Development and validation of new poisoning mortality score system for patients with acute poisoning at the emergency department.

BACKGROUND: A prediction model of mortality for patients with acute poisoning has to consider both poisoning-related characteristics and patients' physiological conditions; moreover, it must be applicable to patients of all ages. This study aimed to develop a scoring system for predicting in-hospital mortality of patients with acute poisoning at the emergency department (ED). METHODS: This was a retrospective analysis of the Injury Surveillance Cohort generated by the Korea Center for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) during 2011-2018. We developed the new-Poisoning Mortality Scoring system (new-PMS) to generate a prediction model using the derivation group (2011-2017 KCDC cohort). Points were computed for categories of each variable. The sum of these points was the new-PMS. The validation group (2018 KCDC cohort) was subjected to external temporal validation. The performance of new-PMS in predicting mortality was evaluated using area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) for both the groups. RESULTS: Of 57,326 poisoning cases, 42,568 were selected. Of these, 34,352 (80.7%) and 8216 (19.3%) were enrolled in the derivation and validation groups, respectively. The new-PMS was the sum of the points for each category of 10 predictors. The possible range of the new-PMS was 0-137 points. Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness-of-fit test showed adequate calibration for the new-PMS with p values of 0.093 and 0.768 in the derivation and validation groups, respectively. AUROCs of the new-PMS were 0.941 (95% CI 0.934-0.949, p < 0.001) and 0.946 (95% CI 0.929-0.964, p < 0.001) in the derivation and validation groups, respectively. The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of the new-PMS (cutoff value: 49 points) were 86.4%, 87.2%, and 87.2% and 85.9%, 89.5%, and 89.4% in the derivation and validation groups, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: We developed a new-PMS system based on demographic, poisoning-related variables, and vital signs observed among patients at the ED. The new-PMS showed good performance for predicting in-hospital mortality in both the derivation and validation groups. The probability of death increased according to the increase in the new-PMS. The new-PMS accurately predicted the probability of death for patients with acute poisoning. This could contribute to clinical decision making for patients with acute poisoning at the ED.

Surge Capacity and Mass Casualty Incidents Preparedness of Emergency Departments in a Metropolitan City: a Regional Survey Study.

BACKGROUND: Emergency departments (EDs) generally receive many casualties in disaster or mass casualty incidents (MCI). Some studies have conceptually suggested the surge capacity that ED should have; however, only few studies have investigated measurable numbers in one community. This study investigated the surge capacity of the specific number of accommodatable patients and overall preparedness at EDs in a metropolitan city. METHODS: This cross-sectional study officially surveyed surge capacity and disaster preparedness for all regional and local emergency medical centers (EMC) in Seoul with the Seoul Metropolitan Government's public health division. This study developed survey items on space, staff, stuff, and systems, which are essential elements of surge capacity. The number of patients acceptable for each ED was investigated by triage level in ordinary and crisis situations. Multivariate linear regression analysis was performed on hospital resource variables related to surge capacity. RESULTS: In the second half of 2018, a survey was conducted targeting 31 EMC directors in Seoul. It was found that all regional and local EMCs in Seoul can accommodate 848 emergency patients and 537 non-emergency patients in crisis conditions. In ordinary situations, one EMC could accommodate an average of 1.3 patients with Korean Triage and Acuity Scale (KTAS) level 1, 3.1 patients with KTAS level 2, and 5.7 patients with KTAS level 3. In situations of crisis, this number increased to 3.4, 7.8, and 16.2, respectively. There are significant differences in surge capacity between ordinary and crisis conditions. The difference in surge capacity between regional and local EMC was not significant. In both ordinary and crisis conditions, only the total number of hospital beds were significantly associated with surge capacity. CONCLUSION: If the hospital's emergency transport system is ideally accomplished, patients arising from average MCI can be accommodated in Seoul. However, in a huge disaster, it may be challenging to handle the current surge capacity. More detailed follow-up studies are needed to prepare a surge capacity protocol in the community.

Risk Factors for Intracranial Injury Caused by Falls at Home in Korea Using Data from the Emergency Department-based Injury In-depth Surveillance (2011-2018).

