Comparison of Infection Rates for Central Venous Catheters Administered in an Intensive Care Unit versus an Emergency Department

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to compare the rate of bloodstream infections associated with use of central venous catheters (CVCs) by an emergency department (ED) versus an intensive care unit (ICU). METHODS: Using the hospital administrative and billing database, we identified patients who received CVCs between January 1, 2006, and December 31, 2009 in the ED and ICU at an academic, urban hospital with an annual census of 55,000. We performed a structured, explicit chart review to determine durations of catheterization and rates of bloodstream infections. RESULTS: We screened 4,088 charts and identified 1,480 patients with CVCs that were administered in the ED, (total of 12,888 catheter-days with 47 bloodstream infections), and 982 patients with CVCs that were administered in the ICU (13,326 catheter-days with 52 bloodstream infections). The rate of bloodstream infections associated with CVCs placed in the ED was 3.65 per 1,000 catheter-days (95% confidence interval 2.68 to 4.85), and the rate of bloodstream infections in the ICU was 3.75 per 1,000 catheter-days (95% confidence interval 2.91 to 5.12). The median duration of catheterization was 6.0 days in the ED, and 10.0 days in the ICU. Among the infected CVCs, the median duration of catheterization was 12.0 days in the ED, and 14.0 days in the ICU. Of 1480 total CVCs administered in the ED, 897 were placed in the subclavian veins (61%), 554 in the internal jugular (37%), and 29 were placed in femoral veins (2%). Of the total 982 CVCs administered in the ICU, 779 were placed in the subclavian veins (79%), 158 in the internal jugular veins (16%), and 45 in femoral veins (4.3%). CONCLUSION: The rate of bloodstream infections in the ED is comparable to those in the ICU. The duration of catheterization was found to be a more important factor than the CVC insertion location.

Association of Prescribed Drug intoxication and Neuropsychiatric history

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between patients with a neuropsychiatric history and features of their suicide attempt, in order to analyze the risk associated with psychiatrist prescribed drugs. METHODS: We retrospectively investigated cases of intentional overdose drug ingestion in patients greater than 14 years of age who visited OO emergency medical center between January 1, 2008 and July 31, 2010. We evaluated patient medical records to ascertain their age, sex, neuropsychiatric history, and components of ingested intoxicant. Information regarding any suicide reattempt was obtained after discharge through follow up telephone survey. SPSS version 13.0 was used for statistical analysis. Fisher's exact test was performed with p<0.05 considered statistically significant. RESULTS: Ninety-six of 209 patients (46%) had a past history of psychological problems. Among those 96 patients with a history of psychological problems, 46(48%) used an overdose of the medicine prescribed by their psychologist in order to attempt suicide. However, for patients without a history of psychological problems, intoxication by neuropsychiatric drugs was insignificant. Neuropsychiatric patients required greater follow up care after discharge and exhibited significantly more suicide reattempts. CONCLUSION: This study revealed that patients sometimes use the medicine prescribed by their psychologist to attempt suicide. Therefore, an exhaustive plan to control the medicines prescribed to psychiatric patients should be established.

Tissue Adhesive Effectiveness in Laceration Site

PURPOSE: To study tissue adhesive effectiveness in with laceration at various body sites. METHODS: From January 2007 to December 2009, we collected the data of laceration patients treated using tissue adhesive in the emergency department of a university hospital. Data concerning treatment satisfaction were collected twice and analyzed. RESULTS: Of the 8665 patients with laceration, 196 (mean age 23 years, 106 males) were treated using tissue adhesive. Many of the 196 patients were <15-years-of-age. Involved body sites mainly comprised head/neck, followed by the upper extremities. The procedure was the most rapid of all treatments. CONCLUSION: Emergency physicians can reliably use tissue adhesive treatment for various lacerations in the emergency setting.

A Case of Tracheal Compression Caused by a Large Foreign Body in the Esophagus

Foreign bodies that migrate outside the esophagus into the mediastinum or soft tissues usually cause respiratory symptoms. Also, esophageal foreign body granulomas that cause tracheal stenosis, lobar atelectasis, and bronchoesophageal fistulas are reported as complications. Foreign bodies can become lodged above esophageal strictures, and chronically-embedded esophageal foreign bodies can induce stricture formation, although these are less common. This is rare case report that the trachea was directly compressed due to impacted esophagus by foreign body.

Characteristics of Bicycle and Motorcycle Injured Patients in a University Hospital and in an Edited National Injury Surveillance Report

PURPOSE: To study characteristics of bicycle and motorcycle injured patients in a university hospital and in an edited national injury surveillance report. METHODS: Between July 2007 and January 2010, we collected data on bicycle and motorcycle injured patients in a university hospital. First, we compared the characteristics of each group. Second, we analyzed injury severity using their injury severity score (ISS) and their revised trauma score (RTS). We compared the categories of an edited national injury surveillance report with our university-acquired data. RESULTS: The total number of patients in traffic accidents was 4,111 (including 204 bicycle riders and 165 motorcycle riders). For those in bicycle accidents, a large fraction was 51 years old. For those in motorcycle accidents. Those in motorcycle accidents had an increased proportion of liver cirrhosis and of previous experience with a similar accident. Bicycle accidents had a higher proportion of cases where just the driver or just the passenger was injured. Just falling was the most cause of injury. Others were injured by collision with a car or by both. Motorcycle riders who wore helmets were better protected. Most accidents occurred after 19:00: motorcycle accidents most frequently between 0:00 and 7:00 and between 13:00 and 18:00 hours. Injury severity score were not different. Admission to the hospital and fatalities were highest for motorcycle accidents. The place of injury and alcohol intoxication status were reported for traffic accidents. CONCLUSION: Bicycle and motorcycle injuries were already considered as important factors in traffic accidents included in the injury surveillance report. More factors, including age, time, past history, etc. should be added.

