Hours In Emergency Department Research Articles

#924 Characteristics and outcomes of emergency department patients with acute kidney injury (AKI) stage 2 and 3 electronic alerts at a single UK centre

Abstract Background and Aims The epidemiology of Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) in hospitalized and critically ill populations has been well described but less is known about AKI in the emergency department (ED) patients. Community-acquired AKI represents about a quarter of AKI events observed in the hospital, and its incidence is increasing. Our aim was to look at the characteristics, early management, triage and outcomes of patients with AKI stage 2 and 3 alerts from busy emergency department. Method A retrospective review of patients with AKI 2 and 3 alerts from ED at Doncaster royal Infirmary (DRI) and Bassetlaw sister units in England over a 2 month period from August - September 2022 was conducted. All alerts from Ambulatory/SDEC (Same day emergency care) units have been excluded from this study. Data was gathered from trust electronic health system and patient discharge summaries. Results 158 AKI stage 2 and 3 alerts were received from ED at DRI and Bassetlaw of which 91 (57.5%) were AKI 2 alerts and 67 (42.4%) were AKI 3 alerts. Average age of patients was 73 yrs. Median length of stay in ED was 9hrs (Range 3 hrs–41 hrs). 44 (28%) patients died during this hospital episode of which 28 (64%) died in medical wards, 10 (23%) in critical care unit, 5 died in ED and 1 patient died in surgical ward. Average age of patients who died was 70 yrs and Median length of stay in ED was no different at 9hrs. 23 (52%) had sepsis as primary cause of death. 8 (18%) who died had active malignancy. 9 (20%) had either end stage heart failure/Liver failure or primary lung condition. 8 (18%) had either Frailty, Old age and/or Dementia listed as contributing to death. 8 (18%) patients were discharged home from ED. Discharge diagnosis was Dehydration and/or Falls. Only 4 of the 8 patients had AKI communicated to Primary care on ED discharge letter. 3 of the discharged patients had hospital readmission within 30 days. Looking at the initial intervention in ED, all patients had early warning score and initial resuscitation documented however none of the patients had Fluid balance charted. Bladder scan was performed on 15 (34%) patients where there was high suspicion of obstructive uropathy. Medication as a contributing factor to AKI was commented in 7 (4%) cases. Out of 106 patients who were discharged from hospital wards, sepsis, community acquired pneumonia, urinary tract infection and gastroenteritis were the commonest discharge diagnosis. Median length of Hospital stay was 11 days. Only 2 patients were admitted to specialist Renal ward directly from ED. AKI was communicated to primary care in 70 (62%) patients at discharge. 13 (12%) patients were readmitted to hospital within 30 days of discharge. Conclusion AKI is a marker of severity of illness and we note significant mortality in patients who present to ED with stage 2 and 3 AKI. Sepsis was commonest cause of death but we note a significant proportion of patients had either active malignancy or severe underlying chronic health condition. With increasing waiting times in ED, early recognition and AKI focused management is a priority. AKI education for nursing and medical staff in ED and Pharmacy input for patients who spend long hours in ED might help reduce length of overall hospital stay.

The Value of an Emergency Medicine Virtual Observation Unit

We implemented a virtual observation unit in which emergency department (ED) patients receive observation-level care at home. Our primary aim was to compare this new care model to in-person observation care in terms of brick-and-mortar ED length of stay (inclusive of ED observation unit time) as well as secondarily on inpatient admission and 72-hour return visits (overall and with admission). In a retrospective analysis of electronic health record data on ED observation patients from January 1, 2022 to December 29, 2022 from an academic urban ED, we used propensity matching to compare virtual to in-person observation patients on outcomes of interest. Patients were matched 1:1 based on age, sex, Charlson Comorbidity Index, and reason for observation. We also conducted real-time review of all virtual observation cases for potential safety concerns. Of 8,218 observation stays, 361 virtual observation patients were matched with 361 in-person observation patients. Virtual observation patients experienced lower median brick-and-mortar ED + EDOU LOS [14.6 (IQR 10.2, 18.9) versus 33.3 (IQR 28.1, 38.1) hours] and lower inpatient admission rates (10.2% [SD 5.0] versus 24.7% [SD 11.3]). The 72-hour return rate was higher for virtual observation patients (3.6% [SD 3.0] versus 2.5% [SD 3.0]). Among those with return visits, the rate of inpatient admission was higher among virtual observation patients (53.8% [SD 3.2] versus 11.1% [13.0]). There were no significant patient safety events recorded. Virtual observation unit patients used fewer hours in ED and ED observation relative to on-site observation patients. This new care delivery model warrants further study because it has the potential to positively impact ED capacity.

