Predictive Factors of Blood Transfusion Requirement in Blunt Trauma Patients Admitted to the Emergency Room

PURPOSE: In multiple blunt trauma patients, transfusion may be a significant therapeutic adjunct to non-operative management. The blood products must be expedited and efficiently to patients in impending shock caused by hemorrhage or traumatic coagulopathy, but the decision to perform blood transfusion has been made empirically, based on the clinician's and has not been guided by objective parameters, but own opinion, that may result in an underestimate of or a failure to detect bleeding, in delayed transfusion, and in a reduced outcome. This article presents quickly assessable predictive factors for determining if a blood transfusion is required to improve outcomes in multiple blunt trauma patients admitted to the emergency room. METHODS: In a retrospective review of 282 multiple blunt trauma patients who visited our emergency center by emergency rescuer during a 1-year period, possible factors predictive of the need for a blood transfusion were subjected to univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Of blunt trauma patients ,9.2% (26/282), received red blood cells in the first 24 hours of care. Univariate analysis revealed significant associations between blood transfused and heart rate (HR) > 100 beats/min, respiratory rate (RR) > 20 breaths/min, Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) 10000, and initial abnormal portable trauma series (Cspine lateral, chest AP, pelvis AP). A multiple regression analysis, with a correction for diagnosis, identified HR > 100 beats/min (EXP 3.2), GCS 65 years, hemoglobin 100 beats/min, and GCS < 14 were quickly assessable useful factors for predicting a need for early blood transfusion in blunt trauma patients visiting the emergency room.

A Case of Lung Necrosis and Abscess after Paint Thinner Ingestion

Paint thinners contain a mixture of volatile organic solvents, including aromatic hydrocarbons such as toluene, xylene, and N-hexane. Hydrocarbon pneumonitis is an acute, intense pneumonitis resulting from the aspiration of volatile hydrocarbon compounds with low viscosity and surface tension. Here we report the case of a 60-year-old man admitted to our hospital with chest pain following the ingestion of paint thinner. Aspiration resulted from inducing emesis after ingestion. Acute chemical pneumonitis developed in the right lower lung. The patient's course was further complicated by lung necrosis, abscess, pleural effusion, and pneumothorax. He was treated with pleural adhesiolysis and a right middle lobe wedge resection via video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery.

Survey of Radiation Exposure to Emergency Physicians

PURPOSE: Emergency physicians (EPs) are exposed to radiation in the emergency department (ED). However, EPs are not followed with dosimeter measurements of radiation exposure because of the common belief that EPs have a low exposure to radiation. This study was performed to investigate the recognition of EPs' level of radiation exposure. METHODS: Data were collected from direct interviews with questionnaires administered at five ED's medical conference from November, 2007 to March, 2008. One hundred and twenty-one EPs were surveyed with questionnaires. The questionnaires consisted of six items on the patient characteristics, rate of radiation exposure, recognition of radiation exposure, knowledge of radiation exposure, patient exposure, and education. Some questions were graded on a five point Likert scale. The average and standard deviation were calculated. RESULTS: There were 58.3% of the EPs that reported that they were exposed to portable X-rays more than three times per day; 58.8% of the answers showed that the EPs did not escape from exposure to the portable X-rays. For 87.3% of the EPs, they did not wear lead aprons during the portable X-rays. There were 51.1% of answers that severely underestimated the radiation dose from a CT. The recognition and knowledge of radiation exposure among ED residents increased as there level of training increased, but this was not the case for the board certified emergency physicians (p=0.016). The radiation exposure to the patients was not accurately estimated by EP scores, regardless of their level of experience. CONCLUSION: The lack of knowledge and recognition of the exposure to radiation by EPs expose them and their patients to potentially dangerous levels of radiation that might increase their lifetime cancer risk. We recommend that EPs should be educated regarding their radiation exposure as well as their patients and followed by dosimeter evaluations to minimize radiation exposure.

