• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.19-25
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• 2007

Purpose: Trauma surgery is not an official medical specialty in the Republic of Korea (South Korea). Thus, a trauma victim transported to an emergency room (ER) is resuscitated and surveyed by an intern, a resident, or an emergency physician (EP) at first. Currently an operative management is decreasing because of multiple factors. Nevertheless, trauma surgery is the key for some patients. Does the EP's treatment in the ER delay the surgeon's emergency operation? Methods: A retrospective study was performed for trauma victims who underwent trauma surgery from March 2004 to February 2005 in a local emergency center of Daegu-city. We reviewed the medical records and analyzed the trauma victim's age, sex, cause of injury, method of transport, time from the trauma to the operation, EP's treatment, surgical department, mortality, and injury severity score (ISS). Results: Of the 223 trauma victims included in this study, males were predominant (83.4%). The mean age was 37.98 years of age. The main Causes of trauma were trauma NOS (not otherwise specified) and motor vehicle accidents (MVA). The main methods of transport was privately owned automobile. The mean time from trauma to operation was 617.46 min. The mean ISS was 7.67. Trauma surgery with the EP's treatment group included 40 trauma victims with higher ISS, and the time from trauma to operation was shorter than it was for the 183 trauma victims not in that group. Conclusion: The EP's treatment of high-ISS multiple-injury trauma victims can shorten the time from trauma to trauma surgery and will help the surgical department treatment. In the trauma care system of the Republic of Korea, and increased role should be encouraged for emergency physician.

• Korean Journal of Transplantation
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.154-159
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• 2014

Background: Lung transplantation (LTx) is a life-saving treatment for patients with end-stage lung disease; however, the shortage of donor lungs has been a major limiting factor to increasing the number of LTx. Growing experience following LTx using donor lungs after cardiac death (DCD) has been promising, although concerns remain. The purpose of this study was to develop a DCD lung harvest model using an ex vivo lung perfusion (EVLP) system and to assess the function of presumably damaged lungs harvested from the DCD donor in pigs. Methods: The 40 kg pigs were randomly divided into the control group with no ischemic lung injury (n=5) and the study group (n=5), which had 1 hour of warm ischemic lung injury after cardiac arrest. Harvested lungs were placed in the EVLP circuit and oxygen capacities (OC), pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR), and peak airway pressure (PAP) were evaluated every hour for 4 hours. At the end of EVLP, specimens were excised for pathologic review and wet/dry ratio. Results: No statistically significant difference in OC (P=0.353), PVR (P=0.951), and PAP (P=0.651) was observed in both groups. Lung injury severity score (control group vs. study group: 0.700±0.303 vs. 0.870±0.130; P=0.230) and wet/dry ratio (control group vs. study group: 5.89±0.97 vs. 6.20±0.57; P=0.560) also showed no statistically significant difference between the groups. Conclusions: The function of DCD lungs assessed using EVLP showed no difference from that of control lungs without ischemic injury; therefore, utilization of DCD lungs can be a new option to decrease the number of deaths on the waiting list.

• Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.187-195
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• 2018

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify associations among the sleep disturbance, fatigue, job stress, and blood and body fluid (BBF) exposure of shift-work nurses. Methods: A total of 299 shift-work nurses from two tertiary hospitals were enrolled in this study. We used the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), and the Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS), and the Korean Occupational Stress Scale-Short Form (KOSS-SF) to evaluate sleep disturbance, fatigue, and job stress, respectively. The data were analyzed using t-test or chi-squared test and Logistic regression analysis using the SPSS 23.0 program. Results: We found that 43.8% of participants reported BBF exposure over the past year. Splash or exposure to broken skin of BBF were most frequent (56.9%), and followed by needlestick injuries (30.4%) and sharp injuries (12.8%). Age, hospital, working period, level of stress, sleep disturbance ($ISI{\geq}15$), fatigue (FSS $score{\geq}4$), job demand and organizational climate subset in KOSS-SF were significantly associated with BBF exposure in shift-work nurses. In multivariate analysis after adjusting age and hospital, the risk factors of BBF exposure in shift-work nurses were the level of stress and fatigue (FSS $score{\geq}4$). Conclusion: Fatigue and job stress were related to BBF exposure in shift-work nurses. Our results suggest that management of sleep disturbance, fatigue, and high job stress in shift-work nurses is needed to reduce risk of BBF exposure.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.67-73
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• 2019

