Category: Critical Care
Posted: 4/25/2023 by Caleb Chan, MD
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Hypoxemic respiratory failure is a common presentation of critically ill patients. If the degree of hypoxemia is severe and disproportionate to the patient's radiographic findings and not responding to increasing FiO2, a right-to-left shunt should be considered. To evaluate for an anatomic shunt, an intravenous agitated saline contrast (ASC) echocardiographic evaluation can be conducted by an ED provider at the bedside.
Technique:
Interpretation:
Millington SJ, Mayo-Malasky H, Koenig S. Agitated saline contrast injection in patients with severe hypoxemia. J Intensive Care Med. 2023;38(5):479-486.
Category: Procedures
Keywords: inhospital cardiac arrest, manual compression devices (PubMed Search)
Posted: 3/28/2023 by Robert Flint, MD
(Updated: 3/6/2025)
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This is a review of the literature surrounding using mechanical compression devices for in-hospital cardiac arrest. The bottom line is there isn’t much evidence to support the use of these devices and there is scant literature in general on this topic. This is an area in need of further research
Mechanical Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation During In?Hospital Cardiac Arrest
Oscar J. L. Mitchell,Xinyi Shi, Benjamin S. Abella and Saket Girotra
Originally published21 Mar 2023https://doi.org/10.1161/JAHA.122.027726 Journal of the American Heart Association. 2023;0:e027726
Category: Pediatrics
Keywords: Ketamine, morphine, fentanyl, pediatrics, EMS, pain control (PubMed Search)
Posted: 4/21/2023 by Jenny Guyther, MD
(Updated: 3/6/2025)
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Frawley J, Goyal A, Gappy R, et al. A Comparison of Prehospital Pediatric Analgesic Use of Ketamine and Opioids [published online ahead of print, 2023 Mar 8]. Prehosp Emerg Care. 2023;1-5. doi:10.1080/10903127.2023.
Category: Critical Care
Posted: 4/20/2023 by William Teeter, MD
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CCM recently published Stanford's experience with their Emergency Critical Care Program (ECCP), an ED based intensivist consultation/management model staffed by EM/CC during peak hours with the "goals of improving care of the critically ill in the ED, offloading the ED team, and optimizing ICU bed utilization without the need for a dedicated physical space."
Conclusions:
This is the third group to document decrease in overall mortality utilizing an early or dedicated critical care consult model. EC3 and the CCRU here at UMMC have also both shown improvements in patient transfer and resource utilization metrics. As with all studies in this space, there are many limitations to these studies in both design and generalizability, even amongst each other. However, the literature is replete with data that increased boarding time in the ED for critically ill patients is associated with worse outcomes and these studies are now a body of complementary and growing evidence that teams such as this can perhaps bridge that gap. Hopefully come to an ED near you soon...
Study Details:
Objectives: To determine whether implementation of an Emergency Critical Care Program (ECCP) is associated with improved survival and early downgrade of critically ill medical patients in the emergency department (ED).
Design: Single-center, retrospective cohort study from a tertiary academic medical center using ED-visit data between 2015 and 2019 for adult medical patients presenting to the ED with a critical care admission order within 12 hours of arrival.
Pre and post intervention (2017) cohort analysis of patients when facility implemented dedicated bedside critical care by an ED-based intensivist "following initial resuscitation by the ED team". A difference-in-differences (DiD) analysis compared the change in outcomes for patients arriving during ECCP hours (2 pm to midnight, weekdays) between the preintervention period (2015–2017) and the intervention period (2017–2019) to the change in outcomes for patients arriving during non-ECCP hours (all other hours).
Primary outcomes: In-hospital mortality and proportion of patients downgraded to non-ICU status while in the ED within 6 hours
Results:
Mitarai, Tsuyoshi; Gordon, Alexandra June; Nudelman, Matthew J et al. Association of an Emergency Critical Care Program With Survival and Early Downgrade Among Critically Ill Medical Patients in the Emergency Department. Critical Care Medicine ():10.1097/CCM.0000000000005835.
