Rapid Admission Research Articles

Abstract 217: Are Discharge Rate Control Medications Adequate for Future Atrial Fibrillation Needs?

Background: Rate control medications (RCM) for atrial fibrillation (AF) usually prescribed are diltiazem (DTZ) and beta blockers. Patients entering the Emergency Department (ED) with AF often convert to a normal sinus rhythm (NSR) by means of spontaneous conversion to normal sinus rhythm (SCNSR), electrical cardioversion, or medications. However, recurrent AF often leads to repeat ED visits and frequent hospitalizations within one year. Goals: To evaluate admission and discharge metoprolol (MTP) and DTZ doses for patients presenting to the ED with rapid AF. Methods: Retrospective, single center chart review of MTP and DTZ doses on admission and discharge for patients admitted with a primary diagnosis of AF. Patients who received new or an increase of other RCMs, or antiarrhythmic medications with RCM properties were excluded. Results: Of 402 patients, 310 (77%) had a heart rate ≥110 bpm on admission. Of those with a rapid rate, 235 (76%) converted to NSR after admission predominantly due to SCNSR. The mean daily dose of MTP was 61mg on admission and 65mg at discharge. The mean DTZ dose on admission was 188mg and 157mg at discharge. Discussion: The discharge doses of 65mg of MTP and 157mg of DTZ were well below the recommended doses of RCMs for AF. The RATAF trial demonstrated adequate rate and symptom control with MTP 100mg/day and DTZ up to 360mg/day. The current study demonstrated significant under dosing of RCMs to manage future rapid ventricular rate. It is possible patients with rapid ventricular rates who convert to NSR, which by itself, results in rate control, would not have attention by the provider focused on the rapid admission rate. Most patients who convert to NSR do not have the substrate leading to AF corrected. Thus, it is not surprising recurrence of AF, regardless of the method of cardioversion, occurs in approximately 70% of patients within one year. It is likely when AF recurs it will have the same rapid rate unless RCMs are increased before discharge from the first initial admission dose. It is possible at discharge an order set may lead to a more logical assessment of targeted RCMs. Lack of long term follow-up to address outcome of apparent under dosing of RCM is a limitation. Conclusion: This single center study found no significant increases in MTP and DTZ dosing at the time of discharge for patients with rapid AF who reverted to NSR after admission. It is possible that modification of RCMs before hospital discharge may decrease future ED admission for symptomatic AF.

Combined lumbar plexus-sciatic nerve block in the emergency surgery for pertrochanteric fracture: an alternative technique in patients at high risk of anaesthetic complications

Introductionl’anesthésie pour la chirurgie urgente de la fracture pertrochantérienne (FPT) chez les patients à haut risque anesthésique représente souvent un véritable challenge pour les praticiens en vue du risque periopératoire majeur. Nous rapportons notre expérience avec le bibloc ou bloc combiné lombaire et sciatique plexique (BCLS) comme technique anesthésique alternative face à ce type de situation.Méthodesune étude transversale, descriptive, monocentrique, a été menée sur une période de 3 ans, incluant les patients à haut risque anesthésique présentant une FPT récente. Les deux blocs nerveux étaient réalisés au niveau plexique selon la technique classique de neurostimulation. Un mélange de 20ml de lidocaine 2% et de bupivacaine 0,5% (50/50) a été injecté au niveau de chaque bloc. Le critère d’évaluation principal était l’efficacité du BCLS apprécié par l’incidence d’échecs de la technique anesthésique, définie par la nécessité de convertir en anesthésie générale (AG). Les critères d’évaluation secondaires étaient: 1) les données techniques de la procédure anesthésique, 2) les retentissements hémodynamiques, respiratoires et neurologiques periopératoires, et 3) les résultats et les complications éventuelles en postopératoire.Résultatstrente patients ont été colligés. L’âge moyen était de 74 ± 10 ans. Le délai moyen d’admission aux urgences-intervention était de 12(5-36) heures. La durée moyenne pour la réalisation de la procédure était de 15,20 ± 3,45 minutes. Aucune conversion en AG n’a été nécessaire. Il n’y avait pas de différences statistiquement significatives entre les différentes valeurs enregistrées des paramètres hémodynamiques et respiratoires periopératoires (PAM, FC, SpO2) (p > 0,05). La durée de l’intervention était de 46 ± 5 minutes. La satisfaction des chirurgiens était de 9,7 ± 0,1. La première demande en antalgiques postopératoires était après 8(1-24) heures. Tous les patients avaient une récupération sensitivomotrice complète.Conclusionle BCLS est une alternative anesthésique pour les interventions urgentes de FPT chez les patients à haut risque anesthésique: délais opératoires réduits, efficacité anesthésique, stabilité hémodynamique et respiratoire periopératoire, absence de complications inhérentes aux autres techniques anesthésiques, passage rapide en salle de surveillance post-interventionnelle (SSPI), et analgésie postopératoire de qualité.

