• The Korean Journal of Emergency Medical Services
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.205-221
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• 2021

Purpose: This paper is to determine whether automatic defibrillators (AEDs) deployed across communities make a contribution to prevent death in patients with acute cardiac arrest out-of-hospital. Methods: A total of 30,179 cases of cardiac arrest investigation data from the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention was matched to those on emergency medical statistics drawn from annual report for the 2018 Central Emergency Medical Center, and statistics from the National Statistical Office in 2018. Results: Multiple logistic regression analyses revealed that availability of emergency medical resources across associated with different survival rates at emergency room after taking variability of the patient's personal characteristics and episodic situational characteristics held constant. The survival rate was 1.71 times higher for patients living in communities with more than 105 AEDs avaiable per 100,000 inhabitants than for those living in communities with less than 55 AEDs. Conclusion: The survival-related factors of patients with acute cardiac arrest that occurred out-of-hospital were found to be associated with patients' and episodic situational characteristics. The hospital stage were found to be associated with patients characteristics and episodic situational characteristics, The variability of AED available in a community has an impact on survival rate after emergency room treatment.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.54-59
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• 2016

Purpose: This study was conducted to investigate the independent factors associated with the registration rate for the community-based post suicidal care program in the emergency department (ED). Methods: This prospective observational study was conducted between January and September 2015 at the academic ED in the tertiary urban hospital. The variables examined included gender, age, address, type of insurance, history of previous psychiatric disease, suicide methods, number of previous attempts, CES-D (The Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression Scale), and disposition at ED. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis were conducted to identify factors affecting the registration rate for the community-based post suicidal care program. Results: Overall, 331 suicides were investigated, 61 (18.4%) of which were registered in the post-suicide care program. Factors such as a intervention by psychiatric physician (OR: 3.287, 95%; CI: 1.207-9.624) and levels of depression by CES-D score of 16-24 (OR: 3.635; CI: 1.055-12.526) were significantly correlated with registration for the program. Conclusion: The registration rate for the community-based post suicidal care program was influenced by frequent intervention by a psychiatric physician and levels of depression by CES-D score of 16-24.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Emergency Medicine
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.474-484
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• 2018

Objective: The time to positivity (TTP) of blood culture reflects bacterial load and has been reported to be associated with outcome in bloodstream infections. This study was performed to evaluate the relationship between the TTP of blood culture and the mortality rates associated with sepsis and septic shock according to the site of infection. Methods: We performed a retrospective cohort study on patients with sepsis and septic shock. The rates of blood culture positivity and mortality as well as the relationship between the TTP and 28-day mortality rate were compared among patients with different sites of infection, such as the lungs, abdomen, urogenital tract, and other sites. Results: A total of 2,668 patients were included, and the overall mortality rate was 21.6%. The rates of blood culture positivity and mortality were different among the different infection sites. There was no relationship between the TTP and mortality rates of total, lung, and urogenital infections. Patients with abdominal infections showed a negative correlation between the TTP and 28-day mortality rate. In patients with abdominal infections, a TTP<20 hours was independently associated with 28-day mortality compared with patients with negative blood culture (hazard ratio, 1.73; 95% confidence interval, 1.16-2.58). However, there was no difference in mortality rates of patients with a $TTP{\geq}20$ hours and a negative blood culture. Conclusion: The shorter TTP in patients with abdominal infections in sepsis and septic shock was associated with a higher 28-day mortality rate.

• The Korean Journal of Emergency Medical Services
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.9-18
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• 2012

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to determine the changes that occur due to the real-time monitoring of paddle pressures which has an important influence on the defibrillation success rate in defibrillation treatment known as the only treatment for cardiac arrest patients with VF. Methods : 40 people participated in the cardiac arrest simulation training and played the role of the defibrillation operator. Investigators measured the pressure of paddle while defibrillating by using instrument which was developed by the investigator. Results : Through real-time monitoring of the paddle pressures of defibrillator by indicator, the front sternum paddle showed a 77.5% success rate and the apex paddle showed a 40% success rate. While the values without monitoring the paddle pressures, the front sternum paddle showed a 51% success rate and the apex paddle showed a 20% success rate. These experiment revealed statistically significant(p <.001) low success rate. Conclusion : The method of monitoring the paddle pressures during defibrillation showed that the paddle can be precisely gripped. The success rate of paddle pressures is significantly correlated with height, weight and grip strength.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.75-82
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• 2010

