Sung Wook Song

Extracorporeal life support and survival after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in a nationwide registry: A propensity score-matched analysis.

BACKGROUND The benefit of extracorporeal life support (ECLS) in highly selective patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) is supported by previous studies; however, it is unclear whether the effects of ECLS are observed at a population level. This study aimed to determine whether ECLS is associated with improved survival outcomes compared to conventional CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) at a national level. METHODS We used a Korean national OHCA cohort database from 2009 to 2013. The inclusion criteria were OHCA adults with presumed cardiac aetiology and resuscitation by emergency medical services (EMS). Patients were excluded if their information on prehospital time intervals or clinical outcomes at hospital discharge was incomplete or not captured. The primary outcome was neurologically favourable survival to discharge. We compared the primary outcomes between the ECLS and non-ECLS groups using a multivariable logistic regression and a propensity score matching analysis. RESULTS Of the 119,077 patients with OHCA, 36,547 were included in the analysis. There were 320 patients who received ECLS. There was no significant difference in neurologically favourable survival to discharge between the ECLS group and the non-ECLS group after adjusting for covariates (adjusted OR, 0.65; 95% CI, 0.41-1.04). In the propensity score-matched cohort, there was also no significant difference between the two groups (adjusted OR, 0.94; 95% CI, 0.41-2.14). CONCLUSIONS In this propensity score-matched cohort using a nationwide OHCA database, OHCA victims who received ECLS did not show better survival outcomes than those who did not receive ECLS.

Clinical applicability of real-time, prehospital image transmission for FAST (Focused Assessment with Sonography for Trauma).

We evaluated a real-time, prehospital ultrasound image transmission system for use in focused assessment with sonography for trauma (FAST). The wireless, real-time ultrasound image transmission system comprised an ultrasound scanner with a convex abdominal transducer and a notebook computer connected to a 3 G wireless network for video data transmission. In our simulation experiment, ultrasonography was performed by emergency medical technicians (EMTs) on a human body phantom with simulated haemoperitoneum. Transmitted ultrasound video clips were randomly rearranged and presented to emergency physicians to make a diagnosis of haemoperitoneum. A total of 21 ultrasound video clips was used and 13 emergency physicians participated in the study. The sensitivity and specificity were 90.0% (95% Confidence Interval, CI, 83.5–94.6) and 85.3% (95% CI 78.4–90.7) respectively, and the accuracy of detecting abnormal ultrasound results was 87.7% (95% CI 83.8–91.6). Diagnosis of hemoperitonuem in trauma patients by an emergency physician based on the transmitted video images of FAST performed by an EMT is feasible, and has an accuracy of about 88%.

Quality between mechanical compression on reducible stretcher versus manual compression on standard stretcher in small elevator.

OBJECTIVES Manual cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) during vertical transport in small elevators using standard stretcher for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest can raise concerns with diminishing quality. Mechanical CPR on a reducible stretcher (RS-CPR) that can be shortened in the length was tested to compare the CPR quality with manual CPR on a standard stretcher (SS-CPR). METHODS A randomized crossover manikin simulation was designed. Three teams of emergency medical technicians were recruited to perform serial CPR simulations using two different protocols (RS-CPR and SS-CPR) according to a randomization; the first 6 minutes of manual CPR at the scene was identical for both scenarios and two different protocols during vertical transport in a small elevator followed on a basis of cross-over assignment. The LUCAS-2 Chest Compression System (Zolife AB, Lund, Sweden) was used for RS-CPR. CPR quality was measured using a resuscitation manikin (Resusci Anne QCPR, Laerdal Medical, Stavanger, Norway) in terms of no flow fraction, compression depth, and rate (median and IQR). RESULTS A total of 42 simulations were analyzed. CPR quality did not differ significantly at the scene. No flow fraction (%) was significantly lower when the stretcher was moving in RS-CPR then SS-CPR (36.0 (33.8-38.7) vs 44.0 (36.8-54.4), P< .01). RS-CPR showed significantly better quality than SS-CPR; 93.2 (50.6-95.6) vs 14.8 (0-20.8) for adequate depth (P< 0.01), and 97.5 (96.6-98.2) vs 68.9(43.4-78.5) for adequate rate (P< .01). CONCLUSION Mechanical CPR on a reducible stretcher during vertical transport showed significant improvement in CPR quality in terms of no-flow fraction, compression depth, and rate compared with manual CPR on a standard stretcher.

A comparison of three methods for postoperative pain control in patients undergoing arthroscopic shoulder surgery.