Emergency Department to ICU Time Is Associated With Hospital Mortality: A Registry Analysis of 14,788 Patients From Six University Hospitals in The Netherlands.

Prolonged emergency department to ICU waiting time may delay intensive care treatment, which could negatively affect patient outcomes. The aim of this study was to investigate whether emergency department to ICU time is associated with hospital mortality. We conducted a retrospective observational cohort study using data from the Dutch quality registry National Intensive Care Evaluation. Adult patients admitted to the ICU directly from the emergency department in six university hospitals, between 2009 and 2016, were included. Using a logistic regression model, we investigated the crude and adjusted (for disease severity; Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation IV probability) odds ratios of emergency department to ICU time on mortality. In addition, we assessed whether the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation IV probability modified the effect of emergency department to ICU time on mortality. Secondary outcomes were ICU, 30-day, and 90-day mortality. None. A total of 14,788 patients were included. The median emergency department to ICU time was 2.0 hours (interquartile range, 1.3-3.3 hr). Emergency department to ICU time was correlated to adjusted hospital mortality (p < 0.002), in particular in patients with the highest Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation IV probability and long emergency department to ICU time quintiles: odds ratio, 1.29; 95% CI, 1.02-1.64 (2.4-3.7 hr) and odds ratio, 1.54; 95% CI, 1.11-2.14 (> 3.7 hr), both compared with the reference category (< 1.2 hr). For 30-day and 90-day mortality, we found similar results. However, emergency department to ICU time was not correlated to adjusted ICU mortality (p = 0.20). Prolonged emergency department to ICU time (> 2.4 hr) is associated with increased hospital mortality after ICU admission, mainly driven by patients who had a higher Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation IV probability. We hereby provide evidence that rapid admission of the most critically ill patients to the ICU might reduce hospital mortality.

Triage to Observation: A Quality Improvement Initiative for Chest Pain Patients Presenting to the Emergency Department.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of a rapid admission protocol for chest pain patients presenting to the emergency department (ED) on ED length-of-stay (LOS). In this study, ED LOS was defined as the time from triage check-in until the time the patient physically leaves the ED. The purpose of this quality improvement study was to decrease ED crowding. This is a single-center prospective cohort study performed as a quality improvement initiative. This study implemented a rapid admission protocol for patients who were at moderate risk for a major adverse cardiac event based on the HEART score. When a patient presented to the ED through triage with a chief complaint of chest pain, this protocol allowed the provider-in-triage (PIT) to identify eligible patients for potential rapid admission to the hospital's clinical decision unit (CDU). The PIT would complete a rapid medical screening examination, initiate the patient's workup, and call the CDU providers to further evaluate the patient. By identifying these patients early, the lengthy ED chest pain workup contributing to longer ED LOS could then be completed in the CDU. The total number of patients seen in the ED over the study period was 34,251. The total number of patients admitted to the CDU during the study period was 1,442. The PIT identified 13 patients for rapid admission to the CDU during the study period. These patients had a statistically significant reduction in ED LOS (P < 0.001). ED LOS was also adjusted to identify delays in patient movement resulting in a statistically significant difference (P < 0.001). Implementation of a rapid admission protocol for chest pain patients at moderate risk for a major adverse cardiac event resulted in a reduction in ED LOS. Adjusted ED LOS was also significant, highlighting a delay in patient movement from the ED to the CDU indicating continued barriers affecting ED holding times.

Trauma systems in North America.

North American trauma systems are well developed yet vary widely in form across the continent. Comparatively, the Canadian trauma system is more unified, and approximately 80% of Canadians live within 1 hour of a level I or II center. In the United States, trauma centers are specifically verified by the individual states and thus there tends to be more variability across the country. Although many states use the criteria developed by the American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma, the individual agencies are free to utilize their own verification standards. Both Canada and the United States utilize efficient prehospital care, and both countries recognize that postdischarge care is a financial challenge to the system. Population dense areas offer rapid admission to well-developed trauma centers, but injured patients in remote areas may have challenges regarding access. Trauma centers are classified according to their capabilities from level I (highest ability) to level IV. Although each trauma system has opportunities for improvement, they both provide effective access and quality care to the vast majority of injured patients.