Systemic Complications of Comatose Survivors Following Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation

PURPOSE: To describe systemic complications of unconscious patients' survival six hours following cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), and to evaluate the relationship between several variables and death. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective analysis of 153 cases of non-traumatic cardiac arrest that received CPR in a tertiary emergency department from April 1997 to June 2007. We carried out analyses on survival cases, and studied general characteristics and systemic complications to ascertain relationships between the survival and death groups. RESULTS: Sixty of 153 patients initially survived, but the survival rate quickly decreased to 30.1% within the first three days and then decreased slowly thereafter. In the 153 patients, hyperamylasemia occurred in 101 patients (66.0%), acute liver injury in 75(49.0%), sepsis in 67(43.8%), seizure and refractory shock in 66(43.1%), pneumonia in 65(42.5%), acute renal failure (ARF) in 64(41.8%), acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in 30(19.6%), and disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) in 26(17.0%). Of nine types of complications encountered, the incidences of hyperamylasemia, ARDS, ARF, refractory shock and DIC were significantly higher in patients who died than in those who survived (73.1% vs 55.0%, 28.0% vs 6.7%, 54.8% vs 21.7%, 66.7% vs 6.7%, and 23.7% vs 6.7%, respectively). CONCLUSION: Systemic complications occurred with high frequency in comatose survivors after cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Hyperamylasemia, ARDS, ARF, refractory shock and DIC were significantly associated with death.

Radiation Exposure to Physicians in the Emergency Department

PURPOSE: Emergency physicians (EP) are vulnerable to radiation exposure while on duty in the emergency department (ED). Although many studies have been reported abroad, there have been few studies of radiation exposure to EP in Korea. This study was performed to determine the present radiation exposure conditions of EP in Korea. METHODS: A prospective study was conducted from April 1, 2007 to June 30, 2007 at ED in three teaching hospitals. Eighteen interns and 19 residents were selected. Each wore thermoluminescent personal radiation dosimetry monitors at near the thyroid while working in the ED. We estimated the radiation exposure dose of these EP for three months and compared the results with those obtained for radiologists. RESULTS: The average radiation exposure dose of EP over three months was 0.257+/-0.391 mSv, and that of radiologists was 0.184+/-0.273 mSv. These results were below the recommended occupational dose limit of 5 mSv per 3 months. The radiation exposure dose of EP was higher than that of radiologists, but the difference was not statistically significant (0.280+/-0.303 vs 0.075+/-0.981 mSv, p=0.042). CONCLUSION: We recommend that the use of dosimetry by EP needs to be reviewed. EP should be aware of radiation exposure risks and minimize radiation exposure.

Acute Organophosphorus Pesticide Poisoning

Organophosphate (OP) pesticides are the most common source of human toxicity globally, causing high mortality and morbidity despite the availability of atropine as a specific antidote and oximes to reactivate acetylcholinesterase. The primary toxicity mechanism is inhibition of acetylcholinesterase (AchE), resulting in accumulation of the neurotransmitter, acetylcholine, and abnormal stimulation of acetylcholine receptors. Thus, the symptoms (muscarinic, nicotinic, and central nervous system) result from cholinergic overactivity because of AchE inhibition. OP can also cause rhabdomyolysis, pancreatitis, parotitis, and hepatitis. OP therapy includes decontamination, supportive therapy, and the use of specific antidotes such as atropine and oximes. However, there has been a paucity of controlled trials in humans. Here we evaluated the literature for advances in therapeutic strategies for acute OP poisoning over the last 10 years.

The Effects of Mild Hypothermia on the Expression of the Apoptosis-related Proteins following Transient Global Ischemia in Gerbil Hippocampus / 대한구급학회지

