Emergency Department Arrival Time Research Articles

A Simple Scoring System for Identifying Favorable Neurologic Outcomes Among Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest Patients With Asystole

Study objectiveAsystole is the most common initial rhythm in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA), but indicates a low likelihood of neurological recovery. This study aimed to develop a novel scoring system to be easily applied at the time of emergency department arrival for identifying favorable neurological outcomes in OHCA survivors with an asystole rhythm. MethodsThis study is a secondary analysis based on a previously collected nationwide database, targeting non-traumatic adult OHCA patients aged ≥ 18 years with an asystole rhythm who achieved Return of Spontaneous Circulation (ROSC) between January 2016 and December 2020. The primary outcome was a favorable neurological outcome defined as Cerebral Performance Categories scores of 1 or 2 at hospital discharge. A prediction model was developed through multivariable logistic regression analysis in a derivation cohort in the form of a scoring system (WBC-ASystole). The performance and calibration of the model were tested using an internal validation cohort. ResultsAmong 19,803 OHCA patients with survival to hospital admission, 6,322 had asystole, and 285 (4.5%) achieved good neurological outcomes. Factors associated with favorable outcomes included age, witness arrest, bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation, time from call to hospital arrival, and prehospital ROSC achievement. The WBC-ASystole score, totaling 11 points, exhibited a predictive performance with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.80 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.76–0.83) and 0.79 (95% CI: 0.74–0.83) in the derivation and validation cohorts, respectively. After categorizing patients into three groups based on probability for good neurological outcomes, the sensitivity and specificity were as follows: 0.98 (95% CI: 0.97–0.99) and 0.09 (95% CI: 0.09–0.10) for the very low (WBC-ASystole: ≤2), 0.85 (95% CI: 0.82–0.89) and 0.54 (95% CI: 0.53–0.55) for the low (WBC-ASystole: 3–4), and 0.36 (95% CI: 0.34–0.39) and 0.93 (95% CI: 0.92–0.93) for fair predicted probability group (WBC-ASystole: ≥5). ConclusionsAlthough external validation studies must be performed, among OHCA with asystole, the WBC-ASystole scoring system may identify those patients who are likely to have a favorable neurological outcome.

A Nerve Block Team in the Emergency Department

Objectives To improve pain management in the emergency department (ED), emergency physicians are performing an increasing number of ultrasound-guided regional anesthesia procedures (nerve blocks). We aimed to examine the effect of a dedicated emergency department (ED) nerve block team (NBT) on the number and types of ultrasound-guided nerve blocks administered in the ED. Methods We performed a retrospective chart review comparing the nine-month period before and after the creation of a dedicated NBT. This was performed at a tertiary care urban hospital that is a level 1 trauma center. We assessed and compared the number and types of nerve blocks performed, level of learners who performed nerve blocks, and time of ED arrival to disposition, before and after implementation of the NBT. Results The utilization of nerve blocks rose from 79 prior to the establishment of the NBT to 108 following its creation, representing a 36.7% increase. The average duration of stay in the emergency department decreased by 51 minutes, though this change did not demonstrate statistical significance (P=0.1237). There was an increased variety in the types of nerve blocks performed. Conclusion The introduction of a NBT led to a rise in both the quantity and diversity of nerve blocks conducted in the ED.

Abstract WMP37: Neighborhood Socioeconomic Status, Race and Prehospital Emergency Care and Time to Presentation for Stroke

Introduction: It is unclear how neighborhood socioeconomic status (nSES) affects the pre-hospital recognition and care of acute stroke at the national level. Methods: Patients with ischemic stroke, intracerebral hemorrhage, and subarachnoid hemorrhage in the Get With the Guidelines-Stroke registry, presenting from July 2015 to December 2019, with symptom onset <24 hours were included. Social deprivation index (SDI) at the county level approximated nSES. Logistic and quantile regressions evaluated the impact of SDI on EMS use, EMS prenotification, and time of symptom onset to emergency department (ED) arrival. Sequential models were adjusted for patient age, gender, race, vascular risk factors, arrival mode, stroke severity (NIHSS), and insurance status. Results: 634,823 patients met inclusion criteria. Patients were 51.2% Male, 67.1% White, with median NIHSS of 4 (IQR: 2-10), and median SDI of 51 (IQR: 27-75). Median symptom onset to arrival time was 176 mins (IQR: 63-565). SDI was not associated with differences in EMS use, but was associated with lower odds of EMS prenotification (upper SDI tercile vs lowest, OR 0.87, 95% CI 0.86-0.89). SDI was also significantly associated with stroke symptom onset to ED arrival time (upper SDI tercile vs lowest +2.72 mins, 95% CI 0.68-4.77); however, this association became nonsignificant when insurance was added to the model. By contrast, Black race was significantly associated with prolonged symptom onset to ED arrival time (+28.7 mins, 95% CI 26.0-31.5), and decreased odds of EMS prenotification OR 0.76 (95% CI 0.74-0.77). Conclusions: Higher SDI was associated with reduced odds of EMS prenotification, despite similar odds of EMS use across SDI levels. Race had a greater effect, with prolonged prehospital times and decreased odds of EMS pre-notification. Efforts to reduce place-based disparities in stroke care must address significant race-based inequities which exist in pre-hospital recognition and care of stroke.

