings, with comparing patients with/without actual brain lesions. Methods: A retrospective study was performed at a university hospital for the period 11 months with the medical records. As for the inclusion group, head trauma patients with objectively proved drunk, judging by their blood ethanol concentration, and performed the brain CT were selected. In terms of medical record, Glasgow coma scale (GCS), the presence of neurologic abnormalities, the presence of lesion on brain CT of the patients, were examined. From laboratory results, blood ethanol concentration, platelet count, prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) and glucose concentration were identified. Results: For this study, there were total 80 patients of inclusion group. There was no statistically significant difference in terms of GCS score and neurological examination abnormalities, between the group with brain lesion and the group without brain lesion on brain CT. Conclusion: Alcohol intoxicated patient with head trauma visits the ED, it is not possible to distinguish or determine whether brain lesion exists or not by only clinical findings. In order to check the lesion existence, the image examination, therefore, should be considered and performed.