• The Korean Journal of Emergency Medical Services
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.7-22
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• 2021

Purpose: This study aimed to identify the differences in pre-hospital and in-hospital triage (pre-hospital triage and KTAS(Korean Triage and Acuity Scale)) of patients with abdominal pain and the characteristics of high hospitalization probability in the treatment results. Methods: We analyzed 941 people who visited the area C emergency center for 2 years from January 2017 to December 2018. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS 26. Results: Among the transfer hospitals, 84.8% (798) of patients were selected by the 119 rescue service, and the most common diagnosis was simple abdominal pain (46.5%, 438 patients). A total of 50.7% (477) of patients classified as severe pre-hospital cases changed to mild in-hospital cases. There was a difference of 5.3% (50 cases) in cases where patients classified as mild pre-hospital were changed to severe in-hospital cases. The Kappa coefficient did not match with 0.04 (p=.051). Pre-hospital overtriage was 58.2% (548 cases), and 71.2% (670) of patients were discharged from the emergency room as a result of the treatment. Conclusion: The results of this study showed that pre-hospital and in-hospital triage were not consistent. The rates of pre-hospital overtriage were quite high. Most patients with abdominal pain were classified as mild cases, and pre-hospital triage classifiers should be trained to reduce errors in selecting transfer hospitals.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.395-407
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• 2022

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between clinical and laboratory parameters and complication status to predict which patients can be safely discharged from the hospital on the third postoperative day (POD). Materials and Methods: Data from a prospectively maintained database of 2,110 consecutive patients with gastric adenocarcinoma who underwent curative surgery were reviewed. The third POD vital signs, laboratory data, and details of the course after surgery were collected. Patients with grade II or higher complications after the third POD were considered unsuitable for early discharge. The performance metrics were calculated for all algorithm parameters. The proposed algorithm was tested using a validation dataset of consecutive patients from the same center. Results: Of 1,438 patients in the study cohort, 142 (9.9%) were considered unsuitable for early discharge. C-reactive protein level, body temperature, pulse rate, and neutrophil count had good performance metrics and were determined to be independent prognostic factors. An algorithm consisting of these 4 parameters had a negative predictive value (NPV) of 95.9% (95% confidence interval [CI], 94.2-97.3), sensitivity of 80.3% (95% CI, 72.8-86.5), and specificity of 51.1% (95% CI, 48.3-53.8). Only 28 (1.9%) patients in the study cohort were classified as false negatives. In the validation dataset, the NPV was 93.7%, sensitivity was 66%, and 3.3% (17/512) of patients were classified as false negatives. Conclusions: Simple clinical and laboratory parameters obtained on the third POD can be used when making decisions regarding the safe early discharge of patients who underwent gastrectomy.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.56 no.5
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• pp.431-439
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• 2023

Objectives: Numerous studies have explored the causes and spread of outbreaks, yet there is a lack of research on post-coronavirus disease 2019 condition (PCC) in Korea. The goal of this study was to identify the various types of PCC and associated factors in discharged patients and to provide directions for the ongoing health management of confirmed patients. Methods: A telephone survey was conducted among 680 coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients diagnosed between July 7, 2021 and August 26, 2021, in Dangjin, Chungnam, Korea. A descriptive analysis of characteristics, univariate analysis, and regression were performed using data from basic epidemiological surveys conducted at the time of diagnosis and post-discharge questionnaires. Results: Of the 585 patients who responded, 159 (27.2%) developed PCC. Of the 211 patients with no initial symptoms, 27 (12.8%) developed PCC, versus 132 (35.3%) of the 374 patients with initial symptoms. Among the initial symptoms, fever or chills, cough or sputum, loss of smell, and sore throat were associated with PCC. Compared to patients with less than 10 days of hospitalization, those with a hospitalization period of 21 days to 30 days (odds ratio [OR], 2.3; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.0 to 5.2) and 31 days or more (OR, 5.8; 95% CI, 1.9 to 18.1) had a higher risk of PCC. Conclusions: More than a quarter of COVID-19 patients, including those who had no initial symptoms, experienced PCC in Korea. People with the initial symptoms of fever, chills, and respiratory symptoms and those who had prolonged hospital stays had a high risk of PCC.

