Category: Pharmacology & Therapeutics
Posted: 12/14/2023 by Ashley Martinelli
(Updated: 11/22/2024)
Click here to contact Ashley Martinelli
Bottom Line: Droperidol is an effective alternative to haloperidol in the treatment of gastroparesis although most patients will also receive prokinetic agents as well such as metoclopramide. It may also have some analgesic benefit.
Prior studies have demonstrated the efficacy and safety of haloperidol in the management of gastroparesis. A recent retrospective study was conducted to assess the impact of droperidol as it is an effective antiemetic similar to haloperidol.
This study enrolled 233 patients. Visits were matched with their most recent ED visit > 7 prior where droperidol was not administered.
Most patients were female, 51% African American, and the median age was 40. Doses ranged from 0.625 mg – 2.5 mg with the most common dose being 1.25 mg.
Results:
Stirrup N, Jones G, Arthus J, Lewis Z. Droperidol undermining gastroparesis symptoms (DRUGS) in the emergency department. American Journal of Emergency Medicine. 2024;75:42-45.
Category: Critical Care
Keywords: Critical Care, Burn, Resuscitation (PubMed Search)
Posted: 12/13/2023 by Lucas Sjeklocha, MD
Click here to contact Lucas Sjeklocha, MD
Bottom line: In the 2023 updated Clinical Practice Guideline, the American Burn Association recommends 2ml/kg/%TBSA (for burns >20% TBSA)as initial starting point for fluid administration in the first 48 hours, guided by clinical factors with consideration of supplemental albumin to limit fluid administration. Fresh frozen plasma should be considered in the context of a clinical trial. Vitamin C and advanced hemodynamic monitoring are not recommended as they have not demonstrated improved outcomes.
Summary: Burn care has a paucity of high-quality research about some of the fundamental questions for resuscitation. The American Burn Association since 2010 has endorsed fluid volumes for patients with >20% TBSA (i.e. those predicted to develop burn shock) from 2ml/kg/%TBSA to 4ml/kg/%TBSA as a starting point for fluid resuscitation. Further clinical studies since then have demonstrated that lower volumes of fluid targeting urine output and other physiological variables are effective without demonstrating clear improvement in patient centered outcomes. Further adjuncts such as albumin or fresh frozen plasma have demonstrated reduced fluid administration but no improvement in patient-centered outcomes. While “fluid creep” is increasingly recognized, demonstrating benefits in clinical trials will likely remain elusive as overall practice continues to shift towards less fluids and the adjunctive use of colloid will likely continue to expand. In addition to ABA CPGs and resources, the Joint Trauma System also has several useful resources for burn care.
Sources:
https://doi.org/10.1093/jbcr/irad125
https://jts.health.mil/assets/docs/cpgs/Burn_Care_11_May_2016_ID12.pdf
Category: Trauma
Keywords: soft tissue injury, trauma, (PubMed Search)
Posted: 12/10/2023 by Robert Flint, MD
(Updated: 11/22/2024)
Click here to contact Robert Flint, MD
Here are three good resources to learn about a soft tissue injury seen in high velocity blunt trauma patients called Morel-Lavallee lessions.
“Morel Lavallee lesions are soft tissue injuries seen in high-velocity trauma and are usually associated with underlying fractures of the pelvis, acetabulum, or proximal femur. Often these injuries are not immediately diagnosed due to the distracting concomitant bony injuries. However, identification of such injuries is important as they may pose as an independent risk factor for surgical site infection. The clinical findings include soft tissue swelling, bruise/ ecchymosis, fluctuance, and compressibility in the swelling. The diagnosis is usually established on physical examination, however, radiological investigations including ultrasonography and CT might help. The management options include nonoperative treatment, percutaneous aspiration, and open debridement.” 1
“Morel-Lavallée lesions are often the result of skin and subcutaneous tissue quickly tearing away from the underlying fascia. This allows a range of fluids to fill the space in the form of hemolymphatic masses. The two most common sites are the prepatellar plate of the knee and the lateral fascia of the hip.” 2
“ML lesion is often undiagnosed during initial presentation of a trauma patient, and emergency physicians and trauma surgeons should be aware of the possibility of occurrence of this injury. MRI is the imaging modality of choice, and the presence or absence of a capsule is an important imaging finding that guides appropriate therapy. Early diagnosis and management will help prevent long-term morbidity and complications in these patients.”3
Category: EMS
Keywords: EMS, trauma, emergency medical services, (PubMed Search)
Posted: 12/6/2023 by Ben Lawner, MS, DO
(Updated: 11/22/2024)
Click here to contact Ben Lawner, MS, DO
BACKGROUND
EMS systems differ in staffing and composition. The Japanese model utilizes “doctor cars” which bring a physician and nurse to the scene of a critical patient encounter. Personnel on the “doctor cars” are able to perform advanced therapies such as REBOA, finger thoracostomy, and chest tube thoracostomy. As physician EMS fellowships continue to expand in the United States, it is helpful to examine the utility of physician response incorporated into prehospital emergency care.