Comparison of Prognostic Scores for Patients with COVID-19 Presenting with Dyspnea in the Emergency Department

BackgroundEasy-to-use bedside risk assessment is crucial for patients with COVID-19 in the overcrowded emergency department (ED). ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to explore the prognostic ability of ratio of percutaneous oxygen saturation (SpO2) to fraction of inspired oxygen (FiO2) (S/F); ratio of SpO2/FiO2 to respiratory rate (ROX); National Early Warning Score (NEWS); quick Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (qSOFA); and confusion, respiratory rate, blood pressure, and age ≥ 65 years (CRB-65) in patients with COVID-19 presenting with dyspnea to the ED. MethodsIn this retrospective observational study, clinical and demographic details of patients with COVID-19 were obtained at ED admission. S/F, ROX, NEWS, CRB-65, and qSOFA scores were calculated at the time of ED arrival. Accuracy of these five indices to predict the need for invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) within 48 h, intensive care unit (ICU) admission, and early (7-day) mortality were determined using receiver operating characteristic curves. ResultsA total of 375 patients were included in this study. Fifty patients (13.3%) required IMV within 48 h and 58 patients (15.5%) were transferred to the ICU. Seven-day mortality was 6.7% and 28-day mortality was 18.1%. Among all five scores determined from patient data on ED admission, ROX, S/F, and NEWS presented greater discriminatory performance than CRB-65 and qSOFA in predicting IMV within 48 h, ICU admission, and early mortality. ConclusionsEmergency physicians can effectively use S/F, ROX, and NEWS scores for rapid risk stratification of patients with COVID-19 infection. Moreover, from the perspective of simplicity and ease of calculation, we recommend the use of the S/F ratio.

Impact of emergency department arrival time on door-to-needle time in patients with acute stroke.

This study aimed to identify which emergency department (ED) factors impact door-to-needle (DTN) time in acute stroke patients eligible for intravenous thrombolysis. The purpose of analyzing emergency department factors is to determine whether any modifiable factors could shorten the time to thrombolytics, thereby increasing the odds of improved clinical outcomes. This was a prospective observational quality registry study that included all patients that received alteplase for stroke. These data are our hospital data from the national Get With The Guidelines Registry. The Get With The Guidelines® Stroke Registry is a hospital-based program focused on improving care for patients diagnosed with a stroke. The program has over five million patients, and hospitals can access their own program data. The registry promotes the use of and adherence to scientific treatment guidelines to improve patient outcomes. The time of patient arrival to the ED was captured via the timestamp in the electronic health record. Arriving between Friday 6 p.m. and Monday 6 a.m. was classified as "weekend," regardless of the time of arrival. Time to CT, time-to-lab, and presence of a dedicated stroke team were also recorded. Emergency medical services (EMS) run sheets were used to verify arrival via ambulance. Forty-nine percent of the cohort presented during the day shift, 24% during the night shift, and 27% on the weekend. A total of 85% were brought by EMS, and 15% of patients were walk-ins. The median DTN time during the day shift was 37 min (IQR 26-51, range 10-117). The median DTN time during the night shift was 59 min (IQR 39-89, range 34-195). When a dedicated stroke team was present, the median DTN time was 36 min, compared to 51 min when they were not present. The median door-to-CT time was 24 min (IQR 18-31 min). On univariate analyses, arriving during the night shift (P < 0.0001), arriving as a walk-in (P = 0.0080), and longer time-to-CT (P < 0.0001) were all associated with longer DTN time. Conversely, the presence of a dedicated stroke team was associated with a significantly shorter DTN time (P < 0.0001). Factors that contribute most to a delay in DTN time include arrival during the night shift, lack of a dedicated stroke team, longer time-to-CT read, and arrival as a walk-in. All of these are addressable factors from an operational standpoint and should be considered when performing quality improvement of hospital protocols.

The Impact of Emergency Department Arrival Time on Door-to-Balloon Time in Patients with ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction Receiving Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention.