Objective: The purpose of this study was to compare the differences in the length of hospital stay between hemorrhage stroke survivors with health insurance and those with medical care after controlling all factors except for the type of medical insurance by using the propensity score matching (PSM) method. Design: Retrospective cohort study. Methods: Data from the Korean National Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's In-Depth Discharge Injury Survey between the years 2006 and 2012 were used for analysis. A total of 4,538 cases were defined as persons with hemorrhagic stroke (I60-I62) based on the block of categories in the International Classification of Diseases (10th). In order to analyze the inpatient period differences depending on the type of health care, which reflects one's socio-economic level, the chi-square and t-test was conducted. Results: Frequency and percentage were presented, and regression analysis was used to determine the factors affecting the inpatient period. Age, severity of disease, treatment outcome, and post-discharge status were no longer statistically significant after matching. The inpatient period of the persons receiving medical aid benefits was found to be significantly longer than those with national health insurance (p<0.05). Conclusions: The factors influencing the inpatient period of hemorrhagic stroke survivors were treatment outcomes, severity of disease, hospital admission process, and the type of health care. It is necessary for systematic and comprehensive governmental management for persons with hemorrhagic stroke to be transferred to long-term care facilities.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.26-32
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• 2007

Purpose: Hemorrhagic shock is the leading cause of death in patients with pelvic bone fractures. The majority of blood loss is due to injured pelvic arteries and retroperitoneal veins and to bleeding from the fracture site itself. Pelvic angiography and embolization of injured vessels is an effective way to control continuous bleeding. However, identifying the bleeding focus in hemodynamically unstable patients before diagnostic intervention is difficult. The purpose of this study was to determine the correlation between fracture patterns in hemodynamically unstable patients with pelvic fractures and later pelvic angiography findings. Methods: We performed a retrospective study of 21 hemodynamically unstable patients with pelvic fractures admitted to our emergency department between April 2001 to April 2006. All 21 patients underwent pelvic angiography. Pelvic fractures were assessed according to the Tile's classification and the degree of injury was assessed using the Injury Severity Score (ISS) and Revised Trauma Score (RTS). The hemodynamic status of the patients was defined using vital signs, base excess, and blood lactate. Fracture patterns were compared with hemodynamic status and angiography findings. Results: In the 5year study period, 21 hemodynamically unstable pelvic bone fracture patients were admitted; ten were men (47.6%), and 11 were women (52.4%). The mean age was 41.1 years (range: ${\pm}20.1$). Of the 21 embolization was performed in 6 patient (28.6%): 1 patient of the 5 unstable pelvic bone fracture patients (20%), and 5 patients of 16 the stable pelvic bone fracture patients (31.3%). There were no significant differences between the RTS (p=0.587) and embolization rate (p=0.774) for either the stable patients or the unstable patients. Patients with arterial injury on angiography had a lower RTS compared with patients without arterial injury but there was no significant difference in ISS between the two groups. The angiographic injured sites were five internal femoral arteries and one external femoral artery. Conclusion: The findings in this study suggest that the pelvic fracture pattern in hemodynamically unstable patients with pelvic fractures does not correlate with pelvic angiography findings.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.123-128
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• 2015

Purpose: Establishment of the trauma system changed quality of trauma care in many countries. As one of the first designated level 1 trauma center in Korea, we analyzed trauma registration data in 2014. Methods: Data was extracted from Korean Trauma Data Base (KTDB) that was started from august 2013. Variables related to demographics and trauma was collected through the year 2014. Results: There were 3269 trauma patients who admitted to our hospital and registered to KTDB in 2014. Median age was 49 years, 64.4% were men, and 90% of patients were blunt in mechanism. Median injury severity score (ISS) was 5, mean revised trauma score (RTS) was 7.65. There were 138 (4.2%) deaths and 87 (2.7%) patients of them was death after admission. Conclusion: This is the first report using KTDB registration from our institution. Trauma volume is appropriate but it should be compared with other trauma centers in Korea. In future national analysis of KTDB is mandatory.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.75-81
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• 2011

Purpose: The aim of this study was to analyze the influence of a trauma team's management. Methods: A total of 181 patients with severe trauma were retrospectively divided into two groups. Of these 181 patients, 81 patients without a trauma team admitted between April and October 2008 were assigned to Group 1, and 100 patients with a Trauma team admitted between April and October 2009 were assigned to Group II. We compared general characteristics, the length of stay in the emergency department (ED) and treatment outcomes (24-h packed RBC transfusion, length of intensive care unit (ICU) stay, length of hospital stay, in-hospital mortality, 24-h mortality) between these two groups. Results: The length of stay in the ED was significantly reduced in Group II compared to Group I ($p$=0.025). No significant differences were found in mean arterial pressure, Glasgow Coma Scale, Revised Trauma Score, Injury Severity Score, in-hospital mortality and 24-h mortality between the two groups. However, Group II had a lower amount of 24-h packed RBC transfusion and a shorter length of ICU and hospital stay than Group I, although these differences were not statistically significant. Conclusion: Through the establishment of a trauma team, the length of stay in the ED can be reduced remarkably. Furthermore, the need for 24-h packed RBC transfusions and the length of stay in the ICU and hospital were found to be decreased in patients managed by a trauma team.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.33-40
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• 2005

