Comparison of work stress, depression, insomnia, and fatigue of emergency department medical staff according to the emergency medical institutions and general characteristics during COVID-19 epidemic

Objective@#The objective of this study was to investigate job stress, depression, insomnia, and fatigue of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) medical staff and analyze the differences according to their general characteristics. @*Methods@#The study enrolled 98 workers at emergency medical institutions with COVID-19 treatment facilities located in Gangwon Province. An online survey was used to protect personal information. Data were analyzed using the statistical program SPSS version 28. The differences in job stress, depression, insomnia, and fatigue of COVID-19 medical staff were verified by t-test and analysis of variance. @*Results@#Analyzing job stress revealed that the average of the lowest relationship conflict stress for each sub-factor was 2.22, the average stress for job demand was the highest at 3.78, and the average whole job stress was 3.04. Contrarily, the average for depression was 1.69, insomnia 2.96, and fatigue 3.07. No statistically significant differences were observed for job stress, depression, insomnia, and fatigue when considering the type of workplace, gender, and occupation of COVID-19 medical staff. However, statistically significant differences were obtained in some variables including age, family members, working period, COVID-19 confirmed, and COVID-19-related education experience. @*Conclusion@#In this study, differences in job-related stress, depression, insomnia, and fatigue were confirmed considering the general characteristics of COVID-19 medical staff. In particular, the results of this study are significant since the difference in perceived stress in performing COVID-19 tasks was identified through empirical analysis by considering sub-factors of job stress.

Factors affecting mortality and complications of elderly patients with hip fracture

Objective@#The incidence of hip fractures in South Korea is increasing, and it is also a socioeconomic burden. This study analyzed the factors affecting the mortality and complications of hip fracture patients. @*Methods@#The Korean National Hospital Discharge In-depth Injury Survey was used to investigate the sex, age, Charlson comorbidity index (CCI), insurance type, pre-operation length of hospital stay, fracture type, operation type, and the number of beds in the hospital from 2009 to 2018. @*Results@#A total of 3,898 patients were enrolled. There were statistical differences in sex, age, insurance type, and CCI divided into the survival and the non-survival groups. There were statistical differences in age, CCI, and the number of beds divided into the group without complications and the group with complications. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that men, age > 84 years (odds ratio [OR], 3.064; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.000-4.692), medical aid (OR, 2.724; 95% CI, 1.672-4.436), and CCI≥3 (OR, 3.968; 95% CI, 2.555-6.162) were risk factors for the mortality and also revealed that age > 84 years (OR, 3.195; 95% CI, 2.18-4.683) and CCI≥3 (OR, 5.773; 95% CI, 4.174-7.986) were risk factors for the complications. @*Conclusion@#In this study, the factors affecting the mortality were men, old age, medical aid, and underlying diseases, and the factors affecting complications were old age and underlying diseases.

The incidence and characteristics of patients admitted to the hospital after a fall by the life cycle and risk factor for death

Objective@#This study aimed at identifying the incidence rate and characteristics of patients who had suffered falls, classifying them by life cycle and factors that affect mortality. @*Methods@#The Korean National Hospital Discharge In-depth Injury Surveys (KNHDIS) from 2007 to 2016 were used to investigate the sex, age, place, season, payment method, underlying disease, and the death of hospitalized patients due to falls. @*Results@#The number of hospitalized patients increased with age. In all life cycles except old age, men were hospitalized more than women. The payment method for treatment was 66.1% through national health insurance, 6.6% through medical aid, and 27.3% through other sources. Falls were most common in winter and occurred frequently at home and on the road. In terms of the number of patients, the compound annual growth rate was 0.9% for men and 3.7% for women. In terms of the number of deaths in hospitals, the compound annual growth rate was -1.9% for men and -7.2% for women. Mortality risk was high in men in middle adulthood and old age, in patients with underlying diseases, and in patients who suffered a fall in their homes. @*Conclusion@#The number of patients from falls is increasing, but the deaths of hospitalized fall patients are decreasing. Mortality risk was high in men in middle adulthood and old age, in patients with underlying diseases, and in patients who suffered falls in their homes.