Rapid Admission/Discharge Process for Febrile Neutropenia

The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) considers blood and marrow transplant (BMT) patients intermediate to high risk when treating febrile neutropenia. NCCN and the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) guidelines recommend that high risk patients should be admitted for inpatient intravenous antibiotics and monitoring. At our institution, we currently follow the standard of care recommended in the guidelines and admit hematological malignancy patients for the treatment of febrile neutropenia which has resulted in high admission rates. The primary objective is to reduce readmission rates by a rapid admission for observation and discharge process. Patients will be discharged on oral antibiotics or home infusion within 48 hours. Upon discharge patients will follow up in clinic with their healthcare provider. The secondary objective of the study is to assess physician compliance to the newly implemented checklist. This is a quality improvement project to help decrease the admission rate for febrile neutropenia in the hematological malignancy population. The focus will be on utilizing a checklist to help facilitate a rapid admission/discharge process. The checklist is comprised of high risk features that providers should assess all patients for. If patients have 2 or more of the risk factors they should remain inpatient per current standard of care otherwise patients should be discharged within 48 hours. Hematological malignancy patients admitted from October 2017- January 31st 2019 will be reviewed and compared to historical data on readmission rates at our institution. Preliminary data has shown a decrease in the length of admission (3 vs. 5 days) between patients where the protocol was utilized versus historical data. Reasons patients have not discharged within 48 hours has included clinician judgment, positive cultures and severe neutropenia. Data collection is ongoing and updated results will be presented at the meeting in February 2019.

Therapeutic Approach to Hypertension Urgencies and Emergencies During Acute Coronary Syndrome.

Uncontrolled hypertension is one of the most common determinant for the persistently high burden of cardiovascular (CV) disease, mostly including coronary artery disease (CAD) and hospital admissions due to acute coronary events. Markedly high blood pressure (BP) levels are also frequently observed during the acute phase of coronary syndromes (both ST-segment and non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction and unstable angina). In particular, a sustained raise of BP levels above 180/110mmHg associated with acute cardiac organ damage, i.e. myocardial ischemia, represents a condition of hypertension emergency and requires rapid hospital admission, prompt pharmacological therapies and non-pharmacological interventions, aimed at restoring coronary flow and preserve vital myocardium. Diagnosis of CAD in hypertensive patients may often be complicated by the concomitant presence of electrocardiographic abnormalities, such as ST-segment depression (at rest or during exercise), which may occur even in the absence of coronary atherosclerosis. Thus, proper identification of CADmay result difficult to perform in the setting of clinical practice, mostly in the presence of left ventricular hypertrophy. In this review, we will briefly discuss diagnostic protocols and pharmacological strategies that can be applied in a setting of hypertension emergency with acute cardiac organ damage in the light of the currently available evidence and recommendations from recent guidelines on hypertension management and control.

Clinical translation of myocardial conditioning.

Rapid admission and acute interventional treatment combined with modern antithrombotic pharmacologic therapy have improved outcomes in patients with ST elevation myocardial infarction. The next major target to further advance outcomes needs to address ischemia-reperfusion injury, which may contribute significantly to the final infarct size and hence mortality and postinfarction heart failure. Mechanical conditioning strategies including local and remote ischemic pre-, per-, and postconditioning have demonstrated consistent cardioprotective capacities in experimental models of acute ischemia-reperfusion injury. Their translation to the clinical scenario has been challenging. At present, the most promising mechanical protection strategy of the heart seems to be remote ischemic conditioning, which increases myocardial salvage beyond acute reperfusion therapy. An additional aspect that has gained recent focus is the potential of extended conditioning strategies to improve physical rehabilitation not only after an acute ischemia-reperfusion event such as acute myocardial infarction and cardiac surgery but also in patients with heart failure. Experimental and preliminary clinical evidence suggests that remote ischemic conditioning may modify cardiac remodeling and additionally enhance skeletal muscle strength therapy to prevent muscle waste, known as an inherent component of a postoperative period and in heart failure. Blood flow restriction exercise and enhanced external counterpulsation may represent cardioprotective corollaries. Combined with exercise, remote ischemic conditioning or, alternatively, blood flow restriction exercise may be of aid in optimizing physical rehabilitation in populations that are not able to perform exercise practice at intensity levels required to promote optimal outcomes.