Gunnerson KJ, Bassin BS, Havey RA, et al.: Association of an emergency department–based intensive care unit with survival and inpatient intensive care unit admissions. JAMA Netw Open 2019; 2:e197584
Tran QK, O’Connor J, Vesselinov R, et al.: The critical care resuscitation unit transfers more patients from emergency departments faster and is associated with improved outcomes. J Emerg Med 2020; 58:280–289
Category: Trauma
Keywords: elderly, cervical spine, trauma, systematic review (PubMed Search)
Posted: 3/28/2023 by Robert Flint, MD
(Updated: 3/6/2025)
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In a systematic review looking at patients over age 65 who sustained a cervical spine injury from a low-level fall, there was a 3.8% prevalence of injury identified. The paper could not correlate injury with GCS level or altered level of consciousness due to the quality of the data available.
Bottom line again is patients over age 65 with low-level falls should be considered to have significant injury until proven otherwise.
Cervical spine injuries in adults ≥ 65 years after low-level falls - A systematic review and meta-analysis.
Jessica McCallum, Debra Eagles, Yongdong Ouyang, Jamie Vander Ende, Christian Vaillancourt, Christophe Fehlmann, Risa Shorr, Monica Taljaard, Ian Stiell
American Journal of Emergency Medicine 2023 Februrary 11
Category: Critical Care
Keywords: Glucagon, Beta Blocker, Calcium Channel Blocker, Overdose (PubMed Search)
Posted: 4/11/2023 by Zach Rogers, MD
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Glucagon therapy in beta blocker and calcium channel blocker overdose is controversial and no high level evidence is available to support or refute its use in overdose treatment.
Glucagon has the ability to bypass adrenergic blockade from beta and calcium channel blocking agents and theoretically increase myocardial contraction, increase heart rate, and increase AV conduction through cyclic AMP production.
However, practically, the use of glucagon is limited due to high risk of vomiting and subsequent risk of aspiration with administration as well as the high cost and limited hospital stock available for continued use.
Given these limitations, glucagon therapy is no longer recommended for calcium channel blocker overdose in the 2017 Critical Care Medicine Expert Consensus*. The use in beta blocker therapy is still recommended. However, caution must be taken to ensure that more advanced (and possibly more efficacious) therapies such as vasopressors and high dose insulin are administered without delay.
The dose of glucagon therapy for this indication is 3-10 mg IV. You can repeat this dose a second time if no response is seen with the first dose. If clinical response is seen with bolus dosing, transition to continuous infusion at the dose of clinical response (eg. if two 5 mg boluses produced the desired response; start 10 mg/hr infusion). Antiemetic administration prior to initial bolus dose is highly recommended to avoid vomiting.
Peterson CD, Leeder JS, Sterner S. Glucagon therapy for beta-blocker overdose. Drug Intell Clin Pharm. 1984 May;18(5):394-8. doi: 10.1177/106002808401800507. PMID: 6144498.
*St-Onge M, Anseeuw K, Cantrell FL, Gilchrist IC, Hantson P, Bailey B, Lavergne V, Gosselin S, Kerns W 2nd, Laliberté M, Lavonas EJ, Juurlink DN, Muscedere J, Yang CC, Sinuff T, Rieder M, Mégarbane B. Experts Consensus Recommendations for the Management of Calcium Channel Blocker Poisoning in Adults. Crit Care Med. 2017 Mar;45(3):e306-e315. doi: 10.1097/CCM.0000000000002087. PMID: 27749343; PMCID: PMC5312725.
Khalid MM, Galuska MA, Hamilton RJ. Beta-Blocker Toxicity. [Updated 2023 Feb 7]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2023 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK448097/
Category: Trauma
Keywords: TXA, intramuscular, pre-hospital (PubMed Search)
Posted: 3/28/2023 by Robert Flint, MD
(Updated: 3/6/2025)
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This paper looks at the possibility of intramuscular tranexamic acid (TXA) administration. Pharmacologic studies support this route as giving correct drug bioavailability to control hemorrhage. Several London, England pre-hospital services have begun using intramuscular TXA for trauma patients when intravenous access cannot be quickly obtained. This paper suggests 500 mg intramuscular injection dosing.
Journal of Intensive Care volume 11, Article number: 12 (2023)
Category: Orthopedics
Keywords: lower back pain, analgesia, NSAIDs (PubMed Search)
Posted: 4/8/2023 by Brian Corwell, MD
Click here to contact Brian Corwell, MD
Acute lower back pain is a very common emergency department presenting complaint. Over the last several years there has been impetus to move away from opioids in the management of lower back pain.
A recent systematic review investigated the pharmacologic management of acute low back pain. This review looked at RCTs investigating the efficacy of muscle relaxants, NSAIDs, and acetaminophen for the treatment of acute nonspecific lower back pain of fewer than 12 weeks duration in patients > 18 years of age. Studies that investigated the use of opioids were not considered.