BACKGROUND: Most unintentional injuries that occur at home are preventable. However, it may be difficult to sufficiently reduce the number of falls occurring at home by only identifying risk factors focused on specific age groups. Therefore, this study aimed to identify the risk factors (especially age and places where injuries occurred at home) for intracranial injury (ICI) caused by unintentional falls at home. METHODS: Using the Emergency Department (ED)-Based Injury In-depth Surveillance, we analyzed the data of patients who visited the ED due to unintentional falls at home. Risk factors were identified using multivariable logistic regression according to age groups and interactions between place of injury occurrence and age groups, and sex and age groups were assessed. RESULTS: In total, 232,124 patients were included in the analysis; older adults had a higher adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 14.05 (95% confidence interval [CI], 12.74-15.49) of ICI than infants. The corridor was associated with ICI in the male pediatric group (aOR, 2.71; 95% CI, 1.08-6.84) and the balcony with the female pediatric group (aOR, 2.04; 95% CI, 1.03-4.04). In the adult group, aOR of kitchen was 1.38 (95% CI, 1.02-1.88) in females and 0.56 (95% CI, 0.48-0.66) in males. CONCLUSION: In this study, we identified the risk factors of ICI caused by falls at home using ED-based injury surveillance data. The risk of ICI was different among places of occurrence in the home depending on the age groups and sex.

The effect of extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation in re-arrest after survival event: a retrospective analysis.

BACKGROUND: The objectives of this study were to 1) identify the risk factors for predicting re-arrest and 2) determine whether extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation results in better outcomes than conventional cardiopulmonary resuscitation for managing re-arrest in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients. METHODS: This retrospective analysis was based on a prospective cohort. We included adult patients with non-traumatic out-of-hospital cardiac arrest who achieved a survival event. The primary measurement was re-arrest, defined as recurrent cardiac arrest within 24 hours after survival event. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to predict re-arrest. Subgroup analysis was performed to evaluate the effect of extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation on the survival to discharge in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients who experienced re-arrest. RESULTS: Of 534 patients suitable for inclusion, 203 (38.0%) were enrolled in the re-arrest group. Old age, prolonged advanced cardiac life support duration and the presence of hypotension at 0 hours after survival event were independent variables predicting re-arrest. In the re-arrest group, the extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation group (n = 25) showed better outcomes than the conventional cardiopulmonary resuscitation group. However, multiple logistic regression for predicting survival to discharge revealed that extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation was not an independent factor. Multiple logistic regression revealed that a hypotensive state at re-arrest was an independent risk factor for survival. CONCLUSION: Alternative methods that reduce the advanced cardiac life support duration should be considered to prevent re-arrest and attain good outcomes in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients. Extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation for re-arrest tended to show a good outcome compared to conventional cardiopulmonary resuscitation for re-arrest. Avoiding or immediately correcting hypotension may prevent re-arrest and improve the outcome of re-arrested patients.

Dispatcher-Assisted Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Program and Outcomes After Pediatric Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest.

OBJECTIVES: A dispatcher-assisted bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (DA-BCPR) is expected to influence the outcomes of pediatric out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). Our objective was to measure the effect size of a DA-BCPR on survival outcomes according to location of the event. METHODS: All emergency medical service treated OHCA patients younger than 19 years in Korea from January 2012 through December 2013 were analyzed. Patients with OHCA witnessed by emergency medical service providers and those with missing outcome information were excluded. Patients were categorized into the following categories: No-BCPR, BCPR without dispatcher assistance (BCPR-NDA), and BCPR-DA. The primary outcome was survival to hospital discharge. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to calculate the adjusted odds ratios (AORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for outcomes by exposure group (reference, No-BCPR group) with and without an interaction term between exposure and location of arrest. RESULTS: A total of 1013 eligible patients were analyzed. Among these patients, 16.6% received BCPR-NDA, 23.2% received BCPR-DA, and 60.2% received no BCPR. After adjusting for potential confounders, compared with N0-BCPR group, AORs for survival were 1.79 (95% CI, 1.03-3.12) in BCPR group, 1.71 (95% CI, 0.85-3.46) in BCPR-NDA group, and 1.39 (95% CI, 0.72-2.69) in BCPR-DA group. The AORs for survival of BCPR-NDA and BCPR-DA in public location were 3.30 (95% CI, 1.12-9.72) and 2.95 (95% CI, 1.00-8.67), whereas BCPR-NDA and BCPR-DA in private locations were 1.62 (95% CI, 0.68-3.88) and 1.15 (95% CI, 0.53-2.51). CONCLUSION: The DA-CPR was associated with better outcomes in pediatric OHCA patients whose arrest occurred in public locations, but no improvement in outcomes was identified in patients whose arrest occurred at private locations.