Timing to First Whole Blood Transfusion and Survival Following Severe Hemorrhage in Trauma Patients

Civilian trauma centers have revived interest in whole-blood (WB) resuscitation for patients with life-threatening bleeding. However, there remains insufficient evidence that the timing of WB transfusion when given as an adjunct to a massive transfusion protocol (MTP) is associated with a difference in patient survival outcome. To evaluate whether earlier timing of first WB transfusion is associated with improved survival at 24 hours and 30 days for adult trauma patients presenting with severe hemorrhage. This retrospective cohort study used the American College of Surgeons Trauma Quality Improvement Program databank from January 1, 2019, to December 31, 2020, for adult patients presenting to US and Canadian adult civilian level 1 and 2 trauma centers with systolic blood pressure less than 90 mm Hg, with shock index greater than 1, and requiring MTP who received a WB transfusion within the first 24 hours of emergency department (ED) arrival. Patients with burns, prehospital cardiac arrest, deaths within 1 hour of ED arrival, and interfacility transfers were excluded. Data were analyzed from January 3 to October 2, 2023. Patients who received WB as an adjunct to MTP (earlier) compared with patients who had yet to receive WB as part of MTP (later) at any given time point within 24 hours of ED arrival. Primary outcomes were survival at 24 hours and 30 days. A total of 1394 patients met the inclusion criteria (1155 male [83%]; median age, 39 years [IQR, 25-51 years]). The study cohort included profoundly injured patients (median Injury Severity Score, 27 [IQR, 17-35]). A survival curve demonstrated a difference in survival within 1 hour of ED presentation and WB transfusion. Whole blood transfusion as an adjunct to MTP given earlier compared with later at each time point was associated with improved survival at 24 hours (adjusted hazard ratio, 0.40; 95% CI, 0.22-0.73; P = .003). Similarly, the survival benefit of earlier WB transfusion remained present at 30 days (adjusted hazard ratio, 0.32; 95% CI, 0.22-0.45; P < .001). In this cohort study, receipt of a WB transfusion earlier at any time point within the first 24 hours of ED arrival was associated with improved survival in patients presenting with severe hemorrhage. The survival benefit was noted shortly after transfusion. The findings of this study are clinically important as the earlier timing of WB administration may offer a survival advantage in actively hemorrhaging patients requiring MTP.

The Effect of Clinical Decision Support System on the Rates of Patients Who Reapply to the Emergency Department with the Same Diagnosis

Aim: We aim to decrease readmissions with the same diagnosis within 24 hours in emergency departments when many patients are admitted, such as during a pandemic. Methods: A comparison was made between the quarterly and monthly increases in 2021, 2020, and 2019 during the pandemic period. The root cause analysis determined that non-branch physicians and after-hours visits contributed to the increase in readmissions to the emergency department within 24 hours. A complete digital structure in State Hospital, Hospital Information Management System level 7 has enabled standardized diagnosis by eliminating physician and branch-based differences with the decision support systems established by the Hospital Information System by utilizing digital measures. Cross-sectional and retrospective reapplication rates 2019, 2020, 2021 2nd Period (April, May, June). Quality Standards in Health Emergency Department two data sets were used as The Basic Health Statistics Module data. Result as the 2019, 2020, and 2021 monthly reapplication rates of emergency department 2nd Period (April, May, June) month comparison Application rates 2020-year 2nd Period. Looking at the same months in 2021 and 2020, it is seen that the reapplication rate decreased below 2% within 24 hours. Results: This means that the application rate has returned to pre-pandemic levels. It is aimed at making it easier and more effective to work in situations that lead to collective admissions to emergency hospital services. The same situation has been an example of similar practices within hospital services. Conclusion: The application rate returned to its status outside the pandemic period. Differences in physician-induced approaches to diagnosis and treatment were eliminated, and standardization was achieved.

Diagnostic yield of computed tomography after non-traumatic out-of-hospital cardiac arrest

