Sample Of Emergency Department Patients Research Articles

Empirical antimicrobial prescribing for pyelonephritis in patients discharged from 15 US Emergency Departments: an opportunity for improvement.

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are commonly treated in the emergency department (ED), and unfortunately, resistance to first-line agents is increasing. To characterize treatment of pyelonephritis in a nationally representative sample of ED patients and to identify patient- and treatment-specific factors associated with receiving initial inactive antibiotics. We conducted a multicentre, observational cohort study utilizing the Emergency Medicine PHARMacotherapy Research NETwork (EMPHARM-NET), comprising 15 geographically diverse US EDs. All patients ≥18 years of age with a diagnosis of pyelonephritis between 2018 and 2020 were included. The primary endpoint was the proportion of patients who received initial inactive empirical antibiotic therapy and to identify predictive factors of inactive antibiotic therapy. Of the 3714 patients evaluated, 223 had culture-positive pyelonephritis. Median patient age was 50.1 years and patients were mostly female (78.3%). Overall, 40.4% of patients received an IV antibiotic, most commonly ceftriaxone (86.7%). The most frequently prescribed antibiotics were cefalexin (31.8%), ciprofloxacin (14.3%), cefdinir (13.5%) and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (12.6%). Overall, 10.3% of patients received initial inactive therapy. After adjustment in a multivariable analysis, long-acting IV antibiotic was predictive of inactive therapy (OR 0.23, 95% CI 0.07-0.83). In our prospective, multicentre observational study, we found that only 40.4% of patients with pyelonephritis received empirical IV antibiotics in the ED, contributing to inactive therapy. Receipt of long-acting IV antibiotics was independently associated with a decreased rate of initial inactive therapy. This reinforces guideline recommendations to administer long-acting IV antibiotics empirically in the ED upon suspicion of pyelonephritis.

Utilization of the Fordham Risk Screening Tool (FRST) for Violence Risk Assessment in an Emergency Department.

Violence is a critical problem in the emergency department (ED) and patients experiencing mental health crises are at greater violence risk; however, tools appropriate for assessing violence risk in the ED are limited. Our goal was to evaluate the utility of the Fordham Risk Screening Tool (FRST) in reliability assessing violence risk in adult ED patients with acute mental health crises through evaluation of test characteristics as compared to a reference standard. We evaluated performance of the FRST when used with a convenience sample of ED patients undergoing acute psychiatric evaluation. Participants underwent assessment with the FRST and an established reference standard, the Historical Clinical Risk Management-20, version 3 (HCR-20, v3). Diagnostic performance was assessed through evaluation of test characteristics and area under the receiver operating characteristic (AUROC) curve. Psychometric assessments examined the measurement properties of the FRST. 105 participants were enrolled. In comparison to the reference standard, the AUROC for the predictive ability of the FRST was 0.88 (SE 0.39), 95% CI: 0.81-0.96. Sensitivity was 84% (95% CI: 69-94%) while specificity was 93% (95% CI: 83-98%). The positive predictive value was 87% (95% CI: 73-94%) and negative predictive value was 91% (95% CI: 83-86%). Psychometric analyses provided reliability and validity evidence for the FRST when used in the ED setting. Findings support the potential utility of the FRST when used to assess violence risk in adult ED patients experiencing a mental health crisis. Future research with more diverse populations and ED settings is warranted.

Diagnostic Accuracy of Unenhanced Computed Tomography for Evaluation of Acute Abdominal Pain in the Emergency Department