THE STUDY
A nationwide retrospective cohort study including over 370,000 patients examined the impact of Japan “doctor cars” upon in hospital survival. Doctor cars responded to 2361 trauma patients, and traditional Ground Emergency Medical Services (GEMS) units cared for 46,783 trauma patients. The study’s primary outcome was survival to discharge.
The adjusted odds ratio for survival was significantly higher in the exposure group served by the doctor cars. The study suggests that there may be a role for augmenting ground EMS personnel in the response to critical injuries. Via logistic regression, the study controlled for multiple other variables such as age, sex, prehospital vital signs, out of hospital time, and injury severity score (ISS).
BOTTOM LINE
This study is far from definitive but contributes to a growing body of literature addressing how EMS physicians integrate into prehospital systems.
Hayashi T, Matsuo K, Furuya S, Nakajima Y, Hitomi S, Ogawa K, Suzuki H, Yamamoto D, Asami M, Sakamoto S, Kamiyama J, Okuda Y, Minami K, Teshigahara K, Gokita M, Yasaka K, Taguchi S, Kiyota K. Impact of physician-staffed ground emergency medical services-administered pre-hospital trauma care on in-hospital survival outcomes in Japan. Eur J Trauma Emerg Surg. 2023 Nov 24. doi: 10.1007/s00068-023-02383-w. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 37999771.
Category: Critical Care
Keywords: vasopressor, norepinephrine, timing, septic shock (PubMed Search)
Posted: 12/5/2023 by Quincy Tran, MD, PhD
(Updated: 11/22/2024)
Click here to contact Quincy Tran, MD, PhD
Settings: systemic review and meta-analysis
Participants: 2 RCTs, 21 observational studies. Fifteen studies were published between 2020-2023.
There was a total of 25721 patients with septic shock
Outcome measurement: Primary outcome was short-term mortality (ICU, hospital, 28-day, 30-day). Secondary outcomes included ICU LOS, Hospital LOS, time to achieve MAP > 65 mm Hg,
Study Results:
Composite outcome of short term mortality:
Secondary outcome:
Discussion:
Conclusion:
More and more studies, although a RCT is still necessary, are showing that early initiation of vasopressor within 1-6 hours of septic shock would be more beneficial to patients with septic shock.
Ye E, Ye H, Wang S, Fang X. INITIATION TIMING OF VASOPRESSOR IN PATIENTS WITH SEPTIC SHOCK: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW AND META-ANALYSIS. Shock. 2023 Nov 1;60(5):627-636. doi: 10.1097/SHK.0000000000002214. Epub 2023 Sep 2. PMID: 37695641.
Category: Vascular
Keywords: aortic aneurysm; point-of-care ultrasound; pocus; aortic dissection (PubMed Search)
Posted: 12/4/2023 by Alexis Salerno, MD
(Updated: 11/22/2024)
Click here to contact Alexis Salerno, MD
Point-of-Care Ultrasound can help to identify signs of thoracic aortic dissection.
One view to help in your assessment is the Parasternal Long Axis View.
To correctly measure the aortic root:
Here is an example of an aortic root aneurysm:
Kennedy Hall M, Coffey EC, Herbst M, Liu R, Pare JR, Andrew Taylor R, Thomas S, Moore CL. The "5Es" of emergency physician-performed focused cardiac ultrasound: a protocol for rapid identification of effusion, ejection, equality, exit, and entrance. Acad Emerg Med. 2015 May;22(5):583-93. doi: 10.1111/acem.12652.
Category: Trauma
Keywords: prehospital, EDTCO2, mortality (PubMed Search)
Posted: 12/3/2023 by Robert Flint, MD
Click here to contact Robert Flint, MD
A retrospective study of 2 years of data from 24 trauma centers looking at end tidal CO2 as a predictor of mortality in trauma patients found:
"A total of 1,324 patients were enrolled. ETCO2 was better in predicting mortality than shock index (SI) and systolic blood pressure (SBP). Prehospital lowest ETCO2 , SBP , and SI were all predictive of Mass Transfusion."