Door-to-balloon (DTB) time significantly affects the prognosis of patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). The effects of temporal differences in emergency department (ED) arrival time on DTB time and on different segments of DTB time remain inconclusive. Therefore, we performed a retrospective study in a tertiary hospital between January 2013 and December 2021 and investigated the relationship between a patient's arrival time and both their DTB time and different segments of their DTB time. Of 732 STEMI patients, 327 arrived during the daytime (08:01-16:00), 268 during the evening (16:01-24:00), and 137 at night (00:01-08:00). Significantly higher odds of delay in DTB time were observed during the nighttime (adjusted odds ratio (aOR): 2.87; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.50-5.51, p = 0.002) than during the daytime. This delay was mainly attributed to a delay in cardiac catheterization laboratory (cath lab) activation-to-arrival time (aOR: 6.25; 95% CI: 3.75-10.40, p < 0.001), particularly during the 00:00-04:00 time range. Age, sex, triage level, and whether patients arrived during the COVID-19 pandemic also had independent effects on different segments of DTB time. Further studies are required to investigate the root causes of delay in DTB time and to develop specific strategies for improvement.

Impact of COVID-19 outbreak on acute gallbladder disease in the emergency department.

Acute gallbladder disease (AGD) is frequent in the emergency department (ED) and usually requires emergency surgery. However, only a few studies have reported the impact of COVID-19 on AGD. The goal of this study was to evaluate the time between symptom onset and surgery and the perioperative severity of AGD during the COVID-19 pandemic compared to before the era of COVID-19. This retrospective, single-center cohort study included patients who presented to the ED with suspected AGD and who underwent emergency cholecystectomy. We designed a before-after comparative study, and the intervention was the COVID-19 outbreak. The 6-month period after the COVID-19 outbreak was defined as the post-COVID group, whereas the pre-COVID group consisted of the same period in the previous year. The primary outcome was the time from symptoms to surgery. We evaluated the time intervals between symptom onset and ED arrival and between ED arrival and surgery. The secondary outcomes were preoperative and postoperative severity indexes. A total of 316 patients was analyzed. The post-COVID group showed longer duration from symptom onset to ED arrival (34.0 hours vs. 15.0 hours, P<0.001) and longer time interval from ED arrival to surgery (16.2 hours vs. 10.2 hours, P<0.001) than the pre-COVID group. The overall time interval between symptom onset to surgery was longer in the post-COVID group than the pre-COVID group (71.5 hours vs. 33.5 hours, P<0.001). The post-COVID group showed higher preoperative Simplified Acute Physiology Score II scores than the pre-COVID group (20.1 vs. 18.2, P=0.045). The proportion of moderate or severe disease increased in the post-COVID group (78% vs. 65%, P=0.017). The durations of hospital stay (7.0 days vs. 5.0 days, P<0.001) and intensive care unit stay (27.1 hours vs. 10.8 hours, P=0.008) were longer in the post-COVID group than in the pre-COVID group. During the pandemic, the time interval between symptom onset to surgery was significantly increased among patients with AGD. Concomitantly, higher preoperative severity indexes and longer hospital stay were reported with a delay in emergency surgery.

Increased Prehospital Emergency Medical Service Time Interval and Nontransport Rate of Patients With Fever Using Emergency Medical Services Before and After COVID-19 in Busan, Korea.

In Korea, patients with fever have been preemptively isolated to isolation beds in the emergency department (ED) since the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic began. However, isolation beds were not always available, and transport delays or failure (nontransport), especially for infants, were reported in the media. Few studies have focused on delays and failure in transporting fever patients to the ED. Therefore, this study aimed to examine and compare the emergency medical service (EMS) time interval and nontransport rate of patients with fever using EMSs before and after COVID-19. This retrospective observational study analyzed the prehospital EMS time interval and nontransport rate of fever patients who contacted EMSs in Busan, South Korea, from March 1, 2019 to February 28, 2022, using emergency dispatch reports. All fever patients (≥ 37.5°C) who contacted EMSs during this study were included. The EMS time interval was defined as the time between the patient's EMS call and ED arrival time. Nontransport was defined as a case recorded as not being transported in the emergency dispatch reports. The study population of 2019 was compared to the population of 2020 and 2021 with the independent t-test, Mann-Whitney U test, and χ² test. As a subgroup, the EMS time intervals and nontransport rates of infants with fever were compared before and after COVID-19. A total of 554,186 patients accessed the EMS during the study period, and 46,253 patients with fever were included. The EMS time interval (mean ± standard deviation, minutes) of fever patients was 30.9 ± 29.9 in 2019, 46.8 ± 127.8 in 2020 (P < 0.001) and 45.9 ± 34.0 in 2021 (P < 0.001). The nontransport rate (%) was 4.4 in 2019, 20.6 in 2020 (P < 0.001), and 19.5 in 2021 (P < 0.001). For infants with fever, the EMS time interval was 27.6 ± 10.8 in 2019, 35.1 ± 15.4 in 2020 (P < 0.001), and 42.3 ± 20.5 in 2021 (P < 0.001), and the nontransport rate (%) was 2.6 in 2019, 25.0 in 2020, and 19.7 in 2021. After the emergence of COVID-19, in Busan, the EMS time interval of fever patients was delayed, and approximately 20% of fever patients were not transported. However, infants with fever had shorter EMS time intervals and higher nontransport rates than the overall study population. A comprehensive approach, including prehospital and hospital ED flow improvements, is required beyond increasing the number of isolation beds.