Intravenous (IV) contrast medium is sometimes withheld due to risk of complication or lack of availability in patients undergoing computed tomography (CT) for abdominal pain. The risk from withholding contrast medium is understudied. To determine the diagnostic accuracy of unenhanced abdominopelvic CT using contemporaneous contrast-enhanced CT as the reference standard in emergency department (ED) patients with acute abdominal pain. This was an institutional review board-approved, multicenter retrospective diagnostic accuracy study of 201 consecutive adult ED patients who underwent dual-energy contrast-enhanced CT for the evaluation of acute abdominal pain from April 1, 2017, through April 22, 2017. Three blinded radiologists interpreted these scans to establish the reference standard by majority rule. IV and oral contrast media were then digitally subtracted using dual-energy techniques. Six different blinded radiologists from 3 institutions (3 specialist faculty and 3 residents) interpreted the resulting unenhanced CT examinations. Participants included a consecutive sample of ED patients with abdominal pain who underwent dual-energy CT. Contrast-enhanced and virtual unenhanced CT derived from dual-energy CT. Diagnostic accuracy of unenhanced CT for primary (ie, principal cause[s] of pain) and actionable secondary (ie, incidental findings requiring management) diagnoses. The Gwet interrater agreement coefficient was calculated. There were 201 included patients (female, 108; male, 93) with a mean age of 50.1 (SD, 20.9) years and mean BMI of 25.5 (SD, 5.4). Overall accuracy of unenhanced CT was 70% (faculty, 68% to 74%; residents, 69% to 70%). Faculty had higher accuracy than residents for primary diagnoses (82% vs 76%; adjusted odds ratio [OR], 1.83; 95% CI, 1.26-2.67; P = .002) but lower accuracy for actionable secondary diagnoses (87% vs 90%; OR, 0.57; 95% CI, 0.35-0.93; P < .001). This was because faculty made fewer false-negative primary diagnoses (38% vs 62%; OR, 0.23; 95% CI, 0.13-0.41; P < .001) but more false-positive actionable secondary diagnoses (63% vs 37%; OR, 2.11, 95% CI, 1.26-3.54; P = .01). False-negative (19%) and false-positive (14%) results were common. Interrater agreement for overall accuracy was moderate (Gwet agreement coefficient, 0.58). Unenhanced CT was approximately 30% less accurate than contrast-enhanced CT for evaluating abdominal pain in the ED. This should be balanced with the risk of administering contrast material to patients with risk factors for kidney injury or hypersensitivity reaction.

A scalable approach to determine cervical cancer screening needs among emergency department patients in the United States

The emergency department patient population is disproportionately under-screened for cancer, making it an optimal environment to promote cancer screening among hard-to-reach populations and those without routine access to primary care. The first step in a cancer screening process is identifying screening eligibility (e.g. age, sex) and need (i.e. due or past due). In an effort to support the scalability of an emergency department (ED)-based cervical cancer screening intervention, we examined the performance of a low-resource approach of determining cervical cancer screening needs among ED patients. A convenience sample of ED patients (N = 2807) was randomized to (a) an in-person interview with human subjects research staff or, (b) a self-administered, tablet computer-based survey for determining cervical cancer eligibility and need. Patients were recruited from a high-volume urban ED in Rochester, NY and a low-volume rural ED in Dansville, NY between December 2020 and December 2022. Results of these approaches were compared for equivalence of method for determining adherence status with screening guidelines and under/over-reporting of screening activity. Nearly identical reported rates of non-adherence with screening were identified across conditions (1.7% absolute difference; Χ21 = 0.96, p = 0.33). Our results demonstrate that a low-resource approach of using a tablet-based self-administered survey to determine cervical cancer screening needs is equivalent to a labor intensive in-person interview approach conducted by trained research staff among ED patients.

Hip effusions or iliopsoas hematomas on ultrasound in identifying hip fractures in the emergency department

ObjectiveWe evaluated the sensitivity, specificity, predictive values, and likelihood ratios of hip effusion and/or iliopsoas hematoma on point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) performed by ultrasound fellows and fellowship trained emergency providers to identify hip fractures in emergency department (ED) patients with a high suspicion of hip fracture. MethodsThis was a prospective observational study of a convenience sample of patients with high suspicion of hip fracture at two academic EDs between 2018 and 2021. Patients with negative x-rays who did not receive further imaging with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or computed tomography (CT) were excluded. Sonographers were blinded to clinical data and ED imaging results. At the primary site, 8 ultrasound fellows and 4 emergency ultrasound fellowship-trained emergency providers performed the ultrasonographic examinations. At the secondary site, 2 ultrasound fellows, 4 emergency ultrasound-fellowship trained physicians, and 1 sports medicine fellowship-trained emergency provider performed the ultrasonographic examinations. A positive ultrasound was defined as either the presence of a hip effusion or iliopsoas hematoma on the affected extremity. The primary outcome measures were sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), positive likelihood ratio (LR+), and negative likelihood ratio (LR-) of POCUS findings for identification of a hip fracture compared with a ranked composite reference standard consisting of x-ray, CT, or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI); the highest-level test performed for each patient was used for comparison. ResultsAmong 213 patients analyzed, all 213 received an x-ray, 116 received a CT scan, and 14 received an MRI; 113/213 x-rays (53.1%), 35/116 CT scans (30.2%), and 7/14 MRIs (50.0%) were positive for a hip fracture. A total of 123 patients were diagnosed with a hip fracture (57.7%). There were 13 false negative x-ray results. Overall, compared with the reference standard of x-ray, CT, or MRI, POCUS had a sensitivity of 97% (95% CI: 94%, 100%), specificity of 70% (95% CI: 61%, 79%), PPV of 82% (95% CI: 75%, 88%), and NPV of 94% (95% CI: 88%, 100%) in the identification of hip fractures; with a positive likelihood ratio of 3.22 (95% CI: 2.35, 4.43) and negative likelihood ratio of 0.05 (95% CI: 0.02, 0.12). ConclusionIn a convenience sample of ED patients with high clinical suspicion for hip fracture, the presence of a hip effusion and/or iliopsoas hematoma on POCUS performed by expert emergency ultrasonographers showed high sensitivity in diagnosing patients with a hip fracture.

