Epidemiology, timing, technique, and outcomes of tracheostomy in patients with trauma: a multi-centre retrospective study.

Background: Tracheostomy is performed in patients with trauma who need prolonged ventilation for respiratory failure or airway management. Although it has benefits, such as reduced sedation and easier care, it also has risks. This study explored the unclear timing, technique, and patient selection criteria for tracheostomy in patients with trauma.

Perceived Disaster Preparedness and Willingness to Respond among Emergency Nurses in South Korea: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Introduction: Emergency nurses serve a vital role in disaster situations. Understanding their disaster preparedness and willingness to respond to a disaster is important in maintaining appropriate disaster management. The purpose of this study was to explore emergency nurses' disaster preparedness and willingness to respond based on demographic and disaster-related characteristics, and their willingness to respond based on specific disaster situations.

Age group analysis of patients with dog bite injuries who visited a single regional emergency medical center and factors affecting wound infections.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to analyze by age group the characteristics of patients with dog bite injuries, as well as determine which factors were associated with wound infections in those patients.

Methods: We reviewed patients with dog bite injuries who presented to Gachon University Gil Medical Center in Incheon, Korea from January 1, 2014 to December 31, 2018. They were classified by age group: children (0-18 years), adults (19-59 years), or elderly (≥60 years).

Factors associated with injury severity among users of powered mobility devices.

Objective: To examine the features of powered mobility device-related injuries and identify the predictors of injury severity in such settings.

Methods: Emergency Department-based Injury In-depth Surveillance data from 2011 to 2018 were used in this retrospective study. Participants were assigned to the mild/moderate and severe groups based on their excess mortality ratio-adjusted injury severity score and their general injury-related factors and injury outcome-related factors were compared.

Disaster Response to a Mass Casualty Incident in a Hospital Fire by Regional Disaster Medical Assistance Team: Characteristics of Hospital Fire.

Objective: A disaster in the hospital is particularly serious and quite different from other ordinary disasters. This study aimed at analyzing the activity outcomes of a disaster medical assistance team (DMAT) for a fire disaster at the hospital.

Methods: The data which was documented by a DMAT and emergent medical technicians of a fire department contained information about the patient's characteristics, medical records, triage results, and the hospital which the patient was transferred from.

Relationship between age and injury severity in traffic accidents involving elderly pedestrians.

Objective: This study aimed to examine whether injury severity differs with respect to age among elderly pedestrians involved in traffic accidents and identify factors affecting injury severity.

Methods: Using emergency department-based injury in-depth surveillance data, we analyzed the data of patients aged ≥60 years who were victims of pedestrian traffic accidents during 2011 to 2016. The pedestrians' ages were divided into 5-year age strata beginning at 60 years.

Combination of S100B and procalcitonin improves prognostic performance compared to either alone in patients with cardiac arrest: A prospective observational study.

This study aimed to determine whether the combination of procalcitonin (PCT) and S100B improves prognostic performance compared to either alone in cardiac arrest (CA) patients treated with targeted temperature management (TTM).We performed a prospective cohort study of CA patients treated with TTM. PCT and S100B levels were obtained at 0, 24, 48, and 72 hours after return of spontaneous circulation.

Performance on the APACHE II, SAPS II, SOFA and the OHCA score of post-cardiac arrest patients treated with therapeutic hypothermia.

Objective: This study assessed the ability of the Acute Physiologic and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II score, Simplified Acute Physiology Score (SAPS) II, Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score, and out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) score to predict the outcome of OHCA patients who underwent therapeutic hypothermia (TH).

Methods: This study included OHCA patients treated with TH between January 2010 and December 2013. The APACHE II score, SAPS II, and SOFA score were calculated at the time of admission and 24 h and 48 h after intensive care unit admission.

The Relationship Between the Decreased Rate of Initial Blood Glucose and Neurologic Outcomes in Survivors of Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest Receiving Therapeutic Hypothermia.

Background: Hyperglycemia in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) survivors is associated with poor outcomes. However, in the control of initial hyperglycemia, an adequate strategy to improve patients' neurologic outcomes remains undetermined. Prior to the establishment of such strategy, we need to determine whether a decreased rate of initial blood glucose (BG) affects patient outcomes.

Detection of blebs and bullae in patients with primary spontaneous pneumothorax by multi-detector CT reconstruction using different slice thicknesses.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to compare the diagnostic performances of multi-detector computed tomography (MDCT) reconstruction at two different slice thicknesses (1 mm, 'high resolution' vs. 5 mm, 'routine') with respect to the detection of blebs and bullae (BBs) in patients with primary spontaneous pneumothorax (PSP).