Background: This study compared the performance of trauma care in an urban and a suburban hospital before and after the enhancement of emergency and intensive care. Method: The medical records of patients who were admitted to the intensive care unit following trauma from 1994 to 1995 and from 2002 to 2003 were examined. The standardized W (Ws), the 95% confidence interval (CI) of the Ws, and the predicted survival rate (Ps) were calculated. During each period, each hospital's actual survival rate was compared with the 95% CI of the Ps according to the revised trauma score (RTS) and injury severity score (ISS). Spell out RTS and ISS. Result: From 1994 to 1995, 225 and 121 records from the urban and the suburban hospitals were reviewed, respectively. The 95% CI's of the Ws were -2.30 to 2.73 and -11.40 to -5.90, respectively. The actual survival rate of the suburban hospital was significantly lower than the predicted survival rate at all RTS. From 2002 to 2003, 315 and 268 records from the urban and the suburban hospitals were reviewed, respectively. The 95% CI's of the Ws was -3.56 to 0.24 and -3.73 to 0.26, respectively. There was no difference between the actual survival rate and the predicted survival rate. Conclusion: An enlargement of the capacities of emergency and intensive care may improve the performance of trauma care at a small suburban hospital.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.261-265
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• 2013

Purpose: The aim of this study is to evaluate the transfer pattern of multiple trauma patients after acute phase management and to determine whether the time between the surgeon's decision and the actual transfer correlates with the patient's insurance type. Methods: Three hundred ninety-two(392) multiple trauma patients visited the emergency room from January 2011 to April 2013. Among the 143 patients who were admitted by a trauma surgeon, 47 were transferred to another hospital after acute phase management. The age, gender, trauma mechanism, Revised trauma score (RTS), Injury severity score (ISS), insurance type, length of ICU stay and hospital stay were analyzed through a retrospective chart review. Results: The mean age was 47.7 years, and traffic accident was the most common mechanism(26, 55.3%). The mean RTS and ISS were 6.93 and 22.7, respectively. Twenty-five patients(53%) were covered by National health insurance, and 20 patients(42.6%) were covered by automobile insurance. Patients were transferred to primary (4.3%), secondary(80.9%), tertiary(4.3%) and care(10.6%) hospitals. The mean time from transfer decision to actual transfer was significantly longer for patients who were covered by automobile insurance than it was for patients who were covered by national health insurance (p=0.038). Conclusion: An appropriate transfer system at the end of acute phase care is essential for managing trauma centers with limited staffing and facilities. In addition, the mean time from transfer decision to actual transfer seemed to be definitely related to the type of insurance covering the patient.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.67 no.5
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• pp.402-408
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• 2009

Background: Pre-B-cell colony enhancing factor (PBEF) has been suggested as a novel biomarker in sepsis and acute lung injury. We measured the PBEF in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid of acute critically ill patients with lung infiltrates in order to evaluate the clinical utility of measuring PBEF in BAL fluid. Methods: BAL fluid was collected by bronchoscope from 185 adult patients with lung infiltrates. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was then performed on the collected fluids to measure the PBEF. Results: Mean patient age was 59.9 ${\pm}$14.5 years and 63.8% of patients were males. The mean concentration of PBEF in BAL fluid was 17.5 ${\pm}$88.3 ng/mL, and patients with more than 9 ng/mL of PBEF concentration (n=26, 14.1%) had higher Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II and Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) scores on the BAL exam day. However, there were no significant differences in clinical characteristics between survivors and non-survivors. In patients with leukocytosis (n=93) seen on the BAL exam day, the linear regression analysis revealed a significant, positive relationship between PBEF and APACHE II ($r^2$=0.06), SOFA score ($r^2$=0.08), Clinical Pulmonary Infection Score ($r^2$=0.05), and plateau pressure in patients on ventilators ($r^2$=0.07) (p<0.05, respectively). In addition, multivariate regression analysis with PBEF as a dependent variable showed that the plateau pressure ($r^2$=0.177, p<0.05) was correlated positively with PBEF. Conclusion: The PBEF level in the BAL fluid may be a useful, new biomarker for predicting the severity of illness and ventilator-induced lung injury in critically ill patients with lung infiltates and leukocytosis.