The impact of prehospital assessment and EMS transport of acute aortic syndrome patients

BackgroundThe quality of acute aortic syndrome (AAS) assessment by emergency medical service (EMS) and the incidence and prehospital factors associated with 1-month survival remain unclear. MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed the data collected for 94,468 patients with non-traumatic medical emergency excluding out-of-hospital cardiac arrest during the period of 2011–2014. ResultsOf these transported by EMS, 22,075 had any of the AAS-related symptoms, and 330 had an EMS-assessed risk for AAS; of these, 195 received an in-hospital AAS diagnosis. Of the remaining 21,745 patients without EMS-assessed risk, 166 were diagnosed with AAS. Therefore, the sensitivity and specificity of our EMS-risk assessment for AAS was 54.0% (195/361) and 99.4% (21,579/21,714), respectively. EMS assessed the risk less frequently when patients were elderly and presented with dyspnea and syncope/faintness. Sign of upper extremity ischemia was rarely detected (6.9%) and absence of this sign was associated with lack of EMS-assessed risk. The calculation of modified aortic dissection detection risk score revealed that rigorous assessment based on this score may increase the EMS sensitivity for AAS. The 1-month survival rate was significantly higher in patients admitted to core hospitals with surgical teams for AAS than in those admitted to all other hospitals [87.5% (210/240) vs 69.4% (84/121); P<0.01]. Multiple logistic regression analysis demonstrated that Stanford type A, Glasgow coma scale ≤14, and admission to core hospitals providing emergency cardiovascular surgery were associated with 1-month survival. ConclusionsImprovement of AAS survival is likely to be affected by rapid admission to appropriate hospitals providing cardiovascular surgery.

Health and Social Care Professions Rise to the Challenge Admission Avoidance in Emergency Departments

Patients with mobility issues with potential for same day discharge in EDs This paper describes how Emergency Department (ED) based initiatives, developed by Health and Social Care Professionals (HSCP’s) enhance cost effective access to timely high quality patient care in the ED Initiatives have been introduced in response to Increasing demands on healthcare services, including patient flow Escalating health costs and the need to direct funding where it is most effective “best person – best place –best time “ Continuous developments in knowledge and skills and advanced roles of HSCP’s Nationally, HSCP’s have developed various practice initiatives in ED. However the largest growth in HSCP activity nationally is one that addresses the increased number of patients with mobility issues who have the potential for same day discharge. These initiatives support interdisciplinary and cross programme partnerships (e.g. with the National Clinical Programmes for Older Persons and the Acute Medicine Programme) as well as bridging hospital and community practice. Examples of these initiatives include Mobility Assessment and Discharge Rapid Admission Prevention Interdisciplinary Frail Intervention Therapy Team SWOT Social Work and Occupational Therapy PhAst Physiotherapy Assessment and Treatment HSCP Rapid Access and Treatment Benefits demonstrated include admission avoidance, reduced length of stay in ED, increased discharge rates, reduction in re-attendance and improved patient and staff satisfaction. The presentation will detail these initiatives and their benefits Rosie Quinn rosie.quinn@hse.ie Clinical Specialist Physiotherapist (Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital Drogheda) and Therapy Lead Emergency Medicine Programme (all HSCP leads on these initiatives have been contacted and have agreed to share their data – they will be acknowledged individually in any presentation given)

Remote Ischemic Conditioning for Patients With STEMI.

ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) remains a leading cause of death and morbidity, despite declining incidence and improved short-term outcome in many countries. Although mortality declines in developed countries with easy and fast access to optimized treatment, development of heart failure often remains a challenge in survivors and still approaches 10% at 1 year. Rapid admission and acute interventional treatment combined with modern antithrombotic pharmacologic therapy frequently establish complete reperfusion and acutely stabilize the patient, but the reperfusion itself adds further to the damage in the myocardium compromising the long-term outcome. Reperfusion injury is believed to be a significant-if not the dominant-contributor to the net injury resulting from STEMI and has become a major focus of research in recent years. Despite a plethora of pharmacological and mechanical interventions showing consistent reduction of reperfusion injury in experimental models, translation into a clinical setting has been challenging. In patients, attempts to modify reperfusion injury by pharmacological strategies have largely been unsuccessful, and focus is increasingly directed toward mechanical modalities. Remote ischemic conditioning of the heart is achieved by repeated brief interruption of the blood supply to a distant part of the body, most frequently the arm. At present, remote ischemic conditioning is the most promising adjuvant therapy to reduce reperfusion injury in patients with STEMI. In this review, we discuss the results of clinical trials investigating the effect of remote ischemic conditioning in patients admitted with STEMI and potential reasons for its apparent superiority to current pharmacologic adjuvant therapies.

