Direct Medical Direction Performed in an Emergency Medical Information Center

PURPOSE: This study was performed to evaluate the appropriateness of medical direction for the prehospital emergency treatment of 119 rescue services in an emergency information center. METHODS: A total of 4,028 cases requested by 119 rescue services from January 1, 2008 to December 31, 2009 were reviewed retrospectively. Medical direction for requests of 119 rescue services constituted five categories. The appropriateness of medical direction for prehospital emergency treatment of 119 rescue services was evaluated according to area and specialty. RESULTS: The majority of the 119 rescue service requests concerned resource information (72.4%). Medical direction for prehospital treatment comprised a small proportion of the requests (13.2%). The total appropriatenss of medical direction for prehospital treatment was 56.4% and was higher in emergency physician than non-emergency physician. The appropriatenss difference between two areas was not determined. CONCLUSION: The requests for prehospital emergency treatment of 119 rescue services was low. The appropriatenss of medical direction for emergency treatment was low and higher appropriatenss was observed in emergency physician.

Direct Medical Direction Performed in an Emergency Medical Information Center

PURPOSE: This study was performed to evaluate the appropriateness of medical direction for the prehospital emergency treatment of 119 rescue services in an emergency information center. METHODS: A total of 4,028 cases requested by 119 rescue services from January 1, 2008 to December 31, 2009 were reviewed retrospectively. Medical direction for requests of 119 rescue services constituted five categories. The appropriateness of medical direction for prehospital emergency treatment of 119 rescue services was evaluated according to area and specialty. RESULTS: The majority of the 119 rescue service requests concerned resource information (72.4%). Medical direction for prehospital treatment comprised a small proportion of the requests (13.2%). The total appropriatenss of medical direction for prehospital treatment was 56.4% and was higher in emergency physician than non-emergency physician. The appropriatenss difference between two areas was not determined. CONCLUSION: The requests for prehospital emergency treatment of 119 rescue services was low. The appropriatenss of medical direction for emergency treatment was low and higher appropriatenss was observed in emergency physician.

Transient Hypoglycemia-induced Hemiparesis Mimicking Stroke: A Case Report / 대한구급학회지

Hypoglycemia is caused by poor oral intake, excessive exercise, alcohol abuse and inaccurate use of a hypoglycemic agent or insulin in patients that have history of diabetes mellitus (DM), especially in the elderly. Severe hypoglycemia has a variety of different symptoms or signs from focal neurologic deficits to severe coma, or death. It can be difficult to differentiate hypoglycemia-induced symptoms or signs, and stroke or cardiovascular disease in acute setting. Transient hypoglycemic hemiparesis is an infrequent case in the emergency department (ED), which is frequently misdiagnosed for stroke. When patients with decreased mental status or hemiparesis are admitted to the ED, a routine blood sugar test is essential. Hypoglycemic hemiparesis if unrecognized can result in permanent neurological damage. Therefore, it is important to detect hypoglycemia early and treat it appropriately.

The Optimal Length of Time to Observe Patients with Contrast Media Anaphylaxis in the Emergency Department

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine the optimal length of time to observe patients with contrast media anaphylaxis in the Emergency Department. METHODS: This study included the patients of all age groups who presented with anaphylaxis due to contrast media to the ED of Pusan National University Hospital from January 2006 to August 2009. The medical records were retrospectively reviewed. We analyzed the 100 patients who met the inclusion criteria. Their median age was 55 (46-62), and 38 out of the 100 patients (38%) were male. RESULTS: The most common symptom of patients was urticaria. Corticosteroid and H1 antihistamine were given to most of the patients in the ED. All were discharged after observation in the ED and none were admitted to the ward. The average time from injection of the contrast media to the onset of symptom was 31 minutes (24-39) and the average time to symptom recovery was 127 minutes (89-188). The mean observation time in the ED was 93 minutes (59-153). Biphasic reactions were reported in only one case (1/100, 1%). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that patients who present with an anaphylactic reaction after radiologic studies that use intravenous contrast media can be safely discharged early from the ED because the symptom recovery time is not long and a biphasic reaction is rare.