Clinical Characteristics and History of Patients with Hemoperitoneum due to Ovarian Cyst Rupture

PURPOSE: To evaluate and analyze the clinical characteristics and history of patients with hemoperitoneum due to ovarian rupture. METHODS: Subjects were fertile females who visited the emergency department between January 2006 and December 2008. We did retrospective chart reviews only for patients diagnosed with hemoperitoneum. We investigated the characteristics and history of enrolled patients. RESULTS: A total of 76 females (mean age = 28 years) were enrolled. Of the 76, 32 (41.8%) were initially checked for coitus history by emergency physicians (EP). Of the 76, 52 (68.4%) were operated on and the remaining 24 (31.6%) were only observed. Only 4 patients had knowledge of a history of ovarian cysts. CONCLUSION: Coitus history and ovarian cyst history should be done by EPs during the initial examination of fertile females who complain of lower abdominal pain.

Availability of Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) Profiles of Drug Intoxication Patients

PURPOSE: For evaluation of drug intoxication patients, the MMPI is a widely used neuropsychiatric tool to investigate patients' personalities. METHODS: We administered a questionnaire and the MMPI to patients who came to our ER between 1 March 2007 and March 1 2008. Patient characteristics, past neuropsychiatric history, and were investigated. RESULTS: We enrolled 43 patients, X females and Y males. Anti-psychotics were the drugs that were most frequently consumed (by 42% of subjects) and economic status was the most frequent cause of overdose. Pathologic psychosis was the most frequent disorder in their medical history. The MMPI indicated that depression type (D) was 64 and 36 patients were increased over the nomal level. 16 patients of 18 patients with depression history were increased in the type D (p=0.000) and assessment was analytically increased (k=0.854). CONCLUSION: MMPI of drug intoxication patients may be useful during early neuropsychiatric examinations, and may be a useful tool for making treatment decisions.

Cardiac Tamponade Due to Suture Material and this Manifested as Convulsion

Cardiac tamponade is a potentially acute, life threatening emergency that can cause death if it is not promptly diagnosed and treated. Cardiac tamponade is a comparatively uncommon presentation to the emergency department and it is usually associated with penetrating trauma. We report here on a case of cardiac tamponade due to suture material that was used for colectomy ten years previously. A 17-year-old male was admitted to an emergency department with a complaint of loss of consciousness and convulsion. He also complained of chest pain, dyspnea and hypotension. After a while, he displayed cyanosis and his jugular veins were distended. The emergency echocardiogram showed a large amount of pericardial effusion with features of tamponade. Pericardiocentesis was immediately performed. Although 800 cc of fresh blood was drained from the pericardial cavity, his bleeding wouldn't stop. So, the patient was moved immediately to the operation room, and pericardiectomy and median sternotomy were performed. The surgeon found that the foreign suture material had penetrated the pericardium and he successfully removed it. The removed foreign body was a bundle of thread. The patient was discharged without any complications after 9 days.

A Case of the Symptomatic Bradycardia Treated with Norepinephrine at an ED

Symptomatic bradycardia might be regarded as a serious emergency disease and it requires prompt emergency treatments. The American Heart Association has recommended transcutaneous pacing as a gold standard of treatment and also atropine, epinephrine or dopamine as the first line drugs. We report here on a case of symptomatic bradycardia that was treated with norepinephrine and the patient was not treated with pacing, atropine and dopamine.

Utility of Capnography During Intramuscular Ketamine for Procedural Sedation in Children

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine whether continuous capnography monitoring detects adverse respiratory and airway events earlier than pulse oximetry and the clinical exam can during intramuscular ketamine for procedural sedation in children. METHODS: This study was a prospective observational study conducted from April 2009 to March 2010 in an urban Korean teaching hospital. Pediatric patients who needed procedural sedation for primary closure were enrolled. After patients received intramuscular ketamine, they were monitored using clinical ventilation assessment, pulse oximetry and capnography. Adverse respiratory and airway events were recorded RESULTS: A total of 91 patients were enrolled. Of the 91 patients, 16 (17%) had adverse respiratory events; 5 had hypoxia. Capnography was 100% sensitive for predicting hypoxia and apnea. CONCLUSION: When intramuscular ketamine is administered for procedural sedation in children, capnography allows early detection of adverse respiratory events.