Bacteremia and Deep Vein Thrombosis in an Infant

BackgroundDeep vein thrombosis (DVT) is rare in infancy. In pediatric populations, thrombosis occurs most frequently in hospitalized children and those with central venous catheters. The presence of a DVT in the general pediatric population indicates a hypercoagulable state and requires rapid diagnosis and treatment of both the thrombosis and the underlying process. Case ReportA previously healthy 6-month-old male was brought to the emergency department by his family with a chief complaint of left leg swelling. Duplex ultrasonography in the emergency department revealed multiple DVTs in the leg vasculature. The patient was treated with anticoagulation and antibiotic therapy in the emergency department and admitted. Blood cultures revealed the subsequent growth of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Why Should an Emergency Physician Be Aware of This?While rare in infants, new-onset swelling in an extremity may be caused by thrombosis and be the initial symptom of an underlying hypercoagulable state. Duplex ultrasonography is a relatively benign test that can be readily performed in most emergency departments, and it allows physicians to rule out thrombosis. When present, DVT in the general pediatric population can indicate a critical illness, such as malignancy or infection, and requires rapid treatment and admission to a pediatric service for management.

Maintaining an open trauma intensive care unit bed for rapid admission can be cost-effective.

In 2012, we implemented a ready open trauma intensive care unit (TICU) bed process. Our hypothesis was that this process would decrease emergency department (ED) length of stay (LOS) in a cost-effective manner without worsening clinical outcomes. We developed a charge nurse without a patient assignment to facilitate this open bed. We also provided team training for early ICU resuscitation. All Level 1 activations admitted directly to the TICU before and after the implementation were examined. Patients taken directly to the operating room from the ED, deaths within 24 hours of admission, and patients with nonsurvivable head injuries were excluded. Cost-effectiveness of the position was examined. Age (mean [SD], 45.78 [18.71] years), sex (74.7% male), and Injury Severity Score (ISS) (mean [SD], 17.27 [9.26]) were not significantly different. Median ED LOS for the postimplementation group decreased from 230 minutes to 66 minutes (p < 0.001). Median ICU LOS (from 3.29 to 2.98 days, p = 0.13) and total median hospital LOS (from 10.71 to 7.98 days, p = 0.06) decreased but were not statistically significant. Controlling for age, ISS, sex, and mechanism of injury the postimplementation group had a 29% reduction in ICU LOS (2.12 days), a 28% reduction in hospital LOS (4.34), and a 54% reduction in ED LOS (154 minutes). The LOS decreased despite a small increase in ISS (from 15.89 to 18.37). Observed/expected mortality did not differ between the groups, preimplementation/postimplementation of 0.87 and 0.92. Nursing productivity increased one nurse after implementation at a cost of $624 per day. The ICU LOS decrease of 1.6 days at a rate of $1,144 average ICU daily cost of room and board totaled $1,830 per patient. The decreased ICU LOS dollars minus the increase nurse pay resulted in an overall savings of $1,206 per patient. Rapid access to the TICU made possible by the charge nurse without a direct assignment and team training has a potential cost savings without adversely affecting patient outcomes. Cost analysis, level III.

More Rapid Delivery of Parenteral Analgesia By Adding Intranasal Fentanyl to the Management of Sickle Cell Disease Vaso-Occlusive Pain Episodes at a Pediatric Emergency Department