A Randomized, Clinical Trial Comparing the Efficacy of a Fascia Release Technique for the Treatment of Acute Ankle Sprains

Acute ankle sprains are treated with ice, elevation, immobilization, and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Resolution typically takes days. Osteopathic physicians utilize manipulation for a variety of joint disorders and injuries. Few have been studied in randomized controlled trials and many allopathic physicians are unaware of their utility. One manipulation, a modified muscle energy release technique, appears to offer promise for the treatment of acute ankle injuries, potentially returning patients to function more quickly than standard treatment alone. This study involved a comparison of a modified muscle energy release technique with standard treatment to standard treatment alone in the emergency department (ED) setting for patients with acute ankle injuries. This is an IRB approved, randomized single-blind sham-controlled study on a convenience sample of ED patients with pain from acute inversion injury. The study was set in a suburban ED with a 3-year Emergency Medicine Residency and an annual volume of 80,000. Inclusion criteria were patients aged 18-55 years; a Grade I or II acute ankle sprain less than 48 hours old; initial VAS scores ≥ 35; and being able to take 4 steps in the ED. We excluded fractures and Grade III injuries. The experimental manipulation technique involved placing the ankle into position of injury (inversion) for over 90 seconds and then bringing the ankle back to a neutral position over 90 seconds against mild hand resistance. The sham manipulation was similar but with plantar-flexion manipulation instead Patients were evaluated pre and 5 minutes after manipulation and 2 days later with a 100mm VAS pain scale completed by the patient after taking 4 steps. 17 patients were enrolled, 7 in the experimental (E) and 10 in the sham (S) group; 7 (41%) were female. There was no difference between groups for age (E=32; S=32 years p=0.9), gender (p=0.9), time from injury (E=7 vs S=11 hours; p=0.4) or initial VAS (E= 51 mm (SD 27); S= 57 mm (SD 20) (p=0.7). Both groups had similar distributions of pain (see schematic). There was no difference in mean pain relief between groups immediately after manipulation E=2.4mm (-11.0-15.88, 95%CI) vs S= 7.2mm (0.08-14.8, 95%CI) (p=0.4) or 2 days later E=29.1mm 1mm (8.5-49.7, 95%CI) S=26 (7.7 95%CI (p=0.8). Muscle energy release for acute ankle sprain does not improve pain immediately or in 2 days compared to standard treatment.

Prevalence and Categorization of Drug-Related Problems in the Emergency Department

BackgroundDrug-related problems (DRPs) are common among patients seen in the emergency department (ED), but the true incidence is not clear. ObjectivesThe primary objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of DRPs among patients seen in a U.S. ED. The secondary objective was to categorize these DRPs by problem type and by medication class. MethodsThis was a prospective observational cohort study of a random sample of ED patients between December 2011 and March 2013. ED pharmacists screened randomly selected patients for the presence of a DRP contributing to the ED visit. Four independent auditors evaluated the results to achieve consensus for the presence or absence of DRPs and categorization of the DRPs. ResultsAmong 1039 patients screened for DRPs, 308 (29.6%) were found to have at least 1 DRP contributing to the ED visit. Among a total of 443 DRPs, the most commonly identified categories were adverse drug reaction (n = 193 [43.6%]), ineffective medication (n = 69 [15.6%]), and subtherapeutic dosage (n = 68 [15.3%]). The most commonly implicated drug classes were cardiovascular medications (n = 113 [26.5%]), anti-infective medications (n = 52 [12.2%]), and analgesic medications (n = 58 [13.6%]). ConclusionsA substantial proportion of ED visits are associated in part or in total with DRPs. Adverse drug reactions and cardiovascular medications are the most common category and medication class implicated, respectively.