AimDetermine the frequency with which computed tomography (CT) after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) identifies clinically important findings. MethodsWe included non-traumatic OHCA patients treated at a single center from February 2019 to February 2021. Clinical practice was to obtain CT head in comatose patients. Additionally, CT of the cervical spine, chest, abdomen, and pelvis were obtained if clinically indicated. We identified CT imaging obtained within 24 hours of emergency department (ED) arrival and summarized radiology findings. We used descriptive statistics to summarize population characteristics and imaging results, report their frequencies and, post hoc, compared time from ED arrival to catheterization between patients who did and did not undergo CT. ResultsWe included 597 subjects, of which 491 (82.2%) had a CT obtained. Time to CT was 4.1 hours [2.8–5.7]. Most (n = 480, 80.4%) underwent CT head, of which 36 (7.5%) had intracranial hemorrhage and 161 (33.5%) had cerebral edema. Fewer subjects (230, 38.5%) underwent a cervical spine CT, and 4 (1.7%) had acute vertebral fractures. Most subjects (410, 68.7%) underwent a chest CT, and abdomen and pelvis CT (363, 60.8%). Chest CT abnormalities included rib or sternal fractures (227, 55.4%), pneumothorax (27, 6.6%), aspiration or pneumonia (309, 75.4%), mediastinal hematoma (18, 4.4%) and pulmonary embolism (6, 3.7%). Significant abdomen and pelvis findings were bowel ischemia (24, 6.6%) and solid organ laceration (7, 1.9%). Most subjects that had CT imaging deferred were awake and had shorter time to catheterization. ConclusionsCT identifies clinically important pathology after OHCA.

Association of Whole Blood With Survival Among Patients Presenting With Severe Hemorrhage in US and Canadian Adult Civilian Trauma Centers

Whole-blood (WB) resuscitation has gained renewed interest among civilian trauma centers. However, there remains insufficient evidence that WB as an adjunct to component therapy-based massive transfusion protocol (WB-MTP) is associated with a survival advantage over MTP alone in adult civilian trauma patients presenting with severe hemorrhage. To assess whether WB-MTP compared with MTP alone is associated with improved survival at 24 hours and 30 days among adult trauma patients presenting with severe hemorrhage. This retrospective cohort study using the American College of Surgeons Trauma Quality Improvement Program databank from January 1, 2017, and December 31, 2018, included adult trauma patients with a systolic blood pressure less than 90 mm Hg and a shock index greater than 1 who received at least 4 units of red blood cells within the first hour of emergency department (ED) arrival at level I and level II US and Canadian adult civilian trauma centers. Patients with burns, death within 1 hour of ED arrival, and interfacility transfers were excluded. Data were analyzed from February 2022 to September 2022. Resuscitation with WB-MTP compared with MTP alone within 24 hours of ED presentation. Primary outcomes were survival at 24 hours and 30 days. Secondary outcomes selected a priori included major complications, hospital length of stay, and intensive care unit length of stay. A total of 2785 patients met inclusion criteria: 432 (15.5%) in the WB-MTP group (335 male [78%]; median age, 38 years [IQR, 27-57 years]) and 2353 (84.5%) in the MTP-only group (1822 male [77%]; median age, 38 years [IQR, 27-56 years]). Both groups included severely injured patients (median injury severity score, 28 [IQR, 17-34]; median difference, 1.29 [95% CI, -0.05 to 2.64]). A survival curve demonstrated separation within 5 hours of ED presentation. WB-MTP was associated with improved survival at 24 hours, demonstrating a 37% lower risk of mortality (hazard ratio, 0.63; 95% CI, 0.41-0.96; P = .03). Similarly, the survival benefit associated with WB-MTP remained consistent at 30 days (HR, 0.53; 95% CI, 0.31-0.93; P = .02). In this cohort study, receipt of WB-MTP was associated with improved survival in trauma patients presenting with severe hemorrhage, with a survival benefit found early after transfusion. The findings from this study are clinically important as this is an essential first step in prioritizing the selection of WB-MTP for trauma patients presenting with severe hemorrhage.

Potentially avoidable hospitalizations for older patients transferred from long-term care hospitals: a nationwide cross-sectional analysis of potential healthcare consequences.

Multiple chronic disorders and disabilities among older patients in long term care hospitals (LTCH) tends to increase the healthcare burden by causing overcrowding, particularly in emergency departments. Therefore, access to timely and adequate healthcare for LTCH patients is an increasingly important issue, and potentially avoidable hospitalizations (PAHs) and hospitalizations during non-office hours can result as indicators of emergency department overcrowding. The study aimed to evaluate PAHs and hospitalizations during non-office hours in emergency departments for older patients transferred from LTCH compared to patients living at home. We performed a cross-sectional study using the National Emergency Department Information System database from January 2018 to December 2019, in South Korea, with older patients (≥ 65years) who visited nationwide emergency departments. Adjusted odds ratio (aOR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) for indicators of overcrowding as PAHs and hospitalizations during non-office hours were calculated by logistic regression. Among the 2,177,663 older patients who visited the emergency departments, 98,434 patients were living in LTCH and 2,079,229 patients were living at home. The older patients living in LTCH was associated with PAHs (aOR: 1.90, 95% CI 1.87-1.94) and hospitalizations during non-office hours (aOR: 1.76, 95% CI 1.73-1.78). LTCH patients showed more hospital visits, extended stay in the emergency department, greater prevalence of chronic diseases, greater rates of transfer as well as higher admission rates and mortality as compared to the patients living at home. The LTCH older patients were associated with the indicators of emergency department overcrowding, which impacts health care quality in hospitals. Introduction of policy and training programs for LTCH staff are recommended to manage vulnerable groups in advance.