Neurological Favorable Outcomes Associated with EMS Compliance and On-Scene Resuscitation Time Protocol.

PURPOSE: Korean national emergency care protocol for EMS providers recommends a minimum of 5 minutes of on-scene resuscitation before transport to hospital in cases of Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest (OHCA). We compared survival outcome of OHCA patients according to scene time interval (STI)-protocol compliance of EMS. METHODS: EMS treated adult OHCAs with presumed cardiac etiology during a two-year period were analyzed. Non-compliance was defined as hospital transport with STI less than 6 minutes without return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) on scene. Propensity score for compliance with protocol was calculated and based on the calculated propensity score, 1:1 matching was performed between compliance and non-compliance group. Univariate analysis as well as multivariable logistic model was used to evaluate the effect of compliance to survival outcome. RESULTS: Among a total of 28,100 OHCAs, EMS transported 7,026 (25.0%) cardiac arrests without ROSC on the scene with an STI less than 6 minutes. A total of 6,854 cases in each group were matched using propensity score matching. Overall survival to discharge rate did not differ in both groups (4.6% for compliance group vs. 4.5 for non-compliance group, p = 0.78). Adjusted odds ratio of compliance for survival to discharge were 1.12 (95% CI 0.92-1.36). More patients with favorable neurological outcome was shown in compliance group (2.5% vs. 1.7%, p < 0.01) and adjusted odds ratio was 1.91 (95% CI 1.42-2.59). CONCLUSIONS: Although survival to discharge rate did not differ for patient with EMS non-compliance with STI protocol, lesser patients survived with favorable neurological outcomes when EMS did not stay for sufficient time on scene in OHCA before transport.

Association of recent major psychological stress with cardiac arrest: A case-control study.

OBJECTIVE: We hypothesized that major psychological stress can be a risk factor for cardiac arrest and that effects are modified by elapsed time from specific stressful events. METHODS: Case-control study was conducted using database for cardiac arrest and emergency department (ED) visiting. Cases included adult patients with cardiac arrest with presumed cardiac etiology. Controls were matched with sex and age and visiting day from unintentional injured patients in same ED. The occurrence of 9 major life events (MLEs) such as a divorce within 1year was used as a proxy measure of major psychological stress. A multivariable conditional logistic regression conducted to estimate the effect of MLEs on the risk of cardiac arrest according to the elapsed time from the MLEs. RESULTS: A total of 95 patients with cardiac arrest and 95 controls were assessed. In the case group, a total of 58 MLEs occurred, while 33 MLEs occurred in the control group during the same period. Recent MLEs were associated with a higher risk of sudden cardiac arrest (AOR 2.26 [95% CI:1.01-5.03]). The AORs of cardiac arrest were 4.65 (95% CI, 1.38-15.67) and 7.02 (95% CI, 2.03-24.48) among participants experiencing MLEs within the last 0-3months and those experiencing MLEs within the last 0-6months, respectively. Cardiac arrest and MLEs in participants experiencing MLEs between 7 and 12months prior showed no association (AOR 4.76 [95% CI, 0.97-18.36]). CONCLUSIONS: MLEs were associated with cardiac arrest occurrence, and the effect was modified by the elapsed time from the MLEs.

The impact of recommended percutaneous coronary intervention care on hospital outcomes for interhospital-transferred STEMI patients.