Background Arthroscopic shoulder operations (ASS) are often associated with severe postoperative pain. Nerve blocks have been studied for pain in shoulder surgeries. Interscalene brachial plexus blocks (ISB) and an intra-articular injection (IA) have been reported in many studies. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the effect of ISB, a continuous cervical epidural block (CCE) and IA as a means of postoperative pain control and to study the influence of these procedures on postoperative analgesic consumption and after ASS. Methods Fifty seven patients who underwent ASS under general anesthesia were randomly assigned to one of three groups: the ISB group (n = 19), the CCE group (n = 19), and the IA group (n = 19). Patients in each group were evaluated on a postoperative numerical rating scale (NRS), their rescue opioid dosage (ROD), and side effects. Results Postoperative NRSs were found to be higher in the IA group than in the ISB and CCE groups both at rest and on movement. The ROD were 1.6 ± 2.3, 3.0 ± 4.9 and 7.1 ± 7.9 mg morphine equivalent dose in groups CCE, ISB, and IA groups (P = 0.001), respectively, and statistically significant differences were noted between the CCE and IA groups (P = 0.01) but not in between the ISB and CCE groups. Conclusions This prospective, randomized study demonstrated that ISB is as effective analgesic technique as a CCE for postoperative pain control in patients undergoing ASS.

Efficacy and Safety of the Computed Tomography Coronary Angiography Based Approach for Patients with Acute Chest Pain at an Emergency Department: One Month Clinical Follow-up Study

To evaluate the safety and efficacy of the computed tomography coronary angiography (CTCA) for evaluation of acute chest pain in real world population, we prospectively enrolled 296 patients with acute chest pain at emergency department (ED) from November 2005 to February 2007. The patients were grouped based on the clinical information and CTCA result. The patients with a low risk profile and no significant coronary stenosis (>50%) in CTCA were discharged immediately (Group 1, n=103). On the other hand, the patients with an intermediate risk profile without significant stenosis were observed in ED for 24 hr (Group 2, n=104). The patients with significant stenosis underwent further coronary evaluation and management accordingly (Group 3, n=89). While no false negative case was found in Group 1, seven cases (6.73%) were found in Group 2, mostly during the observation period. In Group 3, there were 54 (60.67%) cases of acute coronary syndrome including 10 myocardial infarctions. The overall accuracy of CTCA for acute coronary syndrome was 88.5% (sensitivity), 85.1% (specificity), 60.7% (positive predictive value) and 96.6% (negative predictive value). In conclusion, clinical decision based on CTCA is safe and effective for low risk patients. Further validation is needed in patients with intermediate risk profile.

Butylscopolammonium bromide does not provide additional analgesia when combined with morphine and ketorolac for acute renal colic.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of adding butylscopolammonium bromide (BB) to morphine and ketorolac in the treatment of acute renal colic in the ED.

Chest Compression Fraction between Mechanical Compressions on a Reducible Stretcher and Manual Compressions on a Standard Stretcher during Transport in Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrests: The Ambulance Stretcher Innovation of Asian Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (ASIA-CPR) Pilot Trial

ABSTRACT Background: Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) with the use of mechanical devices is recommended during ambulance transport. However, the CPR quality en route and while in transfer to the emergency department (ED) for out-of-hospital cardiac arrests (OHCAs) remains uncertain. We developed a mechanical CPR device outfitted on a reducible stretcher (M-CPR) and compared with standard manual CPR on a standard stretcher (S-CPR) to evaluate CPR quality. Methods: Adult OHCAs transported by five ambulances in a metropolitan area with a population of 3.5 million (many of whom lived in high-rise buildings) from September to October (before-phase) and November to December (after-phase) in 2015 were collected. The reducible stretcher was developed for use in a small elevator during the transfer from scene to ambulance, and the AutoPulse® (ZOLL Medical, Chelmsford, MA, USA) was used for M-CPR. Chest compression fraction (CCF) was measured by transthoracic impedance data using an X-series® cardiac monitor (ZOLL Medical) during time from attachment to patient to arrival to the ED. A comparison of CCF using a Wilcoxon signed-rank test evaluated the difference between the before- and after-phases. Results: Of the eligible 49 OHCAs, 31 (21 in the before-phase and 10 in the after-phase) were analyzed, excluding patients for whom CCF was not measured, for whom M-CPR was not used, who had a return of spontaneous circulation in the field before transport, or who collapsed during transport. There were no differences in demographic data. Median total CCF (median, q1–q3) was significantly higher in the after-phase M-CPR group (85.2, 83.4–86.3) than in the before-phase S-CPR group (80.1, 68.0–85.2) (p = 0.03). Conclusion: Mechanical CPR on the reducible stretcher during the transport of OHCAs to the ED showed a much higher chest compression fraction than standard manual CPR.