• Journal of Home Health Care Nursing
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.58-72
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• 2000

This study was an attempt to encourage the development of a rehabilitation delivery system and programs as a substitute service for hospitalization on the case of car accident patients, such as hospital based home health care nursing services. Various substitute services for hospitalization are required to curtail the length of stay for inpatients who were hospitalized with car accident compensation insurance. It focused on developing an estimation an early discharge day for car accident inpatients based on detailed statements of treatment for 111 inpatients who were hospitalized at the General Hospital in 1997. This study had four specific purposes as follows. First. to find out the utilization of medical services. Second, to estimate the time of early discharge and income increasing effect based on early discharge for those patients. Third, to identify the factors affecting total medical expenditure and the length of stay for those inpatients. Forth, to figure out the need of utilizing home health care nursing service for accident patients. In order to analyze the length of stay and medical expenditure for inpatients who were hospitalized due to car accidents, the authors conducted micro- and macro-analysis of medical and medical expenditure records. Micro-analysis was done by nominal group discussion of 4 expertise with the critical criteria, such as a decrease in the amount of treatment after surgery, treatments, tests, drugs and changes in the test consistency, drug methods, vital signs, start of ROM exercise, doctor's order, patient's outside visiting ability, and stable conditions. In addition to identifying variables affecting medical expenditure, and the length of stay and income effect due to early discharge day, the data was analyzed with a multiple regression analysis and linear regression analysis model by SPSS-PC for windows and Excell program. Results of this study were as follows. First. the mean length of stay was 50.3 days. whereas the mean length of stay due to early discharge was 34.3 days at the hospital. The estimation of time of early discharge depended on the length of stay. The longer the length of stay, the longer the length of time of early discharge : for instance a length of stay under 10 days was estimated as correlating to a mean length of stay of 6.6 days and early discharge of 6.5. The mean length of stay was 217.4 days and the time of early discharge was 110.1 respectively. The mean medical expenditure per day was found to be 169.085 Won and the mean medical expenditure per day showed negative linear trends according to the length of stay at the hospital. The estimation results of the income effect due to being discharged 16 days early was around 2,244,000 won per bed. However. this sum does not represent the real benefits resulting from early discharge, but rather the income increasing amount without considering medical prime cost in the general hospital. Therefore, further analysis is required on the cost containments and benefits as turn over rate per bed as the medical prime costs. The length of stay was most significant and was positive to the total medical expenditure, as expected. Surgery and patient's residential area was also an important variable in explaining medical expenditure. The level of complications was the most significant variable in explaining the length of stay. There was a high level for need a home health care nursing service which further supports early discharge for accident patients. In addition, when the patient was discharged. they needed follow up care for complications suffered during the car accident. $86.8\%$ of discharged patients responded that they needed home health services after early discharge. From these research findings, the following suggestions have been drawn. Strategies on a health care delivery system must be developed in order to focus on the consumer's needs and being planned for 21 century health policy in Korea. Community based intermediate facilities or home health care should be developed for rehabilitation services as a substitute for hospitalization in order to shorten the length of stay would be. A hospital based home health care nursing service. it would be available immediately to utilize by patients who want rehabilitation services as a substitute for hospitalization with the cooperation of car insurance companies.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing Administration
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.355-368
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• 1999