Purpose: In Korea, trauma is the $3^{rd}$ most common cause of death. The trauma treatment system is divided into pre-hospital and hospital stages. Deaths occurring in the pre-hospital stage are 50% of the total death, and 20% of those are deaths that are preventable. Therefore, the purpose of our study is to calculate the preventable death rates caused by trauma in our current pre-hospital system, to analyze the appropriateness of the treatment of traumatized patients and to draw a conclusions about the problems we have. Methods: The study was done on traumatized patients who expired at the emergency department from January 1, 2005, to December 31, 2009, at the Korea University Medical Centers in Anam, Guro and Ansan. The data on the patients were reviewed retrospectively based on characteristics, conditions on admission and trauma severity. The patient's RTS (revised trauma score) and ISS (injury severity score) was calculated. Preventable death rate was calculated by TRISS (the trauma score-injury severity score). Results: A total of 168 patients were enrolled. All patients were intubated and underwent CPR. Of the total, 72% patients were male, and traffic accidents were the most common form of trauma (52.4%), falls being second (28.6%). Head injury, solitary or multiple, was the most common cause of death (55.4%). Thirty-eight (38, 22.6%) deaths were preventable. The 22.6% preventable death rate consisted of 15.5% potentially preventable and 7.1% definitely preventable deaths. Based on a logistic regression analysis, the relationship between the time intervals until transfusion and imaging and death was statistically significant in the hospital stage. In the pre-hospital stage, transit time from the site of the injury to the hospital showed a significant relationship with the mortality rate. Conclusion: One hundred sixty-eight (168) patients died of trauma at the 3 hospitals of Korea University Medical Center. The TRISS method was used to calculate the preventable death rate, with a result of 22.6%. The only factor that was significant related to the preventable death rate in the pre-hospital stage was the time from injury to hospital arrival, and the time intervals until transfusion and imaging were the two factors that showed significance in the hospital stage. Shortening the time of treatment in the field and transferring the patient to the hospital as quickly as possible is the most important life-saving step in the pre-hospital stage. In the hospital stage, the primary survey, resuscitation and diagnosis should proceed simultaneously.

• The Korean Journal of Emergency Medical Services
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.27-42
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• 2011

Purpose: This study intended to improve quality of prehospital emergency care for trauma patients by figuring out its current situations and problems based on run-sheets and questionnaires of 119 emergency medical technicians (EMTs). Methods: This study conducted a research of 425 trauma patients transferred to the 3rd hospital in G-city by 119 ambulances from July 1, 2008 to June 30, 2009. We aslo utilized 114 copies with questionnaires of 119 EMTs working in J-province. The data were analyzed with SPSS 18.0. Results: There were 425 trauma patients including 272 men and 137 patients with traffic accident. When it comes to types of 119 EMTs who delivered cares to patients, there were 206 (48.5%) advanced EMTs, 101 (23.8%) basic EMTs, 50 (11.8%) nurses and 43 (10.2%) rescue education receivers. The most frequent measured vital sign was pulse rate (54.1%). Regarding assessment of systolic blood pressure, pulse rate and respiration rate, there were some significant differences in accordance with type of 119 EMTs. Among the 317 patients evaluated 'emergency' in field, 137 patients returned to their home. Prehospital emergency cares accounted for 861, around 2.0 treatments per a patient. In view of questionnaire, the 74.6% of 119 EMTs hoped supplement of man power for proper prehospital care to trauma patients. Conclusion: This study suggested that it is necessary to develop detailed guidelines for trauma patients so as to improve quality of trauma patient evaluation and prehospital care. Furthermore, improvement of emergency care systems will reduce mortality of trauma patients and lead to their good outcome.

