• The Korean Journal of Emergency Medical Services
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.149-160
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• 2004

Background : To save out-of-hospital cardiac arrest cases is a major concern for Korea. Cardiac arrest is a very common problem, with > 18,000 cases dying each year in Korea. Overall, survival to hospital discharge remains poor. Resuscitation has become an important multidisciplinary branch of medicine, demanding a spectrum of skills and attracting a plethora of specialities and organizations. Since the "Utstein Style" was advocated in 1991, many reports about out-of-hospital cardiac arrest have been published based on this guideline. These differences prevent valid inter-hospital and international comparisons. However, we do not know the true effectiveness of resuscitation. There are no guideline for reviewing, reporting, conducting research on resuscitation in Korea. This study evaluated the out-of-hospital factor associated with survival discharge of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, was especially to provide basic data for the unified reporting guideline of resuscitation in Korea. Methods : From January 1990 to July 2004, we collected data about out-of-hospital cardiac arrest at Wonju Christian Hospital(WCH-CAD), Ewha Women University Mokdong Hospital(Ewha-CAD), I used same record form based on the "Utstein Style". The "Utstein Style" is internationally recommended guidelines for reporting outcome data from resuscitation events. Results : Resuscitation was performed in 1443 out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients at 2 hospitals. Five hundred eighty(40.25%) patients recovered the spontaneous circulation at least once and One hundred sixty eight(11.66%) patients discharged alive. Initial EKG showed Ventricular Tachycardia/Ventricular Fibrillation in One hundred thirty five(9.33%) patients, asystole in one thousand nine(69.73%) patients and other rhythms in one hundred thirty nine(20.94%) patients. Among one hundred two cardiogenic cardiac arrest patients, two(2.0%) patients was discharged alive. Conclusion : Overall survival rate of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients was 11.66% which was poorer than that of the western country. The proportion of the cardiogenic cause was 33.38% which was only half of the western country. VT/VF is relatively not common ac a initial EKG rhythm. These differences might be to due difference in the prevalence pattern of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest as well as prematurity of the EMSS. It is needed that the best survival can be achieved if all following links have been optimized : rapid access, early CPR, early defibrillation, early ACLS.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.119-127
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• 2004

In this paper, an automatic external biphasic defibrillator that removes ventricular fibrillation efficiently with a low discharging energy has been developed. The system is composed of software including a fibrillation detection algorithm and a system control algorithm, and hardware including a high voltage charging/discharging part and a signal processing part. The stability of the developed system has been confirmed through continuous charging/discharging test of 160 times and the detection capability of the real-time fibrillation detection algorithm has been estimated by applying a total of 30 various fibrillation signals. In order to verify the clinical efficiency and safety, the system has been applied to five pigs before and after fibrillation inductions. Also, we have investigated the system efficiency in removing fibrillation by applying two different discharging waveforms, which have the same energy but different voltage levels.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.93-98
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• 2005

Purpose: This study was to investigate the resuscitation outcomes and the clinical characteristics of non-traumatic drug-induced out-of-hospital cardiac arrest by analyzing data from a single institution's registry. Method: We conducted a retrospective study of 795 patients who came to the emergency department with non-traumatic drug-induced out-of-hospital cardiac arrest during the period $1991{\~}2004$. Only patients over 18 years of age were included. Clinical characteristics. variables associated with cardiac arrest, and data during resuscitation were obtained from our cardiac arrest database. Patients were divided into two groups: drug-induced cardiac arrest (drug group, n=33), and non drug-induced cardiac arrest (non-drug group, n=762). Results: Spontaneous circulation was restored in 23 ($72{\%}$) patients in the drug group and in 314 ($45{\%}$) patients in the non-drug group ($x^2=0.020$). The patients who discharged alive number were 46 ($6{\%}$) in the non-drug group and 0 ($0{\%}$) in the drug group ($x^2=0.005$). The witnessed arrest, the epinephrine doses, and total defibrillation energy were not different between two groups. Conclusion: The return of spontaneous circulation rate was higher in the drug group than the non-drug group. However the drug group was lower survival discharge rate than in the non-drug group.

• The Korean Journal of Emergency Medical Services
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.7-19
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• 2016

Purpose: To investigate the effect of early hypothermia on post-resuscitation myocardial recovery and survival time after cardiac arrest and resuscitation in a rat model of myocardial infarction(MI). Methods: Thoracotomies were performed in 10 male Sprague Dawley rats weighing 450-455g. Myocardial infarction was induced by ligation of the left anterior descending coronary artery. Ninety minutes after arterial ligation, ventricular fibrillation was induced, cardiopulmonary resuscitation was subsequently performed before defibrillation was attempted. Animals were randomized to control group and experimental group(acute MI-normothermia)($32^{\circ}C$ for 4 hours). Duration of survival was recorded. Myocardial functions, including cardiac output, left ventricular ejection fraction, and myocardial performance index were measured using echocardiography. Results: Myocardial function was significantly better in hypothermia group than the control group during the first 4 hours post-resuscitation. The survival time of the experimental group was greater than that of the control group(p<.050). Conclusion: This study suggests that early hypothermia can attenuate post-resuscitation myocardial dysfunction after acute myocardial function, and may be a useful strategy in post-resuscitation care.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.3303-3307
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• 2015