This study was a quasi-experimental study to investigate the effect of a telephone follow-up on the self-care and the satisfaction on nursing care in G-I surgical patients. The subjects of the study were 38 patients, 19 in experimental group and 19 in control group, who discharged after gastrointestinal surgery at a university hospital in Taegu between August 11. 1998 and October 16, 1998. The telephone follow-up program for the experiment was developed by the researcher, which contained consultation, support and encouragement for self-care after discharge. Number of the instruments used for measurement of the outcome variables were 5, self-care after discharge, satisfaction(1)${\sim}$(2) on Nursing care. intention to visit the hospital again. intention to recommend the hospital to others. The results of this study were as follows ; 1. The first hypothesis, "The subjects of experimental group will show a higher level of self-care than the subjects of control group" was rejected (F=.48. p=.4937). 2. The Second hypothesis. "The subjects of experimental group will show a higher level of satisfaction than the subjects of control group" was accepted partly as follows. 1) The hypothesis 2-1, "The subjects of experimental group will show a higher level of satisfaction(1) than the subjects of control group" was accepted(F=4.04. p=.0496). 2) The hypothesis 2-2. "The subjects of experimental group will show a higher level of satisfaction(2) than the subjects of control group" was accepted(F=8.48. p=.0064). 3) The hypothesis 2-3, "The subjects of experimental group will show a higher level of intention to visit hospital again than the subjects of control group" was rejected(F=1.95. p=.1723). 4) The hypothesis 2-4. "The subjects of experimental group will show a higher level of intention to recommend the hospital to others than the subjects of control group" was rejected(F=1.43. p=.2411) . From the results of this study, the telephone follow-up can be regarded as an effective nursing intervention for the discharged patients.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.15 no.2 s.28
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• pp.46-91
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• 1994

l. Backgrounds of Studies Cerebrovascular accident. one of the three major causes of death among audults with cardiopathy and malignancy, has been on the increase in korea while it is on the decrease in European countries and Japan. Types of stroke undergo changes caused by prolongment of life expectancy. and social and economic variety. More patients of ischemic stroke show a tendency to increase now than those of hemorrhagic stroke in the past. Many clinical studies on medical cerebrovascular and oriental stroke of paralysis have been published. but few clinical studies on therapeutics of integrated oriental and western medicine are to be found. So I have made an attempt to study clinical observations and therapeutic responses of ischemic stroke under integrated oriental and western medicine. 2.Methods. Among the patients admitted into the clinic of Joong-Poong, Woo-Suk University Hospital from May 1. 1993 until April 30. 1994 those 56 patients who were diagnosed as ischemic stroke on Computed Tomography(CT) and showed no dubious symptom after examination of coagulation and bleeding time were classified into the following six steps and treated: l)diagnosis 2)emergency treatment 3)basic treatment 4)treatment of risk and provoking factors. and preceeding disease 5)complications and conservative therapy 6)rehabilitation. For a period of basic treatment both herb medication and urokinase therapy were applied at the same time. Intravenous injection has been given at a unit of 300.000 dosage a day as urokinase therapy during basic treatment. If they showed any dubious symptom in glucose tolerance test. fructose 500ml and urokinase 300.000 dosage were mixed and injected. In case of no symptom 5% DW 500ml was mixed with urokinase 300.000 unit. and injected at a speed of 15gtt per minute. 3. Results and Conclusions 1) The level of ambulation has been improved from 42.9% when admitted to 73.2% when discharged in the degree of recovery. The level of severe function disorder has been remarkably decreased from 55.4% when admitted to 19.6% when discharged. 2) The treatment effect on the basis of therapeutic response of clinical and subjective symptom shows as follows: 7.1% Excellent. 35.7% Good. 37.5% Effective. 10.7% Stationary. and 8.9% Aggravated. The total recovery above effective shows 80.3%. Judging from the above results I think it proper to develop the model of better preventing and treating ischemic stroke through effective therapeutic and clinical studies of integrated oriental and western medicine.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.173-177
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• 2006