S1676 Things Are Not Always What They Seem: A Rare Case of Pancreatic Carcinoma Manifesting Through Cutaneous Metastasis

Introduction: Pancreatic cancer is an aggressive disease that commonly metastasizes to the liver, lung, and peritoneum. Cutaneous metastasis is a rare occurrence with an incidence of only 2.0%. We present a case of metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma primarily presenting as a cutaneous nodule. Case Description/Methods: A 50-year-old male was undergoing outpatient evaluation for a raised, left scalp lesion along with neck nodules. Associated symptoms included an unintentional 30lb weight loss. Outpatient CT soft tissue neck revealed numerous necrotic lateral neck lymph nodes, lytic lesion with epidural soft tissue extension at C2-4, and occlusion/thrombosis of the left subclavian, brachiocephalic, and left internal jugular veins (Figure). Given these findings, the patient was referred to the Emergency Department (ED). At time of ED arrival, vital signs were stable along with initial laboratory values. CTA PE study showed no pulmonary embolism but revealed numerous pulmonary and bilateral adrenal nodules, multifocal liver and osseous lesions, and widespread lymphadenopathy. Additionally, CT head demonstrated a left scalp soft tissue lesion. Follow up CT abdomen/pelvis revealed a 2.8 x 2.2 x 1.8 cm ill-defined pancreatic lesion and confirmed widespread metastasis including to the muscles. Additional testing revealed elevated cancer markers with Cancer antigen 19-9 (CA 19-9) of 5418 U/mL and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) of 63.8 ng/mL. Pathology from initial scalp lesion biopsy showed fragments of necrotic dermis with small foci of poorly differentiated carcinoma. Biopsies of the right and left neck masses revealed poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma of uncertain primary. Therefore, liver biopsy was performed and confirmed non-small cell carcinoma of pancreatobiliary origin. Further imaging to determine treatment course discovered intracranial metastasis and cervical spine disease resulting in cord compression. Ultimately, the patient underwent 4 out of 10 fractions of palliative radiation to the cervical spine but passed away after transitioning to comfort care one month after diagnosis. Discussion: There are less than 25 documented cases of pancreatic cancer with cutaneous involvement; however, it is even more rare that cutaneous involvement prompts initial diagnosis. The umbilicus is the most common site of cutaneous involvement and is referred to as the Sister Mary Joseph Nodule. Involvement of the soft tissue of the scalp and neck is much less common and poorly documented making this case extremely unique.Figure 1.: Axial contrast enhanced CT of the abdomen shows a 2.8 cm ill-defined hypoattenuating mass in the pancreatic tail (A) with multifocal metastatic liver lesions and bilateral adrenal metastasis (B). Axial CT image of the pelvis shows a metastatic lesion in the right rectus femoris muscle (C). On liver biopsy, H&E, 40X,(S21-41666) revealed high grade carcinoma with vesiculated nuclei, prominent nucleoli (D), CA 19-9 IHC 20X diffuse positivity in tumor cells (E) and CK AE1/3 IHC, 20X, diffusely positivee for pancytokeratin in tumor cells confirming carcinoma (F). Axial CT of the head shows a 2.4 cm nodular left parietal scalp soft tissue lesion (G) which was also seen on clinical examination (H). Biopsy of the scalp lesion (H&E, 40X) demonstrated high grade carcinoma with vesiculated nuclei, prominent nucleoli and mitoses (I), histologically similar to liver biopsy findings.

Investigating racial disparities within an emergency department rapid-triage system

ObjectivesRacial disparities in emergency medical care are abundant, and processes aimed to increase throughput, such as a rapid triage fast-track (FT) systems, may exacerbate these inequities. A FT strategy may be more susceptible to implicit bias as subjective information is obtained quickly. We aim to determine whether a FT model was associated with greater disparities between Black and White emergency department (ED) patients. MethodsTriage-related outcomes were compared across race using a cohort selected from encounters in an ED that uses a FT model. White and Black patient encounters were exact-matched on potential confounders including sex; presence of abnormal vital signs; ED arrival time; insurance type; age category; and chief complaint. The primary triage-related outcome was use of the FT area (versus the main ED), and the secondary outcomes were wait time and assigned encounter acuity. ResultsEncounters for 5151 Black patients were exact-matched with 7179 encounters for White patients. Weights were applied to address differential numbers of encounters from each group. Within this matched cohort, Black patients were more likely to be triaged to FT than White patients (odds ratio = 1.28, 95% CI: 1.12; 1.46) and less likely to be given a high acuity score (odds ratio = 0.73, 95% CI: 0.66, 0.81). Among the high-acuity patients, Black patients were 40% more likely to be triaged to the FT area. ConclusionsThese results suggest that, after controlling for potential confounders, racial disparities may have been exacerbated in a FT ED triage process. In a FT model utilizing physicians and midlevel providers, this may create tiered levels of care between Black and White patients – an unacceptable side-effect of an effort to increase ED throughput.