Characteristics and outcomes of patients with cold-related local injuries and accidental hypothermia from emergency department–based surveillance network in northern region of South Korea:

Background: Cold weather has been known to cause various cold-related local injuries as well as accidental hypothermia. Objectives: The aim of this study is to investigate the basal characteristics, outcomes, and risk factors of patients with cold-related comorbidities using prospective emergency department–based surveillance system in high-risk area. Methods: We designed a prospective emergency department–based surveillance system throughout northern part of Gyeonggi province located in the northernmost of South Korea. A total of 20 emergency departments participated in the surveillance system. Patients who visited emergency department with cold-related comorbidities from 1 December 2012 to 28 February 2013 were prospectively enrolled in final analysis. We analyzed risk factors associated with outcome and correlation between climate factor (wind-chill index) and incidence. Results: During the study period, 54 patients with cold-related comorbidities were used for final analysis, including 35 hypothermia, 15 frostbite, and 4 trench foot. Among 35 patients with accidental hypothermia, 11 patients were admitted to intensive care unit and defined to have major adverse outcome. Hypothermic patient with major adverse outcome had lesser possession of coat as outwear when exposed to the cold (9.1% vs 58.3%, p < 0.01). Lower wind-chill index was likely to develop higher incidence of cold-related comorbidities (incidence rate ratio per 1°C decrease in wind-chill index: 1.086 (95% confidence interval: 1.038–1.135)). Conclusion: Patients with cold-related comorbidities were successfully monitored with emergency department–based surveillance system. Absence of coat was associated with major adverse outcomes in patient with accidental hypothermia. Lower wind-chill index was associated with higher incidence of cold-related comorbidities.

Rapid Health Needs Assessment after Typhoons Bolaven and Tembin Using the Public Health Assessment for Emergency Response Toolkit in Paju and Jeju, Korea 2012

Following natural disasters, rapid health needs assessments are required to quickly assess health status and help decision making during the recovery phase. The Korean Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) developed the Public Health Assessment for Emergency Response (PHASER) Toolkit which was optimized for a weather disaster in Korea. The goal of this study is to assess public health needs following the 2012 typhoons Bolaven and Tembin in both urban and rural areas in Korea. We conducted pilot trials using the PHASER toolkit to assess health needs following typhoons Bolaven and Tembin in Paju and Jeju during summer 2012. We sampled 400 households in Jeju and 200 households in Paju using a multistage cluster sampling design method. We used a standardized household tracking sheet and household survey sheet to collect data on the availability of resource for daily life, required health needs, clinical results and accessibility of medical services. The primary outcomes were clinical results and accessibility of medical service after the typhoons. We completed surveys for 190 households in Paju and 386 households in Jeju. Sleeping disorders were identified in 6.8% (95% confidence interval [CI], 2.8%–10.8%) surveyed in Paju and 17.4% (95% CI, 12.8%–22.0%) in Jeju. We used the PHASER toolkit to assess healthcare needs rapidly after 2 typhoons in Korea. Sleeping disorders were frequently identified in both Paju and Jeju following the 2 typhoons.

Analysis of public recognition survey for The Jeju Agricultural Safty and Health Center

In this study, the Jeju Agricultural Safty and Health Center conducted a questionnaire survey on the general public to show the effective direction of damage prevention education due to agricultural activities. The questionnaire surveyed the public awareness of the Agricultural Safty and Health Center and agricultural injuries. As a results, the respondents knew that they were aware of the center through promotional materials and events, and that there was a difference in awareness by age. and most of the respondents did not know about agricultural damage related financial products. In conclusion, the operated direction of the center was sympathizing with what people think. In addition, Received (March 13, 2017), Review Result (March 27, 2017) Accepted (April 3, 2017), Published (May 31, 2017) 63241 Dept. Emergency Medicine, JeJu Univ., Aran 13gil 15, Jeju-si, Jeju, Korea email: kkwpps@naver.com 2 (Corresponding Author) 63241 Dept. Emergency Medicine, JeJu Univ., Aran 13gil 15, Jeju-si, Jeju, Korea emali: sungwook78@gmail.com * 이 논문은 제주농업안전보건센터의 지원으로 작성되었습니다. Analysis of public recognition survey for The Jeju Agricultural Safty and Health Center Copyright c 2017 HSST 546 we think that efforts to advertise the center business should be more effort in off-line than on-line, and a customized PR strategy should be neede according to age.