Performance of formal smell testing and symptom screening for identifying SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Altered sense of smell is a commonly reported COVID-19 symptom. The performance of smell testing to identify SARS-CoV-2 infection status is unknown. We measured the ability of formal smell testing to identify SARS-CoV-2 infection and compared its performance with symptom screening. A convenience sample of emergency department patients with COVID-19 symptom screening participated in smell testing using an eight odor Pocket Smell Test (PST). Participants received a SARS-CoV-2 viral PCR test after smell testing and completed a health conditions survey. Descriptive analysis and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve models compared the accuracy of smell testing versus symptom screening in identifying SARS-CoV-2 infection. Two hundred and ninety-five patients completed smell testing and 87 (29.5%) had a positive SARS-CoV-2 PCR test. Twenty-eight of the SARS-CoV-2 positive patients (32.2%) and 49 of the SARS-CoV-2 negative patients (23.6%) reported at least one of seven screening symptoms (OR = 1.54, P = 0.13). SARS-CoV-2 positive patients were more likely to have hyposmia (≤5 correctly identified odors) than SARS-CoV-2 negative patients (56.1% vs. 19.3%, OR = 5.36, P<0.001). Hyposmia was 52.9% (95% CI 41.9%-63.7%) sensitive and 82.7% (95% CI 76.9%-87.6%) specific for SARS-CoV-2 infection. Presence of ≥1 screening symptom was 32.2% (95% CI 22.6%-43.1%) sensitive and 76.4% (70.1%-82.0%) specific for SARS-CoV-2 infection. The ROC curve for smell testing had an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.74 (95% CI 0.67-0.80). The ROC curve for symptom screening had lower discriminatory accuracy for SARS-CoV-2 infection (AUC = 0.55, 95% CI 0.49-0.61, P<0.001) than the smell testing ROC curve. Smell testing was superior to symptom screening for identifying SARS-CoV-2 infection in our study.

SARS-CoV-2 Positivity in Ambulatory Symptomatic Patients Is Not Associated With Increased Venous or Arterial Thrombotic Events in the Subsequent 30 Days

BackgroundCOVID-19 has been associated with increased risk of thromboembolism in critically ill patients. ObjectiveWe sought to examine the association of SARS-CoV-2 test positivity and subsequent acute vascular thrombosis, including venous thromboembolism (VTE) or arterial thrombosis (AT), in a large nationwide registry of emergency department (ED) patients tested with a nucleic acid test for suspected SARS-CoV-2. MethodsThe RECOVER (Registry of Potential COVID-19 in Emergency Care) registry includes 155 EDs across the United States. We performed a retrospective cohort study to produce odds ratios (ORs) for COVID-19–positive vs. COVID-19–negative status as a predictor of 30-day VTE or AT, adjusting for age, sex, active cancer, intubation, hospital length of stay, and intensive care unit (ICU) care. ResultsComparing 14,056 COVID-19–positive patients with 12,995 COVID-19–negative patients, the overall 30-day prevalence of VTE events was 1.4% vs. 1.3%, respectively (p = 0.44, χ2). Multivariable analysis identified that testing positive for SARS-CoV-2 status was negatively associated with both VTE (OR 0.76; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.61–0.94) and AT (OR 0.51; 95% CI 0.32–0.80), whereas intubation, ICU care, and age 50 years or older were positively associated with both VTE and AT. ConclusionsIn contrast to other reports, results from this large, hetereogenous national sample of ED patients tested for SARS-CoV-2, showed no association between vascular thrombosis and COVID-19 test positivity.

1426. Empiric Antimicrobial Prescribing for Urinary Tract Infections in Patients Discharged from the Emergency Department

BackgroundUrinary tract infections (UTIs) are commonly treated infections in the emergency department (ED), accounting for 3 million visits annually and 15% of outpatient antibiotic prescriptions. The purpose of this study was to characterize empiric and definitive antimicrobial therapy for treatment of UTIs in a nationally representative sample of ED patients.MethodsThis was a multicenter, retrospective cohort study utilizing the Emergency Medicine PHARMacy Research NETwork (EMPHARM-NET), a network of 15 geographically diverse EDs. Patients ≥18 years presenting to and discharged home from the ED with primary diagnosis code of cystitis, pyelonephritis, or UTI from 2018-2020 were included. We describe empiric intravenous (IV) and oral antibiotics used for the treatment of UTI in patients seen and discharged from the ED.ResultsOf the 3779 ED patients treated for UTI, most were discharged from the ED (n=2483, 66%). Most patients were female (76.3%) and common comorbidities were hypertension (47.8%) and diabetes (26.5%). Most patients had uncomplicated (39.4%) or complicated (40.9%) cystitis. 1134 (45.6%) had a positive urine culture, most commonly E. coli (63%) and K. pneumoniae (13%). The most common antibiotics administered in the ED were ceftriaxone (19.7%), nitrofurantoin (6.2%), cephalexin (5.8%), and sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim (SMX/TMP, 4.8%). The most common antibiotics prescribed at discharge where cephalexin (33.9%), nitrofurantoin (20.6%), SMX/TMP (12%), ciprofloxacin (8.2%), and cefdinir (8%). The mean length of treatment was 7.1 days (standard deviation 2.5 days). Overall, 454 patients returned to the ED within 30 days. The odds of returning to the ED within 30 days was higher in those that did not have appropriate empiric antibiotics based on susceptibilities (OR 1.37, 95% confidence interval 1.06, 1.78).ConclusionThis multicenter, retrospective cohort study describes ED patients discharged from the ED after UTI diagnosis. Patients presented most commonly for cystitis. Nearly half of discharged patients were culture positive. Antimicrobial selection varied; IV ceftriaxone and oral cephalexin were most commonly empirically utilized to treated patients with UTI. Inappropriate antimicrobial selection increased odds of a return ED visit within 30 days. Disclosures Megan A. Rech, PharmD, MS, BCCCP, FCCM, Spero (Research Grant or Support) Brett Faine, PharmD, Spero Therapeutics (Research Grant or Support) David A. Talan, MD, AbbVie (Consultant)GSK (Consultant)SPERO Therapeutics (Grant/Research Support)

