• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• 제48권3호
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• pp.214-216
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• 2015

Blunt abdominal trauma may cause peripheral vascular injuries. However, blunt abdominal trauma rarely results in injuries to the external iliac and common femoral arteries, which often stem from regional bone fractures. Here, we present the case of a patient who had experienced trauma in the lower abdominal and groin area three months before presenting to the hospital, but these injuries did not involve bone fractures and had been managed conservatively. The patient came to the hospital because of left lower leg claudication that gradually became severe. Computed tomography angiography confirmed total occlusion of the external iliac and common femoral arteries. The patient underwent femorofemoral bypass grafting and was discharged uneventfully.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• 제36권3호
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• pp.249-252
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• 2023

Neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS) is a rare but fatal condition, with a high mortality rate. NMS is characterized by altered mental status, fever, myoclonus, autonomic dysfunctions, and elevated creatinine phosphokinase. The clinical manifestations may be confused with alcohol-related symptoms, trauma, sepsis, postoperative agitation, or malignant hyperthermia. A 69-year-old male patient with alcohol withdrawal was admitted to the operating theatre to rule out septic shock due to mesenteric injury after multiple trauma. He was suspected NMS with abrupt increase body temperature to 41.7℃ after haloperidol administration. Active cooling and rapid fluid infusion was done during anesthesia. Delayed diagnosis and treatment of NMS lead to catastrophic result. Therefore, if the patient's past medical history is unknown or clinical symptoms develop that are suggestive of NMS, early treatment must be considered.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• 제32권1호
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• pp.1-7
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• 2019

Purpose: The present study aimed to evaluate the influence of how the trauma care system applied on the management of trauma patient within the region. Methods: We divided the patients in a pre-trauma system group and a post-trauma system group according to the time when we began to apply the trauma care system in the Halla Hospital after designation of a trauma center. We compared annual general characteristics, injury severity score, the average numbers of the major trauma patients, clinical outcomes of the emergency department, and mortality rates between the two groups. Results: No significant differences were found in the annual patients' average age ($54.1{\pm}20.0$ vs. $52.8{\pm}18.2$, p=0.201), transportation pathways (p=0.462), injury mechanism (p=0.486), injury severity score (22.93 vs. 23.96, p=0.877), emergency room (ER) stay in minutes (199.17 vs. 194.29, p=0.935), time to operation or procedure in minutes (154.07 vs. 142.1, p=0.767), time interval to intensive care unit (ICU) in minutes (219.54 vs. 237.13, p=0.662). The W score and Z score indicated better outcomes in post-trauma system group than in pre-trauma system group (W scores, 2.186 vs. 2.027; Z scores, 2.189 vs. 1.928). However, when analyzing survival rates for each department, in the neurosurgery department, in comparison with W score and Z score, both W score were positive and Z core was higher than +1.96. (pre-trauma group: 3.426, 2.335 vs. post-trauma group: 4.17, 1.967). In other than the neurosurgery department, W score was positive after selection, but Z score was less than +1.96, which is not a meaningful outcome of treatment (pre-trauma group: -0.358, -0.271 vs. post-trauma group: 1.071, 0.958). Conclusions: There were significant increases in patient numbers and improvement in survival rate after the introduction of the trauma system. However, there were no remarkable change in ER stay, time to ICU admission, time interval to emergent procedure or operation, and survival rates except neurosurgery. To achieve meaningful survival rates and the result of the rise of the trauma index, we will need to secure sufficient manpower, including specialists in various surgical area as well as rapid establishment of the trauma center.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• 제24권2호
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• pp.164-167
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• 2011

Trauma is an important risk factor for a pulmonary thromboembolism, and anticoagulation is essential to prevent deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in patients with trauma. Low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) is excreted in the kidney; therefore, using LMWH in patients with renal insufficiency may increase the risk of bleeding complication. The following case describes a 55-year-old traffic accident victim who had massive bleeding and underwent a laparotomy for bleeding control. The patient had acute renal failure, and enoxaparin was administered for the prophylaxis of DVT. Although the patient suffered from serious complications such as pericardial hematoma, the patient recovered without sequellae and was discharged at day 84.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• 제26권3호
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• pp.99-103
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• 2013

Purpose: This hospital has operated a trauma system of the inclusive trauma system under the sponsorship of this hospital and with financial support from the government from 2011, and it has been designated as a specialized trauma center (candidate) since November 2008. Therefore, this emergency medical center evaluated the influence of the inclusive trauma system on the course of healing and on the results for trauma patients within the region. Methods: The medical records of all patients who were registered as trauma patients from among those who visited the emergency medical center of this hospital from April 2009 to May 2012 were retrospectively reviewed. The monthly and the annual averages of important indices, such as the time in the emergency room and preventable mortalities, were calculated, and patterns of change were sought. The preventable mortality rate was calculated by using the Trauma Injury Severity Score (TRISS) for each patient. Results: The total number of patients registered from April 2009 to May 2012 was 601, and male patients accounted for a larger proportion(432 males(71.88%) vs. 169 females(28.12%)). Their average age was 46.2 years, the average Revised Trauma Score (RTS) was 5.74 points, and the average Injury Severity Score (ISS) was 26.99 points. The preventable mortality rate during the entire period, which was calculated using the TRISS, appeared lower than the preventable mortality rates reported in past studies in the Republic of Korea. Conclusion: These results for the operation of a new trauma system are limited in that they are only for a local private university hospital. However, results show greater changes and developments in and out of the hospital due to multilateral endeavors by the trauma team and the hospital. These endeavors include increased communications among the departments and development of a complementary patient registration system.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• 제34권1호
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• pp.21-30
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• 2021