The incidence and characteristics of patients admitted to the hospital after a fall by the life cycle and risk factor for death

Objective@#This study aimed at identifying the incidence rate and characteristics of patients who had suffered falls, classifying them by life cycle and factors that affect mortality. @*Methods@#The Korean National Hospital Discharge In-depth Injury Surveys (KNHDIS) from 2007 to 2016 were used to investigate the sex, age, place, season, payment method, underlying disease, and the death of hospitalized patients due to falls. @*Results@#The number of hospitalized patients increased with age. In all life cycles except old age, men were hospitalized more than women. The payment method for treatment was 66.1% through national health insurance, 6.6% through medical aid, and 27.3% through other sources. Falls were most common in winter and occurred frequently at home and on the road. In terms of the number of patients, the compound annual growth rate was 0.9% for men and 3.7% for women. In terms of the number of deaths in hospitals, the compound annual growth rate was -1.9% for men and -7.2% for women. Mortality risk was high in men in middle adulthood and old age, in patients with underlying diseases, and in patients who suffered a fall in their homes. @*Conclusion@#The number of patients from falls is increasing, but the deaths of hospitalized fall patients are decreasing. Mortality risk was high in men in middle adulthood and old age, in patients with underlying diseases, and in patients who suffered falls in their homes.

Outcome of cardiopulmonary resuscitation for prehospital traumaticcardiac arrest: focused on Gangwon province

Objective@#This aim examined the outcomes of resuscitation and the clinical characteristics of patients with pre-hospitaltraumatic cardiac arrests (TCA). @*Methods@#The charts of patients with pre-hospital TCA who visited the various emergency department (ED) in Gangwondofrom January 2013 to December 2017 were reviewed retrospectively. @*Results@#TCA patients comprised 0.3% of patients transferred by 119. A total of 367 patients were enrolled in the study.Traffic accidents were the leading cause of the arrest. The initial field and ED rhythm were mostly asystole (field, 79.6%;ED, 82.3%). It took 11.24±9.95 minutes from the call to the field. From the field to ED, it took 22.87±15.37 minutes. Thetotal CPR time before ED arrival was 21.62±15.29 minutes. The causes of TCA were brain injury (35.7%), hypovolemicshock (29.2%), and severe lung injury (16.3%). Seventy TCA patients experienced at least one return of spontaneous circulation(ROSC). Twenty-six patients (7.14%) were admitted to the ward, and their average injury severity score was38.96. Eight patients expired before 12 hours after transient ROSC. Four more patients expired before 24 hours. Fourpatients were discharged alive among patients who lived for more than 24 hours. @*Conclusion@#In this study, 1.5% of patients were discharged alive. The possibility of ROSC was higher as the time to ED,and the cardiopulmonary resuscitation time of 119 was shorter. Pulseless electrical activity rather than asystole tends topromote ROSC. The survival rate increased when ROSC occurred before arriving at the ED.

Comparative analysis of unperforated and perforated appendicitis in laboratory values of patients who visited emergency center

OBJECTIVE: Unperforated and perforated acute appendicitis need to be differentiated because appendicitis with a free perforation requires an emergency operation to prevent contamination inside the bowel from spreading into the peritoneal cavity. The sensitivity of imaging tests is not reliable enough alone for determining the existence of a perforation. The aim of this study was to determine the differences in laboratory values between unperforated and perforated acute appendicitis to help distinguish perforated acute appendicitis. METHODS: The laboratory values and demographic data of a total of 175 patients who visited the emergency room and were diagnosed with acute appendicitis were collected. The time elapsed from symptom presentation to the ER visit, length of admission, patient demographics, and laboratory values, including sex, age, leukocyte count, neutrophil %, neutrophil count, C-reactive protein (CRP), platelet count, prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time, international normalized ratio (INR), serum glucose, blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, total and direct bilirubin, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, and gamma-glutamyltransferase were analyzed. RESULTS: The factors associated with appendix perforations were an elevated leukocyte count, neutrophil count, neutrophil %, CRP, serum glucose and total bilirubin; and delayed PT and INR. CONCLUSION: Acute appendicitis patients without definite imaging evidence of the perforation but with the laboratory values suggesting a perforation, such as elevated leukocyte count, neutrophil count, neutrophil %, CRP, serum glucose, and total bilirubin; and delayed PT, and INR should raise concern for a possible undiscovered perforation.