BACKGROUND: The neuroprotective mechanisms of hypothermia remain unclear. Recently, attenuation of apoptosis by hypothermia has been suggested as one of the responsible mechanisms. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of post-ischemic hypothermia on apoptotic neuronal death as well as expression of some apoptosis-related proteins in a gerbil transient global ischemia model. METHODS: Following 5 minutes of ischemia, normothermia (NT, 37+/-0.5degrees C) or mild hypothermia (HT, 33+/-0.5degrees C) was immediately induced and maintained for 3 hours. The hippocampal CA1 neurons were examined on day 2, 3, 4, and 7 after ischemia for the survived neuronal densities, DNA nick end labeling and immunohistochemical expressions of Bcl-2, Bax, and caspase 3 in each group. Additionally, DNA gel electrophoresis and western blot analysis for each protein in hippocampus were performed. RESULTS: The neuronal death in CA1 area on day 3, 4, and 7 was significantly reduced in HT group compared to NT group. The number of TUNEL positive cells in HT group was also significantly reduced than NT group on day 3, 4, and 7. DNA laddering of hippocampus on day 4 and 7 also reduced in HT group. Expressions of Bax on days 2, 3 and activated caspase 3 on days 3, 4 were reduced in HT group. Western blots also disclosed a decrease in the intensity of the Bax on day 2 and 3 in HT group compared to NT group. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that mild post-ischemic hypothermia attenuates the apoptotic neuronal death through the inhibition of the intrinsic pathway of caspase activation following transient global ischemia and these effects may be related to a reduction of pro-apoptotic events.

The Usefulness of Proton Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy in Comatose Patients after Successful Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation

PURPOSE: The objective of this study was to investigate whether proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS) is useful in the prediction of the neurological outcome for comatose patients after successful cardiopumonary resuscitation (CPR). METHODS: We prospectively studied 22 patients with a comatose mentality existing for longer than 1 day after cardiac arrest. 1H-MRS examinations were scheduled to be performed within 5 days after restoration of spontaneous circulation (ROSC). All 1H-MRS readings were performed by a neuro-radiologist blindly. The best cerebral performance category (CPC) during 6 months after ROSC was used as the final outcome and classified as good (CPC 1-2) or poor (CPC 3-5). RESULTS: Elevated cerebral lactate resonances were found in 14 patients. All of the 14 lactate-positive patients experienced a poor outcome. Five of the 8 lactate-negative patients recovered without neurologic defects, but three of them suffered from severe neurologic defects. The elevated cerebral lactate resonance distinguished between good out-comes (n=5) and poor outcomes (n=17) with three false negatives (sensitivity 82%) and no false positives (specificit y 100%). Demonstration of brain lactate in 1H-MRS (p < 0.05) proved to be significant in terms of a poor prognosis. CONCLUSION: 1H-MRS is of great benefit in the prognostic evaluation of comatose patients with anoxic-ischemic encephalopathy after successful CPR.

Effects of Continuous Descending Aortic Balloon Occlusion on Brain Ischemia during Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation in Rabbits

PURPOSE: A recent report introduce a new option for cardiopulmonary resuscitation by using of a continuous descending aortic balloon occlusion. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of balloon occlusion of the descending aorta during cardiopulmonary resuscitation on brain ischemia. METHODS: Twelve rabbits were enrolled in this study. A 4 French Swan-Ganz catheter was advanced through the right femoral artery into the descending aorta. Ventricular fibrillation was induced with an AC current delivered through an electrode catheter advanced into the right ventricle. After 3 minutes of untreated ventricular fibrillation, the rabbits were randomized in two groups: (1) chest compression without balloon occlusion (control group) and (2) chest compression with balloon occlusion of the descending aorta (experimental group). The balloon was inflated for 3 minutes during resuscitation. Defibrillation was attempted at 3 minutes after start of chest compression. At 24 hours after return of spontaneous circulation, brain tissues were fixed in 4% paraformaldehyde and stained with hematoxylin eosin. Then, the ischemic cells in the hippocampal CA1 area were counted. RESULTS: There was significant difference in ischemic neuronal cells between the two groups (control group: 41.8 +/-10.9%, experimental group: 16.8+/-6.8%, p < 0.05). In the experimental group, carotid blood flow was better than it was in the control group during chest compression (control group: 2.4+/-1.0 mL/min, experimental group: 7.6+/-1.9 mL /min, p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: These results suggests that balloon occlusion of the descending aorta during resuscitation decreases brain ischemia in rabbits during cardiac arrest.