Methods: Thirty-one patients underwent wedge resection of BBs (29 unilateral and 2 bilateral) for PSP from January 2010 to January 2013.

Closed suction drainage for deep neck infections.

Purpose: There have been various incision and drainage methods for deep neck infection (DNI). Closed-suction drainage (CSD) has been used to decrease hematoma or to drain pus in other forms of medical surgery. The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate the usefulness of CSD for DNI.

Factors associated with pneumonia in post-cardiac arrest patients receiving therapeutic hypothermia.

Aim: The aim of this study is to investigate risk factors associated with the development of pneumonia during the first 7 days of admission in survivors of cardiac arrest receiving therapeutic hypothermia.

Methods: A total of 123 patients receiving therapeutic hypothermia after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest between January 2008 and December 2010 were enrolled. Study populations were categorized as "pneumonia present" [P (+)] and "pneumonia absent" [P (-)] contingent upon the development of pneumonia during the first 7 days of admission.

Testosterone related good neurologic outcome on the patients with return of spontaneous circulation after cardiac arrest: a prospective cohort study.

Aim: To evaluate the gonadal hormones in patients with return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) after cardiac arrest following prospectively good (cerebral-performance category [CPC] 1-2) and poor (CPC 3-5) neurologic outcomes.

Methods: The patients in an emergency center who had been admitted to the center's intensive care unit (ICU) after successful resuscitation following out-of-hospital cardiac arrest were prospectively identified and evaluated within the period from April 2008 to March 2011. The gonadal hormones, including progesterone, total estrogen, and testosterone, were measured and analyzed following the good and poor neurologic outcomes.

Blood ammonia is a predictive biomarker of neurologic outcome in cardiac arrest patients treated with therapeutic hypothermia.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the value of commonly examined laboratory measurements, including ammonia and lactate, in predicting neurologic outcome of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) patients treated with therapeutic hypothermia (TH).

Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study of patients with a return of spontaneous circulation after OHCA who were treated with TH between February 2007 and July 2010. We measured typical blood measurements on arrival at the emergency department.

Hormonal responses upon return of spontaneous circulation after cardiac arrest: a retrospective cohort study.

Introduction: Cardiac arrest is often fatal and can be extremely stressful to patients, even if spontaneous rhythm is returned. The purpose of this study was to analyze the hormonal response after return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC).

Methods: This is a retrospective review of the chart and laboratory findings in a single medical facility.

Effectiveness of each target body temperature during therapeutic hypothermia after cardiac arrest.

Purpose: According to the 2005 American Heart Association Guidelines for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation, unconscious adult patients with a return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest should be cooled to 32°C to 34°C for 12 to 24 hours. However, it is unclear which target temperature is more adequate. In this study, we prospectively evaluated the outcome and adverse effects following 3 target temperatures (32°C, 33°C, and 34°C) during therapeutic hypothermia with ROSC after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.

Staged repair of a chronic dissecting aneurysm with the two elephant trunks technique.

The elephant trunk technique is a novel staged procedure for the treatment of an extensive thoracic aortic aneurysm. Occasionally, entrapment or obstruction in the smaller lumen occurs with the use of the elephant trunk technique in aortic dissection. The general procedure is to excise a generous portion of the dissecting septum distally for a chronic dissecting aneurysm of the descending thoracic aorta.

Combined epidural emphysema and nonsurgical pneumoperitoneum after blunt trauma: report of two cases and review of the literature.

Epidural emphysema is a rare condition, and when occurs in isolation it is usually benign and resolves spontaneously after the underlying cause has been treated. Epidural emphysema is usually accompanied by pneumothorax, subcutaneous emphysema, or pneumomediastinum. In addition, nonsurgical (benign) pneumoperitoneum is a state of the presence of air in the peritoneal space, not requiring surgical intervention.

Relative adrenal insufficiency after cardiac arrest: impact on postresuscitation disease outcome.

Unlabelled: The purpose of this study is to prospectively evaluate the cortisol response and determine the relative adrenal insufficiency after return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC).

Methods: This is a prospective cohort study describing the prevalence of relative adrenal insufficiency in consecutive patients admitted to an intensive care unit following ROSC (>24 hours) after cardiac arrest. The study institution is a 1,300-bed urban hospital with an annual intensive care unit census of 80.

Costal osteochondroma presenting as haemothorax and diaphragmatic laceration.

We report the unusual case of an 11-year-old girl who suffered a large haemothorax and lacerated left hemidiaphragm because of a costal osteochondroma arising from the left sixth rib near the costochondral junction. Surgical excision of the osteochondroma was performed and the lacerated diaphragm was repaired.