Needs for Appraisal of the Quality of Prehospital Patient's Care and for Reeducation

BACKGROUND: The prehospital emergency medical system(EMS) for 119 rescue has progressed considerably, but leaves much to be desired. To improve prehospital EMS, we need to evaluate prehospital patient care, and reeducation. METHODS: The records of 1,882 patients, who visited Sanggye Paik Hospital Emergency Department via 119 rescue from April 1 to July 30, 1999, were analyzed according to the quality of patient care as documented by the 119 rescue protocol and database. Patients are grouped into 5 classes based on the quality of the care received. Class 1A received adequate care, class 1B received inadequate care, class 1C did not receive the necessary care, and class 2A received unnecessary care, class 2B did not receive unnecessary care. The results of such analyses are presented to the fireman at monthly meetings, thus reeducating them. RESULT:S: The overall RESULT:s were 1027 cases in Class 1A(55%), 83 in 1B(4%), 149 in 1C(8%), 21 in 2A(1%), and 602 in 2B(32%). Well performed care(1A+2B) occured in 1629 cases(87%) and badly performed care(1B+1C+2A) occured in 253 cases(13%). Well performed care gradually increased from April to July (April 83%, May 85%, June 87%, and July 89%). CONCLUSION: Meticulous appraisal of the quality of prehospital patient care and reeducation through the regular meetings of EMS physicians and firemen in each community is needed for developing a model protocol for indirect retrospective medical control of the prehospital EMS.

Effect of IV Saline or Glucose Solution Load on the Clearance of Alcohol in Acute Alcohol Intoxication

BACKGROUND: In emergency departments, there are many drunken patients with various emergency medical situations. In these patients, evaluation and management of the medical problems are delayed from time to time because of the uncooperative nature of the patients and because of consciousness and sensory changes. A precise evaluation can only be obtained when the patients become sober. For this purpose, most clinicians start IV fluid loading. This study was carried out to evaluate the effect of IV fluid(normal saline and glucose solution) on the rate of ethanol clearance in such patients. METHODS: Ten volunteers(healthy males in their twenties and with a Michigan alcohol screening test below 4) were enrolled in this study. Alcohol intake was restricted to at least 48 hours before the test and food intake to at least 4 hours. For the test, A predetermined dose of ethanol(1gm/kg) was given to the volunteers. Each volunteer was tested on three consecutive times with 3 or more days interval for alcohol wash out period. On the 1st day, the volunteers received ethanol only per os. On the second day, they received ethanol and a liter of IV normal saline. On the third day, they received ethanol and a liter of IV 10% dextrose solution. Each day, blood was drawn from the antecubital vein to measure the ethanol level at the time of ethanol ingestion and at 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 hours after ingestion. The repeated measure ANOVA test was used for the statistical analysis. RESULTS: The difference in the blood ethanol level between the 3 test was F=1.7, p=0.184, and the difference corrected by the time factor was F=0.32, and p=0.985. CONCLUSION: There was no significant difference in the blood ethanol level between the tests. In conclusion, the IV normal saline or glucose solution does not accelerate ethanol clearance in suffering from acute alcohol intoxication.

The Efficacy of Emergency Computed Tomography in Patients with Chest Trauma

BACKGROUND: Trauma is the third leading cause of death, irrespective of age, and the leading cause of death in persons under 40 years of age. Computed tomography (CT) is an effective technique in the initial emergent evaluation of the abdomen and head following blunt trauma. Most chest indies are not seen on conventional chest radiography, or may be underestimated. But routine use of CT in the initial emergent evaluation of chest trauma is controversial. CT, however, has been shown to be useful in the diagnosis of unsuspected chest injuries and in directing therapeutic interventions. This review discusses the efficacy of emergent CT in patients with blunt trauma on the chest. METHODS: To evaluate the efficacy of CT of the thorax, a retrospective study comparing early thoracic CT scanning with initial chest roentgenogram(CXR) was carried out on 121 patients with blunt trauma on the chest. The interval between CXR and CT was less than 1 hour. RESULTS: Among 121 patients, 42 patients had normal initial chest roentgenogram in whom 19 patients showed normal CT findings. Sensitivities of diagnosing pneumothorax and pleural effusion by CXR were low (49.3%and 45.1%respectively), whereas 65.7% (44/67) of patients had thoracostomy only by CXR. CONCLUSIONS : Although sometimes abused in patients with chest trauma, CT of the thorax is an effective method of detecting thoracic injuries and provides accurate information regarding their pattern and extent in the initial emergent diagnosis.

Perforated Appendicitis in a patient with Situs Inversus totalis: a case report

Appendicitis is one of the most common disease in emergency department(ED), but produces perplexing diagnostic problems. A complete understanding of the anatomy, pathophysiology, and presenting signs and symptoms of appendicitis, combined with thorough history and physical examination, will be the most important factors in allowing emergency physician to make the correct diagnosis of appendicitis. Situs inversus totalis is a rare congenital anomaly occurring in every 10,000 to 50,000 people. Its etiology is obscure but apparently dose not influence normal health or life expectancy. We present a case of perforates appendicitis with situs inversus totalis in a 24-year-old woman whose chief complaint was pain on the left lower quadrant of the abdomen. Chest and abdominal X-ray showed situs inversus totalis, but these typical findings of situs inversus totalis were missed before performing abdominal ultrasonography in ED. We must carefully consider whether congenital anomaly is or not by physical examination and X-ray finding. For patients whose diagnosis is less clear, additional diagnostic tool, for instance ultrasonography is recommended in ED.