Sustainability of evidence-based practices in the management of infants with bronchiolitis in hospital settings - a PREDICT study protocol

BackgroundUnderstanding how and why de-implementation of low-value practices is sustained remains unclear. The Paediatric Research in Emergency Departments International CollaboraTive (PREDICT) Bronchiolitis Knowledge Translation (KT) Study was a cluster randomised controlled trial conducted in 26 Australian and New Zealand hospitals (May-November 2017). Results showed targeted, theory-informed interventions (clinical leads, stakeholder meetings, train-the-trainer workshop, targeted educational package, audit/feedback) were effective at reducing use of five low-value practices for bronchiolitis (salbutamol, glucocorticoids, antibiotics, adrenaline and chest x-ray) by 14.1% in acute care settings. The primary aim of this study is to determine the sustainability (continued receipt of benefits) of these outcomes at intervention hospitals two-years after the removal of study supports. Secondary aims are to determine sustainability at one-year after removal of study support at intervention hospitals; improvements one-and-two years at control hospitals; and explore factors that influence sustainability at intervention hospitals and contribute to improvements at control hospitals.MethodsA mixed-methods study design. The quantitative component is a retrospective medical record audit of bronchiolitis management within 24 hours of emergency department (ED) presentations at 26 Australian (n = 20) and New Zealand (n = 6) hospitals, which participated in the PREDICT Bronchiolitis KT Study. Data for a total of 1800 infants from intervention and control sites (up to 150 per site) will be collected to determine if improvements (i.e., no use of all five low-value practices) were sustained two- years (2019) post-trial (primary outcome; composite score); and a further 1800 infants from intervention and control sites will be collected to determine sustained improvements one- year (2018) post-trial (secondary outcome). An a priori definition of sustainability will be used. The qualitative component will consist of semi-structured interviews with three to five key emergency department and paediatric inpatient medical and nursing staff per site (total n = 78-130). Factors that may have contributed to sustaining outcomes and/or interventions will be explored and mapped to an established sustainability framework.DiscussionThis study will improve our understanding of the sustainability of evidence-based bronchiolitis management in infants. Results will also advance implementation science research by informing future de-implementation strategies to reduce low-value practices and sustain practice change in paediatric acute care.Trial registrationAustralian and New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry No: ACTRN12621001287820.

Incidence and risk factors associated with early death in patients with emergency department septic shock.

BackgroundLimited research has explored early mortality among patients presenting with septic shock. The objective of this study was to determine the incidence and factors associated with early death following emergency department (ED) presentation of septic shock.MethodsA prospective registry of patients enrolled in an ED septic shock clinical pathway was used to identify patients. Patients were compared across demographic, comorbid, clinical, and treatment variables by death within 72 hours of ED presentation.ResultsAmong the sample of 2,414 patients, overall hospital mortality was 20.6%. Among patients who died in the hospital, mean and median time from ED presentation to death were 4.96 days and 2.28 days, respectively. Death at 24, 48, and 72 hours occurred in 5.5%, 9.5%, and 11.5% of patients, respectively. Multivariate regression analysis demonstrated that the following factors were independently associated with early mortality: age (odds ratio [OR], 1.04; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.03–1.05), malignancy (OR, 1.53; 95% CI, 1.11–2.11), pneumonia (OR, 1.39; 95% CI, 1.02–1.88), urinary tract infection (OR, 0.63; 95% CI, 0.44–0.89), first shock index (OR, 1.85; 95% CI, 1.27–2.70), early vasopressor use (OR, 2.16; 95% CI, 1.60–2.92), initial international normalized ratio (OR, 1.14; 95% CI, 1.07–1.27), initial albumin (OR, 0.55; 95% CI, 0.44–0.69), and first serum lactate (OR, 1.21; 95% CI, 1.16–1.26).ConclusionsAdult septic shock patients experience a high rate of early mortality within 72 hours of ED arrival. Recognizable clinical factors may aid the identification of patients at risk of early death.