Effects of Paraquat Ban on Herbicide Poisoning-Related Mortality

PURPOSE: In Korea, registration of paraquat-containing herbicides was canceled in November 2011, and sales thereof were completely banned in November 2012. We evaluated the effect of the paraquat ban on the epidemiology and mortality of herbicide-induced poisoning. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective study analyzed patients treated for herbicide poisoning at 17 emergency departments in South Korea between January 2010 and December 2014. The overall and paraquat mortality rates were compared pre- and post-ban. Factors associated with herbicide mortality were evaluated using logistic analysis. To determine if there were any changes in the mortality rates before and after the paraquat sales ban and the time point of any such significant changes in mortality, R software, version 3.0.3 (package, bcp) was used to perform a Bayesian change point analysis. RESULTS: We enrolled 2257 patients treated for herbicide poisoning (paraquat=46.8%). The overall and paraquat poisoning mortality rates were 40.6% and 73.0%, respectively. The decreased paraquat poisoning mortality rate (before, 75% vs. after, 67%, p=0.014) might be associated with increased intentionality. The multivariable logistic analysis revealed the paraquat ban as an independent predictor that decreased herbicide poisoning mortality (p=0.035). There were two major change points in herbicide mortality rates, approximately 3 months after the initial paraquat ban and 1 year after complete sales ban. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that the paraquat ban decreased intentional herbicide ingestion and contributed to lowering herbicide poisoning-associated mortality. The change point analysis suggests a certain timeframe was required for the manifestation of regulatory measures outcomes.

Efficacy of Veno-Venous Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation in Severe Acute Respiratory Failure

PURPOSE: The objective of this study was to evaluate our institutional experience with veno-venous (VV) extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) in patients with severe acute respiratory failure (ARF). MATERIALS AND METHODS: From January 2007 to August 2013, 31 patients with severe ARF that was due to various causes and refractory to mechanical ventilation with conventional therapy were supported with VV ECMO. A partial pressure of arterial oxygen (PaO2)/inspired fraction of oxygen (FiO2) <100 mm Hg at an FiO2 of 1.0 or a pH <7.25 due to CO2 retention were set as criteria for VV ECMO. RESULTS: Overall, 68% of patients survived among those who had received VV ECMO with a mean PaO2/FiO2 of 56.8 mm Hg. Furthermore, in trauma patients, early use of ECMO had the best outcome with a 94% survival rate. CONCLUSION: VV ECMO is an excellent, life-saving treatment option in patients suffering from acute and life-threatening respiratory failure due to various causes, especially trauma, and early use of VV ECMO therapy improved outcomes in these patients.

Tangalle Sri Lanka Emergency Medical Center: To Implement a New Operating and Management System Through Means of Surveys

PURPOSE: This study was conducted in the base hospital of Tangalle, Sri Lanka, in order to improve a new emergency operating system. METHODS: Emergency staff and patients were surveyed based on the five point Likert scale. Doctors and nurses were asked to rate their level of satisfaction regarding their relationship with patients. Patients were asked to rate their level of satisfaction with doctors, facilities, and the environment in the hospital. RESULTS: Doctors were overall satisfied with their job, scoring an average of 3.7. They were displeased with limitation of autonomous decision making on medical treatment, which they gave a score of 2.80. Nurses were generally satisfied with emergency services, with a score of 4.53. Nurses feel discomfort in non-specialized training (3.02). They also sense a lack of opportunities in their hospital (3.12). Patients' findings indicate that most patients were satisfied (4.2) and were displeased with wait time (3.429) and the attention that was given to each patient (3.92). When asked if they would recommend their physician to others and were willing to come back to their physician, outcomes were generally positive, receiving scores of 4.1, respectively. CONCLUSION: Findings showed that in order to create a well-structured system in the emergency centers around the Tangalle area, it is crucial to meet the needs of both patients and the emergency staff. Patients must have a sense of rapid treatment as well as privacy. Training should be provided to the staff so that they are better informed in quality care and up to date on recent studies.

A Clinical Review of Acute Poisonings in Geriatric Patients from Rural Gangwon Province

BACKGROUND: Recently, there has been an increase in acute poisonings in the elderly, which may be associated with attempts at suicide. The purpose of this study was to compare and analyze the clinical aspects and outcomes of acute poisonings in aged individuals with those of younger individuals. METHODS: We performed a retrospective analysis of 207 patients seen in the emergency department (ED) with acute poisoning from January 2009 to December 2010. Two groups were created, >65 years and 65 group and 0.3% in the 65 years than in those <65 years. As motive for suicide, health problem was cited more often in the older group (p=0.000). The older group had fewer interviews with psychiatrists and were more often diagnosed with depressive disorder (p=0.010, p=0.041, respectively). PSS and mortality were higher in the older group (p=0.002, p=0.010, respectively). CONCLUSION: A better understanding for the cause of poisonings and the poisonous substance used in the aged population is needed. And because of the more serious effects of acute poisonings to the elderly patient, they should readily receive regular comprehensive care including psychiatric care.