18 RCTs, totaling 3478 patients were included. 54% were women. The mean patient age was 42.5 ± 7.3 years. The mean length of follow-up was 8.0 ± 5.6 days. The mean duration of symptoms before treatment was 15.1 ± 10.3 days.
Results: Muscle relaxants and NSAIDs were effective in reducing pain and disability in acute LBP at approximately 1 week.
The combination of NSAIDs and acetaminophen was associated with a greater improvement than the sole administration of NSAIDs.
However, acetaminophen alone did not promote any significant improvement. Placebo administration was not effective.
Limitations: Most patients with acute LBP experience spontaneous recovery or at least reduction of symptoms, therefore, the real impact of most medications is uncertain. The present study wasn't able to distinguish among different classes of NSAIDs. A best practice treatment protocol cannot be extrapolated from this study.
Take home: In my practice, patients are treated with NSAIDs and Acetaminophen first line. I also include Licocaine patches for all patients. If there is a contraindication to NSAIDs, I treat with muscle relaxants alone.
This study highlights the lack of benefit of acetaminophen as mono therapy (which has been noted in other studies).
Baroncini A, et al. Nonopioid pharmacological management of acute low back pain: A level I of evidence systematic review. J Orthop Res. 2023 Feb 22. doi: 10.1002/jor.25508.
Category: Pediatrics
Keywords: sedation, anxiolysis, procedure (PubMed Search)
Posted: 4/7/2023 by Rachel Wiltjer, DO
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Background: Intranasal dexmedetomidine has seen usage in the anesthesia and sedation realms over the past few years, with an increasing interest in usage in the ED setting given its generally favorable safety profile and ease of administration. There has been specific interest and consideration in children with autism and neurodevelopmental disorders.
Study: Single center prospective provider study (compared to a retrospective group of patients under 18 who received oral midazolam for indications of agitation or anxiety via chart review) looking at patients 6 months to 18 years of age with an order for intranasal dexmedetomidine. Following use, a provider survey was completed to evaluate indication/rationale for use, satisfaction, comfort with use, and perceived time to onset as well as duration of effect.
Results: 29% of patients receiving IN dexmedetomidine experienced treatment failure compared with 20.7% of patients receiving oral midazolam (not statistically significant). In subgroup analysis, rates of treatment failure were lower for patients diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder receiving IN dexmedetomidine versus oral versed (21.2% versus 66.7%). Length of stay was longer in the IN dexmedetomidine group (6.0 hours versus 4.4 hours). Indication for use had variability between the two groups.
Bottom Line: IN dexmedetomidine may be a reasonable agent to utilize for anxiolysis in pediatric patients, especially those who have previously had paradoxical reactions or poor efficacy of benzodiazepines. It may be specifically useful when effects are desired for a slightly longer time and for non-painful/minimally painful interventions.
Kenneally A, Cummins M, Bailey A, Yackey K, Jones L, Carter C, Dugan A, Baum RA. Intranasal Dexmedetomidine Use in Pediatric Patients for Anxiolysis in the Emergency Department. Pediatr Emerg Care. 2023 Jan 5. Epub ahead of print.
Category: Critical Care
Keywords: pneumonia, acute hypoxic respiratory failure, steroids (PubMed Search)
Posted: 4/5/2023 by Kami Windsor, MD
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Background: The use of steroids in pneumonia has long been controversial with conflicting data, and the recent ESCAPe randomized controlled trial by Meduri et al. showing no mortality benefit with their use, but likely underpowered due to recruitment issues. The recently published CAPE COD study by Dequin et al. may change the game.
Design: Double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter, RCT
Intervention: Early hydrocortisone within 24 hrs, 200mg/day x 4-8 days depending on improvement, then preset taper
Primary outcome: Death at 28 days
Secondary outcomes:
Bottom Line: The addition of hydrocortisone to antibiotics in severe CAP may decrease need for intubation and development of shock, and in this well-done study, decreased 28 and 90-day mortality.
Meduri GU, Shih MC, Bridges L, et al; ESCAPe Study Group. Low-dose methylprednisolone treatment in critically ill patients with severe community-acquired pneumonia. Intensive Care Med. 2022 Aug;48(8):1009-1023. doi: 10.1007/s00134-022-06684-3. Epub 2022 May 13. PMID: 35723686.
doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa2215145. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 36942789.
