• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.52 no.6
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• pp.400-408
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• 2019

Background: For decades, trauma has been recognized globally as a major cause of death. Reducing the mortality of patients with trauma is an extremely pressing issue, particularly for those with severe trauma. An early and accurate assessment of the risk of mortality among patients with severe trauma is important for improving patient outcomes. Methods: We performed a retrospective medical record review of 582 patients with severe trauma admitted to the emergency department between July 2011 and June 2016. We analyzed the associations of in-hospital mortality with the baseline characteristics and initial biochemical markers of patients with severe trauma on admission. Results: The overall in-hospital mortality rate was 14.9%. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the patient's Rapid Emergency Medicine Score (REMS; odds ratio [OR], 1.186; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.018-1.383; p=0.029), Emergency Trauma Score (EMTRAS; OR, 2.168; 95% CI, 1.570-2.994; p<0.001), serum lactate levels (SLL; OR, 1.298; 95% CI, 1.118-1.507; p<0.001), and Injury Severity Score (ISS; OR, 1.038; 95% CI, 1.010-1.130; p=0.021) were significantly associated with in-hospital mortality. Conclusion: The REMS, EMTRAS, and SLL can easily and rapidly be used as alternatives to the injury severity score to predict in-hospital mortality for patients who present to the emergency department with severe trauma.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.50 no.5
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• pp.501-506
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• 2023

This article portrays the authors' experience with a complex lower limb bone and soft tissue defect, following chronic osteomyelitis and pathological fracture, which was managed by the multidisciplinary orthoplastic team. The decision for functional amputation versus limb salvage was deemed necessary, enhanced by the principles of "spare parts" in reconstructive microsurgery. This case describes the successful use of the osteocutaneous distal tibia turn-up fillet flap that allowed "lowering the level of the amputation" from a through knee to a below-knee amputation (BKA) to preserve the knee joint function. We comprehensibly review reports of turn-up flaps which effectively lower the level of amputation, also applying "spare-parts" surgery principles and explore how these concepts refine complex orthoplastic approaches when limb salvage is not possible to enhance function. The osteocutaneous distal tibia turn-up fillet flap is a robust technique for modified BKA reconstructions that provides sufficient bone length to achieve a tough, sensate stump and functional knee joint.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.224-230
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• 2023

Purpose: Patients with penetrating injuries are at a high risk of mortality, and many of them require emergency surgery. Proper triage and transfer of the patient to the emergency department (ED), where immediate definitive treatment is available, is key to improving survival. This study aimed to evaluate the epidemiology and outcomes of patients with penetrating torso injuries in Incheon Metropolitan City. Methods: Data from trauma patients between 2014 and 2018 (5 years) were extracted from the National Emergency Department Information System. In this study, patients with penetrating injuries to the torso (chest and abdomen) were selected, while those with superficial injuries were excluded. Results: Of 66,285 patients with penetrating trauma, 752 with injuries to the torso were enrolled in this study. In the study population, 345 patients (45.9%) were admitted to the ward or intensive care unit (ICU), 20 (2.7%) were transferred to other hospitals, and 10 (1.3%) died in the ED. Among the admitted patients, 173 (50.1%) underwent nonoperative management and 172 (49.9%) underwent operative management. There were no deaths in the nonoperative management group, but 10 patients (5.8%) died after operative management. The transferred patients showed a significantly longer time from injury to ED arrival, percentage of ICU admissions, and mortality. There were also significant differences in the percentage of operative management, ICU admissions, ED stay time, and mortality between hospitals. Conclusions: Proper triage guidelines need to be implemented so that patients with torso penetrating trauma in Incheon can be transferred directly to the regional trauma center for definitive treatment.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.38 no.1 s.246
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• pp.84-87
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• 2005

Spontaneous hemothorax vary in cause and are rare for hemothorax induced osteochondroma. Sometimes hemothroax is reported due to osteochondroma induced injury of diaphragm, lung, pericardium, heart, or pleura. We report a patient with diaphragm laceration due to osteochondroma.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.43-47
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• 2020

Pancreatic and gastric fistulas are rare complications of emergency splenectomy, and it is extremely rare for a pancreatic fistula to be further complicated by a fistulation into the stomach. Here, we present a case of pancreatogastric fistula in a 60-year-old man who experienced polytrauma due to a blunt mechanism. He underwent emergency splenectomy for splenic injury and developed a pancreatic fistula as a complication. A percutaneous endoscopic procedure was performed to drain the fistula, after which he developed a pancreatogastric fistula as a further complication. A double-pigtail stent was inserted via gastroscopy into the fistula tract to allow internal drainage of the pancreatic collection into the stomach cavity. When a pancreatic fistula is complicated by gastric fistulation, endoscopic stenting of the pancreatogastric fistula tract for internal drainage is an effective treatment option.