A Clinical Review of Geriatric Patients with Pelvic Bone Fractures

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to compare clinical aspects of pelvic fractures in an aged group with a non-aged group and to delineate its characteristics to improve prevention and treatment. METHODS: Medical records and radiological examinations of 100 cases were reviewed. Two groups were created, older than 65 years and younger than 65 years. In addition, the following were carefully examined and recorded-gender distribution, cause and types of fractures, associated injuries, Injury Severity Score (ISS), Glasgow Coma Scale, need for intensive care unit admission, duration of hospitalization, and mortality rate. RESULTS: A difference in gender distribution was seen with 12 males and 26 females in the aged group and 35 males and 27 females in the non-aged group (p<0.05). The mechanism of injury for the aged group in decreasing order was pedstrian accidents, falls, and passenger accidents while it was passenger accidents, pedestrian accidents, and falls for the non-aged group (p<0.05). Level of severity was higher in the non-aged group for fracture type, ISS, Glasgow Coma Scale, intensive care unit admission, and hospitalization duration. However, when ISS was greater than 15, this was seen in the aged group with also a higher mortality rate in the same group. CONCLUSION: Education and prevention, particularly about gender distribution and mechanism of injury, of pelvic fractures in the aged population are needed, and because of the potential seriousness of fractures in the elderly, active assessment and treatment are also necessary.

u-Health for Management of Chronic Diseases: Physical Activity and Therapeutic Exercise

Recently, the aging society is facing with the rapid increase of chronic diseases. Despite the advanced medical technology, chronic diseases have not comprehensively managed yet. In the modern society, many people have to spend their extended life span suffering from chronic diseases and disabilities, and also a huge medical cost has emerged as a serious social problem. With IT improvement, u-health system has been developed to link home and medical service systems by arranging medical data, decision making and medical guidelines for various situations. It can promote the therapeutic compliance for the patients with chronic diseases. And also for the medical service providers, it can provide useful data to make an accurate medical decision. As we know, the chronic disease is caused by inactivity and the management of chronic disease requires the modification of inactive life style. U-health medical fitness system can not only prescribe proper activity to control the chronic disease but also it can monitor the patients' physical activity in everyday life. By the successful management of chronic diseases based on u-health system, we want to achieve the expansion of disease-free and disability-free life expectancy and a solution to reduce the burden of medical expenses in modern society eventually.

Clinical Study of Patients with All-Terrain Vehicle-related Injuries in a General Hospital

PURPOSE: Recently, all-terrain vehicle (ATV)-related injuries have increased. The purpose of this study was to evaluate and analyze the ATV injuries in Korea. METHODS: We analyzed the patients who visited Chuncheon Sacred Heart Hospital emergency center with ATVrelated injuries, from 2004 January to 2008 December. The injury severity was evaluated according to the injury severity score (ISS), the revised trauma score (RTS), and the yrauma score and the injury severity score (TRISS). RESULTS: From 2004 to 2008, a total of 78 cases, 28 male and 50 female, of ATV-related injuries were reviewed. The annual incidence had increased 22.5-fold from 2004(2 cases) to 2008(45 cases). The age ranged from 8 to 68 years (median, 24 years). The most frequently injured site was the lower extremity(48.7%). The primary mechanism of injury was roll-over(35.9%), the next was falling down (33.3%). Eighty-two percent(82%) of accidents occurred on paved roads when ATVs are legislated for off-road use only. The average ISS was 6.8. In cases including both the driver and the passenger, the ISS of passengers was higher than that of drivers(7.4 vs. 4.7). Fifty percent (50%) of patients required an operation. The rate of admission was 62.8%. The average length of hospital stay was 25 days. Eighty-one percent (81%) of patients had no previous experience of operating an ATV. Sixty-seven percent (67%) of patients did not receive any formal training before operating an ATVs. CONCLUSION: Both the incidence and severity of ATV-related injuries are increasing in Korea. There is a lack of regulation enforcement and public awareness of the dangers of ATV use. The wearing of appropriate safety equipment and sufficient education about driving skills can reduce the ATVrelated injuries.