Hospitalizations for Acute Gout: Process Mapping the Inpatient Journey and Identifying Predictors of Admission.

To identify predictors of admission following emergency department (ED) attendances for gout flares and to describe barriers to optimal inpatient gout care. ED attendances and hospital admissions with primary diagnoses of gout were analyzed at 2 UK-based hospitals between January 1, 2017, and December 31, 2020. Demographic and clinical predictors of ED disposition (admission or discharge) and reattendance for gout flares were identified using logistic regression and survival models, respectively. Case note reviews (n = 59), stakeholder meetings, and process mapping were performed to capture detailed information on gout management and to identify strategies to optimize care. Of 1220 emergency attendances for gout flares, 23.5% required hospitalization (median length of stay: 3.6 days). Recurrent attendances for flares occurred in 10.4% of patients during the study period. In multivariate logistic regression models, significant predictors of admission from ED were older age, overnight ED arrival time, higher serum urate (SU), higher C-reactive protein, and higher total white cell count at presentation. Detailed case note reviews showed that only 22.6% of patients with preexisting gout were receiving urate-lowering therapy (ULT) at presentation. Initial diagnostic uncertainty was common, yet rheumatology input and synovial aspirates were rarely obtained. By 6 months postdischarge, 43.6% were receiving ULT; however, few patients had treat-to-target dose optimization, and only 9.1% achieved SU levels ≤ 360 μmol/L. We identified multiple predictors of hospitalization for acute gout. Treat-to-target optimization of ULT following hospitalization remains inadequate and must be improved if admissions are to be prevented.

Abstract WMP59: Trends And Predictors Of Delay In Hospital Presentation After Symptom Onset Among Ischemic Stroke Patients: A Single-center Study

Background: Delivery of acute ischemic stroke therapies is contingent on the duration from last known normal (LKN) to emergency department arrival time (EDAT). Methods: We studied patients presenting to Yale-New Haven Hospital from 2010-2020 who met these criteria 1) ischemic stroke, 2) age ≥ 18, 3) not transferred from another hospital, and 4) stroke symptom onset prior to hospital presentation. The outcome was LKN to EDAT dichotomized at 4.5 hours. Temporal trends were assessed by linear regression. Covariates analyzed for association with later arrival were: age, gender, race, ethnicity, median household income &lt; $50,000 by ZIP, arrival means, and NIHSS. We built a multivariable logistic regression model by stepwise selection with variables significant at p-value &lt; 0.05). Results: We included 5,242 ischemic stroke patients; 1,964 (37.5%) presented early (&lt;4.5 hrs). Patients presenting early decreased from 47.2% to 32.3% over time (p&lt;0.01, Figure 1 ) and downward slope was steeper among non-White patients. Compared to early presenters, late presenters were more likely younger (median 72 vs 74 years; p&lt;0.001), of non-White race (35.3% vs 26.8%, p&lt;0.001), of Hispanic ethnicity (8.2% vs 6.2%, p=0.010), have a median household income &lt; $50,000 (27.0% vs 21.2%, p=&lt;0.001), arrive by means other than emergency medical services (EMS) (66.4% vs 85.8%, p&lt;0.001), and have an NIHSS &lt; 4 (57.5% vs 41.6%, p&lt;0.001). In a multivariable model, non-White race (OR 1.4, 95% C.I. 1.2-1.7), arrival by means other than EMS (OR 2.4, 95% C.I. 1.9-3.0), and NIHSS &lt; 4 (OR 1.6, 95% C.I. 1.3-1.9) were significant, independent predictors of presenting later. Conclusion: Frequency of ischemic stroke patients presenting beyond 4.5 hrs increased from 2010 to 2020. Non-White race, arriving by means other than EMS, and minor stroke symptoms were linked with delay in presentation. Further study is necessary to identify and target barriers to timely hospital presentation among ischemic stroke patients.

Association of limited English proficiency and increased pediatric emergency department revisits.