BACKGROUND: Timely transfer and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with or without thrombolysis are recommended by the American Heart Association (AHA) to care for ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients who present first to a non-PCI-capable hospital. This study was to evaluate the impact on in-hospital mortality of the compliance with guidelines regarding to the time of PCI for patients with STEMI who were transferred to a capable PCI hospital. METHODS: We used the CArdioVAscular disease Surveillance data from November 2007 to December 2012 for this study. Adult patients who were diagnosed with STEMI and transferred from a primary hospital for PCI were included. Patients who underwent PCI or coronary artery bypass graft surgery in the primary hospital and patients with an unknown emergency department disposition were excluded. The main exposure was the AHA recommendation for reperfusion therapy. We tested the association between compliance with AHA and hospital mortality. RESULTS: A total of 2078 patients were analyzed, 30.0% of whom were treated in compliance with the guidelines, whereas the remaining 70.0% were not. Thrombolysis was performed in 7.9% and 0.8% (P value < .01) and hospital mortality was 5.0% and 6.8% (P value = .11) in the compliant and violence groups, respectively. The adjusted odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) of the compliant group for hospital mortality were 0.75 (0.46-1.21), respectively. A sensitivity analysis of symptom onset to arrival time was a trend for a beneficial effect in the compliant group. CONCLUSIONS: Among the patients who were transferred for STEMI care, undergoing PCI as recommended by the AHA was not associated with a mortality benefit, but the patients whose symptom onset to hospital arrival time was within 30 minutes showed an association between compliance and lower mortality.

Timely bystander CPR improves outcomes despite longer EMS times.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to determine the impact of bystander CPR on clinical outcomes in patients with increasing response time from collapse to EMS response. METHODS: A population-based observational study was conducted in patients with witnessed out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) of presumed cardiac etiology from 2012 to 2014. The time interval from collapse to CPR by EMS providers was categorized into quartile groups: fastest group (<4min), fast group (4 to <8min), late group (8 to <15min), and latest group (15 to <30min). The primary outcome was hospital discharge and the secondary outcome was survival with good neurological outcome. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to evaluate the interaction between bystander CPR and the time interval from collapse to CPR by EMS providers. RESULTS: A total of 15,354 OHCAs were analyzed. Bystander CPR was performed in 8591 (56.0%). Survival to hospital discharge occurred in 1632 (10.6%) and favorable neurological outcome in 996 (6.5%). In an interaction model of bystander CPR, compared to the fastest group, adjusted odds ratios (AORs) (95% CIs) for survival to discharge were 0.89 (0.66-1.20) in the fast group, 0.76 (0.57-1.02) in the late group, and 0.52 (0.37-0.73) in the latest group. For favorable neurological outcome, AORs were 1.12 (0.77-1.62) in the fast group, 0.90 (0.62-1.30) in the late group, 0.59 (0.38-0.91) in the latest group. CONCLUSION: The survival from OHCA decreases as the ambulance response time increases. The increase in mortality and worsening neurologic outcomes appear to be mitigated in those patients who receive bystander CPR.

Effect of Emergency Medical Service Use and Inter-hospital Transfer on Time to Percutaneous Coronary Intervention in Patients with ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction: A Multicenter Observational Study.