Data from emergency medicine palliative care access (EMPallA): a randomized controlled trial comparing the effectiveness of specialty outpatient versus telephonic palliative care of older adults with advanced illness presenting to the emergency department

BackgroundThe Emergency Medicine Palliative Care Access (EMPallA) trial is a large, multicenter, parallel, two-arm randomized controlled trial in emergency department (ED) patients comparing two models of palliative care: nurse-led telephonic case management and specialty, outpatient palliative care. This report aims to: 1) report baseline demographic and quality of life (QOL) data for the EMPallA cohort, 2) identify the association between illness type and baseline QOL while controlling for other factors, and 3) explore baseline relationships between illness type, symptom burden, and loneliness.MethodsPatients aged 50+ years with advanced cancer (metastatic solid tumor) or end-stage organ failure (New York Heart Association Class III or IV heart failure, end stage renal disease with glomerular filtration rate < 15 mL/min/m2, or Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease Stage III, IV, or oxygen-dependent chronic obstructive pulmonary disease defined as FEV1 < 50%) are eligible for enrollment. Baseline data includes self-reported demographics, QOL measured by the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General (FACT-G), loneliness measured by the Three-Item UCLA Loneliness Scale, and symptom burden measured by the Edmonton Revised Symptom Assessment Scale. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze demographic variables, a linear regression model measured the importance of illness type in predicting QOL, and chi-square tests of independence were used to quantify relationships between illness type, symptom burden, and loneliness.ResultsBetween April 2018 and April 3, 2020, 500 patients were enrolled. On average, end-stage organ failure patients had lower QOL as measured by the FACT-G scale than cancer patients with an estimated difference of 9.6 points (95% CI: 5.9, 13.3), and patients with multiple conditions had a further reduction of 7.4 points (95% CI: 2.4, 12.5), when adjusting for age, education level, race, sex, immigrant status, presence of a caregiver, and hospital setting. Symptom burden and loneliness were greater in end-stage organ failure than in cancer.ConclusionsThe EMPallA trial is enrolling a diverse sample of ED patients. Differences by illness type in QOL, symptom burden, and loneliness demonstrate how distinct disease trajectories manifest in the ED.Trial registrationClinicaltrials.gov identifier: NCT03325985. Registered October 30, 2017.

Cross-sectional Analysis of Food Insecurity and Frequent Emergency Department Use.

IntroductionEmergency department (ED) patients have higher than average levels of food insecurity. We examined the association between multiple measures of food insecurity and frequent ED use in a random sample of ED patients.MethodsWe completed survey questionnaires with randomly sampled adult patients from an urban public hospital ED (n = 2,312). We assessed food insecurity using four questions from the United States Department of Agriculture Household Food Security Survey. The primary independent variable was any food insecurity, defined as an affirmative response to any of the four items. Frequent ED use was defined as self-report of ≥4 ED visits in the past year. We examined the relationship between patient food insecurity and frequent ED use using bivariate and multivariable analyses and examined possible mediation by anxiety/depression and overall health status.ResultsOne-third (30.9%) of study participants reported frequent ED use, and half (50.8%) reported any food insecurity. Prevalence of food insecurity was higher among frequent vs. non-frequent ED users, 62.8% vs 45.4% (P <0.001). After controlling for potential confounders, food insecurity remained significantly associated with frequent ED use (adjusted odds ratio 1.48, 95% confidence interval, 1.20–1.83). This observed association was partially attenuated when anxiety/depression and overall health status were added to models.ConclusionThe high observed prevalence of food insecurity suggests that efforts to improve care of ED patients should assess and address this need. Further research is needed to assess whether addressing food insecurity may play an important role in efforts to reduce frequent ED use for some patients.

