Analysis of trends in usage of analgesics and sedatives in intensive care units of South Korea: A retrospective nationwide population-based study.

The use of analgesics and sedatives plays an important role in improving patient outcomes in the intensive care unit (ICU). Various drugs exist, each with associated differences in patient outcomes; therefore, critical and intensive care medicine societies have developed guidelines for usage of analgesics and sedatives for improved patient outcomes. However, studies investigating drug use in the ICU have been based on surveys administered to medical staff, without accurate insight into the drug use based on prescriptions and behaviors of ICU medical staff, thus failing to demonstrate the actual status of the implementation of these guidelines into clinical practice.

Neuroprotective effect of ethanol in acute carbon monoxide intoxication: A retrospective study.

In acute carbon monoxide (CO) intoxication, treatment of neurologic injury and prevention of neurological sequelae are primary concerns. Ethanol is the one of the frequent substances which is co-ingested in intentional CO poisoning. Neuroprotective effect of ethanol was highlighted and demonstrated in isolated brain injury recently.

Pre-emptive ice cube cryotherapy for reducing pain from local anaesthetic injections for simple lacerations: a randomised controlled trial.

Objective: Subcutaneous local anaesthetic injection can be painful to patients in the ED. We evaluated the effect of cryotherapy by application of an ice cube to the injection site prior to injection in patients with simple lacerations.

Methods: We conducted a prospective, randomised, controlled trial in consented patients with simple lacerations needing primary repair at a single emergency centre from April to July 2016.

Effects of Paraquat Ban on Herbicide Poisoning-Related Mortality.

Purpose: In Korea, registration of paraquat-containing herbicides was canceled in November 2011, and sales thereof were completely banned in November 2012. We evaluated the effect of the paraquat ban on the epidemiology and mortality of herbicide-induced poisoning.

Materials And Methods: This retrospective study analyzed patients treated for herbicide poisoning at 17 emergency departments in South Korea between January 2010 and December 2014.