Category: Trauma
Keywords: sexual assault, injury, trauma, intimate partner violence (PubMed Search)
Posted: 3/28/2023 by Robert Flint, MD
(Updated: 3/6/2025)
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A retrospective review of patients over age 13 presenting to one urban level one trauma center and one urban community hospital looked at traumatic injuries in patients presenting for sexual assault. They looked at 157 patients and found 61% of assailants were acquaintances, 22% strangers, and 15% intimate partners. One third of all patients had some traumatic injury however only 12 patients has serious injuries such as non-fatal strangulation or a fracture. Assault by an intimate partner was more likely to lead to injury/trauma including non-fatal strangulation. Drug and alcohol use was not associated with presence of injury.
Traumatic Injuries in Sexual Assault Patients in the Emergency Department
Denise McCormack, et al. Western Journal of Emergency Medicine Volume 23, no5; September 2022
Category: Pharmacology & Therapeutics
Keywords: Myasthenia gravis, Myasthenic crisis, neuromuscular blocker, paralytic, rocuronium, vecuronium, succinylcholine (PubMed Search)
Posted: 4/1/2023 by Matthew Poremba
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Myasthenia gravis is an autoimmune disease of the neuromuscular junction, most commonly due to antibodies attacking acetylcholine receptors in the postsynaptic membrane. Up to 30% of patients with myasthenia gravis will experience a myasthenic crisis during their disease course. If rapid sequence intubation is indicated, the unique characteristics of this patient population must be considered in the event use of a paralytic is necessary. All paralytic agents can be expected to last significantly longer, and an unpredictable response may be seen with depolarizing agents - therefore non-depolarizing agents are preferred in this population.
Non-Depolarizing Agents (Rocuronium, Vecuronium)
Depolarizing Agents (Succinylcholine)
Roper J, Fleming ME, Long B, Koyfman A. Myasthenia Gravis and Crisis: Evaluation and Management in the Emergency Department. J Emerg Med. 2017;53(6):843-853.
Abel, Mark, and James B Eisenkraft. “Anesthetic implications of myasthenia gravis.” The Mount Sinai journal of medicine, New York vol. 69,1-2 (2002): 31-7.
Category: Critical Care
Keywords: Pancreatitis, IV Fluids, Hydration (PubMed Search)
Posted: 3/28/2023 by Mark Sutherland, MD
(Updated: 3/6/2025)
Click here to contact Mark Sutherland, MD
The classic teaching is that patients with acute pancreatitis should be aggressively hydrated with IV fluids. But as we increasingly question heavy handed fluid strategies in other areas such as sepsis, should we look at pancreatitis management too?
Li et al did a systematic review of the literature on aggressive fluid resuscitation (the exact protocol/definition varied per study, but we're mostly talking 15-20 mL/kg boluses followed by 3-5 mL/kg/hr infusion) vs less aggressive fluid resuscitation (mostly 10 mL/kg boluses followed by 1.5 mL/kg/hr infusion). They found that aggressive resuscitation worsened mortality in severe pancreatitis (RR 2.45) and trended towards worse mortality in non-severe pancreatitis (RR 2.26, but CI crossed 1). Aggressive was associated with more complications in both severe and non-severe pancreatitis pancreatitis.
Multiple society guidelines still call for aggressive IVF resuscitation for acute pancreatitis, but probably need to be updated given mounting evidence that this is harmful. More recent guidelines suggest "goal-directed therapy", but no one is completely sure what that means.
Bottom Line: In acute pancreatitis, a more conservative empiric IVF resuscitation is probably better than the clasically taught aggressive approach. Whether even less fluids would be better or worse is not known, but for now it's probably best to stick to a 10 mL/kg bolus and 1-2 mL/kg/hr infusion when ordering fluids for these patients unless you have another indication.
Li, XW., Wang, CH., Dai, JW. Comparison of clinical outcomes between aggressive and non-aggressive intravenous hydration for acute pancreatitis: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Crit Care 27, 122 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13054-023-04401-0
de-Madaria E, Buxbaum JL, Maisonneuve P, García García de Paredes A, Zapater P, Guilabert L, Vaillo-Rocamora A, Rodríguez-Gandía MÁ, Donate-Ortega J, Lozada-Hernández EE, Collazo Moreno AJR, Lira-Aguilar A, Llovet LP, Mehta R, Tandel R, Navarro P, Sánchez-Pardo AM, Sánchez-Marin C, Cobreros M, Fernández-Cabrera I, Casals-Seoane F, Casas Deza D, Lauret-Braña E, Martí-Marqués E, Camacho-Montaño LM, Ubieto V, Ganuza M, Bolado F; ERICA Consortium. Aggressive or Moderate Fluid Resuscitation in Acute Pancreatitis. N Engl J Med. 2022 Sep 15;387(11):989-1000. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa2202884. PMID: 36103415.