The purpose of this study was attemped to investigate the clinical presentation and pathophysiology of 74-year-old female who developed pneumoperitoneum as complications of chest compression from sudden cardiac arrest. Such chest compression is the same one excercised to by-stander and paramedics. A healthy 74 year female had a sudden mental deterioration while working at a restaurant. She was transfered from 119 emergency medical system to the hospital. After the symptom developed, by-stander called 119 who carry out 6 minutes Cardiopulmonary resuscitation(CPR). Defibrillation and CPR was carried out by health provider after the arrival, and the patients spontaneous circulation returned. After Return of spontaneous circulation(ROSC), patients was transferred to the nearst hopspital, but suspicious of myocardial infarction, she was again transferred to a larger scale hospital. At the hospital she took X-rays and Abdominal CT, and the results of suspicious gastro-intestinal perforation near gastro-esophageal junction, surgical repair was recommended. But in operation room, while operation went on, cardiopulmonary arrest appeared again, and she expired. For this reason, prehospital CPR needs more accurate localization of cardiac massage and serious consideration of positive pressure ventilation. Moreover, treatment of pneumoperitoneum after CPR needs more cautious consideration of patients hemodynamic stability.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.29 no.12
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• pp.1342-1346
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• 1996

A right thoracotomy was used for the reoperation or mitral valve of 15 patients who had previously undergone a cardiac operation through a median sternotomy. In our experience. this approach provided dn excellent exposure of the nlitral valve and easy cannulations of both cavie with minimal dissection, ilvoiding any damage of cardiac and major vessels during re-sternotomy Arterial cannulation was performed in the ascending aorta in 13 patients And in the femoral artery in 2 patients. In earlier cases, venous cannulation was done in the SVC And IVC through the right atrium and snared. In later cases, this could be done without snaginly of both cavae or by placing a silgle light-angled catheter into the right atrium. Crystalloid cardioplegic solution was infused for myocardial protection. Hypothermia was controlled at 20\ulcorner$25^{\circ}C$. For defibrillation, internal paddles were used In one patient while sterilized external paddles were used in 10 patients. In the remaining four patients. however. the heart beat spontaneously The respirator could be weaned within 48 hours alter the operation and no pulmonary complication was observed. One out of the 15 patients expired due to sudden attack of ventricular tarchycardid developed ten days after the operation, but the rest of the patients were discharged with good condition.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.179-187
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• 2015

For patients who are near the end of life, an inevitable step is discussion of a do-not-resuscitate (DNR) order, which involves patients, their family members and physicians. To discuss DNR orders, patients and family members should know the meaning of the order and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) which includes chest compression, defibrillation, medication to restart the heart, artificial ventilation, and tube insertion in the respiratory tract. And the following issues should be considered as well: patients' and their families' autonomy, futility of treatment, and the right for death with dignity. Terminal cancer patients should be informed of what futility of treatment is, such as a low survival rate of CPR, unacceptable quality of life after CPR, and an irremediable disease status. In Korea, two different law suits related to life supporting treatments had been filed, which in turn raised public interest in death with dignity. Since the 1980s, knowledge of and attitude toward DNR among physicians and the public have been improved. However, most patients are still alienated from the decision making process, and the decision is often made less than a week before death. Thus, the DNR discussion process should be improved. Early palliative care should be adopted more widely.

• The Korean Journal of Emergency Medical Services
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.17-27
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• 2014

Purpose : The purpose of the study is to investigate the factors influencing using AED use in South Korea and Japan. Methods : I conducted a questionnaire survey from February 25 to March 4, 2013, receiving responses from 517 people in Korea and 520 people in Japan. The questionnaire included sociodemographic factors, history of heart disease, AED knowledge, and other variables. A logistic regression analysis was conducted. Results : Among the 517 Korean respondents, 220 (42.6%) intended to use AEDs. Among the 520 Japanese respondents, 384 (74.4%) had similar intentions. Multiple logistic regression analysis found the following significant predictors of intent to use AEDs: gender (odds ratio [OR] = 0.419), household income (OR = 0.991), and AED knowledge (OR = 2.833) in Korea; and gender (OR = 0.582), age (OR = 0.968), cardiac disease history (OR = 2.099), and AED knowledge (OR = 2.984) in Japan. Conclusion : It would be helpful to teach AED use to encourage performing public access defibrillation. In addition, it is necessary to design AED education programs based on country-specific factors.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.36 no.7
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• pp.483-488
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• 2003