▪Background: Vaso-occlusive episodes (VOE) are the leading cause of hospitalizations & emergency department (ED) visits in sickle cell disease (SCD), & are associated with increased mortality. Intranasal fentanyl (INF) provides rapid & powerful parenteral analgesia, with an onset of action of 5-10 minutes, & peak effect in 30 minutes. INF is a safe & effective method of pain management for children in the ED & other settings, yet it is underutilized in SCD.Objective: To study the impact of the addition of INF to standard ED management for SCD VOE on time to parenteral opioid, pain scores, ED length of stay (LOS) & admission rate.Methods: This quality improvement initiative was conducted at a tertiary pediatric ED at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta from November 2013-May 2014. Patients with all genotypes of SCD ages ≥2 years old who presented with VOE & pain score >6/10 were offered INF within 15 minutes of triage. 2 INF doses (1.5mcg/kg/dose; max 100mcg/dose) were given 5 minutes apart. Patients then continued on institutional standard protocol treatment for VOE (±PO hydrocodone, ±IV ketorolac, & ± IV morphine or IV hydromorphone). Pain scores were documented at frequent intervals by nursing staff. Patient/parent satisfaction data were obtained using a satisfaction questionnaire. Outcomes included: Time from arrival to 1st parenteral opioid, pain scores, ED LOS (time from arrival to disposition), admission rates & patient/parent satisfaction. We compared patients in this study to those who did not receive INF during the study period (n=48) & historical controls from Jan-Dec 2012 (n=231) for the 1st three outcomes.Results: 248 visits for VOE met inclusion criteria, of whom 228 received parenteral opioids (92%) & 180/228 (79 %) received INF. Mean age was 11.7±4.5 years. The majority were female (56%), 65% HbSS, 14% HbSC & 21% had other genotype. 48 patients did not receive INF; 36 were not offered INF without explanation for protocol deviation &12 patients refused. They had similar gender & Hb genotype, but were older than INF+ patients (13.5±4.0 years, p=0.01). The mean time from arrival to 1st parenteral opioid decreased significantly in the INF+ group compared to historical controls, and was remarkably shorter than those not treated with INF. There was minimal difference in LOS between INF+ group & historical controls, but LOS was shorter in the group that did not receive INF. Admission rates were significantly higher in those who did not receive INF when compared to those treated with INF & historical controls.(See Table 1)Table 1INF+(n =180)INF-(n =48)Historical Data (n=231)P-valueTime to 1st Parenteral Opioid (minutes)29 ±1577 ±4435±18p < 0.0001LOS (minutes)215± 86197± 67231±95p = 0.028Admission Rate (%)48%71%45%p = 0.004Mean baseline pain score was 8.5±1.5, 1st reassessment pain score after INF was 7.8±2.4 & last ED pain score prior to disposition was 5.5±3.4. Pain scores were similar in all groups. 98 families completed the patient satisfaction questionnaire, 79 (81%) of whom received INF. 65% of patients who received INF were satisfied & would like to receive the treatment again in the ED.Conclusions: The addition of INF to the management of SCD VOE significantly improved time to receipt of 1st parenteral analgesia & was well tolerated. Admission rates were significantly higher in patients who did not receive INF during our study period. The associated delay in time to receipt of 1st parenteral analgesia may have contributed to the increased admission rate. However, causality of INF on admission rates cannot be determined without further study. INF did not impact ED LOS compared to historical controls, however rapid admission turn-around time likely decreased LOS in the INF- group. INF is a safe & effective strategy to provide rapid pain relief in children with SCD & VOE. DisclosuresOff Label Use: Intranasal Fentanyl (INF). Widely accepted as off label use in pediatric ED’s and a variety of other clinical settings for the management of pain. It is a synthetic narcotic analgesic with a rapid onset and short duration of action. Current evidence suggests that INF is a safe and effective method of pain management for children in a variety of clinical settings..

A pathway care model allowing low-risk patients to gain direct admission to a hospital medical ward--a pilot study on ambulance nurses and Emergency Department physicians.

A pathway care model allowing low-risk patients to gain rapid admission to a hospital medical ward − a pilot study on ambulance nurses and Emergency Department physicians.BackgroundPatients with non-urgent medical symptoms who nonetheless require inpatient hospital treatment often have to wait for an unacceptably long time at the Emergency Department (ED). The purpose of this study is to evaluate the feasibility and effect on length of delay of a pathway care model for low-risk patients who have undergone prehospital assessment by an ambulance nurse and ED assessment by a physician within 10 minutes of arrival at the ED.MethodsThe pilot study comparing two low-risk groups took place in western Sweden from October 2011 until January 2012. The pathway model for low-risk patients was used prospectively in the rapid admission group (N = 51), who were admitted rapidly after being assessed by the nurse on scene and then assessed by the ED physician on ED admission. A retrospectively assembled control group (N = 51) received traditional care at the ED. All p-values are age-adjusted.ResultsPatients in the rapid admission group were older (mean age 80 years old) than patients in the control group (mean age 73 years old) (p = 0.02). The median delay from arrival at the patient’s side until arrival in a hospital medical ward was 57 minutes for the rapid admission group versus 4 hours 13 minutes for the control group (p < 0.0001). However, the median delay time from the ambulance’s arrival at the patient’s side until the nurse was free for a new assignment was 77 minutes for the rapid admission group versus 49 minutes for the control group (p < 0.0001). The 30-day mortality rate was 20% for the rapid admission group and only 4% for the control group (p = 0.16).ConclusionThe pathway care model for low-risk patients gaining rapid admission to a hospital medical ward shortened length of delay from the first assessment until arrival at the ward. However, the result was achieved at the cost of an increased workload for the ambulance nurse. Furthermore patients who were rapidly admitted to a hospital ward had a high age level and a high early mortality rate. Patient safety in this new model of fast-track assessment needs to be further evaluated.