Risk Factors for Delirium in Older Adults in the Emergency Department: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to identify risk factors for delirium in geriatric patients in the emergency department and to identify emergency department (ED)-based modifiable risk factors for developing delirium during hospitalization. We searched evidence based medicine reviews, EMBASE, MEDLINE, Scopus, and Web of Science for observational studies from the time of their inception to July 2020. We included studies that evaluated potential risk factors for either prevalent or incident delirium among older adults (age ≥ 60 years) presenting to the ED. When appropriate, we meta-analyzed estimates for risk factors using a random-effects model. The certainty of evidence was evaluated using the grading of recommendations assessment, development and evaluation approach. The study's protocol was registered in PROSPERO (CDR42020175261). A total of 4,513 citations were reviewed, and 34 studies met the criteria for inclusion: 27 evaluating risk factors for ED delirium (13,412 patients) and 7 evaluating ED-based risk factors for developing delirium during hospitalization (2,238 patients). The prevalence of ED delirium ranged from 7% to 35%. Four factors had strong associations with ED delirium and were graded as high-certainty evidence, including nursing home residence (4 studies; odds ratio [OR], 3.45; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.17 to 5.48), cognitive impairment (7 studies; OR, 4.46; 95% CI, 3.38 to 5.89), hearing impairment (3 studies, OR, 2.57; 95% CI, 1.03 to 6.41), and a history of stroke (3 studies; OR, 3.20; 95% CI, 1.17 to 8.75). The rate of developing delirium during hospitalization ranged from 11% to 27%. A length of stay of more than 10 hours in ED was associated with a higher risk of delirium (1 study; OR, 2.23; 95% CI, 1.13 to 4.41). One study reported that severe pain, rather than the use of opioids, was associated with the development of delirium. These findings can be used to prioritize delirium screening in the ED and develop novel ED delirium risk scores or prevention interventions.

Association of Cryoprecipitate Use With Survival After Major Trauma in Children Receiving Massive Transfusion

Although most massive transfusion protocols incorporate cryoprecipitate in the treatment of hemorrhaging injured patients, minimal data exist on its use in children, and whether its addition improves their survival is unclear. To determine whether cryoprecipitate use for injured children who receive massive transfusion is associated with lower mortality. This retrospective cohort study included injured patients examined between January 1, 2014, and December 31, 2017, at one of multiple centers across the US and Canada participating in the Pediatric Trauma Quality Improvement Program. Patients were aged 18 years or younger and had received massive transfusion, which was defined as at least 40 mL/kg of total blood products in the first 4 hours after emergency department arrival. Exclusion criteria included hospital transfer, arrival without signs of life, time of death or hospital discharge not recorded, and isolated head injuries. To adjust for potential confounding, a propensity score for treatment was created and inverse probability weighting was applied. The propensity score accounted for age, sex, race/ethnicity, injury type, payment type, Glasgow Coma Scale score, hypoxia, hypotension, assisted respirations, chest tube status, Injury Severity Score, total volume of blood products received, hemorrhage control procedure, hospital size, academic status, and trauma center designation. Data were analyzed from December 11, 2019, to August 31, 2020. Cryoprecipitate use within the first 4 hours of emergency department arrival. In-hospital 24-hour and 7-day mortality. Of the 2387 injured patients who received massive transfusion, 1948 patients were eligible for analysis. The median age was 16 years (interquartile range, 9-17 years), 1382 patients (70.9%) were male, and 807 (41.4%) were White. A total of 541 patients (27.8%) received cryoprecipitate. After propensity score weighting, patients who received cryoprecipitate had a significantly lower 24-hour mortality when compared with those who did not (adjusted difference, -6.9%; 95% CI, -10.6% to -3.2%). Moreover, cryoprecipitate use was associated with a significantly lower 7-day mortality but only in children with penetrating trauma (adjusted difference, -9.2%; 95% CI, -15.4% to -3.0%) and those transfused at least 100 mL/kg of total blood products (adjusted difference, -7.7%; 95% CI, -15.0% to -0.5%). In this cohort study, early use of cryoprecipitate was associated with lower 24-hour mortality among injured children who required massive transfusion. The benefit of cryoprecipitate appeared to persist for 7 days only in those with penetrating trauma and in those who received extremely large-volume transfusion.