Patient and staff experience with a new model of emergency department based mental health nursing care implemented in two rural settings

BackgroundAs part of a larger multi-site translational research project this study explored patient and staff experiences, perspectives and recommendations in relation to a mental health liaison nursing (MHLN) service implemented in the emergency department (ED) of two rural hospitals in New South Wales, Australia. MethodsSemi-structured interviews were conducted across the two sites with a sample of ED patients (n = 32), ED nurses (n = 14), ED medical officers (n = 11) and psychiatrists (n = 3). Data were analysed thematically. FindingsPatients highlighted the therapeutic benefits of the MHLNs, particularly being listened to and understood. Patients appreciated being seen promptly and having effective follow-up. Some negative experiences were encountered. Staff recognized that embedding the new model of care in the ED impacted positively on ED culture and practice. A nurse practitioner position as clinical lead instituted at one site made the most substantial contribution to integrating mental health care within the ED. Room for improvement was also noted. ConclusionsFindings from this study indicate that an ED-based model of MHLN care developed in a metropolitan setting was successfully translated to two rural EDs. While translating a model of care from one context to another is not without its challenges, adherence to the key principles of this model of MHLN care was associated with the most positive outcome.

Road traffic injuries and substance use among emergency department patients in the Dominican Republic and Peru.

ABSTRACTObjective.To report demographic and substance use characteristics and risk of road traffic injury (RTI) from alcohol use, cannabis use, and combined use in a sample of emergency department patients from two countries in Latin America and the Caribbean.Methods.A cross-sectional study in which patients 18 years and older admitted within six hours of suffering an RTI to one emergency department in Santa Domingo, Dominican Republic (n = 501) and in Lima, Peru (n = 431) were interviewed. Case-crossover analysis, based on self-reported use prior to the RTI, was used to analyze risk from alcohol, cannabis, and co-use.Results.Overall, 15.3% reported alcohol use prior to the event and 2.5% cannabis use. Drivers using alcohol only were over twice as likely to have an RTI (OR = 2.46, p < 0.001), and nearly eight times more likely if using both alcohol and cannabis (OR = 6.89, p < 0.01), but risk was not elevated for cannabis alone. Significant differences were not found for passengers or pedestrians.Conclusions.Risk of RTI for drivers in these two samples is significantly elevated from alcohol use, and more so for co-use with cannabis. Differences between the two countries underscore the need for similar data from the region to determine risk of RTI from substance use, including risk for passengers and pedestrians. Data suggest that alcohol contributes significantly to the burden of RTI, which calls for more stringent enforcement of alcohol control policy related to drink driving in the region.

Artificial Intelligence-Based ECG Diagnosis of Myocardial Infarction in High-Risk Emergency Department Patients

Background: Myocardial infarctions are often missed in the emergency department. Deep learning models have shown promise in ECG classification in managed settings. We postulate that deep learning models can be useful for ECG myocardial infarction discrimination also in real-world emergency department patients with a high suspicion of an acute coronary syndrome. Methods: We studied emergency department patients in the Stockholm region between 2007 and 2016 that had an ECG obtained and were admitted to a coronary care unit. We developed a deep neural network based on convolutional layers similar to a residual network. Inputs were ECG, age and sex; output label was non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI), ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), and control status as registered in the SWEDEHEART registry by the discharging coronary care unit physician. We used an ensemble of five models. Findings: Of the included 12,311 coronary care unit admissions, 3,993 were recorded with an NSTEMI, 1,340 a STEMI, and 6,978 had not had a myocardial infarction. In a random test set, our model could discriminate STEMIs with fair precision, with a C-statistic of 0.85 and a Brier score of 0.10. Discrimination of NSTEMIs was poorer, with a C-statistic of 0.76 and a Brier score of 0.18. The performance was similar in a temporal test set that did not overlap in time with the training set. Interpretation: We developed and validated a deep learning model with human-level performance in classifying NSTEMI and STEMI on the presenting ECG of a real-world sample of emergency department patients with a high suspicion of an acute coronary syndrome. Deep learning models for ECG decision support could be valuable in the emergency department. Funding: The Kjell and Marta Beijer Foundation, Anders Wiklof, the Wallenberg AI, Autonomous Systems and Software Program (WASP) funded by the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation, and Uppsala University. Declaration of Interest: JS reports stock ownership in companies providing services to Itrim, Amgen, Janssen, Novo Nordisk, Eli Lilly, Boehringer, Bayer, Pfizer and AstraZeneca, outside the submitted work. No other authors have anything to declare. Ethical Approval: The study was approved by the Swedish Ethical Review Agency, application number 2020-01654.