There are still debates in the literature on the relative benefits of blood cardioplegia and crystalloid cardioplegia in pediatric cardiac surgery. We performed a clinical trial to compare the myocardial protective effect between HTK solution and blood cardioplegic solution in congenital heart surgery. Material and Method: 15 patients who underwent HTK solution cardioplegia (group 1) and 15 patients who underwent blood cardioplegia(group 2) were included in this study. Preoperative and postoperative serial serum cardiac enzyme levels (troponin I, CK-MB, LDH) were measured in all patients. Clinical data were analyzed and compared between the two groups. Result: There were no differences in age and body weight between the two groups. Operative diagnosis included ventricular septal defect (VSD, n＝4), atrial septal defect (ASD, n＝1), tetralogy of Fallot (TOF, n＝4), and other complex heart diseases (n＝6) in group 1, VSD (n＝7), ASD (n＝5), and TOF (n＝3) in group 2. Cardiopulmonary bypass times were 99.1$\pm$48.1 minutes in group 1, and 69.3$\pm$27.3 minutes in group 2 (p＝0,02). Aortic clamping times were 52.1$\pm$23.6 minutes in group 1, and 37.9$\pm$20.5 minutes in group 2 (p＝0.07). There was no mortality and spontaneous defibrillation was possible in all patients. No differences were observed in the serial enzyme levels between the two groups. There were no differences in the duration of inotropic support and ventilator time between the two groups. Conclusion: HTK solution provided comparable myocardial protection compared with blood cardioplegic solution. A single high dose of HTK solution may be safely and conveniently used for an extended periods as well in congenital heart surgery.

• Journal of The Korean Dental Society of Anesthesiology
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.17-27
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• 2014

Background: Various medical emergency situations can occur during dental practices. Cardiac arrest is known to comprise approximately 1% of emergency situation. Thus, it is necessary for dentists to be able to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) to increase the chance of saving patient's life in emergency situation. In this paper, we conducted a survey study to evaluate to what extent dentists actually understood CPR practice and if they had experience in handling emergency situations in practice. Method: The survey was done for members of the Korean Dental Society of Anesthesiology (KDSA), who had great interest in CPR and for whom survey-by-mail was convenient. We had selected 472 members of the KDSA with a dental license and whose office address and contact information were appropriate, and sent them a survey questionnaire by mail asking about the degree of their CPR understanding and if they had experience of handling emergency questions before. Statistical analyses -frequency analysis, chi-square test, ANOVA, and so on- were performed by use of IBM SPSS Statistics 19 for each question. Result: Among 472 people, 181 responded (38.4% response rate). Among the respondents were 134 male and 47 female dentists. Their average age was $40.4{\pm}8.4$. In terms of practice type, there were 123 private practitioners (68.0%), 20 professors (11.0%), 16 dentists-in-service (8.8%), 13 residents (specialist training) (7.2%) and 9 military doctors (5%). There were 125 dentists (69.1%) who were specialists or receiving training to be specialist, most of whom were oral surgeon (57, 31.5%) and pediatric dentists (56, 30.9%). There were 153 people (85.0%) who received CPR training before, and 65 of them (35.9%) were receiving regular training. When asked about the ratio of chest pressure vs mouth-to-mouth respiration when conducting CPR, 107 people (59.1%) answered 30:2. However, only 27.1% of them answered correctly for a question regarding CPR stages, C(Circulation)- A(Airway)- B(Breathing)- D(Defibrillation), which was defined in revised 2010 CPR practice guideline. Dentists who had experience of handling emergency situations in their practice were 119 (65.6%). The kinds of emergency situations they experienced were syncope (68, 37.6%), allergic reactions to local anesthetic (44, 24.3%), hyperventilation (43, 23.8%), seizure (25, 13.8%), hypoglycemia (15, 8.3%), breathing difficulty (14, 7.8%), cardiac arrest (11, 6.1%), airway obstruction (6, 3.3%), intake of foreign material and angina pectoris (4, 2.2%), in order of frequency. Most respondents answered that they handled the situation appropriately under the given emergency situation. In terms of emergency equipment they had blood pressure device (70.2%), pulse oximetry (69.6%), Bag-Valve-Mask (56.9%), emergency medicine (41.4%), intubation kit (29.8%), automated external defibrillator (23.2%), suction kit (19.3%) and 12 people (6.6%) did not have any equipment. In terms of confidence in handling emergency situation, with 1-10 point scale, their response was $4.86{\pm}2.41$ points. The average point of those who received regular training was $5.92{\pm}2.20$, while those who did not was $4.29{\pm}2.29$ points (P<0.001) Conclusion: The result showed they had good knowledge of CPR but the information they had was not up-to-date. Also, they were frequently exposed to the risk of emergency situation during their dental practice but the level of confidence in handling the emergency situation was intermediate. Therefore, regular training of CPR to prepare them for handling emergency situation is deemed necessary.