BACKGROUND: The 2013 ACCF/AHA guideline for the management of ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) recommends that patients be transported by emergency medical services (EMS) directly to a percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI)-capable hospital. We examined the effects of EMS use according to inter-hospital transfer on time to PCI in STEMI patients. METHODS: Adult patients diagnosed with STEMI from November 2007 to December 2012 with symptom onset less than 24 hours treated with primary PCI at 29 emergency departments (ED) were included. Patients with unknown information about important time variables, inter-hospital transfer and EMS use, and patients who already received PCI at another hospital were excluded. Patients were divided into groups according to EMS use and inter-hospital transfer: Group A (direct to final ED by EMS), Group B (transferred to final ED after EMS transport), Group C (direct to final ED not by EMS), and Group D (transferred to final ED after non-EMS transport). Symptom to balloon time less than 120 minutes was considered timely PCI. Multivariable logistic regression model adjusting for potential risk factors examined the relationship between the groups and timely PCI. Interactions between EMS use and inter-hospital transfer were also tested for the outcome. RESULTS: A total of 5826 patients were analyzed in this study, of which 28.3% called for EMS and 50% were transferred to another hospital for PCI. Median symptom to balloon time was 216 minutes. Timely PCI was achieved in 20.3% of the patients. With the Group D as the reference, the adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) for timely PCI was 5.78 (4.81-6.95) for Group A, 0.80 (0.53-1.20) for Group B, and 2.87 (2.39-3.44) for Group C. In the interaction model, the AOR (95% CI) of EMS use in nontransferred groups and transferred groups was 2.01(1.71-2.38) and 0.80(0.53-1.20). CONCLUSIONS: EMS use significantly increased the odds of timely primary PCI to patients directly transported to a primary PCI center, but not in patients transferred from another hospital. EMS systems that identify STEMI patients and transport them to PCI capable hospitals, and processes to expedite the transfer of patients between non-PCI and PCI hospitals need to be developed further.

Effect of Emergency Medical Services Use on Hospital Outcomes of Acute Hemorrhagic Stroke.

BACKGROUND: It is unclear whether the use of emergency medical services (EMS) is associated with enhanced survival and decreased disability after hemorrhagic stroke and whether the effect size of EMS use differs according to the length of stay (LOS) in emergency department (ED). METHODS: Adult patients (19 years and older) with acute hemorrhagic stroke who survived to admission at 29 hospitals between 2008 and 2011 were analyzed, excluding those who had symptom-to-ED arrival time of 3 h or greater, received thrombolysis or craniotomy before inter-hospital transfer, or had experienced cardiac arrest, had unknown information about ambulance use and outcomes. Exposure variable was EMS use. Endpoints were survival at discharge and worsened modified Rankin Scale (W-MRS) defined as 3 or greater points difference between pre- and post-event MRS. Adjusted odds ratios (AORs) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) for the outcomes were calculated, including potential confounders (demographic, socioeconomic status, clinical parameter, comorbidity, behavior, and time of event) in the final model and stratifying patients by inter-hospital transfer and by time interval from symptom to ED arrival (S2D). ED LOS, classified into short (<120 min) and long (≥120 min), was added to the final model for testing of the interaction model. RESULTS: A total of 2,095 hemorrhagic strokes were analyzed in which 75.6% were transported by EMS. For outcome measures, 17.4% and 41.4% were dead and had worsened MRS, respectively. AORs (95% CIs) of EMS were 0.67 (0.51-0.89) for death and 0.74 (0.59-0.92) for W-MRS in all patients. The effect size of EMS, however, was different according to LOS in ED. AORs (95% CIs) for death were 0.74 (0.54-1.01) in short LOS and 0.60 (0.44-0.83) in long LOS group. AORs (95% CIs) for W-MRS were 0.76 (0.60-0.97) in short LOS and 0.68 (0.52-0.88) in long LOS group. CONCLUSIONS: EMS transport was associated with lower hospital mortality and disability after acute hemorrhagic stroke. Effect size of EMS use for mortality was significant in patients with long ED LOS. Key words: emergency medical service; hemorrhagic stroke; mortality; disability.

Relationship between drowning location and outcome after drowning-associated out-of-hospital cardiac arrest: nationwide study.