Ultrasonography Assisted Internal Jugular Central Vein Catheterization in the Emergency Department: Comparison of Methods

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine whether ultrasonography assisted internal jugular central venous catheterization by single operator or two-operator could improve the success rate and decrease the number of complications compared to the traditional landmark technique. METHODS: This study was a prospective, randomized, clinical trial conducted from July 2008 to February 2009 in an urban Korean teaching hospital. Patients requiring central venous access were randomized to 1 of the 3 insertion techniques (single-operator technique, two-operator technique, traditional landmark technique). The primary outcome measure was cannulation success. Additional outcome measures included number of attempts, access times, and complications. RESULTS:One hundred fourteen patients were enrolled. Thirty four of 37(91.9%) internal jugular vein catheters were successfully inserted by single-operator technique, 34 of 39(87.2%) by two-operator technique and 22 of 38(57.9%) by landmark technique. First attempt cannulation was successful in 28 of 34(82.4%) using single-operator technique, 26 of 34(76.9%) using two-operator technique and 9 of 22(40.9%) using landmark technique. The median start to venipuncture time was 138 seconds by single-operator technique, 170 seconds by two-operator technique and 329 seconds by landmark technique. There were 19 complications in the study, 15 in the landmark group, 2 in the singleoperator group, and 2 in the two-operator group. CONCLUSION: Real-time ultrasonography assisted internal jugular vein catheterization has an higher success rate, is less time consuming, and has a lower complication rate. The single-operator technique appears to be equivalent to the two-operator technique in success rate and procedure time.

Clinical Analysis of Electrical Burn Patients

BACKGROUND: Good documentation of electrical injuries at the time of presentation is very important to emergency management, so this study was designed to investigate the clinical characteristics and the outcomes of patients with electrical injury. METHODS: A review of 75 cases of electrical injuries admitted to our hospital via the emergency department over a 4 year period from 1996 to 1999 was conducted. RESULTS: There were 49 patients with high-voltage injuries and 19 patients with low-voltage injuries. All but 4 patients were males, with a mean age of 29.5 years. The most common type of injury was 14.5% TBSA in the high-voltage group and 2.5% in the low-voltage group. Forty-nine(72.1%) of the injuries were work related. The number of patient with compartment syndrome was 19, and fasciotomies were performed in all but one patient. Myoglobinuria was noted in 22 patients, but no patient developed acute renal failure due to myoglobinuria. In the high-voltage group, 10 limb amputations were performed. Complication were observed in 12 patients. The most common complication was neurological injury. The average length of hospital stay was 50.7 days in the high-voltage group and 13.8 days in the low-voltage group. The overall mortality rate was 4.3%. CONCLUSION: Prevention of electrical injuries is very important. Education and compliance with safety measures, as well as basic knowledge and precaution in dealing with electricity, are essential to avoid these injuries.

Adequacy of Siriraj Stroke Score in Differentiation of Stroke Patients

BACKGROUND: The differentiation between hemorrhagic(HS) and norhemorrhagic(NHS) stroke is the most important first step in the management of acute stroke because clinical management of the two disorders differs substantially. Neuroimaging studies are useful in diagnosing and distinctioning between HS and NHS. The use of clinical variables, such as Siriraj stroke scores(SSS), has led to good sensitivity, specificity and predictive values. The aim of our study was to evaluate the use of the SSS in the Korean population and assess whether it could aid to expedite treatment decisions. METHODS: We reviewed 111 cases of stroke patients admitted to our hospital via the emergency department over a 6 months period from July to December 1998. Levels of consciousness, vomiting, headache, and atheroma markers used in the SSS were applied to these patients who met the criteria for a stroke. RESULTS: Of the 111 patients, the SSS classified 83 with sensitivities of 81.1%(NHS) and 73.3%(HS) and positive predictive values of 84.3% and 68.8%, respectively. The overall accuracy rate was 78.3%. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that the SSS is not reliable in distinguishing stroke types in the Korean population. Definite neuroimaging studies are needed prior to thrombolytic therapy.

Factors Affecting to Prognosis of Traumatic Hip Dislocation

BACKGROUND: Incidence of traumatic hip dislocation have ween increased with development of transportation. Traumatic hip dislocation demands early recognition as an emergency and prompt reduction. So we designed this study to determine what kinds of factors affect the prognosis of the patient. METHODS: Eighty five patients who admitted emergency department of our hospital with the traumatic hip dislocation were enrolled in this study. Cause of injury, type of dislocation, method of reduction, the time from dislocation to reduction, age, gender and associated patellar injury were evaluated by retrospective chart reviews. RESULTS: Average age of excellent and good group(E&G) is 28+/-17.8 and fair and poor group(F&P) is 39+/-18.6, so the older the age the more poor prognosis(P<0.05). The time to take reduction of E&G group is 18+/-8.2 hours and F&P group is 25+/-12.6 hours, so the faster the better prognosis(P<0.05). We classify the type of hip dislocation by Thompson and Epstein method, type I to type V. The prognosis of type I is better than type V(P<0.05). Fifty five case were associated with patellar injury and they had poor prognosis than the other cases that were not associated with knee joint injury. CONCLUSION: In traumatic dislocated hip patients, the prognosis was poor in old age, delay in reduction, higher type of dislocation and associated with knee joint injury.