Equipment for Difficult Airways in 67 Korean Academic Emergency Departments

PURPOSE: In Korea, there has been no research about the devices that are used for dealing with difficult airways in emergency departments (ED). This study reports the results of the first research of this kind, assessing the equipment in Korean EDs that is used to manage patients with difficult airways. METHODS: We surveyed 92 EDs via the Internet from October 2007 to March 2008. All respondents were asked if they have the following categories of devices in their EDs; alternative intubation devices, alternative rescue ventilation devices, and surgical airway devices. Alternative intubation devices were defined as devices that do not use a direct laryngoscope for tracheal tube insertion. Alternative rescue ventilation devices were defined as ventilation devices that do not use a face mask. Surgical airway devices were defined as devices that use a surgical technique for the placement of endotracheal tube. RESULTS: We obtained data from 67 of the 92 (72.8%) EDs we contacted. Of those, 32 (47.8%) EDs have at least one alternative intubation device, 52 (77.6%) EDs have at least one alternative rescue ventilation device, and 59 (88.1%) EDs have at least one surgical airway device. A total of 30 (44.8%) EDs have equipment in all 3 categories, but 4 (6.0%) EDs do not have any equipment for dealing with difficult airways. The most common alternative intubation device was a flexible fiberscope (29.9%). CONCLUSION: The possession of devices to deal with difficult airways varies across EDs. It seems that not all Korean EDs have enough devices for difficult airways.

A Clinical Analysis of Abdominal Stab Injuries

PURPOSE: This study was done to evaluate the incidence, type of injury, medical consequences, mortality, and prognostic factors associated with stab wounds in patients who visited Kangnam Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University, Seoul, Korea. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of the clinical data of 40 patients with abdominal stab wounds who visited Kangnam Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University, Seoul, Korea from January 1, 2000 to December 31, 2004. RESULTS: 1) The most prevalent age group was patients in their the twenties to fourties (77.5% of all patients), and average age of the patients was 39.3 years. The male-to-female ratio was 2.07:1. 2) The external site of stab wounds was most commonly the periumbilcal area of the abdomen (14 cases, 33.3%). 3) The most commonly injured organs were the liver and the stomach (10 cases each, 16.9%). 4) Operations were performed on all 40 patients, with 9 (22.5%) negative operation findings. 5) Death occurred in 5 cases (12.5%). 6) The trauma indices of the death group were TRISS 51.9%, RTS 3.6 points, and APACHE II 23.0 points. 7) The average transfusion amount of the death group was 13.8 pints CONCLUSION: These data suggest that the transfusion amount and the trauma index of abdominal stab injuries may be statistically significant factors for predicting mortality.

A Clinical Analysis of Abdominal Stab Injuries

PURPOSE: This study was done to evaluate the incidence, type of injury, medical consequences, mortality, and prognostic factors associated with stab wounds in patients who visited Kangnam Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University, Seoul, Korea. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of the clinical data of 40 patients with abdominal stab wounds who visited Kangnam Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University, Seoul, Korea from January 1, 2000 to December 31, 2004. RESULTS: 1) The most prevalent age group was patients in their the twenties to fourties (77.5% of all patients), and average age of the patients was 39.3 years. The male-to-female ratio was 2.07:1. 2) The external site of stab wounds was most commonly the periumbilcal area of the abdomen (14 cases, 33.3%). 3) The most commonly injured organs were the liver and the stomach (10 cases each, 16.9%). 4) Operations were performed on all 40 patients, with 9 (22.5%) negative operation findings. 5) Death occurred in 5 cases (12.5%). 6) The trauma indices of the death group were TRISS 51.9%, RTS 3.6 points, and APACHE II 23.0 points. 7) The average transfusion amount of the death group was 13.8 pints CONCLUSION: These data suggest that the transfusion amount and the trauma index of abdominal stab injuries may be statistically significant factors for predicting mortality.

Is a Subcostal Approach Always Suitable for Emergency Pericardiocentesis?

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to determine whether the conventional subcostal approach is suitable for emergency pericardiocentesis in patients with cardiac tamponade or impending cardiac tamponade. METHODS: This study was a prospective, observational study conducted at the emergency department of a tertiary hospital. Patients who had symptomatic pericardial effusion and who needed emergency pericardiocentesis in the emergency department were included in this study. We measured the epicardium-to-pericardium distance at the subcostal, parasternal, and apical area with two-dimensional echocardiography to determine the appropriate puncture site for pericardiocentesis. An epicardium-to-pericardium distance of more than 1.0cm was considered as the primary safety factor in determining the puncture site for pericardiocentesis. The skin-to-pericardium distance was considered as secondary safety factor. RESULTS: Ninety-five consecutive patients(55 males and 40 females; total mean age: 53 year old) with cardiac tamponade or impending cardiac tamponade were enrolled in this study. The puncture site for pericardiocentesis, as determined by echocardiography, was the subcostal area in 43 patients(45%), the apical area in 40 patients(42%), the left parasternal area in 11 patients(12%), and the right parasternal area in one patient(1%). Pericardiocentesis failed in 2 patients(2%) with the subcostal approach and in one patient(1%) with the apical approach. The average epicardium-to-pericardium distance was 31+/-21mm in patients with the subcostal approach and 21+/-8mm in patients with other approaches. There were no differences in the amount of pericardial fluid and in the intrapericardial pressure among patients groups according to puncture site. There were two procedure related complications: a puncture of the right ventricle with the subcostal approach and a ventricular tachycardia with the apical approach. CONCLUSION: The puncture site for emergency pericardiocentesis should be determined by using two-dimensional echocardiography because approaches from other areas can be safer than the subcostal approach.