PURPOSE: Accidental drowning can cause out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). We investigated the effect of drowning location on outcomes of individuals who experienced drowning-OHCA. METHODS: All cases of emergency medical service-treated drowning-OHCA in South Korea from January 2006 to December 2013 were analyzed. Cases were excluded if there was a preceding injury, no information on event location, or suicide. Cases were divided into 4 groups: recreational water with mandatory safety regulations (group 1, public swimming pool; group 2, beach) and nonrecreational water without mandatory safety regulations (group 3, natural freshwater; group 4, seawater). The main outcome was survival to hospital discharge. Multiple logistic regression analysis was conducted using natural freshwater as the reference location. RESULTS: We analyzed 1691 drowning-OHCAs (public swimming pools, 3.4%; public beaches, 5.2%; unsupervised seawater, 33.8%; and unsupervised open freshwater, 57.6%). The rate of survival to discharge was 4.6% for all cases, 17.5% for cases in public swimming pools, 9.1% for cases in public beaches, 4.9% for cases in unsupervised seawater, and 3.3% for cases in unsupervised open freshwater (p<0.01). The adjusted odds ratios (95% confidence intervals [CIs]) for survival relative to natural freshwater were 3.97 (95% CI, 1.77-8.89) for public swimming pools, 2.81 (95% CI, 1.22-6.45) for public beaches, and 1.54 (95% CI, 0.88-2.70) for unsupervised seawater. CONCLUSION: Individuals who experience drowning-OHCA in public locations with safety regulations had a better rate of survival. There should be improved public awareness of the significantly greater risk of drowning-OHCA in locations that have no safety regulations.

Validation of the Shock Index, Modified Shock Index, and Age Shock Index for Predicting Mortality of Geriatric Trauma Patients in Emergency Departments.

The shock index (SI), modified shock index (MSI), and age multiplied by SI (Age SI) are used to assess the severity and predict the mortality of trauma patients, but their validity for geriatric patients is controversial. The purpose of this investigation was to assess predictive value of the SI, MSI, and Age SI for geriatric trauma patients. We used the Emergency Department-based Injury In-depth Surveillance (EDIIS), which has data from 20 EDs across Korea. Patients older than 65 years who had traumatic injuries from January 2008 to December 2013 were enrolled. We compared in-hospital and ED mortality of groups categorized as stable and unstable according to indexes. We also assessed their predictive power of each index by calculating the area under the each receiver operating characteristic (AUROC) curve. A total of 45,880 cases were included. The percentage of cases classified as unstable was greater among non-survivors than survivors for the SI (36.6% vs. 1.8%, P < 0.001), the MSI (38.6% vs. 2.2%, P < 0.001), and the Age SI (69.4% vs. 21.3%, P < 0.001). Non-survivors had higher median values than survivors on the SI (0.84 vs. 0.57, P < 0.001), MSI (0.79 vs. 1.14, P < 0.001), and Age SI (64.0 vs. 41.5, P < 0.001). The predictive power of the Age SI for in-hospital mortality was higher than SI (AUROC: 0.740 vs. 0.674, P < 0.001) or MSI (0.682, P < 0.001) in geriatric trauma patients.

Rationale, Methodology, and Implementation of a Dispatcher-assisted Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Trial in the Asia-Pacific (Pan-Asian Resuscitation Outcomes Study Phase 2).

Abstract Background. Survival outcomes from out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) in Asia are poor (2-11%). Bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) rates are relatively low in Asia. Dispatcher-assisted CPR (DA-CPR) has recently emerged as a potentially cost-effective intervention to increase bystander CPR and survival from OHCA. The Pan-Asian Resuscitation Outcomes Study (PAROS), an Asia-Pacific cardiac arrest registry, was set up in 2009, with the aim of understanding OHCA as a disease in Asia and improving OHCA survival. The network has adopted DA-CPR as part of its strategy to improve OHCA survival. Objective. This article aims to describe the conceptualization, study design, potential benefits, and difficulties for implementation of DA-CPR trial in the Asia-Pacific. Methods. Two levels of intervention, basic and comprehensive, will be offered to PAROS participating sites. The basic level consists of implementation of a DA-CPR protocol and training program, while the comprehensive level consists of implementation of the basic level, with the addition of a dispatch quality measurement tool, quality improvement program, and community education program. Sites that are not able to implement the package will contribute control data. The primary outcome of the study is survival to hospital discharge or survival to 30 days post cardiac arrest. DA-CPR and bystander CPR are secondary outcomes. Conclusion. Implementation of DA-CPR requires concerted efforts by EMS leaders and supervisors, dispatchers, hospital stakeholders, policy makers, and the general public. The DA-CPR trial implemented by the PAROS sites, if successful, can serve as a model for other countries considering such an intervention in their EMS systems.

