An Analysis of Prehospital Care by 119 Rescue Services

PURPOSE: We analysed the prehospital care and property of field triage for quality improvement. METHODS: A retrospective study of 623 case who were selected every five other day(1, 6, 11, 16, 21, 26) and visited emergency center of Hangang Sacred Heart hospital by 119 rescuer from January 2002 to December 2003 was made using triage and management at field and during transport. The research compared 119 transport chart with emergency medical recording. RESULTS: There were 350 male(56.2%) and 273 female(43.8%). Non-triage patient were 432 cases(69.3%). Finding from the crosstabulation analysis between 119 transport chart and emergency medical record reveal that 93 cases were overstimated, and 23 cases were understimated in mental status evaluation by 119 rescuer. Adequate prehospital treatment were 151 cases. CONCLUSION: The property of mental status evaluation by 119 rescuer was nearly correct, but the triage and management were not.

Investigations of the Air Volume for a Tracheal Tube Cuff in a Tracheal Models

PURPOSE: It is recommended that the cuff is inflated with about 10 ml air because cuff pressure is maintained from 25 cmH2O(=18.39 mmHg) to 40 cmH2O(=29.424 mmHg). This study is performed to evaluate the air volume of highvolume and low-pressure cuff during maintaining appropriate pressure. METHODS: The tracheal models are hexahedral structures were made of monomer Cast Polyamide with a whole diameter from 10 mm to 30 mm at 1mm interval each. They were 1/100 with accuracy. Intubation tube were Hi-LoT M (Mallinckrodt, Athlone, Ireland), high-volume low-pressure cuff tube. The diameter of tubes was from 5.0 mm to 8.0 mm at 0.5 mm interval each. Cuff pressure was measured with cuff pressure control (Tracoe(R), Mains, Germany). Inflated cuff volume is measured by plastic syringe (Becton-Dickson Korea, Seoul, Korea) in maintaining recommended cuff pressure. Volume measurements were twice by each different tester. RESULTS: There were considerable volume differences between each tube size and each model. The bigger trachea model diameter was, the more intracuff air volume was. There was the least volume difference in 5.5 mm intubation tube size (3.5~11.5 ml). There was the most difference in 7.5 mm intubation tube size (3.5~19.5 ml). Totally, the maximum air volume was 22.3 ml, the mininum air volume was 1.5 ml. The difference was 20.8 ml. CONCLUSION: The inflated volumes of cuff in proper cuff pressure were considerably different by the diameter sizes of tracheal models and tube sizes. Therefore, it will be more convenient and safe to use device for maintaining cuff pressure properly.