Abstract 13173: Unusual Fatigue and Failure to Utilize Emergency Medical Services Are Associated With Prolonged Prehospital Delay for Suspected Acute Coronary Syndrome

Introduction: Rapid reperfusion reduces infarct size and mortality for acute coronary syndrome (ACS) but efficacy is time dependent. Time to presentation in the Emergency Department (ED) remains excessive and patient-controlled prehospital delay may be a modifiable variable for intervention. The aim of the study was to determine if transportation factors and clinical presentation predicted prehospital delay for suspected ACS stratified by final diagnosis (ACS vs. no ACS). Hypothesis: Symptoms other than chest pain would contribute to longer prehospital delay that would vary by final diagnosis. Methods: Secondary analysis of data collected from a multi-center prospective study. A heterogeneous sample of ED patients with symptoms suggestive of ACS were enrolled at five sites in the US. Accelerated failure time (AFT) models were used to specify a direct relationship between delay time and variables to predict prehospital delay by final diagnosis. Results: The sample of 975 adults included 609 (62.5%) men and 366 (37.5%) women who were predominantly Caucasian (69.1%), had a mean age of 60.32 (±14.07) years, and had lower income levels (66.4% ≤$50,000 annually). Median delay time was 6.68 (1.91, 24.94) hours and only 26.2% had a prehospital delay of 2 hours or less. Patients with and without ACS presenting with unusual fatigue (TR=1.71, p=0.002; TR=1.54, p=0.003 , respectively) or self-transporting to the ED experienced significantly longer prehospital delay (TR 1.93, p&lt;0.001; TR 1.71, p&lt;0.001 , respectively). Predictors of shorter delay in patients with ACS were shoulder pain and lightheadedness (TR=0.65, p =0.013 and TR=0.67, p =0.022, respectively). Predictors of shorter delay for patients ruled-out for ACS were the presence of chest pain, sweating (TR=0.071, p =0.025 and TR=0.073, p =0.032, respectively). Conclusion: Patients self-transporting to the ED had prolonged prehospital delays. Encouraging the use of EMS is an important modifiable factor for patients with symptoms concerning for ACS. Calling 911 can be positively framed to at risk patients and the community as having advanced care come to them since EMS diagnostic capabilities include 12-lead ECG acquisition and possibly high sensitivity troponin assays.

Association between volume resuscitation & mortality among injured patients at a tertiary care hospital in Kigali, Rwanda.

BackgroundInjuries cause significant morbidity and mortality in sub-Saharan African countries such as Rwanda. These burdens may be compounded by limited access to intravenous (IV) resuscitation fluids such as crystalloids and blood products. This study evaluates the association between emergency department (ED) intravenous volume resuscitation and mortality outcomes in adult trauma patients treated at the University Teaching Hospital-Kigali (UTH- K).MethodsData were abstracted using a structured protocol for a random sample of ED patients treated during periods from 2012 to 2016. Patients under 15 years of age were excluded. Data collected included demographics, clinical aspects, types of IV fluid resuscitation provided and outcomes. The primary outcome was facility-based mortality. Descriptive statistics were used to explore characteristics of the population. Kampala Trauma Scores (KTS) were used to control for injury severity. Magnitudes of effects were quantified using multivariable regression models adjusted for gender, KTS, time period, clinical interventions, presence of head injury and transfer to a tertiary care centre to yield adjusted odds ratios (aOR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI).ResultsFrom the random sample of 3609 cases, 991 trauma patients were analysed. The median age was 32 [IQR 26, 46] years and 74.3% were male. ED volume resuscitation was given to 50.1% of patients with 43.5% receiving crystalloid and 6.4% receiving crystalloid and packed red blood cell (PRBC) transfusions. The median KTS score was 13 [IQR 12, 13]. In multivariable regression, mortality likelihood was increased in those who received crystalloid (aOR = 4.31, 95%CI 1.24, 15.05, p = 0.022) and PRBC plus crystalloid (aOR = 9.97, 95%CI 2.15,46.17, p = 0.003) as compared to trauma patients not treated with IV resuscitation fluids.ConclusionsInjured ED patients treated with volume resuscitation had higher mortality, which may be due to unmeasured confounding or therapies provided. Further studies on fluid resuscitation in trauma populations in resource-limited settings are needed.

Patient and clinician experiences with an emergency department-based mental health liaison nurse service in a metropolitan setting.