Another data point to consider when setting up trauma triage protocols and looking for patients who will require intensive interventions early.
Campion EM, Cralley A, Sauaia A, Buchheit RC, Brown AT, Spalding MC, LaRiccia A, Moore S, Tann K, Leskovan J, Camazine M, Barnes SL, Otaibi B, Hazelton JP, Jacobson LE, Williams J, Castillo R, Stewart NJ, Elterman JB, Zier L, Goodman M, Elson N, Miner J, Hardman C, Kapoen C, Mendoza AE, Schellenberg M, Benjamin E, Wakam GK, Alam HB, Kornblith LZ, Callcut RA, Coleman LE, Shatz DV, Burruss S, Linn AC, Perea L, Morgan M, Schroeppel TJ, Stillman Z, Carrick MM, Gomez MF, Berne JD, McIntyre RC, Urban S, Nahmias J, Tay E, Cohen M, Moore EE, McVaney K, Burlew CC. Prehospital end-tidal carbon dioxide is predictive of death and massive transfusion in injured patients: An Eastern Association for Surgery of Trauma multicenter trial. J Trauma Acute Care Surg. 2022 Feb 1;92(2):355-361. doi: 10.1097/TA.0000000000003447. PMID: 34686640.
Category: Quality Assurance/Quality Improvement
Keywords: Checklists, Patient Safety, Quality (PubMed Search)
Posted: 12/2/2023 by Brent King, MD
Click here to contact Brent King, MD
The Bottom Line: Investigators studying the use of a pre-intubation checklist versus "usual care" found no differences in important outcomes such as oxygen saturation and first pass success. However, the study was conducted as a part of a larger study, was unblinded, and not well controlled.
The investigators who conducted the multicenter CHECK UP trial, a study of head up intubation in ICU patients, reviewed the care of 262 ICU patients who were intubated. Some intubation attempts were guided by a pre-intubation checklist and some were not. The authors found no difference between the groups in lowest SPO2, number of intubation attempts, etc. However, the study was unblinded and largely observational. In many cases, the elements of a checklist had been incorporated into routine practice.
Take Home Point: While the authors found no differences in outcomes, this study does little to prove or disprove the value of pre-intubation checklists. Not only was the study essentially uncontrolled, the untoward events being studied are unusual in the hands of experienced clinicians.
Comment: Pre-procedural checklists make intuitive sense to me. They help us to avoid cultural drift. I am certainly not ready to abandon the use of a pre-intubation checklist based upon this study
Janz DR, Semler MW, Joffe AM, et al. A multicenter, randomized trial of a checklist for endotracheal intubation of critically ill adults. Chest 2018;153:816-824.
Category: Pediatrics
Posted: 12/1/2023 by To-Lam Nguyen, MD
Click here to contact To-Lam Nguyen, MD
Since Christmas is coming up, let's talk about Hemophilia A (factor VIII deficiency) and Hemophilia B (factor IX deficiency, also known as Christmas disease)
Deficiencies in Factors VIII and IX are the most common severe inherited bleeding disorders.
Pathophysiology:
Clinical Manifestations:
Lab findings and diagnosis
Genetics
Classification
trauma to induce bleeding
Treatment
Summary:
Kliegman R, Stanton B, St. Geme JW, Schor NF, Behrman RE. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. Edition 20. Elsevier; 2016. Accessed December 1, 2023. https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=cat01362a&AN=hshs.004567758&site=eds-live
Category: Pediatrics
Posted: 12/1/2023 by To-Lam Nguyen, MD
Click here to contact To-Lam Nguyen, MD
Since Christmas is coming up, let's talk about Hemophilia A (factor VIII deficiency) and Hemophilia B (factor IX deficiency, also known as Christmas disease)
Deficiencies in Factors VIII and IX are the most common severe inherited bleeding disorders.