Association between time to percutaneous coronary intervention and hospital mortality in non-STEMI: a prospective multicenter observational study.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to investigate the association between time to percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and hospital mortality in non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI). METHODS: Adult patients with NSTEMI were enrolled from November 2007 to December 2012 at 28 emergency departments (EDs) in Korea, excluding those who met the following criteria: age less than 20 years, PCI not performed or performed after 72 hours, cardiac arrest at ED presentation, and unknown outcome. Exposure variable was defined as early PCI (<6 hours after ED arrival) and late PCI group (≥6 hours). The primary outcome was hospital mortality. The adjusted odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) for late vs early PCI on mortality were calculated in original data set and propensity score-matched data set using multivariable logistic regression models with/without interaction term (PCI group and time from symptom to ED arrival within 12 hours, or S2D). RESULTS: A total of 4363 patients were analyzed as early (n = 1109) and late (n = 3254) PCI groups. The mortality rates were 2.4%, 5.4%, and 1.5% for the total, early, and late PCI groups, respectively. Adjusted ORs (95% CIs) of late PCI for hospital mortality were 0.36 (0.22-0.61) in the original cohort and 0.29 (0.27-0.48) in the propensity score-matched cohort, respectively. Adjusted ORs (95% CIs) in the propensity score-matched subset were 0.28 (0.17-0.45) in the short S2D group and 0.50 (0.18-1.37) in the long S2D group, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Percutaneous coronary intervention earlier than 6 hours after ED presentation was associated with higher hospital mortality than PCI 6 hours later in NSTEMI. However, the effect disappeared in the long S2D group.

Initial Low Oxygen Extraction Ratio Is Related to Severe Organ Dysfunction and High In-Hospital Mortality in Severe Sepsis and Septic Shock Patients.

BACKGROUND: In severe sepsis and septic shock, global tissue hypoxia is a key development preceding multi-organ failure and death. OBJECTIVE: Our aim was to find whether the initial low oxygen extraction ratio (OER) is related to the severity of organ dysfunction and to predict the in-hospital mortality in severe sepsis or septic shock patients. METHODS: This was a secondary analysis of 169 patients with severe sepsis or septic shock in an emergency department. We calculated OER with 1- central venous oxygen saturation (ScvO2)/arterial oxygen saturation and compared the data according to the level of OER (high > 0.3, 0.2 ≤ normal ≤ 0.3, lower < 0.2). RESULTS: A total 133 patients were selected for analysis. OER was inversely proportional to ScvO2 (r(2) = 0.878; p < 0.001). The sepsis-related organ failure assessment score and in-hospital mortality of each group were 6.2 ± 3.7 and 37.0% for high OER, 5.7 ± 3.0 and 11.8% for normal OER, and 7.7 ± 3.9 and 41.7% for low OER, respectively (p = 0.034; p = 0.003). In patients with initial ScvO2 of >70%, in-hospital mortality of patients with low OER was significantly higher than patients with normal OER. CONCLUSIONS: Initial low OER was associated with severe organ dysfunction that resulted in high mortality with severe sepsis and septic shock. When patients had initial ScvO2 of > 70% but abnormally low OER, their in-hospital mortality was higher than in normal OER patients. Therefore, the OER should be considered when attempting to predict the outcome of septic patients using ScvO2 at an early stage of management for sepsis.

Use of a comprehensive metabolic panel point-of-care test to reduce length of stay in the emergency department: a randomized controlled trial.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: Awaiting results from laboratory testing may sometimes be a rate-limiting step in emergency department (ED) throughput prolonging length of stay and contributing to crowding. We determine whether introduction of a comprehensive metabolic panel point-of-care test can reduce ED length of stay compared with traditional central laboratory testing. METHODS: We performed a randomized, controlled trial among 10,244 noncritically ill ED patients aged 15 years and older whose physicians ordered a comprehensive metabolic panel at a single, large, academic, urban medical center. Participants were randomly assigned to performance of a comprehensive metabolic panel by a point-of-care test (n=5,154) or central laboratory testing (n=5,090). The primary outcome was length of stay in the ED. RESULTS: A point-of-care test reduced median ED length of stay among all study patients by 22 minutes (median 350 minutes [interquartile range 206 to 1,002 minutes] with point-of-care test versus median 372 minutes [interquartile range 217 to 1,150 minutes] with central laboratory testing; median difference 22 minutes; 95% confidence interval [CI] 4 to 40 minutes). A point-of-care test also reduced ED length of stay in patients discharged to home (256 versus 268 minutes; median difference 12 minutes; 95% CI 2 to 22 minutes) and with an Emergency Severity Index triage level of 3 (333 versus 355 minutes; median difference 22 minutes; 95% CI 4 to 40 minutes). CONCLUSION: Use of a point-of-care test for a comprehensive metabolic panel reduced ED length of stay compared with central laboratory testing in the adult ED of a single academic center.