• The Korean Journal of Emergency Medical Services
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.91-100
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• 2023

Purpose: In patients with major trauma, mortality varies by age. This study aimed to identify predictors of death according to age. Methods: Data from the Community-Based Severe Trauma Survey in Korea were analyzed using a retrospective case-control design. Factors associated with death were identified by age using independent-samples t-tests, Welch's test, and χ² tests. Results: There were statistically significant differences in mortality by sex (p=.006), location (p=.029), mechanism of injury (MOI) (p<.001), intention (p<.001), transportation (p<.001), surgery (p<.001), and Injury Severity Score (ISS) (p<.001) in the ≤44 years age group; by location (p<.001), MOI (p=.004), intention (p<.001), transportation (p<.001), surgery (p<.001), and ISS (p<.001) in the 45-54 years age group; by location (p=.040), MOI (p<.001), transportation (p<.001), transfusion (p<.001), surgery (p<.001), and ISS (p<.001) in the 55-64 years age group; by location (p=.015), intention (p<.001), surgery (p<.001), and ISS (p<.001) in the 65-74 years age group; and by location (p=.002), intention (p<.001), transfusion (p=.020), surgery (p<.001), and ISS (p<.001) in the ≥75 years age group. Conclusion: In patients with major trauma, predictors of mortality varied by age.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.61-67
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• 2010

Emergency free flap has been advocated to cover the severely injured extremity for more than two decades, due to its numerous advantages such as low incidence of flap failure and infection rate and early recovery of function. But there are very few reports about these. The authors report their experience in using the emergency free flap for reconstruction of extremities. For last 10 years, 4 patients ranging from 3 to 27 years old with severely traumatized extremities were treated with emergency free flap transfers. Three were males and the other was a female. Flap size ranged from $2{\times}5\;cm^2$ to $7{\times}22\;cm^2$. The locations of the recipient site were the dorsum of the foot, the cubital fossa, the popliteal fossa and the upper arm. The number of the donor sites used was as follows: one scapular flap, two parascapular flaps, and one radial forearm flap with the radial bone. All of the flaps survived without need of re-exploration. There was no infection or flap loss. Involved joints have recovered a normal range of motion. Therefore, we consider that the emergency free flap is a very safe and reliable method to cover the severely injured extremities.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.46 no.6
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• pp.467-470
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• 2013

The rupture of a renal artery aneurysm is a rare disease that is difficult to diagnose. Although we usually consider the appropriate treatment to be open laparotomy with aortic aneurysm surgery or stenting with graft insertion through intravascular intervention, thus far, there is no general consensus on the treatment protocol for renal artery aneurysm. Notably, ruptured renal artery aneurysm is a true critical emergency that may result in a fatal outcome. We are reporting two renal artery aneurysm patients who had ruptured and underwent emergency laparotomy.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.483-485
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• 1994

Recently, we experienced one case of penetrating cardiac injury patient by the knife.This patient was treated by emergency operation through left anterolateral thoracotomy under local anesthesia at emergency room. But, the patient was brought about the brain death inspite of normalized function of heart and lung. Now we have a conclusion that was able to recover of heart and lung functions by doctor`s exactly judgement and practice, at least.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.52 no.4
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• pp.232-235
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• 2019

A 2.5-kg neonate with coarctation of the aorta and a small left ventricle experienced a severe pulmonary hypertensive crisis. An emergency pulmonary artery-to-systemic artery shunt was placed to break the positive feedback loop caused by pulmonary hypertension and functional mitral stenosis. This shunt provided immediate relief of suprasystemic pulmonary hypertension and the resultant low cardiac output.