Pathophysiology:
Clinical Manifestations:
Lab findings and diagnosis
Genetics
Classification
trauma to induce bleeding
Treatment
Summary:
Kliegman R, Stanton B, St. Geme JW, Schor NF, Behrman RE. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. Edition 20. Elsevier; 2016. Accessed December 2, 2023. https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=cat01362a&AN=hshs.004567758&site=eds-live
Kliegman R, Stanton B, St. Geme JW, Schor NF, Behrman RE. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. Edition 20. Elsevier; 2016. Accessed December 2, 2023. https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=cat01362a&AN=hshs.004567758&site=eds-live
Category: Critical Care
Posted: 11/28/2023 by Caleb Chan, MD
(Updated: 11/22/2024)
Click here to contact Caleb Chan, MD
McCallister R, Nuppnau M, Sjoding MW, Dickson RP, Chanderraj R. In patients with sepsis, initial lactate clearance is confounded highly by comorbidities and poorly predicts subsequent lactate trajectory. CHEST. 2023;164(3):667-669.
Category: Hematology/Oncology
Keywords: Transfusion, Anemia, MI, ACS, hematology (PubMed Search)
Posted: 11/27/2023 by Sarah Dubbs, MD
Click here to contact Sarah Dubbs, MD
Hot off the NEJM press, published November 11, 2023:
Restrictive or Liberal Transfusion Strategy in Myocardial Infarction and Anemia (Carson, Brooks, Hebert, et al Myocardial Ischemia and Transfusion (MINT) Investigators)
3504 pateints were included in this study. A primary-outcome event occurred in 295 of 1749 patients (16.9%) in the restrictive-strategy group and in 255 of 1755 patients (14.5%) in the liberal-strategy group. More specifically, death occurred in 9.9% of the patients with the restrictive strategy and in 8.3% of the patients with the liberal strategy; myocardial infarction occurred in 8.5% and 7.2% of the patients, respectively.
Conclusions from the study: Liberal transfusion strategy did NOT significantly reduce the risk of recurrent MI or death at 30 days.
N Engl J MedCarson JL, Brooks MM, Hébert PC, et al. Restrictive or Liberal Transfusion Strategy in Myocardial Infarction and Anemia. . Published online November 11, 2023. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa2307983
Category: Trauma
Keywords: Geriatric, trauma, mortality, risk factors (PubMed Search)
Posted: 11/26/2023 by Robert Flint, MD
(Updated: 11/22/2024)
Click here to contact Robert Flint, MD
A chart review of 1300 patients over age 65 admitted to the trauma service, arrived as a trauma activation, or had an injury severity score over 12 over a 6 year period looking at 30 day mortality found:
"five factors associated with increased 30-day mortality in older trauma patients: GCS < 15, ISS > 15, age ≥ 85 years, anticoagulation, and multimorbidity."
Fall from standing was the leading cause of trauma
Again, fragility is the index we should be using, not age alone. This study is limited in its retrospective chart review nature. Prospective research in the area of geriatric trauma is needed. Until then, assess those over age 65 for risk factors associated with fragility and treat accordingly.
Yadav, K., Lampron, J., Nadj, R. et al.Predictors of mortality among older major trauma patients. Can J Emerg Med 25, 865–872 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s43678-023-00597-w
Category: Orthopedics
Keywords: foot injury (PubMed Search)
Posted: 11/25/2023 by Brian Corwell, MD
Click here to contact Brian Corwell, MD
The fleck sign of the foot is a small bony fragment seen in the Lisfranc joint space.
The space between the bases of the first and second metatarsal
This finding is associated with an avulsion of the Lisfranc ligament
Lisfranc Injuries
Category: Critical Care
Posted: 11/23/2023 by William Teeter, MD
Click here to contact William Teeter, MD
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37142091/
Category: Trauma
Keywords: Geriatric, older person, trauma, super-geriatric (PubMed Search)
Posted: 11/23/2023 by Robert Flint, MD
(Updated: 11/22/2024)
Click here to contact Robert Flint, MD
This retrospective study looked at trauma patients over age 65 and divided them into age ranges 65-80 (geriatric) and 80 plus (super-geriatric). They then looked at mechanusm of injury, mortality, interventions,etc. What they found was ages 65-80 were more likely to be injured in motor vehicle crashes vs. falls for those over 80. Those over 80 received less interventions including hemmorhage control surgery and had much higher levels of withdrawal of care.
This study highlights that the geriatric population is not as a monolithic group over age 65, but more nuanced by various age ranges over 65. Research going forward should be adjusted to these nuanced age ranges. Out treatment approaches should be adjusted in geriatric vs. super-geriatric patients as well.
El-Qawaqzeh K, Anand T, Alizai Q, Colosimo C, Hosseinpour H, Spencer A, Ditillo M, Magnotti LJ, Stewart C, Joseph B. Trauma in the Geriatric and the Super-Geriatric: Should They Be Treated the Same? J Surg Res. 2024 Jan;293:316-326. doi: 10.1016/j.jss.2023.09.015. Epub 2023 Oct 6. PMID: 37806217.