Limited English proficiency (LEP) is a risk factor for health care inequity and an important focus for improving communication and care quality. This study examines the association between LEP and pediatric emergency department (ED) revisits. This was a retrospective, cross-sectional study of patients 0 to 21years old discharged home after an initial visit from an academic, tertiary care pediatric ED from January 1, 2017, to June 30, 2018. We calculated rates of ED revisits within 72h resulting in discharge or hospitalization and assessed rate differences between LEP and English-proficient (EP) patients. Multivariable logistic regression models examined the association between revisits and LEP status controlling for age, race, ethnicity, triage acuity, clinical complexity, and ED arrival time. Sensitivity models including insurance were also conducted. There were 63,601 index visits in the study period; 12,986 (20%) were by patients with LEP. There were 2,387 (3.8%) revisits within 72h of initial ED visit. Among LEP and EP patient visits, there were 4.53 and 3.55 revisits/100 initial ED visits, respectively (rate difference= 0.97, 95% confidence interval [CI]= 0.58 to 1.37). In the multivariable analyses, LEP was associated with increased odds of revisits resulting in discharge (odds ratio [OR]= 1.15, 95% CI= 1.01 to 1.30) and in hospitalization (OR= 1.28, 95% CI= 1.03 to 1.58). Sensitivity analyses additionally adjusting for insurance status attenuated these results. These results suggest that LEP was associated with increased pediatric ED revisits. Improved understanding of language barrier effects on clinical care is important for decreasing health care disparities in the ED.

The Impact of Night-time Emergency Department Presentation on Upper Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage Outcomes.

The aim was to investigate the impact of night-time emergency department (ED) presentation on outcomes of patients admitted for acute upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage (UGIH). The relationship between time of ED presentation and outcomes of gastrointestinal hemorrhage is unclear. Using the 2016 and 2017 Florida State Inpatient Databases which provide times of ED arrival, we identified and categorized adults hospitalized for UGIH to daytime (07:00 to 18:59 h) and night-time (19:00 to 06:59 h) based on the time of ED presentation. We matched both groups with propensity scores, and assessed their clinical outcomes including all-cause in-hospital mortality, in-hospital endoscopy utilization, length of stay (LOS), total hospitalization costs, and 30-day all-cause readmission rates. Of the identified 38,114 patients with UGIH, 89.4% (n=34,068) had acute nonvariceal hemorrhage (ANVH), while 10.6% (n=4046) had acute variceal hemorrhage (AVH). Compared with daytime patients, ANVH patients admitted at night-time had higher odds of in-hospital mortality (odds ratio: 1.32; 95% confidence interval: 1.06-1.60), lower odds of in-patient endoscopy (odds ratio: 0.83; 95% confidence interval: 0.77-0.90), higher total hospital costs ($9911 vs. $9545, P <0.016), but similar LOS and readmission rates. Night-time AVH patients had a shorter LOS (5.4 vs. 5.8 d, P =0.045) but similar mortality rates, endoscopic utilization, total hospitalization costs, and readmission rates as daytime patients. Patients arriving in the ED at night-time with ANVH had worse outcomes (mortality, hospitalization costs, and endoscopy utilization) compared with daytime patients. However, those with AVH had comparable outcomes irrespective of ED arrival time.

Smartphone application alerts for early trauma team activation: Millennial technology in healthcare

BackgroundData access through smartphone applications (apps) has reframed procedure and policy in healthcare, but its impact in trauma remains unclear. Citizen is a free app that provides real-time alerts curated from 911 dispatch data. Our primary objective was to determine whether app alerts occurred earlier than recorded times for trauma team activation and emergency department arrival. MethodsTrauma registry entries were extracted from a level one urban trauma center from January 1, 2018 to June 30, 2019 and compared with app metadata from the center catchment area. We matched entries to metadata according to description, date, time, and location then compared metadata timestamps to trauma team activation and emergency department arrival times. We computed percentage of time the app reported traumatic events earlier than trauma team activation or emergency department arrival along with exact binomial 95% confidence interval; median differences between times were presented along with interquartile ranges. ResultsOf 3,684 trauma registry entries, 209 (5.7%) matched app metadata. App alerts were earlier for 96.1% and 96.2% of trauma team activation and emergency department arrival times, respectively, with events reported median 36 (24–53, IQR) minutes earlier than trauma team activation and 32 (25–42, IQR) minutes earlier than emergency department arrival. Registry entries for younger males, motor vehicle-related injuries and penetrating traumas were more likely to match alerts (P < .0001). ConclusionApps like Citizen may provide earlier notification of traumatic events and therefore earlier mobilization of trauma service resources. Earlier notification may translate into improved patient outcomes. Additional studies into the benefit of apps for trauma care are warranted.