Hydrofluoric acid is a colorless gas or fuming liquid with a strong, irritating odor. Hydrofluoric acid burns are uncommon; however, if severe burn occur, they caused death from systemic effects, such as fatal cardiac arrthmia. We experienced two cases of hydrofluoric acid chemical burns on digits. These patients had typical clinical features of hydrofluoric acid chemical burns, such as pulsating pain at the burn site, as well as ischemic and necrotic skin changes. The hydrofluoric acid chemical burn was confirmed by a history of exposure. Subsequently, we made a calcium gluconate gel by mixing 20% calcium gluconate, an antagonist against hydrofluoric acid, with lubricant, and we injected 10% calcium gluconate subcutaneously when they complained of pain rated at higher than 5 on the pain scale. Simultaneously, we monitored the patients' electrocardiographs and checked their serum total calcium, ionized calcium, and magnesium levels serially. Clinical presentations and the emergency management of hydrofluoric acid chemical burns were reviewed along with the current literature. These patients were discharged without any significant complications.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.111-115
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• 2000

Three cases of human infection by Trichinella spiralis were first confirmed by detecting encysted larvae in the biopsied muscle in December 1997, in Korea. The patients were one 35-and two 39-year-old males residing in Kochang-gun, Kyongsangnam-do. They had a common past history of eating raw liver, spleen, blood and muscle of a badger, Meles meles melanogenvs, and complained of high fever, facial and periorbital edema, and myalgia. Hematologic and biochemical examinations revealed leukocytosis and eosinophilia, and highly elevated levels of GOT, GPT, LDH and CPK. In the gastrocnemius muscle of a patient, roundly coiled nematode larvae were detected. The larvae measured 0.775-1.050 (av 0.908) mm in length, and 0.026-0.042 (av. 0.035) mm in maximum width. The specific IgG antibody levels in three patients' sera were significantly higher when compared with those of normal controls. The patients were treated with flubendazole and albendazole for 15-30 days, and discharged at 13-34 days post-admission. From the above findings, it was confirmed that T. spiralis is present in Korea, and the badger plays a role of as the natural host.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.51 no.5
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• pp.328-332
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• 2018

Background: Extracorporeal life support (ECLS) can be applied in brain-dead donors for organ perfusion before donation, thereby expanding the donor pool. The aim of this study was to examine the benefits and early clinical outcomes of ECLS for organ preservation. Methods: Between June 2012 and April 2017, 9 patients received ECLS with therapeutic intent or for organ preservation. The following data were collected: demographics, purpose and duration of ECLS, cause of death, dose of vasoactive drugs, and need for temporary dialysis before organ retrieval. The early clinical outcomes of recipients were studied, as well as survival and graft function at 1 month. Results: ECLS was initiated for extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation in 5 patients. The other patients needed ECLS due to hemodynamic deterioration during the assessment of brain death. We successfully retrieved 18 kidneys, 7 livers, and 1 heart from 9 donors. All organs were transplanted and none were discarded. Only 1 case of delayed kidney graft function was noted, and all 26 recipients were discharged without any significant complications. Conclusion: The benefits of protecting the vital organs of donors is significant, and ECLS for organ preservation can be widely used in the transplantation field.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.114-121
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• 2015

More and more patients suffering from hepatitis A, the number of patients representing symptoms that are uncharacteristic to hepatitis A is also increasing. There are occasions of serious complications among adult hepatitis A patients that can cause fulminant hepatitis or cirrhosis which can be fatal. A 43-year-old male was diagnosed as acute hepatitis A and was treated at a Western hospital over the course of three months, which included two months of hospitalization. However, his symptoms did not improve, so he was admitted to Oriental hospital. We prescribed Chunggan extract (CGX) four times a day. Acupuncture was performed twice a day. From the twenty-fourth day of admission, the total bilirubin fell under 10 mg/dL for the first time and next day he was discharged. Following his discharge, he consistently took CGX three times a day. 21 days after discharge all of his symptoms disappeared. This study demonstrated that traditional Korean medicine (TKM) for acute viral hepatitis with cholestatic hepatitis might be effective and safe with no adverse effects.