Category: Administration
Keywords: boarding, administration, crowding (PubMed Search)
Posted: 11/22/2023 by Mercedes Torres, MD
(Updated: 11/22/2024)
Click here to contact Mercedes Torres, MD
A recently published study of ED APPs, residents, attendings, and nurses attempted to assess clinician's perspectives on how ED boarding impacts ED staff and patients. Authors performed a survey followed by focus group sessions to obtain qualitative insignts from participants.
All respondents associated boarding with feelings of burnout and self-reported poor satisfaction with communication and the process of boarding care.
Several key themes emerged which are outlined below:
This publication highlights the negative workforce and patient safety effects of ED boarding. It amplifies the voices of our colleagues who work towards change to improve both the health of our wrokforce as well as that of our patients and the communities that we serve.
Loke D, et al. Clinicians’ Insights on Emergency Department Boarding: An Explanatory Mixed Methods Study Evaluating Patient Care and Clinician Well-Being. The Joint Commission Journal on Quality and Patient Safety 2023; 000:1-8.
Category: Pediatrics
Keywords: POCUS, Pediatrics, Lung Ultrasound, Bronchiolitis (PubMed Search)
Posted: 11/20/2023 by Alexis Salerno, MD
Click here to contact Alexis Salerno, MD
Acute bronchiolitis (AB) is a common cause of respiratory tract infections in infants. A recent study looked at the application of Point-of-Care Lung Ultrasound (LUS) in infants <12 months who presented with symptoms of AB.
They scored infant lungs using a cumulative 12-zone system. With the below scale:
0 - A lines with <3 B lines per lung segment.
1 - ≥3 B lines per lung segment, but not consolidated.
2 - consolidated B lines, but no subpleural consolidation.
3 - subpleural consolidation with any findings scoring 1 or 2.
They found that infants with higher LUS scores had increased rates of hospitalization and length of stay.
Here are some tips for ultrasounding a pediatric patient:
Smith JA, Stone BS, Shin J, Yen K, Reisch J, Fernandes N, Cooper MC. Association of outcomes in point-of-care lung ultrasound for bronchiolitis in the pediatric emergency department. Am J Emerg Med. 2023 Oct 21;75:22-28. doi: 10.1016/j.ajem.2023.10.019. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 37897916.
Category: Trauma
Keywords: Reverse shock index, Peds trauma, prediction (PubMed Search)
Posted: 11/18/2023 by Robert Flint, MD
Click here to contact Robert Flint, MD
This small study suggests using reverse shock index times the Glasgow Comma Scake score may give a prognostication on pediatric trauma severity and resource utilization.
Reppucci, Marina L. MD; et al.
Journal of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery 95(3):p 347-353, September 2023. | DOI:
Category: Administration
Keywords: DEI, sexual harassment (PubMed Search)
Posted: 10/29/2023 by Kevin Semelrath, MD
(Updated: 11/18/2023)
Click here to contact Kevin Semelrath, MD
This disturbing study out of the UK details the prevelance of sexual harassment, sexual assault and rape within the hospital environment.
Overall it's clear that women surgeons in this study were the victims and witnesses of sexual violcence at a substantially higher rate than men. 89% on women report being witnesses of sexual harassment and 63% being the victim of it; 30% of women report being the victim of sexual assault, and 35% report being witness to it; and most concerning 0.8% of women report being raped by a colleague, with 1.9% being witness to it.
The study also asked respondents about their faith in higher organizations' (the Royal Colleges and the General Medical Council) ability to respond to these issues. For women, the percentage of people who felt that there was an adequate response was only between 15-30 percent.
There is a huge and persistent gap between men and women both witnessing and experiencing sexual harassment and assault at work. Everyone has a responsibility to immediately interrupt any form of sexual harassment or assault, no matter how inocuous it may seem to the perpertrator, in order to provide an environment we can all thrive in.
Sexual harassment, sexual assault and rape by colleagues in the surgical workforce, and how women and men are living different realities: observational study using NHS population-derived weights Christopher T. Begeny1,* , Homa Arshad2, Tamzin Cuming3, Daljit K. Dhariwal4, Rebecca A. Fisher5, Marieta D. Franklin6, Philippa M. Jackson7, Greta M. McLachlan8, Rosalind H. Searle9 and Carrie Newlands10
BJS, 2023, 110, 1518–1526