Specific activity types at the time of event and outcomes of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest: a nationwide observational study.

This study aimed to describe the characteristics of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) according to specific activity types at the time of event and to determine the association between activities and outcomes according to activity type at the time of event occurrence of OHCA. A nationwide OHCA cohort database, compiled from January 2008 to December 2010 and consisting of hospital chart reviews and ambulance run sheet data, was used. Activity group was categorized as one of the following types: paid work activity (PWA), sports/leisure/education (SLE), routine life (RL), moving activity (MA), medical care (MC), other specific activity (OSA), and unknown activity. The main outcome was survival to discharge. Multivariate logistic analysis for outcomes was used adjusted for potential risk factors (reference = RL group). Of the 72,256 OHCAs, 44,537 cases were finally analyzed. The activities were RL (63.7%), PWA (3.1%), SLE (2.7%), MA (2.0%), MC (4.3%), OSA (2.2%), and unknown (21.9%). Survival to discharge rate for total patients was 3.5%. For survival to discharge, the adjusted odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) were 1.42 (1.06-1.90) in the SLE group and 1.62 (1.22-2.15) in PWA group compared with RL group. In conclusion, the SLE and PWA groups show higher survival to discharge rates than the routine life activity group.

Fever phobia in Korean caregivers and its clinical implications.

Fever is the most common complaint among children brought into the emergency department (ED). 'Fever phobia' is a descriptive term for an unrealistic concern about the consequences of fever. 'Fever phobia' is prevalent among parents and even healthcare providers, worldwide. The aim of this study was to determine the implications of fever-phobic ideas in Korean caregivers. A prospective, multi-center survey was conducted on Korean caregivers who visited the EDs with febrile children. In total, 746 caregivers were enrolled. The mean age of the subjects was 34.7 yr (SD±5.0). Three hundred sixty respondents (48.3%) believed that the body temperature of febrile children can reach higher than 42.0℃. Unrealistic concerns about the improbable complications of fever, such as brain damage, unconsciousness, and loss of hearing/vision were believed by 295 (39.5%), 66 (8.8%), and 58 (7.8%) caregivers, respectively. Four hundred ninety-four (66.2%) guardians woke children to give antipyretics. These findings suggest that fever phobia is a substantial burden for Korean caregivers.

An Atmospheric Plasma Jet Induces Expression of Wound Healing Genes in Progressive Burn Wounds in a Comb Burn Rat Model: A Pilot Study.

Burn-related injuries are devastating injuries with a high mortality rate that affect people of all ages worldwide. We assessed the effectiveness of plasma jet treatment in altering the expression of genes involved in wound healing in a prospective longitudinal observational animal study. Six male Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 350 g were used, and burn wounds were made by applying a preheated brass comb (100°C) to the back of the rats, resulting in four full-thickness burn wounds separated by three interspaces. A total of 18 burn wounds were induced on three rats. One side of the burn, on each rat received plasma treatment (plasma group), while the other side did not (control group). The interspaces were subjected to the plasma jet for 2 minutes per day until 7 days post-wounding. Plasma treatment significantly decreased the expression of proinflammatory cytokines. Furthermore, an increase in the expression of anti-inflammatory cytokines was observed in the plasma group. We showed that plasma jet treatment could improve burn wound healing by altering the expression of genes involved in the development of wound healing.