Is National Emergency Access Target dumbing down emergency physicians?

Is National Emergency Access Target dumbing down emergency physicians?

Wernicke's Encephalopathy Mimicking Acute Onset Stroke Diagnosed by CT Perfusion

Background. Metabolic syndromes such as Wernicke's encephalopathy may present with a sudden neurological deficit, thus mimicking acute onset stroke. Due to current emphasis on rapid admission and treatment of acute stroke patients, there is a significant risk that these stroke mimics may end up being treated with thrombolysis. Rigorous clinical and radiological skills are necessary to correctly identify such metabolic stroke mimics, in order to avoid doing any harm to these patients due to the unnecessary use of thrombolysis. Patient. A 51-year-old Caucasian male was admitted to our hospital with suspicion of an acute stroke due to sudden onset dysarthria and unilateral facial nerve paresis. Clinical examination revealed confusion and dysconjugate gaze. Computed tomography (CT) including a CT perfusion (CTP) scan revealed bilateral thalamic hyperperfusion. The use of both clinical and radiological findings led to correctly diagnosing Wernicke's encephalopathy. Conclusion. The application of CTP as a standard diagnostic tool in acute stroke patients can improve the detection of stroke mimics caused by metabolic syndromes as shown in our case report.

Stroke awareness in luxemburg: deficit concerning symptoms and risk factors.

BACKGROUNDAwareness of stroke risk factors is important for stroke prevention. Knowledge of stroke symptoms and awareness regarding the necessity of seeking urgent stroke treatment are vital to provide rapid admission to a stroke unit. Data on this specific knowledge in Luxemburg are lacking.METHODSWe investigated 420 patients from the Department of Neurology and their relatives using a questionnaire. There were 44% men and 56% women; 25% were immigrants and 75% Luxemburgish nationals; 13% already had had a stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA); and the mean age was 55 years ranging from 18 to 87 years.RESULTSA total of 88% of participants knew that a stroke occurs in the head/brain. In all, 10% of participants did not know any symptom of a stroke. The most frequently quoted symptoms (>15%) were paralysis/weakness (36%), speech disorders (32%), cranial nerve deficit (16%), vertigo (15%), and visual disorders (15%). Sensory deficits were mentioned by only 4% of patients. Known risk factors (>15%) were smoking (40%), hypertension (32%), alcohol (32%), poor nutrition (28%), high cholesterol (26%), stress (23%), and lack of exercise (19%). Age (4%), diabetes (6%), carotid stenosis (2%), and heart disease (1%) were less frequently known. In all, 11% of participants did not know any risk factor of a stroke. A total of 89% of participants would correctly call the 112 (emergency phone number). The following groups were better informed: Luxemburgish nationals, younger people, and participants with higher education level. Stroke/TIA patients were better informed concerning stroke symptoms, but unfortunately not concerning how to react in the case of a stroke. There was no relevant gender difference.DISCUSSIONAlthough most of the participants knew what to do in the case of a stroke, they did not know the relevant stroke symptoms and risk factors. Future campaigns should therefore focus on risk factors and symptoms, and should address immigrants, elderly persons, less-educated persons, and patients who had already suffered a stroke/TIA.

