• 대한임상독성학회지
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• 제5권2호
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• pp.106-111
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• 2007

Purpose: Inadequate hospital stocking and unavailability of essential antidotes is a worldwide problem. The purpose of this study was to determine the adequacy of antidote stocks in Korean hospitals based on a modified version of US antidote stocking guidelines. Methods: Both written and telephone surveys to collect information on hospital demographics and antidote stocking were given to the emergency departments or hospital pharmacies of 117 hospitals with emergency medical centers. The twenty antidotes included in the survey were taken from year 2000 US antidote stocking guidelines, except for activated charcoal and black widow spider antivenin. Antidote stocks were compared by hospital size, geographic location, and type of emergency medical center. Results: Complete responses were received from all hospitals. A mean of $12.4{\pm}2.9$ antidotes were adequately stocked per hospital. All hospitals stocked atropine, $CaCl_2$ naloxone, and sodium bicarbonate. However, digoxin Fab fragment (16%), cyanide kits (15%), EDTA (10%), BAL (9%), and fomepizole (1%) were not uniformly stocked. Large and teaching hospitals were significantly more likely to stock greater numbers of antidotes. Conclusions: Korean hospitals as a group do not have adequate antidote stocks. Korean stocking guidelines and an antidote management system are recommended in order to correct these deficiencies.

• 간호행정학회지
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• 제17권1호
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• pp.66-73
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• 2011

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to demonstrate effects of a critical pathway (CP) for stroke patients seen in emergency rooms (ER). Method: The CP developed by the CP committee consisted of 8 criteria: behavior of doctors and nurses, laboratory tests, Image testing, medication, treatment, activity, and nutrition. According to application of CP, a control group (n=17) and experimental group (n=17) were defined. Time was checked by the electronic medical records. Result: Use of CP for stroke patients in the ER, resulted in a decreased length of stay in ER (t=2.341, p=.026), and time required for image testing (t=2.623, p=.021), and an increased number of patients using rtPA ($x^2$=4.802, p=.049). Time required for neurology doctor contact, for neurology doctor to see patient in the ER, and for report of blood tests decreased, but there were no statistical significance. Conclusion: Quick responses are most important in the ER, so CP for these patients is a very effective patient management tool. To reduce delay in stroke diagnosis, continuous education programs for similar symptoms are necessary. CPs for other patients in the ER should be developed, and studies on cost and satisfaction, as well as length of stay, should be done.

• 대한임상독성학회지
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• 제15권2호
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• pp.148-151
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• 2017

Methemoglobinemia is a condition in which the iron portion of hemoglobin, which binds to oxygen, is oxidized to produce methemoglobin, which increases blood concentration. There are many causes of methemoglobinemia, the most common being food, drugs, and chemicals. A 75-year-old male patient who had taken an herbicide did not notice any nonspecific symptoms. However, after 4 hours, his methemoglobin levels increased to 17.1%, while after 7 hours it increased to 26.5%, at which time intravenous administration of methylene blue 1 mg/kg (an antidote) was started. After a total of five doses of methylene blue at 1 mg/kg due to reactive methemoglobinemia for about 36 hours, the methemoglobin levels increased to 23.7%. Because no more methylene blue could be administered, 10 g of ascorbic acid (vitamin C) was administered intravenously. After 82 hours, ascorbic acid 10 g was administered six times for repeated reactive methemoglobinemia. No additional reactive methemoglobinemia was observed. The ventilator and endotracheal tube were successfully removed on day 5 after admission.

• 대한응급의학회지
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• 제29권5호
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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 Pain
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• 제33권4호
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• pp.386-394
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• 2020

Background: In the emergency department (ED), adequate pain control is essential for managing patients; however, children with pain are known to receive less analgesia than adults with pain. We introduce the Pain Passport to improve pain management in paediatric patients with suspected fractures in the ED. Methods: This was a before-and-after study. We reviewed the medical records of paediatric patients who were primarily diagnosed with fractures from May to August 2015. After the introduction of the Pain Passport, eligible children were enrolled from May to August 2016. Demographics, analgesic administration rates, time intervals between ED arrival and analgesic administration, and satisfaction scores were obtained. We compared the analgesic prescription rate between the two periods using multiple logistic regression. Results: A total of 58 patients were analysed. The baseline characteristics of subjects during the two periods were not significantly different. Before the introduction of the Pain Passport, 9 children (31.0%) were given analgesics, while after the introduction of the Pain Passport, a significantly higher percentage of patients (24/29, 82.8%) were treated with analgesics (P < 0.001). The median administration times were 112 (interquartile range [IQR], 64-150) minutes in the pre-intervention period and 24 (IQR, 20-74) minutes in the post-intervention period. The median satisfaction score for the post-intervention period was 4 (IQR, 3-5). The adjusted odds ratio for providing analgesics in the post-intervention period was 25.91 (95% confidence interval, 4.36-154.02). Conclusions: Patient-centred pain scoring with the Pain Passport improved pain management in patients with suspected fractures in the paediatric ED.

