ABSTRACT
Objective@#There has been a consistent import of Plasmodium falciparum malaria into South Korea. As artesunate has been shown to reduce malaria related mortality in other countries, we sought to evaluate the treatment outcomes of P. falciparum malaria with artesunate. @*Methods@#We retrospectively reviewed demographic (age, sex, travel history, and year of admission) and clinical data (sign and symptoms, laboratory findings, complications, treatment outcome) of patients with imported P. falciparum malaria diagnosed between 2014 and 2019. @*Results@#A total of 55 patients with P. falciparum malaria were included, of which 36.4% had severe P. falciparum malaria. Their mean (±standard deviation) age was 42.6 (±12.8) years. Overall, the median length of hospital stay was 6 days (interquartile range, 4-9; range, 3-36) and 21.8% of the patients needed intensive care unit (ICU) care. The overall mortality rate was 3.6%. In patients with severe P. falciparum malaria, half of the patients (50.0%) needed ICU care and the mortality rate was 10.0%. @*Conclusion@#This is the first study to report the outcomes of imported P. falciparum malaria treated with artesunate. The mortality rate for severe P. falciparum malaria in this study was higher than that in other non-endemic countries. Further studies are needed to evaluate the effect of treatment of P. falciparum malaria with artesunate.
ABSTRACT
Background@#According to the recent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic experience, many emergency departments experience difficulties in responding to emerging infectious diseases and this has led to a public health crisis. Our emergency department (ED) is designed to respond to mass outbreaks of infection. Three major preparations were taken to respond to infectious disease; first, to improve the emergency department facilities;second, to created programs to respond to each phase of an epidemic of COVID-19; lastly, to implemented education and training to promote the safety of medical staff. We would like to share the actual responses and statistics of patients visiting emergency department during COVID-19 periods of pandemic. @*Materials and Methods@#This research was conducted through a retrospective chart analysis provided by a public medical center with 502 beds since the first report of a COVID-19 confirmed case on January 19, 2020 to June 15, 2020 in Seoul, the capital of Korea. Our emergency department was designed based on Korean Regional Emergency Center Facility Standards, and modified throughout each phases of COVID-19 outbreak. Patients suspected to be infectious are screened in the triage, separating them from general patients, and then receive isolation treatment in isolated wards. @*Results@#A total of 4,352 patients visited the ED. 3,202 screenings were conducted with 5 confirmed cases. Another 1,150 patients were treated with general emergent symptoms.There were no problems such as closure of the emergency department or isolation of medical staff while managing COVID-19 confirmed patients. @*Conclusion@#Improving emergency department facilities, create an operational program to respond to each phase of COVID-19 outbreak and implement educational programs enabled large number of screening tests and hospitalization for COVID-19 suspected patients while maintaining general medical services. Research in emergency department designs and operational programs should increase to combine research data with better ideas to respond not only during regular periods but also during periods of pandemic.
ABSTRACT
Background@#According to the recent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic experience, many emergency departments experience difficulties in responding to emerging infectious diseases and this has led to a public health crisis. Our emergency department (ED) is designed to respond to mass outbreaks of infection. Three major preparations were taken to respond to infectious disease; first, to improve the emergency department facilities;second, to created programs to respond to each phase of an epidemic of COVID-19; lastly, to implemented education and training to promote the safety of medical staff. We would like to share the actual responses and statistics of patients visiting emergency department during COVID-19 periods of pandemic. @*Materials and Methods@#This research was conducted through a retrospective chart analysis provided by a public medical center with 502 beds since the first report of a COVID-19 confirmed case on January 19, 2020 to June 15, 2020 in Seoul, the capital of Korea. Our emergency department was designed based on Korean Regional Emergency Center Facility Standards, and modified throughout each phases of COVID-19 outbreak. Patients suspected to be infectious are screened in the triage, separating them from general patients, and then receive isolation treatment in isolated wards. @*Results@#A total of 4,352 patients visited the ED. 3,202 screenings were conducted with 5 confirmed cases. Another 1,150 patients were treated with general emergent symptoms.There were no problems such as closure of the emergency department or isolation of medical staff while managing COVID-19 confirmed patients. @*Conclusion@#Improving emergency department facilities, create an operational program to respond to each phase of COVID-19 outbreak and implement educational programs enabled large number of screening tests and hospitalization for COVID-19 suspected patients while maintaining general medical services. Research in emergency department designs and operational programs should increase to combine research data with better ideas to respond not only during regular periods but also during periods of pandemic.
ABSTRACT
Compressed air can cause serious damage to internal organs. The stomach is an organ that is rarely perforated due to its elasticity. However, intestines are weaker and thinner compared to the stomach. A 40-year-old male came to the emergency room with severe abdominal pain due to dyspnea. The patient experienced abdominal pain right after his coworker shot compressed air into the patient's pants. The patient suffered from a rigid abdomen, and bed-side ultrasonography was carried out as soon as possible. Pneumoperitoneum was diagnosed by portable X-ray. After computed tomography, emergency paracentesis was carried out for decompression. After emergency paracentesis, the patient's symptoms and vital signs were stabilized. After the procedure, the patient had an emergency laparotomy.