Decision-making in pediatric blunt solid organ injury: A deep learning approach to predict massive transfusion, need for operative management, and mortality risk

BackgroundThe principal triggers for intervention in the setting of pediatric blunt solid organ injury (BSOI) are declining hemoglobin values and hemodynamic instability. The clinical management of BSOI is, however, complex. We therefore hypothesized that state-of-art machine learning (computer-based) algorithms could be leveraged to discover new combinations of clinical variables that might herald the need for an escalation in care. We developed algorithms to predict the need for massive transfusion (MT), failure of non-operative management (NOM), mortality, and successful non-operative management without intervention, all within 4 hours of emergency department (ED) presentation. MethodsChildren (≤18 years) who sustained a BSOI (liver, spleen, and/or kidney) between 2009 and 2018 were identified in the trauma registry at a pediatric level 1 trauma center. Deep learning models were developed using clinical values [vital signs, shock index-pediatric adjusted (SIPA), organ injured, and blood products received], laboratory results [hemoglobin, base deficit, INR, lactate, thromboelastography (TEG)], and imaging findings [focused assessment with sonography in trauma (FAST) and grade of injury on computed tomography scan] from pre-hospital to ED settings for prediction of MT, failure of NOM, mortality, and successful NOM without intervention. Sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) were used to evaluate each model's performance. ResultsA total of 477 patients were included, of which 5.7% required MT (27/477), 7.2% failed NOM (34/477), 4.4% died (21/477), and 89.1% had successful NOM (425/477). The accuracy of the models in the validation set was as follows: MT (90.5%), failure of NOM (83.8%), mortality (91.9%), and successful NOM without intervention (90.3%). Serial vital signs, the grade of organ injury, hemoglobin, and positive FAST had low correlations with outcomes. ConclusionDeep learning-based models using a combination of clinical, laboratory and radiographic features can predict the need for emergent intervention (MT, angioembolization, or operative management) and mortality with high accuracy and sensitivity using data available in the first 4 hours of admission. Further research is needed to externally validate and determine the feasibility of prospectively applying this framework to improve care and outcomes. Level of EvidenceIII Study TypeRetrospective comparative study (Prognosis/Care Management).

Pediatric Mental Health Boarding

The growing prevalence of pediatric mental and behavioral health disorders, coupled with scarce psychiatric resources, has resulted in a substantial increase in the number of youth waiting in emergency departments (EDs) and medical units for inpatient psychiatric care. To characterize the prevalence of pediatric mental health boarding and identify associated patient and hospital factors. Medline and PsycINFO. All studies describing frequencies, durations, processes, outcomes, and/or risk factors associated with pediatric mental health boarding in youth ≤21 years of age. Publications meeting inclusion criteria were charted by 2 authors and critically appraised for quality. Eleven studies met inclusion criteria; 10 were retrospective cohort studies and 9 were conducted at single centers. All of the single-center studies were conducted at children's hospitals or pediatric EDs in urban or suburban settings. Study sample sizes ranged from 27 to 44 328. Among youth requiring inpatient psychiatric care, 23% to 58% experienced boarding and 26% to 49% boarded on inpatient medical units. Average boarding durations ranged from 5 to 41 hours in EDs and 2 to 3 days in inpatient units. Risk factors included younger age, suicidal or homicidal ideation, and presentation to a hospital during nonsummer months. Care processes and outcomes were infrequently described. When reported, provision of psychosocial services varied widely. Boarding definitions were heterogeneous, study sample sizes were small, and rural regions and general hospitals were underrepresented. Pediatric mental health boarding is prevalent and understudied. Additional research representing diverse hospital types and geographic regions is needed to inform clinical interventions and health care policy.

Analysis of Missed Sepsis Patients in a Pediatric Emergency Department With a Vital Sign-Based Electronic Sepsis Alert.

To characterize the cohort of missed sepsis patients since implementation of an electronic sepsis alert in a pediatric emergency department (ED). Retrospective cohort study in a tertiary care children's hospital ED from July 1, 2014, to June 30, 2017. Missed patients met international consensus criteria for severe sepsis requiring intensive care unit admission within 24 hours of ED stay but were not treated with the sepsis pathway/order set in the ED. We evaluated characteristics of missed patients compared with sepsis pathway patients including alert positivity, prior intensive care unit admission, and laboratory testing via medical record review. Outcomes included timeliness of antibiotic therapy and need for vasoactive medications. There were 919 sepsis pathway patients and 53 (5%) missed patients during the study period. Of the missed patients, 41 (77%) had vital signs that flagged the sepsis alert. Of these 41 patients, 13 (32%) had a documented sepsis huddle where the team determined that the sepsis pathway was not indicated and 28 (68%) had no sepsis alert-related documentation. Missed patients were less likely to receive timely antibiotics (relative risk, 0.4; 95% confidence interval, 0.3-0.7) and more likely to require vasoactive medications (relative risk, 4.3; 95% confidence interval, 2.9-6.5) compared with sepsis patients. In an ED with an electronic sepsis alert, missed patients often had positive sepsis alerts but were not treated for sepsis. Missed patients were more likely than sepsis pathway patients to require escalation of care after admission and less likely to receive timely antibiotics.

Cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome in two French emergency departments: a prospective cohort.

Chronic cannabis use can be associated with uncontrollable vomiting and abdominal pain. Diagnostic criteria for cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome (CHS) were defined in 2012 by Simonetto et al. The objectives of this study were to describe the prevalence of CHS, the patients' epidemiological characteristics, and to show the difficulties encountered in caring for these patients in emergency departments, the extent of health care and an unsuitable follow-up in general practices. A prospective cohort of patients with CHS was recruited among a target population of patients leaving the adult emergency services of the Marseille hospitals Nord and La Timone between October 2017 and July 2018, with abdominal pain syndrome of unidentified etiology. Inclusion criteria for the CHS cohort were chronic cannabis use associated with nausea and vomiting. There were 48 patients included in the CHS cohort who took cannabis daily, in a target population of 2848 patients (i.e. 1.6%). A hot shower was the most effective symptomatic treatment in 54.2% of cases. Patients suffering from CHS spent significantly more hours in emergency departments (11 vs. 6.5), and, on average, visits were more frequent (4.9 vs. 3). 20.3% of them were hospitalized to continue pain medication. Once out of hospital, follow-up was limited, and weaning off cannabis, the only etiological treatment, was difficult to set up. Informing patients about CHS is essential, and a hot shower could be systematically proposed, thus limiting an unnecessary extent of health care. CHS is genuine, medical staff should be made aware of it in occupational training, and it should be seriously considered in health policies.

Time to vasopressor initiation and organ failure progression in early septic shock.

ObjectiveResearch evaluating the relationship between vasopressor initiation timing and clinical outcomes is limited and conflicting. We investigated the association between time to vasopressors, worsening organ failure, and mortality in patients with septic shock.MethodsThis was a retrospective study of patients with septic shock (2013–2016) within 24 hours of emergency department (ED) presentation. The primary outcome was worsening organ failure, defined as an increase in Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score ≥2 at 48 hours compared to baseline, or death within 48 hours. The secondary outcome was 28‐day mortality. Time to vasopressor initiation was categorized into 6, 4‐hour intervals from time of ED triage. Multiple logistic regression was used to identify predictors of worsening organ failure.ResultsWe analyzed data from 428 patients with septic shock. There were 152 patients with the composite primary outcome (SOFA increase ≥2 or death at 48 hours). Of these, 77 patients died in the first 48 hours and 75 patients had a SOFA increase ≥2. Compared to the patients who received vasopressors in the first 4 hours, those with the longest time to vasopressors (20–24 hours) had increased odds of developing worsening organ failure (odds ratios [OR] = 4.34, 95% confidence intervals [CI] = 1.47–12.79, P = 0.008). For all others, the association between vasopressor timing and worsening organ failure was non‐significant. There was no association between time to vasopressor initiation and 28‐day mortality.ConclusionsIncreased time to vasopressor initiation is an independent predictor of worsening organ failure for patients with vasopressor initiation delays >20 hours.

LO89: Describing the evolution of post-concussion symptoms after sports-related mTBI

Introduction: Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) is a serious public health issue and as much as one third of mTBI patients could be affected by persistent post-concussion symptoms (PPCS) three months after their injury. Even though a significant proportion of all mTBIs are sports-related (SR), little is known on the recovery process of SR mTBI patients and the potential differences between SR mTBI and patients who suffered non-sports-related mTBI. The objective of this study was to describe the evolution of PPCS among patients who sustained a SR mTBI compared to those who sustained non sport-related mTBI. Methods: This Canadian multicenter prospective cohort study included patients aged ≥ 14 who had a documented mTBI that occurred within 24 hours of Emergency Department (ED) visit, with a Glasgow Coma Scale score of 13-15. Patients who were hospitalized following their ED visit or unable to consent were excluded. Clinical and sociodemographic information was collected during the initial ED visit. Three follow-up phone interviews were conducted by a research nurse at 7, 30 and 90 days post-injury to assess symptom evolution using the validated Rivermead Post-concussion Symptoms Questionnaire (RPQ). Adjusted risk ratios (RR) were calculated to demonstrate the impact of the mechanism of injury (sports vs non-sports) on the presence and severity of PPCS. Results: A total of 1676 mTBI patients were included, 358 (21.4%) of which sustained a SR mTBI. At 90 days post-injury, patients who suffered a SR mTBI seemed to be significantly less affected by fatigue (RR: 0.70 (95% CI: 0.50-0.97)) and irritability (RR: 0.60 (95% CI: 0.38-0.94)). However, no difference was observed between the two groups regarding each other symptom evaluated in the RPQ. Moreover, the proportion of patients with three symptoms or more, a score ≥21 on the RPQ and those who did return to their normal activities were also comparable. Conclusion: Although persistent post-concussion symptoms are slightly different depending on the mechanism of trauma, our results show that patients who sustained SR-mTBI could be at lower risk of experiencing some types of symptoms 90 days post-injury, in particular, fatigue and irritability.