• 대한응급의학회지
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• 제29권6호
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• pp.649-655
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• 2018

Objective: This paper reports the possibility of using of a locking horizontal mattress suture technique in repairing lacerations that are difficult to suture with staples. Methods: Data were collected retrospectively over a 6-month period regarding the routine repair of scalp lacerations: those in areas injured by a high energy blunt mechanism, continued to bleed after pressure, nonlinear or damaged skin repaired with a locking horizontal mattress technique, and simple interrupted technique. The effects of the two techniques used to repair scalp lacerations on wound healing, complication rate, and patient satisfaction were examined. The categorical variables are expressed as the number and percent. A Mann-Whitney-Wilcoxon test was used for statistical analysis. A P-value less than 0.05 was considered significant. Results: Thirty-seven consecutive patients with scalp lacerations presented for care. Wound closure was accomplished with the locking horizontal mattress sutures in 40.5% (n=15) (median length, 5.0 cm; interquartile range [IQR], 4.0-7.0 cm). Simple interrupted sutures (median length, 4 cm; IQR, 3.0-5.0 cm) were used in 59.5% (n=22) (P=0.015). The frequency of additional bandage compression (P=0.008), frequency of exudative hemorrhage (P=0.018), and suture mark frequency at suture removal (P=0.047) were significantly lower in the locking horizontal mattress group. Conclusion: The locking horizontal mattress suture, which has the advantage of a horizontal mattress suture, may be one of the ways that can be used alternatively to treat scalp lacerations that difficult to suture with staples.

• 대한임상독성학회지
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• 제19권2호
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• pp.110-126
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• 2021

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to find out the current status of toxicology laboratory operated by six locations nationwide and to investigate the satisfaction of emergency medical professionals who working at local and regional emergency medical centers. Methods: This survey was conducted prospective. It was conducted on 665 emergency medical professionals working at regional and regional emergency medical centers across the South Korea. Among them, the analysis was conducted with data that 510 emergency medical professionals who respond to this survey. The questionnaire was conducted on an online basis for a month. To ensure statistical significance, consider a dropout rate of 10% based on a minimum response recovery rate of 70%. 506 people were selected for the survey. Results: According to a survey on the status of addiction analysis room usage, the average monthly usage of addiction test rooms among respondents were 406 cases.71.0 cases (17.4%) of toxicology laboratory in Seoul and 71 cases (17.4%) in Gwangju. 32 cases (7.8%), 118 cases (29.0%) requested by toxicology laboratory in Busan, and the toxicology laboratory in Daegu. Eighty two cases (20.1%), Daejeon area 25 cases (6.1%), Wonju area toxicology laboratory was 78 (19.6%). According to a survey on the satisfaction of the addiction analysis room,Seoul (4.9±2.71) and Gwangju (4.8±2.52) showed high satisfaction. Conclusion: Due to the limited operation time of the four addiction analysis rooms currently in operation, the satisfaction level of addiction analysis by emergency medical professionals in the area is low due to the delay until the result is notified.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• 제20권1호
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• pp.6-11
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• 2007

Purpose: Gaining vascular access is difficult and time-consuming in critically ill children, so nowdays, in many countries, intraosseous vascular access is frequently used for rapid vascular access in critically ill children. Its pharmacokinetics is close to that of the peripheral intravenous route, but its infusion flow rate is faster. The purpose of this study was to determine how widely the intraosseous infusion technique was being used in Korean emergency departments. Methods: We telephoned forty-two (42) randomly selected university-affiliated hospitals. We asked physicians if they use the intraosseous infusion technique. Responders were emergency and pediatric residents and emergency faculty. If they responded that they were not using the intraosseous infusion technique, we asked the reason. Also, we asked about their experiences with the intraosseous infusion technique. Results: Forty-two (42) hospitals were enrolled in this study. No hospital used the intraosseous infusion technique on a regular basis. However, 8 hospitals used the intraosseous infusion technique occasionally. None of the responders had experience with the intraosseous infusion technique. Conclusion: The intraosseous infusion technique is currently underrepresented at emergency departments in Korea.

• 대한임상독성학회지
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• 제5권2호
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• pp.131-134
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• 2007

The emergence of anticoagulant rodenticides in the 1950's resulted in an epochal reduction in the use of all other agents. It is estimated that anticoagulant rodenticides constitute 95 percent of all rodenticides now in use. However, the advent of rodent resistance to these agents has led to a return to use of some other non-anticoagulant types of rodenticides. Older non-anticoagulant rodenticides have been stored in basements, garages, and barns and are still in use in some regions of the United States and in other countries. We report a case of non-anticoagulant rodenticide (beta-fluoroethyl acetate) poisoning.

• 대한임상독성학회지
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• 제20권1호
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• pp.31-34
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• 2022

Cerebellar Hippocampal and Basal Nuclei Transient Edema with Restricted diffusion (CHANTER) syndrome is characterized by an altered mental status. The acute MRI lesions show abnormal restricted diffusion imaging bilaterally and symmetrically in the cerebellum, hippocampus, and basal nuclei. This syndrome is an unknown syndrome and is presumed to be mainly an opioidinduced toxidrome. Here, we present a case study wherein we show that it can also be caused by an antidepressant overdose.