Factors associated with emergency department length of stay of internal medicine patients

Emergency Department (ED) Length Of Stay (ED-LOS) is associated with quality of care, patient safety and treatment outcome. The aim of this study is to identify factors associated with ED-LOS of internal medicine patients and provide recommendations to shorten ED-LOS. A retrospective cohort study was conducted in a single center in the Netherlands. Anonymised data of 7,380 ED attendances from January 2016 to January 2018 were analyzed. Data included time of ED arrival and departure, sex, age, source of referral, triage category, first or consecutive visit and number of radiological examinations. Univariate analyses were used. Mean ED-LOS was 220 minutes. Factors which significantly prolonged ED-LOS were older age, source of referral, triage category, need for admission, first visit, number of radiological examinations, presentation in winter or spring and time of arrival (day and evening). Several patient and circumstantial factors are associated with ED-LOS. To shorten ED-LOS, we recommend to anticipate need for admission for older patients who arrive by ambulance and to create time slots in the radiology program and to restructure the morning report.

Use of an Emergency Department-Based Intranasal Fentanyl Protocol for Vaso-Occlusive Episodes in Sickle Cell Disease: The Unanticipated Consequences

Background: Acute management of pain associated with vaso-occlusive episodes (VOE) in patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) is an on-going challenge in the emergency department (ED) setting. The 2014 National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) guidelines recommend rapid evaluation and treatment for moderate-severe VOE, including administration of 1stparenteral opioid within 30 minutes (min) of triage or 60 min from registration, pain reassessment, and repeat opioid delivery within 15-30 min. Despite these recommendations, significant delays in providing optimal pain management is common for patients with SCD. Intranasal fentanyl (INF), a powerful parenteral analgesia with rapid onset is commonly used for pain in the ED, a practice that has recently been extended to treatment of VOE in some institutions. We and others have demonstrated that INF use is effective in helping with sickle-related pain management and achieving better adherence to NHLBI guidelines. However, the utilization of INF may have led to an unanticipated delay in administering intravenous (IV) opioids for this patient population.Objective: To evaluate the utilization of INF in the ED and its effect on the timeliness of 1st IV opioid administration for treatment of VOE in children with SCD.Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of electronic medical records in a single Pediatric ED from January 2017 to June 2017. We evaluated patients with SCD ages ≥ 2 years presenting with moderate-severe VOE (pain scores ≥6 on a severity scale of 0-10) after introduction of a nurse-initiated INF order (1.5 mcg/kg/dose; max 100 mcg/dose X2, 5 min apart) that was added to the standard institutional protocol for VOE treatment. Outcomes included: Time of ED arrival to 1st parenteral opioid, time to first IV opioid, and disposition. We also compared time to 1st IV opioid administration in patients who received INF with historical data of SCD patients treated at this ED with only IV opioids before INF use was standard practice (Jan-Dec 2012, n=231).Results: 250 patients met inclusion criteria. Mean age was 12.5 years, 52% female, and 66% had HbSS, 22% HbSC, 6% HbSB0 and 6% other. Admission rate was 60%. 183 (73%) patients received INF and 204 (82%) received an IV opioid, 141 of whom received both INF and IV opioids, while 42 (17%) patients received INF only. Mean time±standard deviation to first INF dose was 28.5±21 min; mean time to IV opioid delivery was 77±47 min compared to 35±18 min prior to initiation of the INF protocol (historical data, n=231, p<0.0001; Figure 1). In the current cohort, there was no statistically significant difference in time to IV opioid delivery in patients who received IV opioid after INF vs. IV opioid alone. However, only 52 (36%) of patients who received IV opioid after INF received IV opioid within 60 min of ED arrival compared to 36 (57%) who received IV opioids without INF (p<0.01). Of the 42 patients who received INF without any IV opioids, 39 patients (93%) were discharged home, while 5 (13%) of these discharged patients returned to the ED within 72 hours for VOE, similar to the 72 hour return rate in 7/39 (18%) patients discharged from the ED after receiving INF followed by IV opioids.Conclusion: Use of INF in the ED for pediatric patients with SCD and VOE is an excellent strategy to shorten time to administration of 1st dose of parenteral opioid and therefore improve adherence to the NHLBI guidelines recommending rapid administration of parenteral opioids within 60 min of ED arrival. Of interest, INF alone appeared to provide sufficient pain control without IV opioids for disposition home in one out of 6 children with VOE, an observation not previously reported. Whether this reflects adequate pain control or insufficient management requires further investigation. However, our experience also illustrates the potential pitfall of an ED-based INF protocol with respect to delays in delivery of IV opioids after initial administration of INF compared to our historical data prior to the INF protocol implementation. Although the significance of this delay is unknown, quality improvement efforts are underway to address this unanticipated consequence. [Display omitted] DisclosuresMorris:MAST Therapeutics: Research Funding; Calithera Biosciences: Consultancy; Nestle: Consultancy; Lifetrients: Patents & Royalties: I am inventor of IP owned by USCF-Benioff Children's Hospital Oakland, licensed to Lifetrients, generating royalties; Pfizer: Consultancy.

