Clinical Aspects and Management of a Herbicide Containing Glufosinate Ammonium and Surfactant

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to assess the clinical aspects of glufosinate poisoning and to present basic data for proper management. METHODS: A retrospective study by chart review was done on 20 patient who had ingested glufosinate ammonium and who presented to the emergency medical center of Chunbuk National University Hospital from January 1997 through June 2003. RESULTS: We found that the poisoned patients expressed a gradually progressing depression of mentality, recent memory disturbance, convulsion, hypotension, or fever. The onset time was variable and ranged between 12 and 23 hours. There was a close connection between the ingested amount and the severity, but not the blood ammonia level. CONCILUSION: In acute oral Basta poisoning, patients develop a variety of clinical signs; some are even asymptomatic while others die, The mortality was 26%, so we should make a specialized study of glufosinate ammonium.

Injury Patterns of Front-seat Passengers without Seat Belts in Traffic Crashes

PURPOSE: This study aimed to investigate the injury patterns of unrestrained front-seat passengers in traffic crashes. METHODS: Using 2000~2003 data from the Jeonbuk Provincial Police Agency and medical-chart review, we estimated the relationship between crash patterns and individual variables, such as age, sex, Injury Severity Score, prehospital care, outcome, injury types, passenger seats, velocity, and alcohol consumption. We also investigated whether the Injury Severity Score correlated with crash patterns, passenger seats, velocity, prehospital care, and alcohol consumption. RESULTS: The mean Injury Severity Scores in frontal and rollover crashes were 15.0(+/-0.7) and 22.6(+/-3.3), respectively and the difference was statistically significant (p<0.05). The mortality rate was higher in rollover crashes than in frontal crashes (p<0.05). The most common type of injury in unrestrained passengers during frontal and rollover crashes was head and face injury. In addition, chest and lumbar spine injuries were more common in rollover crashes than in frontal crashes, and this difference had statistical significance (p<0.05). The Injury Severity Score correlated with the crash patterns (rho=0.25, p<0.01), overspeeding (rho=0.44, p<0.01), prehospital care (rho=0.25, p<0.01), and alcohol consumption (rho=0.18, p<0.05). CONCLUSION: We estimate that rollover crashes are associated with an increased risk of injury to and death for frontseat passengers compared to frontal collisions. Knowledge of injury mechanisms should help emergency physicians to promptly evaluate all areas at risk, as well as the potential for fatality.