The Retrospective Research of the 119 Emergency Medical Services(EMS)System using the new Standardized Record of the 119 EMS system

Regulation for new standardized rescue record from of the 119 EMS system was established by law from February 1, 1998. We have recently evaluated the effectiveness of the record from. Records of 192 patients who visited the Emergency department of Sangggye Paik Hospital. Inje University by the 119 EMS system from February 1 to February 28, 1998 were analyzed statistically according to the contents of record form. In conclusion, the new standardized rescue record form of the 119 EMS system was effective in giving information of patients' history and analysing of the 119 EMS system. But, Detailed modification of the record form about disease entities is needed for proper initial evaluation of emergency patient.

The Effect of the Adenosine on Paroxysmal Supraventriclar Tachycardia in the Emergency Department

BACKGROUND: Adenosine has gained wide popularity in the emergency medical service system(EMS) since its approval for use in the treatment of paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia(PSVT). But, few study about its efficacy and safety have been reported in this country. Therefore we had studied the efficacy of adenosine in the patients with PSVT in the emergency department(ED). METHOD: A prospective outcome study was performed from July, 1996 to June, 1997 at the Sanggye Paik Hospital. Inje University. PSVT was diagnosised based on emergency physician's interpretation of the 12 channel ECG. patient's age, sex, symptoms, systolic blood pressure, heart rate, elapse time to sinus rhythm and side effects were recorded. RESULTS: Twenty seven cases received adenosine for diagnosed PSVT in the ED for 1 year. The cases were 6 man and 21 women. The mean age was 53.4 years old. Three cases were considered unstable PSVT. In twenty six cases(96.3%) were converted to normal sinus rhythm after adenosine therapy. None of the patients who converted to sinus rhythm had recurrent PSVT or required additional medication. Various adverse effects of adenosine were noted in all patients but were transient and clinically insignificant. CONCLUSION: Intrvenous adenosine is an effective, safe and urgent treatment PSVT and no significant side effects were happened in emergency department.

Clinical analysis of dissecting aortic aneurysm in emergency department

Dissecting aortic aneurysm is an emergency condition which requires prompt diagnosis and management. From January 1992 to December 1996, 54 patients were admitted to our department. Patients were categorized according to the Stanford classification of aortic dissection and investigation of the clinical records utilized the retrospective method. Male constituted the majority, according for 38(70.4%) of the total number of patients, whereas females accounted for 16(29.6%). Mean age was 52.1+/-2.2 years old (range:25~82). Clinical findings included chest pain in 46 cases(85.2%), renal failure in 11(20.4%), aortic insufficiency in 10(18.5%) and stroke in 9(16.7%). Predisposing factors were hypertension in 48 cases(88.9%), Marfan's syndrome in 5(9.3%) and diabetes mellitus in 1(1.8%). 21 patients(type A:12, type B:9) underwent surgical treatment. There were three(2 in type A and 1 in type B) deaths in the surgical treatment group and nine(5 in type A and 4 in type B) deaths in the medical treatment group. These results reflect our current policy in the management of dissecting aortic aneurysm.

A Study of Hyperventilation Syndrome in Emergency Department

One hundred patients with hyperventilation syndrome presenting to emergency department(ED) were studied. Those were diagnosed on clinical basis by emergency medical physician. The male to female ratio was 15 : 85. In monthly distribution, the numbers of patients were increased during the two months, June and July. The 41% of patients visited the emergency center from 9:00 p.m. to 3:00 a.m.. The most common predisposing factors were the domestic problems, especially those between husband and wife(37%). Presenting complaints were dyspnea(34), paresthesia(30), muscle spasm(24), dizziness(6) and palpitation(6 patients). The initial examination of the patients in the ED were as follows, systolic blood pressure(134+/-7.15mmHg), heart rate(87.67+/-14.34/minute), respiratory rate(22.21+/-3.34/minute) and body temperature(36.61+/-0.31 degrees C, n=98). Arterial blood gas analysis showed alkalemia(pH 7.51+/-0.09) and hypocapnia(PCO2 26.67+/-8.30mmHg). After emergency cares, including carbone dioxide re-breathing and antianxietics, most of the symptoms were disappeared. The mean duration of stay in ED was 3.27+/-0.23 hours. The most important considerations in diagnosis of hyperventilation syndrome was the patients's history and the effective management was carbon dioxide rebreathing for a few minutes and antianxietics.

Computed Tomography(CT) in Head Trauma Patients with Alert Mental Status : How Important are the Clinical Symptoms

STUDY OBJECTIVES: To identify the value of symptoms in head trauma patients with alert mental status requiring a head CT scan. METHODS: A retrospective study was performed at an emergency center over 8 months period. Patients(age > or = 7) were enrolled if they presented with a Glasgow Coma Scale score of 15 and underwent head CT after head trauma. The symptoms and signs were recorded in the entry forms prior to head CT The symptoms found in the patients with normal CT were compared with those in abnormal CT showing intracranial injuries. RESULTS: Among the 168 patients, traumatic intracranial abnormality was identified in 34(20.2%) by CT. Skull fracture was idendified in 8(4.8%) in normal CT, 17(10.1%) in abnormal CT group by simple X-ray and CT. In the normal CT group without skull fracture, 65(52.0%) had headache, 61(48.8%) had loss of consciousness( LOC), 43(34.4%) had vomiting, 24(19.2%) had nausea, 7(5.6%) had dizziness. In the abnormal CT group without skull fracture, 14(77.8%) had heacache, 9(50.0%) had LOC, 9(50.0%) had vomiting, 2(11.1%) had nausea, 2(11.1%) had dizziness. The patients with headache were significantly more common in the abnormal CT group. CONCLUSION: A head CT is required in alert head trauma patients with any symptoms and signs of intracranial injuries, especially with headache.