The impact of implementing a 24/7 open trauma bed protocol in the surgical intensive care unit on throughput and outcomes

Increased emergency department (ED) length of stay (LOS) has been associated with increased mortality in trauma patients. In 2010, we implemented a 24/7 open trauma bed protocol in our designated trauma intensive care units (TICUs) to facilitate rapid admission from the ED. This required maintenance of a daily bump list and timely transferring of patients out of the TICU. We hypothesized that ED LOS and mortality would decrease after implementation. The following data from patients admitted directly from the ED to any ICU were retrospectively compared before (2009) and after (2011) the implementation of a trauma bed protocol at a Level I trauma center: age, sex, Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score, shock on admission (systolic blood pressure < 90 mm Hg), mechanism, injury severity scores (Injury Severity Score [ISS] and Abbreviated Injury Scale [AIS] score), ED LOS, ICU readmission rates, and mortality. Of the patients, 267 (17%) of 1,611 before and 262 (21%) of 1,266 (p < 0.01) after the protocol were admitted directly to the ICU, despite similar characteristics. ED LOS decreased from 4.2 ± 4.0 hours to 3.1 ± 2.1 hours (p < 0.01) in all patients as well as patients with an ISS of greater than 24 (3.1 ± 2.5 vs. 2.2 ± 1.6, p < 0.05) and a head AIS score of greater than 2 (4.2 ± 4.9 vs. 3.1 ± 2.0, p = 0.01). Mortality was unchanged for all patients (9% vs. 8%, p = 0.58) but trends toward improved mortality were found after protocol implementation inpatients with an ISS of greater than 24 (30% vs. 13%, p = 0.07) and in patients with a head AIS score of greater than 2 (12% vs. 6%, p = 0.08). A greater proportion of total patients were admitted to a designated TICU after implementation (83% vs. 93%, p < 0.01). ICU readmissions were unchanged (0.3% vs. 1.5%, p = 0.21). The implementation of a 24/7 open trauma bed protocol in the surgery ICU was associated with a decreased ED LOS and increased admissions to designated TICUs in all patients. Improved throughput was achieved without increases in ICU readmissions. Therapeutic study, level IV.

Patients with severe traumatic brain injury transferred to a Level I or II trauma center

Patients with severe traumatic brain injury (TBI), head Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS) score of 3 or greater, who are indirectly transported from the scene of injury to a nontrauma center can experience delays to definitive neurosurgical management. Transport to a hospital with appropriate initial emergency department treatment and rapid admission has been shown to reduce mortality in a state's trauma system. This study was conducted to see if the same finding holds with a nationally representative sample of patients with severe TBI seen at Level I and II trauma centers. This study is based on adult (≥18 years), severe TBI patients treated in a nationally representative sample of Level I and II trauma centers, submitting data to the National Trauma Databank National Sample Program from 2007 to 2009. We analyzed independent variables including age, sex, primary payer, race, ethnicity, mode of transport, injury type (blunt vs. penetrating), mechanism of injury, trauma center level, head AIS, initial Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), Injury Severity Score (ISS), and systolic blood pressure by transfer status. The primary outcome variable was inpatient death, with discharge disposition, neurosurgical procedures, and mean hospital, intensive care unit, and ventilator days serving as secondary outcomes. After exclusion criteria were applied (ISS < 16; age < 18 years; GCS motor score = 6; non-head AIS score ≥ 3; head AIS < 3; patients with missing transfer status, and death on arrival), a weighted sample of 51,300 (16%) patients was eligible for analysis. In bivariate analyses, transferred patients were older (≥60 years), white, insured, less severely injured (head AIS score ≤ 4, ISS ≤ 25), and less likely to have sustained penetrating trauma (p < 0.001). After controlling for all variables, direct transport, 1 or more comorbidities, advanced age, head AIS score, intracranial hemorrhage, and firearm injury remained significant predictors of death. Being transferred (adjusted odds ratio, 0.79; 95% confidence interval, 0.64-0.96) lowered the risk of death. Patients with severe TBI who were transferred to a Level I or II trauma center had lower injury severity, including less penetrating trauma, and, as a result, were less likely to die compared with patients who were directly admitted to a Level I or II trauma center. The results may demonstrate adherence with the current Guidelines for Prehospital Management of Traumatic Brain Injury and Guidelines for Field Triage of Injured Patients, which recommend the direct transport of patients with severe TBI to the highest level trauma center. Patients with severe TBI who cannot be taken to a trauma center should be stabilized at a nontrauma center and then transferred to a Level I or II trauma center. Regional and national trauma databases should consider collecting information on patient outcomes at referral facilities and total transport time after injury, to better address the outcomes of patient triage decisions. Prognostic study, level III; therapeutic study, level IV.