Clinical Characteristics in Geriatric Sternal Fracture: Comparison with Non-Geriatric People

BACKGROUND: The objects of this study is to compare the clinical aspects and characteristics of the sternal fracture between non-old aged and the old aged. METHODS: This study is based on 105 patients who were diagnosed as a sternal fracture at the emergency center of Chunchon Sacred Heart Hospital from January of 2001 to June of 2007. RESULTS: The overall clinical presentations of sternal fracture of the old aged are similar to that of non-old aged. There were some differences in the patterns of spinal fracture occurred with sternal fracture between non-old aged and the old aged. In non-old aged group, there were 7 patients(8.6%), who had the facture of spine along with sternal fracture, and there were 4 male and 3 females. In the old aged group, there were 4 male and 4 female patients out of 8 patients. There were 2 female patients who had both thoracic and lumbar spinal fractures in the old aged group. CONCLUSION: There were many cases of injury which were accompanied with the sternal fracture. When the two groups are compared, the spinal facture were more often in the old aged group. Especially, the fracture of lumbar spine occurred more frequent in the old aged group.

Results of Application of Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery for the Treatment of Empyema Thoracis / 결핵및호흡기질환

BACKGROUND: Since video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) was introduced as a new treatment modality for empyema thoracis, numerous reports have suggested that VATS is a more effective treatment method than the traditional methods that mainly use antibiotics and drainage apparatus. However, no confirmative evidence of the superiority of VATS over the traditional method has been provided yet. METHODS: We attempted to evaluate the efficacy of VATS for the treatment of empyema thoracis by reviewing past medical records and simple chest films. First, we divided the patients into two groups based on the treatment method: group A of 15 patients who were treated with the traditional method between January 2001 and December 2003, and group B of 9 patients who were treated with VATS between December 2003 and August 2006. The final outcomes used in this study were the number of days of hospital stay, chest tube duration, leukocytosis duration, febrile duration, and intravenous antibiotics usage duration. In addition, radiological improvements were compared. RESULTS: The mean age(+/-standard deviation) of 11 men and 4 women in group A was 58.2+/-15.7 years, and of 9 men and 2 women in group B was 51.6+/-9.5 years. Group B had a significantly shorter hospital stay (16.6+/-7.4 vs. 33.7+/-22.6 days; p=0.014), shorter chest tube duration (10.5+/-5.7 vs. 19.5+/-14.4 days; p=0.039), shorter leukocytosis duration (6.7+/-6.5 vs. 18.8+/-13.2 days; p=0.008), shorter febrile duration (0.8+/-1.8 vs. 9.4+/-9.2 days; p=0.004), and shorter duration of intravenous antibiotics usage (14.9+/-6.4 vs. 25.4+/-13.9 days; p=0.018). However, radiological improvements did not show any statistical differences. CONCLUSION: Early application of VATS for empyema thoracis treatment reduced hospital stay, thoracostomy tube duration, leukocytosis duration, febrile duration, and antibiotics usage duration in comparison with the traditional methods. The early performing of VATS might be an effective treatment modality for empyema thoracis.

A Case of Tricuspid Regurgitation after Blunt Chest Trauma

Tricuspid regurgitation after blunt chest trauma is rarely seen in the emergency department. A 19-year-old patient visited our emergency department with chest discomfort after collision with his brother while skiing. Recently, Skiing as a winter sports has become popular with the Korean people, so there is an increasing tendency for patients with diverse traumas associated with ski accidents to visit the emergency department. From simple abrasions or contusions to deadly injuries with unstable vital signs, we are seeing many kind of injuries in the emergency department. We present the case report of a patient with tricuspid regurgitation after a blunt chest trauma during the skiing.

A Case of Tricuspid Regurgitation after Blunt Chest Trauma

Tricuspid regurgitation after blunt chest trauma is rarely seen in the emergency department. A 19-year-old patient visited our emergency department with chest discomfort after collision with his brother while skiing. Recently, Skiing as a winter sports has become popular with the Korean people, so there is an increasing tendency for patients with diverse traumas associated with ski accidents to visit the emergency department. From simple abrasions or contusions to deadly injuries with unstable vital signs, we are seeing many kind of injuries in the emergency department. We present the case report of a patient with tricuspid regurgitation after a blunt chest trauma during the skiing.

