Grey-to-White Matter Ratio Values in Early Head Computed Tomography (CT) as a Predictor of Neurologic Outcomes in Survivors of Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest Based on Severity of Hypoxic-Ischemic Brain Injury.

Background: Hypoxic-ischemic brain injury (HIBI) is a common complication of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA).

Objectives: We investigated whether grey-to-white matter ratio (GWR) values, measured using early head computed tomography (HCT), were associated with neurologic outcomes based on the severity of HIBI in survivors of OHCA.

Methods: This retrospective multicenter study included adult comatose OHCA survivors who underwent an HCT scan within 2 h after the return of spontaneous circulation.

Does Combining Biomarkers and Brain Images Provide Improved Prognostic Predictive Performance for Out-Of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest Survivors before Target Temperature Management?

We examined whether combining biomarkers measurements and brain images early after the return of spontaneous circulation improves prognostic performance compared with the use of either biomarkers or brain images for patients with cardiac arrest following target temperature management (TTM). This retrospective observational study involved comatose out-of-hospital cardiac arrest survivors. We analyzed neuron-specific enolase levels in serum (NSE) or cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), grey-to-white matter ratio by brain computed tomography, presence of high signal intensity (HSI) in diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI), and voxel-based apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC).

Changes in peak inspiratory flow rate and peak airway pressure with endotracheal tube size during chest compression.

Background: Adequate airway management plays an important role in high-quality cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Airway management is usually performed using an endotracheal tube (ETT) during CPR. However, no study has assessed the effect of ETT size on the flow rate and airway pressure during CPR.

Usefulness of a quantitative analysis of the cerebrospinal fluid volume proportion in brain computed tomography for predicting neurological prognosis in cardiac arrest survivors who undergo target temperature management.

Purpose: Brain swelling post-cardiac arrest may affect cerebrospinal fluid volume. We aimed to investigate the prognostic performance of the proportion of cerebrospinal fluid volume (pCSFV) using brain computed tomography (CT) in cardiac arrest survivors.

Materials And Methods: This retrospective multicentre study included adult comatose cardiac arrest survivors who underwent brain CT scan prior to target temperature management (TTM) from 2015 to 2016.

Comparison of cosmetic appearances after facial lacerations repaired by junior residents and experts.

Purpose: The technical factors which improve cosmetic outcomes and which need to be emphasized in education of junior residents have yet to be described. We compared cases in which suturing was performed by either junior emergency medicine residents or experts, in order to determine the focus of future education and training.

Methods: Wound registry data was reviewed and retrospectively analyzed from September 2015 to February 2016.

Is it possible to reduce intra-hospital transport time for computed tomography evaluation in critically ill cases using the Easy Tube Arrange Device?

Objective: Patients are often transported within the hospital, especially in cases of critical illness for which computed tomography (CT) is performed. Since increased transport time increases the risks of complications, reducing transport time is important for patient safety. This study aimed to evaluate the ability of our newly invented device, the Easy Tube Arrange Device (ETAD), to reduce transport time for CT evaluation in cases of critical illness.

Analysis on sports and recreation activity-related eye injuries presenting to the Emergency Department.

Aim: To investigate the incidence and general characteristics of sports-related eye injuries in patients visiting the Emergency Department.

Methods: A cross-sectional, multi-center, observational study. Patients with an injured eye who visited the Emergency Department at one of nine hospitals in Korea were enrolled.

A study on the disaster medical response during the Mauna Ocean Resort gymnasium collapse.

Objective: To investigate and document the disaster medical response during the Gyeongju Mauna Ocean Resort gymnasium collapse on February 17, 2014.

Methods: Official records of each institution were verified to select the study population. All the medical records and emergency medical service run sheets were reviewed by an emergency physician.

Reduction of intra-hospital transport time using the easy tube arrange device.

Objective: Critically ill patients sometimes require transport to another location. Longer intra-hospital transport time increases the risk of hemodynamic instability and associated complications. Therefore, reducing intra-hospital transport time is critical.

Comparison of overlapping (OP) and adjacent thumb positions (AP) for cardiac compressions using the encircling method in infants.

Objectives: The aim of this manikin study was to compare the efficiency between overlapping (OP) and adjacent thumb positions (AP) for cardiac compressions using the encircling method in infants.

Methods: The study conducted from December 2010 to August 2011 involved 48 volunteers who were students in the emergency medical technician course. The authors let volunteers practice OP and AP as a crossover design.

A comparison of the area of chest compression by the superimposed-thumb and the alongside-thumb techniques for infant cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

Objectives: We investigated whether the superimposed-thumb technique could reduce the chest compression area in infant cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).

Methods: Charts and multidirectional computed tomography images of infants presented to four hospitals from January 2007 to September 2010 were reviewed retrospectively. We measured at the point of maximal anterior-posterior heart diameter the width of the sternum meter (S(ap)), vertical heart length from S(ap), length and width of the superimposed-thumb technique and length and width of the alongside-thumb technique.

Magnetic resonance imaging as a diagnostic adjunct to Wernicke encephalopathy in the ED.

This report describes usefulness of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for the evaluation of the patient suspected of Wernicke encephalopathy (WE). Magnetic resonance imaging shows characteristic findings of symmetric hyperintense lesions predominantly located in the bilateral medial thalami, the periaqueductal regions, and the mamillary bodies. The diagnosis of Wernicke encephalopathy has been based generally on history and clinical symptoms.

Diffusion-weighted MRI as a screening tool of stroke in the ED.

This report describes a novel imaging technology for the evaluation of stroke patients. Diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging can visualize hyperacute ischemic stroke which cannot be seen on computed tomography; moreover, it only takes few minutes to scan. We believe that diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging, rather than routine computed tomography, should be considered when the emergency physician evaluates a patient with acute ischemic stroke.