• Journal of the Korean Burn Society
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.42-53
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• 2020

Purpose: It is important to consider both clinical factors and epidemiological factors in treating burn patients in emergency rooms. However, many emergency medical staffs happen to miss their chances of treating burns based on these considerations. This study is designed to find a better treatment for burn patients in emergency rooms along this approach. Methods: This study was conducted based on the data of the burn patients visiting the emergency room of a single general hospital from January 2015 to December 2019. The epidemiological and clinical factors were extracted out of the data, then the relationship between the prognosis and these factors were analyzed. Results: Most of burn accidents occurred at home, and were caused by hot water, soup, drinks, oil, etc. Especially, flame burns showed high hospitalization rate, surgical rate and mortality. In addition, their prognosis was poor when the affected area included facial, limb and perineal areas etc., or any inhalation burn co-existed. Also, the hospitalization rate and period increased when the treatment time was delayed or the pre-treatment was taken. There was a strong relationship between prognosis and the period of follow-up when patients were admitted during the period. Conclusion: It is difficult for medical staffs to evaluate prognosis of burns in emergency rooms due to progressive damages. Precise treatment and disposition are essential for patients' good prognosis. Therefore, medical staffs should establish treatment plans by identifying the patient's epidemiological and clinical factors, rather than giving prescriptions based on fragmentary and superficial symptoms.

• The Korean Journal of Emergency Medical Services
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.20-27
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• 1997

This study of the positive rates of HBsAg, anti-HBs among 119 Emergency Medical Technicians and Rescuers who were working in Pohang, Kyoung-Buk, Korea was performed from March to June 1997 according to three methods of EIA, RPHA and PHA. The number of samples were 201. The results were as follows; The overall positive rate of HBs Ag by EIA and RPHA methods were 4.98%, 5.47%, the overall positive rate of anti-HBs by EIA and PHA methods were 58.71%, 63.68%. In detecting of HBs Ag, concurrence rate, sensitivity, specificity and predictability of PHA to EIA were 99.5%, 90.9%, 100% and 99.75% respectively. In detecting of anti-HBs, concurrence rate, sensitivity, specificity and predictability of PHA to EIA were 91.04%, 89%, 94.5% and 89.87% respectively. Based on this study, there were no significant diffrences in the positive rates of HBsAg and Anti-HBs in 119 Emergency Medical Technicians and Rescurers in Pohang, Korea as compared with the general population according to other studies. In terms of concurrence rate, sensitivity, specificity and the costs of RPHA with EIA for detecting HBsAg, RPHA is more cost effective than EIA for mass screening of HBsAg detection. Also, In terms of concurrence rate, sensitivity and specificity of PHA with EIA, PHA is more cost effective and less problems of procedure than the EIA for mass screening of Anti-HBs detection.

• Quality Improvement in Health Care
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• v.6 no.1_2
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• pp.38-46
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• 1999

Background : To evaluate the frequency and cause of return to the emergency department within 48 hours and to identify the nature of the problem. Methods : We reviewed the medical records of 76 patients who returned to the emregency department within 48 hours from September 1998 to February 1999. Results : Overall revisit rate within 48hours was 2.6%. Of 76 patients, 5(6.6%) had planned return, 64(84.2%) had unplanned return and 7(9.2%) had incomplete documentation. The causes of unplanned return were inadequate medical management (11.8%), discharge against medical advice (27.6%), return after scheduled ambulatory care (22.4%), and unavoidable revisit due to symptom aggrevation or development of new symptom (22.4%). Conclusion : The study provided a basic information for us to improve the quality of emergency care by reducing unnecessary return to the emergency department. It is necessary to monitor continuously the quality of emergency care and to develop the standard of emergency return rate.

• The Korean Journal of Emergency Medical Services
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.145-156
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• 2021

Purpose: Despite the fact that emergency medical centers (ED) are used by emergency patients, more than 50% of non-emergency patients have been reported to be admitted in EDs, of which more than 10% of them used the 119 ambulance. Therefore, this study investigated whether there was a change in the severity of patients visiting EDs during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: This was a retrospective study of patients who visited the ED through the 119 ambulance in 2019 (13,735) and 2020 (11,015). Patient data were analyzed using the medical information system. Results: There was an increase in non-emergency patients at the emergency departments (KTAS levels 4-5) in 2020 with a rate of 58.0% (6,393), as compared to the 2019 data with a rate of 44.9% (6,169). However, the 2020 median length of stay in the emergency department was 188 minutes (IQR: 0-5,909minutes) (p=.000), which was decreased as compared to the 2019 median length of stay of 231 minutes (IQR: 5-6,211minutes) (p=.003). Conclusion: Providing emergency ambulance guidelines for selecting proper hospitals and educating patients to refrain from using the ED for non-emergency patients should be taken into consideration to prevent overcrowding and construct a more effective emergency medical system (EMS).