Category: Trauma
Keywords: Head injury, TBI, oxygenation, hypoxia, outcome, (PubMed Search)
Posted: 3/26/2023 by Robert Flint, MD
(Updated: 3/6/2025)
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This study is a secondary analysis of another studying looking at hypertonic saline in traumatic brain injury (TBI) making it not the most robust study however it found that TBI patients who’s PaO2 dropped below 100 had a worse outcome than those whose PaO2 did not fall below 100.
Bottom line: This is a reminder that traumatic brain injury patients do not do well with hypoxia or hypotension even if transient (during intubation, etc.). Pre-oxygenate and resuscitate prior to intubation and maintain oxygen saturations in the mid-90s for your traumatic brain injured patients. This applies to prehospital, emergency department, and ICU settings
Effect of Different Early Oxygenation levels on Clinical Outcomes of Patients presenting in the Emergency Department with Severe Traumatic Brain Injury
CS Vrettou, et al. Annals of Emergency Medicine March 2023 Volume 81, No. 3, 273-81
Category: Orthopedics
Keywords: knee pain, running injury (PubMed Search)
Posted: 3/25/2023 by Brian Corwell, MD
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Patellofemoral anatomy and disease (part 1)
During normal knee flexion, the patella slides within the trochlear grove. Both (patella and the trochlear groove) are lined with articular cartilage at the patellofemoral articulation.
https://www.stvincentsboneandjoint.com.au/images/patellofemoral-joint2.jpg
Multiple forces act on the patella which can affect proper tracking: Proximately, by the quadriceps tendon, distally, by the patellar tendon, medially, by the medial retinaculum/vastus medialis and laterally by the lateral retinaculum and the vastus lateralis.
Patellofemoral OA can occur when this cartilage starts to wear and can be seen in skyline/sunrise/notch or equivalent views. OA here rarely occurs in isolation (<10%) and is usually part of medial or lateral knee OA.
https://www.stvincentsboneandjoint.com.au/images/patellofemoral-joint3.jpg
Patellofemoral pain is usually from overuse/training overload or malalignment.
Contributors to overuse involve total joint load which may have influence from training volume (total miles), intensity (competitive sports) in addition to BMI (>25) in addition to overall fitness level.
Malalignment aka abnormal patellar tracking involves both static (leg length discrepancy, hamstring tightness, etc.) and dynamic components (hip weakness, gluteus medius weakness, excessive foot pronation, etc.).
Patients with anterior knee pain should have activity modification, ice, NSAIDs (not steroids) and long-term engagement in physical therapy (>6 months) with a focus on flexibility and strengthening of lower extremity kinetic chain including the vastus medialis, gluteus medius, hip external rotators and core.
Also, consider looking for hyper supination or pronation. Foot orthotics can be of help with this.
Category: Critical Care
Posted: 3/21/2023 by Mike Winters, MBA, MD
(Updated: 3/6/2025)
Click here to contact Mike Winters, MBA, MD
Things to Consider for Persistent or Worsening Septic Shock
Teja B, et al. How we escalate vasopressor and corticosteroid therapy in patients with septic shock. Chest. 2023; 163:567-74.
Category: Trauma
Keywords: trauma, whole blood, reduction, blood products, MHP, Shock index, RABT, hemorrhage (PubMed Search)
Posted: 3/19/2023 by Robert Flint, MD
(Updated: 3/6/2025)
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Predicting the need for a mass hemorrhage protocol (MHP) activation is important both for individual patient outcome as well as for proper utilization of critical resources such as blood products and healthcare workers time and effort. These two studies look at using the RABT score to predict the need for mass transfusion. The RABT score is:
A 4-point score
blunt (0)/penetrating trauma (1),
shock index (hr/SBP)≥ 1 (1),
pelvic fracture (1)
FAST positive (1)
With a score >2 predictive of needing MHP.
These studies (one in Canadian trauma centers, the other in US trauma centers) validate the use of this score to predict the need for activation of a mass hemorrhage protocol.