As part of a larger multi-site translational research project this study explored patient and staff experiences, perspectives, and recommendations in relation to a mental health liaison nursing (MHLN) team established in the emergency department (ED) of a metropolitan hospital in New South Wales, Australia. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with a sample of ED patients (n=26), ED nurses (n=10), ED consultants (n=9), and members of the consultation-liaison psychiatry team (n=5). Data were analysed thematically. Patients emphasized the numerous therapeutic qualities of the MHLN role, the promptness with which they were seen and the value of follow-up. Privacy was identified as important, and some negative experiences were reported. Staff identified that the MHLN team are able to respond to a variety of ED presentations in a timely manner. There was recognition that the MHLN team needs to be integrated within the ED as a specialist resource that builds ED capacity. Consistent staffing of the MHLN team with designated clinicians was also considered essential. Integrating a nurse practitioner-led MHLN team within the ED has demonstrated multiple benefits for patients, ED staff, and overall service provision. Incorporating a specialist mental health nursing service within the ED builds confidence in ED clinicians. Members of the psychiatry team also acknowledge the value of aligning the clinical governance of the MHLN team within the ED and the reduced workload this model of care has on their service provision to ED, freeing them up to concentrate on their broader general hospital role.

Access and Barriers to Take-Home Naloxone Use among Emergency Department Patients with Opioid Misuse in Baltimore, Maryland, USA

Background The opioid epidemic has prompted the expansion of take-home naloxone (THN) distribution programs. The proportion of emergency department (ED) patients with opioid misuse who have access to a naloxone kit (NK) and barriers to using it are unclear. Objective: Characterizing the access and barrier to NK use among at-risk ED patients. Methods: We enrolled a convenience sample of ED patients with active opioid misuse from May 21–July 31, 2018. We administered a survey to collect patients’ demographic data, substance use history, and access to and use of NK. The primary outcome was NK access (prior receipt of a kit or prescription); secondary outcomes were knowledge and use of NK, and barriers to obtaining and using it. Results: Of 165 respondents, 71.5% knew of THN programs and 57.6% (n = 95) had access to THN by either having received a NK (n = 90) or a prescription (n = 5); 34 respondents received both. Among 39 (23.6%) who received a naloxone prescription, 25 (64.1%) filled it. 60.0% (n = 99) reported knowing how to administer naloxone; lack of training was the primary reason (n = 63/66, 96.9%) for their unfamiliarity. Patients who presented after an opioid overdose (25.5%; n = 42) were less likely to have knowledge of THN programs (57.1% vs. 76.4%), and to have received a NK (35.7% vs. 61.0%). Conclusion: Awareness of THN programs was high among our cohort. But approximately 60% the respondents received a NK or knew how to use it. Despite efforts to expand THN access, gaps in knowledge, access, and use exist.

Lorazepam Versus Diazepam in the Management of Emergency Department Patients With Alcohol Withdrawal

Alcohol withdrawal is a common emergency department (ED) presentation. Although benzodiazepines reduce symptoms of withdrawal, there is little ED-based evidence to assist clinicians in selecting appropriate pharmacotherapy. We compare lorazepam with diazepam for the management of alcohol withdrawal to assess 1-week ED and hospital-related outcomes. From January 1, 2015, to December 31, 2018, at 3 urban EDs in Vancouver, Canada, we studied patients with a discharge diagnosis of alcohol withdrawal. We excluded individuals presenting with a seizure or an acute concurrent illness. We performed a structured chart review to ascertain demographics, ED treatments, and outcomes. Patients were stratified according to initial management with lorazepam versus diazepam. The primary outcome was hospital admission, and secondary outcomes included in-ED seizures and 1-week return visits for discharged patients. Of 1,055 patients who presented with acute alcohol withdrawal, 898 were treated with benzodiazepines. Median age was 47 years (interquartile range 37 to 56 years) and 73% were men. Baseline characteristics were similar in the 2 groups. Overall, 69 of 394 patients (17.5%) receiving lorazepam were admitted to the hospital compared with 94 of 504 patients receiving diazepam (18.7%), a difference of 1.2% (95% confidence interval -4.2% to 6.3%). Seven patients (0.7%; 95% confidence interval 0.3% to 1.4%) had an in-ED seizure, but all seizures occurred before receipt of benzodiazepines. Among patients discharged home, 1-week return visits occurred for 78 of 325 (24.0%) who received lorazepam and 94 of 410 (23.2%) who received diazepam, a difference of 0.8% (95% confidence interval -5.3% to 7.1%). In our sample of ED patients with acute alcohol withdrawal, patients receiving lorazepam had an admission rate similar to that of those receiving diazepam. The few in-ED seizures occurred before medication administration. For discharged patients, the 1-week ED return visit rate of nearly 25% could warrant enhanced follow-up and community support.