Abstract No. 164 Influence of emergency department clinical presentation on speed of diagnosis for patients with suspected acute gastrointestinal bleeding

In patients with suspected acute gastrointestinal bleeding rapid diagnosis is essential to avoid significant morbidity and mortality. The purpose of this study was to assess whether initial clinical evaluation is associated with differences in time between emergency department (ED) presentation and computed tomography angiography (CTA). A retrospective, single health system, multi-hospital study reviewed charts from 2009 to 2019 for patients admitted to the ED with suspected GI bleeding and subsequent CTA. 81 patients with active extravasation on CTA were matched to 93 patients by age, gender and date of CTA scan without active extravasation. Presenting symptoms, vitals, medications, time of ED arrival and CTA were collected. Mean time from ED arrival to CTA was compared using unpaired t-tests. The mean patient age was 69.5 (range, 24-100) and 91 were female. Faster time from admission to CTA was noted in patients on anticoagulation (315 vs 377 mins; P = 0.008) and with heart rate >100 beats/min (314 vs 378 mins; P< 0.001). Hematochezia (330 vs 435 minutes; P = 0.057) was non-significant but trended toward faster time to CTA. No difference was noted based on systolic blood pressure < 110 mmHg (362 vs 343 mins; P = 0.79). Overall, time from ED admission to CTA was significantly faster in patients with active extravasation (297 vs 423 minutes; P = .009). In patients with suspected gastrointestinal bleeding accurate clinical assessment drives faster time to confirmation of hemorrhage on CTA.

Extracorporeal Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation for Refractory Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest (EROCA): Results of a Randomized Feasibility Trial of Expedited Out-of-Hospital Transport

Outcomes of extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR) for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest depend on time to therapy initiation. We hypothesize that it would be feasible to select refractory out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients for expedited transport based on real-time estimates of the 911 call to the emergency department (ED) arrival interval, and for emergency physicians to rapidly initiate ECPR in eligible patients. In a 2-tiered emergency medical service with an ECPR-capable primary destination hospital, adults with refractory shockable or witnessed out-of-hospital cardiac arrest were randomized 4:1 to expedited transport or standard care if the predicted 911 call to ED arrival interval was less than or equal to 30 minutes. The primary outcomes were the proportion of subjects with 911 call to ED arrival less than or equal to 30 minutes and ED arrival to ECPR flow less than or equal to 30 minutes. Of 151 out-of-hospital cardiac arrest 911 calls, 15 subjects (10%) were enrolled. Five of 12 subjects randomized to expedited transport had an ED arrival time of less than or equal to 30 minutes (overall mean 32.5 minutes [SD 7.1]), and 5 were eligible for and treated with ECPR. Three of 5 ECPR-treated subjects had flow initiated in less than or equal to 30 minutes of ED arrival (overall mean 32.4 minutes [SD 10.9]). No subject in either group survived with a good neurologic outcome. The Extracorporeal Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation for Refractory Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest trial did not meet predefined feasibility outcomes for selecting out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients for expedited transport and initiating ECPR in the ED. Additional research is needed to improve the accuracy of predicting the 911 call to ED arrival interval, optimize patient selection, and reduce the ED arrival to ECPR flow interval.

Evaluation of First-Dose, Intravenous Push Penicillins and Carbapenems in the Emergency Department

Background: Early appropriate antibiotic administration is associated with improved outcomes in infectious illnesses. During drug shortages in 2017, the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists recommended intravenous push (IVP) administration of medications when possible to conserve small-volume parenteral solutions. Data supporting IVP penicillins and carbapenems was limited. Objective: The primary objective of this study compared time from patient emergency department (ED) arrival to antibiotic administration between IVP and intravenous piggy-back (IVPB) administration. Methods: This single-center pre-post protocol study assessed changes in administration timing and safety of ampicillin/sulbactam, piperacillin/tazobactam, and ertapenem from 2015-2018. Medication administration by IVPB (pre) or IVP (post), ED arrival, antibiotic order and administration times, potential effectors of administration time, and safety events were assessed. Acquisition costs were estimated. Results: A total of 696 administrations were included, with 351 and 345 subjects in the IVPB and IVP cohorts, respectively. The median time from ED arrival to initiation of antibiotic administration was 140 (IQR 87-221) minutes and 110 (IQR 68-181) minutes in the IVPB and IVP cohorts, respectively, (P < 0.01). IVP administration increased the proportion of indexed antibiotics administered within 60 minutes of ED arrival compared to IVPB (20% vs. 12%, respectively, P < 0.01). There was no difference in adverse events between both cohorts. Supply acquisition cost savings totaled an more than $5,000 with the IVP protocol. Conclusion: IVP administration of ampicillin/sulbactam, piperacillin/tazobactam, and ertapenem improved times to initiation of empiric, first-dose antibiotics in the ED without an increase in adverse events, saving over $5,000 annually.