1, Prediction of massive transfusion with the Revised Assessment of Bleeding and Transfusion (RABT) score at Canadian level I trauma centers Karan D'Souza , Mathew Norman , Adam Greene , Colby J.F. Finney Matthew T.S. Yan , Jacqueline D. Trudeau , Michelle P. Wong , Andrew Shih , Philip Dawe Injury Volume 54, Issue 1, January 2023, Pages 19-24
2.2. Multicenter Validation of the Revised Assessment of Bleeding and Transfusion (RABT) Score for Predicting Massive Transfusion Kamil Hanna 1, Charles Harris , Marc D Trust , Andrew Bernard , Carlos Brown , Mohammad Hamidi , Bellal Joseph World J Surg 2020 Jun;44(6):1807-1816. doi: 10.1007/s00268-020-05394-5.
Category: Pediatrics
Keywords: Croup, respiratory distress, stridor, URI (PubMed Search)
Posted: 3/17/2023 by Jenny Guyther, MD
(Updated: 3/6/2025)
Click here to contact Jenny Guyther, MD
Scribner C, Patel K, Tunik M. Pediatric Croup Due to Omicron Infection Is More Severe Than Non-COVID Croup. Pediatr Emer Care 2022;00.
Category: Trauma
Keywords: thoracic trauma, rib fractures, Sweden, trauma, 30 day mortality (PubMed Search)
Posted: 3/12/2023 by Robert Flint, MD
(Updated: 3/6/2025)
Click here to contact Robert Flint, MD
This study from Sweden looked at 2397 trauma patients and identified 768 with thoracic injury. Those with thoracic injury had a 30-day mortality of 11% whereas those without thoracic injury had a 4% 30-day mortality. Patients over age 60 had higher mortality and were more likely to have rib fractures. Those under 60 with thoracic injury were more likely to have thoracic organ injury than rib fracture.
Bottom line: Rib fractures were more common over age 60 and there was a higher mortality for those with thoracic vs non-thoracic trauma.
Lundin, A., Akram, S.K., Berg, L. et al. Thoracic injuries in trauma patients: epidemiology and its influence on mortality. Scand J Trauma Resusc Emerg Med 30, 69 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13049-022-01058-6
https://rdcu.be/c7q1w
Category: Critical Care
Keywords: ECG; status epilepticus (PubMed Search)
Posted: 3/7/2023 by Quincy Tran, MD, PhD
(Updated: 3/6/2025)
Click here to contact Quincy Tran, MD, PhD
Title: Electrocardiographic Changes at the Early Stage of Status Epilepticus: First Insights From the ICTAL Registry.
As the song goes: “the thigh bone is connected to the hip bone, the hip bone is connected to the back bone.” It turns out that the brain electrical activities are also connected to the heart conduction activities.
In a multi-center (23 French ICUs) retrospective analysis of 155 critically ill patients with status epilepticus, ECGs were done within 24 hours of onset of status epilepticus, and were independently reviewed by cardiologists showed abnormalities in 145 (93.5%) of patients.
Below is a list of events that occurred more than 10% of events.
Abnormal rate (<60 or > 100 beats/min 64 (44%)
Negative T-waves 61 (42%)
Flattened T-waves 18 (12%)
ST elevation 24 (16.6%)
ST depression 26 (17.9%)
Left axis deviation 22 (15.9%)
Discussion:
Major ECG abnormalities were not associated with 90-day functional outcome in multivariable logistic regression.
The brain-heart axis could be affected by antiseizure medication. For example, phenytoin, lacosamide are sodium channel blockers while benzodiazepines, propofol, barbiturates with their GABAnergic effects will also display cardiac side effects. This current study was not able to tease out whether the cardiac effects were from medication. Therefore, further studies are needed to figure out the cardiac effect for patients with status epilepticus.
Chinardet P, Gilles F, Cochet H, Chelly J, Quenot JP, Jacq G, Soulier P, Lesieur O, Beuret P, Holleville M, Bruel C, Bailly P, Sauneuf B, Sejourne C, Galbois A, Fontaine C, Perier F, Pichon N, Arrayago M, Mongardon N, Schnell D, Lascarrou JB, Convers R, Legriel S. Electrocardiographic Changes at the Early Stage of Status Epilepticus: First Insights From the ICTAL Registry. Crit Care Med. 2023 Mar 1;51(3):388-400. doi: 10.1097/CCM.0000000000005768. Epub 2022 Dec 19. PMID: 36533915.