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the influence of seasons and weather on the volume of trauma patients in central Korea. Methods: The records of 4,665 patients treated at Chungbuk National Hospital Regional Trauma Center from January 2016 to December 2019 were retrospectively reviewed. Meteorological data including hourly temperature (℃), precipitation (mm), humidity (%), and wind speed (m/s) for each district were collected retrospectively. Statistical analysis was done using the independent t-test, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), and linear regression analysis. Results: Patients' average age was 53.66 years, with a significant difference between men (49.92 years) and women (60.48 years) (p<0.001). Rolling/slipping down was a prominent cause of injury in winter (28.4%, n=283), with statistical significance (p<0.001). Trauma occurred least frequently in winter (p=0.005). Linear regression analysis revealed an increasing number of patients as the temperature increased (p<0.05), the humidity increased (p<0.001), and the wind speed decreased (p<0.001). Precipitation did not affect patient volume (p=0.562). One-way ANOVA revealed a decreased incidence of trauma when the temperature exceeded 30℃ (p<0.001), and when the humidity was more than 75%, compared to 25-50% and 50-75%. Conclusions: At the regional trauma center of Chungbuk National University Hospital, in central Korea, the number of trauma patients was lowest in winter, and patient volume was affected by temperature, humidity, and wind speed.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• 제33권4호
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• pp.219-226
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• 2020

Purpose: Although the Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) course is now taught internationally, it has not been implemented in Korea. In recent years, interest has increased in simulation as a teaching tool in the ATLS course. We therefore hypothesized that simulation training would be a useful adjunct to the ATLS course. Methods: We designed a 1-day curriculum that included skill development workstations, expert lectures, trauma patient simulations, and group discussion for general surgery residents. We conducted a survey to evaluate participants' level of understanding of the initial evaluation and treatment of trauma patients, their degree of knowledge and technical improvement, their satisfaction with the learning goals, and their overall satisfaction with the curriculum. We then analyzed the effects before and after the training. Results: Nine residents attended this course. None of the residents initially reported that they could perform a primary survey of trauma patients. The analysis revealed significant improvements after training in the questionnaire areas of "assembly of the team and preparation for resuscitation of a trauma patient" (p=0.008), "performance of a primary survey for trauma patients" (p=0.007), "resuscitative procedures for trauma patients" (p=0.008), "importance of re-evaluation" (p=0.007), "identifying the pitfalls associated with the initial assessment and management" (p=0.007), and "importance of teamwork" (p=0.007). Conclusions: After the ATLS simulation training, all participants showed significant improvements in their understanding of how to manage multiple trauma patients. Therefore, ATLS simulation training for residents will help in the management of trauma patients.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• 제27권4호
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• pp.215-218
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• 2014

Blunt abdominal trauma may often cause multiple vascular injuries. However, common iliac artery injuries without associated bony injury are very rarely seen in trauma patients. In the present case, a 77-year-old male patient who had no medical history was admitted via the emergency room with blunt abdominal trauma caused by a forklift. At admission, the patient was in shock and had abdominal distension. On abdomino-pelvic computed tomography (CT), the patient was seen to have hemoperitoneum, right common iliac artery thrombosis and left common iliac artery rupture. During surgery, an additional injury to inferior vena cava was confirmed, and a primary repair of the inferior vena cava was successfully performed. However, the bleeding from the left common iliac artery could not be controlled, even with multiple sutures, so the left common iliac artery was ligated. Through an inguinal skin incision, the right common iliac artery thrombosis was removed with a Forgaty catheter and a femoral-to-femoral bypass graft was successfully performed. After the post-operative 13th day, on a follow-up CT angiography, the femoral-to-femoral bypass graft was seen to have good patency, but a right common iliac artery dissection was diagnosed. Thus, a right common iliac artery stent was inserted. Finally, the patient was discharged without complications.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• 제24권1호
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• pp.7-11
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• 2011

Purpose: Traumatic airway injuries have high rates of mortality and morbidity. Thus, we evaluated the clinical results of trauma-related airway-injury patients. Methods: A clinical analysis was performed for patients with airway trauma who were admitted and treated at the Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Konyang University Hospital from Dec. 2002 to Dec. 2009. Results: Sixteen patients were admitted and treated. Fourteen patients were male, and the ages of the patients ranged from 16 to 75 years. Six cases were penetrating injuries, 4 were traffic-accident injuries. 3 were fall injuries, and. 3 were other blunt trauma injuries. Anato- mic injuries included 14 trachea cases (87.5%), 1 Rt. main bronchus (6.25%), and 1 Lt. main bronchus cases (6.25%). Diagnosis was made by using computed tomography and bronchoscopy. Five patients were treated with an explothoracotomy, and 7 underwent neck exploration with primary repair. Three patients simply needed conservative management, and 1 patient was treated with a closed thoracostomy. The post-operative mortality rate was 6.25 % (1 patient). Conclusion: Airway trauma is dangerous and should be treated as an emergency, so a high index of suspicion is essential for rapid diagnosis and successful surgical intervention in patients with airway injuries.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• 제35권1호
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• pp.61-65
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• 2022

Traumatic abdominal wall hernia is a very rare clinical entity. Herein, we report the case of a patient who was transferred from a local clinic to the emergency department because of left lower abdominal pain. Initially, an intra-abdominal hematoma was observed on computed tomography and no extravasation was noted. Conservative treatment was initiated, and the patient's symptoms were slightly relieved. However, though abdominal pain was relieved during the hospital stay, bowel herniation was suspected in the left periumbilical area. Follow-up computed tomography showed traumatic abdominal wall hernia with hemoperitoneum in the abdomen. We performed a laparoscopic exploration of the injury site and hernia lesion. The anterior abdominal wall hernia was successfully closed.