Thoracic Spine Fracture in the Panscan Era

In the current era of frequent chest computed tomography (CT) for adult blunt trauma evaluation, many minor injuries are diagnosed, potentially rendering traditional teachings obsolete. We seek to update teachings in regard to thoracic spine fracture by determining how often such fractures are observed on CT only (ie, not visualized on preceding trauma chest radiograph), the admission rate, mortality, and hospital length of stay of thoracic spine fracture patients, and how often thoracic spine fractures are clinically significant. This was a preplanned analysis of prospectively collected data from the NEXUS Chest CT study conducted from 2011 to 2014 at 9 Level I trauma centers. The inclusion criteria were older than 14 years, blunt trauma occurring within 6 hours of emergency department (ED) presentation, and chest imaging (radiography, CT, or both) during ED evaluation. Of 11,477 enrolled subjects, 217 (1.9%) had a thoracic spine fracture; 181 of the 198 thoracic spine fracture patients (91.4%) who had both chest radiograph and CT had their thoracic spine fracture observed on CT only. Half of patients (49.8%) had more than 1 level of thoracic spine fracture, with a mean of 2.1 levels (SD 1.6 levels) of thoracic spine involved. Most patients (62%) had associated thoracic injuries. Compared with patients without thoracic spine fracture, those with it had higher admission rates (88.5% versus 47.2%; difference 41.3%; 95% confidence interval 36.3% to 45%), higher mortality (6.3% versus 4.0%; difference 2.3%; 95% confidence interval 0 to 6.7%), and longer length of stay (median 9 versus 6 days; difference 3 days; P<.001). However, thoracic spine fracture patients without other thoracic injury had mortality similar to that of patients without thoracic spine fracture (4.6% versus 4%; difference 0.6%; 95% confidence interval -2.5% to 8.6%). Less than half of thoracic spine fractures (47.4%) were clinically significant: 40.8% of patients received thoracolumbosacral orthosis bracing, 10.9% had surgery, and 3.8% had an associated neurologic deficit. Thoracic spine fracture is uncommon. Most thoracic spine fractures are associated with other thoracic injuries, andmortality is more closely related to these other injuries than to the thoracic spine fracture itself. More than half of thoracic spine fractures are clinically insignificant; surgical intervention is uncommon and neurologic injury is rare.

Ignorance of pre-ED healthcare setting is a factor leading to inappropriate initial antibiotic treatment of sepsis in ED and poor outcomes in ICU.

Appropriate initial antibiotic therapy is critical for successfully treating sepsis. In the emergency department (ED), clinicians often rely on septic symptoms to guide empirical therapy. The aim of this study was to investigate whether history of contacting pre-ED healthcare setting is easy to be neglected and whether the patients received more inappropriate initial antibiotic therapy and developed poorer outcomes. Septic patients (n=453) admitted from ED to the intensive care unit (ICU) between 2014 and 2017 were retrospectively selected. Appropriate antibiotic treatment or not was determined by checking whether the selected antibiotics can effectively eradicate the bacteria identified. Various indexes were compared between patients with appropriate and inappropriate initial antibiotic treatments, including septic symptoms (qSOFA scores) in ED, septic-severity change in ICU (SOFA-score ratios), and septic outcomes (APACHE II scores, stay length, 30-day survival probability). These indexes were also compared between pre-ED healthcare and pre-ED community patients. In comparison with pre-ED community patients, pre-ED healthcare patients received more inappropriate initial antibiotic treatment in ED, showing poorer outcomes in ICU, including septic severity, stay-lengths in ICU and 30-day survival probabilities. Pre-ED settings is more significant than qSOFA scores to predict the inappropriate initial antibiotic treatment. Pre-ED healthcare settings, which are indexes for infection with antibiotic resistant pathogens, are easy to be neglected in the first hour in ED. We suggested that standard operating procedure for getting enough information of pre-ED settings should be incorporated to the 1h bundle of sepsis guideline.

Timing of respiratory virus molecular testing in emergency departments and its association with patient care outcomes: a retrospective observational study across six Australian hospitals

ObjectiveA rapid molecular diagnostic test (RMDT) offers a fast and accurate detection of respiratory viruses, but its impact on the timeliness of care in the emergency department (ED) may depend...