Aspects of Patients Injured While Attending Street Rallies in Seoul During the Period of the 2002 World Cup

PURPOSE: An appropriate emergency medical support system is required at sites of large-scale congregations because different kinds of emergencies may be encountered. My colleagues and I initiated this project to present the information required for the process of devising an onsite plan for large crowds. The basic structure is based on an analysis of patients who were injured while attending large scale street-cheering demonstrations in Seoul during the period of the 2002 World Cup. METHOD: The analysis concentrated on the period from May 31, 2002, to June 30, 2002, during the 2002 Korean-Japan World Cup. Seven soccer games involving the Korean team and 8.91 million people from 116 places were considered. The following report was generated from the supporting schedules and the activity reports of emergency rescue crews from fire departments. It is largely based on rescue activity journals and transportation records. RESULT: There were 796 patients among the in 8.91 million people. Male patients were 383 (42.8%) and female 413 (51.2%). Patients in their 20's were 267, and that was the largest age group. In Korean game against Germany, 183 patients were treated, and that was the largest among the seven games involving Korean's team. There was one patient in every 10,000 people on average. Sicknesses were not that serious, and most of them were headaches, stomachaches and exhaustion. CONCLUSION: The frequency and pattern of generation of patients were affected by the scale of the cheering crowd, the sex and age composition of the crowd, and the weather. In planning future medical support for similar events, the structure of the plan should be based on the site and the size of the crowd, after which the plan can be finalized by considering details such as the importance of the game and the weather.

Consideration of Ultrasonographic Examination about an Abdominal Aortic Diameter of An Old Man Visited in the Emergency Center

BACKGROUND: This study was investigated risk factors of abdominal aortic aneurysm that correlation with an aortic diameter and necessity of ultrasonographic screening program through ultrasonographic examination of the aorta, additionally investigated prevalence of abdominal aortic aneurysm. METHODS: We conducted a prospective study of an aorta-proximal part, middle part, distal part with using abdominal ultrasography with 246 subjects more than 65 years old who visited the emergency department of chuncheon sacred hospital without symptoms during the period March 2004-February 2005. Also, examined risk factors (age, sex, smoking, hypertension, vascular disease) and did comparative analysis of relation between an aortic diameter and risk factors. RESULTS: The abdominal aortic diameter of them was 2.08+/-0.37cm in proximal part, 1.78+/-0.31cm in middle part, 1.55+/-0.31cm in distal part. The difference between male and female group was regarded(proximal part 2.20+/-0.35cm vs 1.99+/-0.36cm, the middle part 1.88+/-0.30cm vs 1.69+/-0.31cm, distal part 1.66+/-0.30cm vs 1.48+/-0.29cm). The difference of diameter in distal part was regarded in comparison of young old man and old old man (1.58+/-0.31cm vs 1.91+/-0.27cm). The difference of middle and distal aortic diameter between a smoking and non-smoking group was regarded (1.88+/-0.31cm vs 1.74+/-0.31cm, 1.62+/-0.32cm vs 1.53+/-0.30cm). The difference of distal aortic diameter between a hypertensive and non-hypertensive group(1.58+/-0.36cm vs 1.54+/-0.28cm) and between the groups which had a vascular disease or not(1.78+/-0.36cm vs 1.54+/-0.30cm) was regarded. There was no abdominal aortic aneurysm among them. CONCLUSION: The diameter of distal part increased with more ages, in male, smoker, and person with hypertension and vascular disease. In this study, abdominal aortic aneurysm wasn't found.

Cardiac Tamponade from Chest Trauma During Snowboarding

As snowboarding has become one of the most popular winter sports, lots of young people enjoy it and they have become the center of this winter sports. However, this increased number of snowboarding lovers results in raising the number of injuries. In the case of severe chest injury caused by snowboarding can be a source of a serious injury such as cardiac tamponade. The development of cardiac tamponade is an acute, life-threatening emergency. To test a cardiac tamponade, a patient with chest trauma should be diagnosed from the information given by a physical examination and simple chest radiography. If the heart is doubted to be wounded, an emergency echocardiography has to be executed. An emergency treatment for the cardiac tamponade patient is to normal saline infusion quickly to augment the capacity of a blood vessel. Extremely, surgeries such as pericardiocentesis or pericardiotomy can be applied to ease the pressure inside the heart. Some patients with chest blunt trauma while snowboarding developed cardiac tamponade and they were successfully recovered through pericardiocentesis. This precedent is reported here with the consideration of the references.