The prognostic value of body temperature in sepsis-induced coagulopathy (SIC) remains unclear. In this study we aimed to investigate the association between temperature and mortality among SIC patients.
Determining which patients who meet systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) criteria have bacterial sepsis is a difficult challenge for emergency physicians. We sought to determine whether the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) could be used to exclude bacterial sepsis in adult patients who meet ≥2 SIRS criteria and are being evaluated for sepsis.
Patients who present to the emergency department (ED) with severe hypertension defined as a systolic blood pressure (SBP) ≥180 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg) or diastolic (DBP) ≥120 (mm Hg) without evidence of acute end-organ damage are often deemed high risk and treated acutely in the ED. However, there is a dearth of evidence from large studies with long-term follow-up for the assessment of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE). We conducted the largest study to date of patients presenting with severe hypertension to identify predictors of MACE and examine whether blood pressure at discharge is associated with heightened risk.
Growing data indicates that thiamine deficiency occurs during acute illness in the absence of alcohol use disorder. Our primary objective was to measure clinical factors associated with thiamine deficiency in patients with sepsis, diabetic ketoacidosis, and oncologic emergencies.
Overdose deaths from high-potency synthetic opioids, including fentanyl and its analogs, continue to rise along with emergency department (ED) visits for complications of opioid use disorder (OUD). Fentanyl accumulates in adipose tissue; although rare, this increases the risk of precipitated withdrawal in patients upon buprenorphine initiation. Many EDs have implemented medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) programs using buprenorphine. However, few offer methadone, a proven therapy without the risk of precipitated withdrawal associated with buprenorphine initiation. We describe the addition of an ED-initiated methadone treatment pathway and compared its 72-hour follow-up outpatient treatment engagement rates to our existing ED-initiated buprenorphine MOUD program.
Renal artery aneurysm rupture is a rare but morbid diagnosis, often requiring emergency surgery and nephrectomy. Clinical presentation can mimic more common pathology in non-pregnant women such as ruptured ovarian cyst.
The use of telemedicine and ultrasound is emerging and novel in the field of community paramedicine. However, there is a paucity of data supporting its use and even less evidence that shows a morbidity and mortality benefit. This case highlights a unique way to diagnose a common medical emergency, which can lead to a good outcome.
A 77-year-old male who presented to the emergency department with generalized weakness and worsening chronic dysphagia was diagnosed with pneumonia. Shortly after receiving vascular access for his treatment, he had a rapid change in his mental status and neurological examination.
Severe trauma-induced blood loss can lead to metabolic acidosis, shock, and death. Identification of abnormalities in the bicarbonate and serum markers may be seen before frank changes in vital signs in the hemorrhaging trauma patient, allowing for earlier lifesaving interventions. In this study the author aimed to evaluate the usefulness of serum bicarbonate and other lab markers as predictors of mortality in trauma patients within 30 days after injury.
Local tissue destruction following envenomation from North American snakes, particularly those within the Crotalinae subfamily, has the potential to progress to compartment syndrome. The pathophysiology of venom-induced compartment syndrome (VICS) is a debated topic and is distinct from trauma/reperfusion-induced compartment syndrome. Heterogeneity exists in the treatment practices of VICS, particularly regarding the decision to progress to fasciotomy. Associations with functional outcomes and evolution in clinical practice since the introduction of Crotalidae polyvalent immune Fab (FabAV) have not been well defined. Our goal was to identify the potential gaps in the literature regarding this phenomenon, as well as illuminate salient themes in the clinical characteristics and treatment practices of VICS.
Situational awareness is essential during emergent procedures such as endotracheal intubation. Previous studies suggest that time distortion can occur during intubation. However, only in-hospital intubations performed by physicians have been studied. We aimed to determine whether time distortion affected paramedics performing intubation by examining the perceived vs actual total laryngoscopy time, defined as time elapsed from the laryngoscope blade entering the mouth until the endotracheal tube balloon passes the vocal cords.
Hundreds of children suffer burn injuries each day, yet care guidelines regarding the need for acute inpatient treatment vs outpatient follow-up vs no required follow-up remain nebulous. This gap in the literature is particularly salient for the emergency clinician, who must be able to rapidly determine appropriate disposition.
Patients who stay in the emergency department (ED) for prolonged periods of time require verification of home medications, a process known as medication reconciliation. The complex nature of medication reconciliation can lead to adverse events and staff dissatisfaction. A multidisciplinary team was formed to improve accuracy, timing, and staff satisfaction with the medication reconciliation process.
Healthcare organizations are under increasing pressure from policymakers, payers, and advocates to screen for and address patients’ health-related social needs (HRSN). The emergency department (ED) presents several challenges to HRSN screening, and patients are frequently not screened for HRSNs. Predictive modeling using machine learning and artificial intelligence, approaches may address some pragmatic HRSN screening challenges in the ED. Because predictive modeling represents a substantial change from current approaches, in this study we explored the acceptability of HRSN predictive modeling in the ED.
The out-of-hospital emergency medical service (EMS) care responses and the transport pathways to hospital play a vital role in patient survival following injury and are the first component of a well-functioning, optimised system of trauma care. Despite longstanding challenges in delivering equitable healthcare services in the health system of Aotearoa-New Zealand (NZ), little is known about inequities in EMS-delivered care and transport pathways to hospital-level care.
There is recognition in the field of emergency medicine (EM) that social determinants of health (SDoH) are key drivers of patient care outcomes. Leaders in EM are calling for curricula integrating SDoH assessment and intervention, public health, and multidisciplinary approaches to EM care throughout medical school and residency. This intersection of SDoH and the emergency care system is known as social emergency medicine (SEM). Currently, there are few resources available for EM training programs to integrate this content; as a result, few EM trainees receive adequate education in SEM. To address this gap, we developed a four-part training in SEM tailored to EM residency programs and medical schools.
Emergency medicine (EM) was recognized as a specialty in Israel in 1999. Fifty-nine of the 234 (25%) attending physicians working in emergency departments (ED) nationwide in 2002 were board-certified emergency physicians (EP). A 2012 study revealed that 123/270 (45%) of ED attendings were EPs, and that there were 71 EM residents. The EPs primarily worked midweek morning shifts, leaving the EDs mostly staffed by other specialties. Our objective in this study was to re-evaluate the EP workforce in Israeli EDs and their employment status and satisfaction 10 years after the last study, which was conducted in 2012.
It is an unfortunate truth that Emergency Medicine (EM) physicians will, at some point, have contact with the medicolegal system. However, most EM residency training programs lack education on the legal system in their curriculum, leaving EM physicians unprepared for litigation. To fill this gap, we designed a high-yield and succinct medical legal workshop highlighting legal issues commonly encountered by EM physicians. We aimed to determine the effectiveness of this curriculum by measuring pre and post knowledge questions.
In this study we aimed to investigate the effects of incorporating Swedish-style fika (coffee) breaks into the didactic schedule of emergency medicine residents on their sleepiness levels during didactic sessions. Fika is a Swedish tradition that involves a deliberate decision to take a break during the workday and usually involves pastries and coffee. We used the Karolinska Sleepiness Scale to assess changes in sleepiness levels before and after the implementation of fika breaks.
Evidence-based medicine (EBM) is a critical skill for physicians, and EBM competency has been shown to increase implementation of best medical practices, reduce medical errors, and increase patient-centered care. Like any skill, EBM must be practiced, receiving iterative feedback to improve learners’ comprehension. Having residents document patient interactions in logbooks to allow for residency program review, feedback, and documentation of competency has been previously described as a best practice within emergency medicine (EM) to document practice-based learning (PBL) competency. Quantifying how residents use the information they query, locate, evaluate, and apply while providing direct patient care can measure the efficacy of EBM education and provide insight into more efficient ways of providing medical care.
Optimizing the performance of emergency department (ED) teams impacts patient care, but the utility of current, team-based performance assessment tools to comprehensively measure this impact is underexplored. In this study we aimed to 1) evaluate ED team performance using current team-based assessment tools during an interprofessional in situ simulation and 2) identify characteristics of effective ED teams.
Standard of care for patients with acute ischemic stroke from large vessel occlusion (AIS-LVO) includes prompt evaluation for urgent mechanical thrombectomy (MT) at a comprehensive stroke center (CSC). During the start of the coronavirus 2019 pandemic (COVID-19), there were reports about disruption to emergency department (ED) operations and delays in management of patients with AIS-LVO. In this study we investigate the outcome and operations for patients who were transferred from different EDs to an academic CSC’s critical care resuscitation unit (CCRU), which specializes in expeditious transfer of time-sensitive disease.
Prognosis and management of patients with intermediate-risk pulmonary embolism (PE) is challenging. We investigated whether stroke volume may be used to identify the subset of this population at increased risk of clinical deterioration or PE-related death. Our secondary objective was to compare echocardiographic measurements of patients who received escalated interventions vs anticoagulation monotherapy.
During cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), end-tidal carbon dioxide (EtCO2) is primarily determined by pulmonary blood flow, thereby reflecting the blood flow generated by CPR. We aimed to develop an EtCO2 trajectory-based prediction model for prognostication at specific time points during CPR in patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA).
Patients experiencing an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) frequently do not receive bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC). In this study we sought to determine the prevalence of OHCA patients in Vietnam who received bystander CPR and its effects on survival outcomes.
People who use drugs in community settings are at risk of a fatal overdose, which can be mitigated by naloxone administered via bystanders. In this study we sought to investigate methods of estimating and tracking opioid overdose reversals by community members with take-home naloxone (THN) to coalesce possible ways of characterizing THN reach with a metric that is useful for guiding both distribution of naloxone and advocacy of its benefits.
