Articles: emergency-department.
-
Eur J Trauma Emerg Surg · Aug 2022
Review Meta AnalysisShock index as a predictor for mortality in trauma patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
The primary aim was to determine whether a shock index (SI) ≥ 1 in adult trauma patients was associated with increased in-hospital mortality compared to an SI < 1. ⋯ This systematic review found a fourfold increased risk of in-hospital mortality in adult trauma patients with an initial SI ≥ 1 in the emergency department or trauma center.
-
Pain is a common complaint precipitating emergency department (ED) visit, occurring in more than half of patient encounters. While opioids are effective for acute pain management in the Emergency Department (ED), the associated adverse effects, including respiratory and central nervous system depression, nausea, vomiting, and constipation, and physical manifestations of use, including tolerance, dependence and misuse leading to overdose and death, accentuate the need for non-opioid alternatives and/or multi-modal pain control. This review will provide examples of non-opioid pain management strategies and multimodal regimens for treatment of acute pain in the ED.
-
Emerg Med Australas · Aug 2022
ReviewReview article: Effectiveness and risks of cricoid pressure during rapid sequence induction for endotracheal intubation in the emergency department: A systematic review.
The use of cricoid pressure (CP) to prevent aspiration during rapid sequence induction (RSI) has become controversial, although CP is considered central to the practice of RSI. There is insufficient research to support its efficacy in reducing aspiration, and emerging concerns it reduces the first-pass success (FPS) of intubation. This systematic review aims to assess the safety and efficacy of CP during RSI in EDs by investigating its effect on FPS and the incidence of complications, including gastric regurgitation and aspiration. ⋯ The results of these individual studies are not sufficient to draw concrete conclusions but do suggest that aspiration occurs regardless of the application of CP, and that FPS is not reduced by the application of CP. There is insufficient evidence to conclude whether applying CP during RSI in EDs affects the rate of FPS or the incidence of complications such as aspiration. Further research in the ED, including introducing CP usage into other existing airway registries, is needed.
-
Ann Acad Med Singap · Aug 2022
ReviewNationwide study of the characteristics of frequent attenders with multiple emergency department attendance patterns.
The burden of frequent attenders (FAs) of emergency departments (EDs) on healthcare resources is underestimated when single-centre analyses do not account for utilisation of multiple EDs by FAs. We aimed to quantify the extent of multiple ED use by FAs and to characterise FAs. ⋯ A nationwide approach is needed to quantify the national FA burden. The multiple comorbidities and higher frequency of ED use associated with FAs who visited multiple EDs and mixed EDs, compared to those who visited a single ED, suggested a higher level of ED burden in these subgroups of patients. The distinct characteristics and needs of each FA subgroup should be considered in future healthcare interventions to reduce FA burden.
-
Review
Impact of COVID-19 on emergency department management of stroke and STEMI. A narrative review.
The novel coronavirus of 2019 (COVID-19) has resulted in a global pandemic; COVID-19 has resulted in significant challenges in the delivery of healthcare, including emergency management of multiple diagnoses, such as stroke and ST-segment myocardial infarction (STEMI). The aim of this study was to identify the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on emergency department care of stroke and STEMI patients. ⋯ Our analysis, using a narrative review format, indicates that there was not a significant change in time required for key interventions for stroke and STEMI emergent management, including imaging (door-to-CT), tPA administration (door-to-needle), angiographic reperfusion (door-to-puncture), and percutaneous coronary intervention (door-to-balloon). Potential future areas of investigation include how emergency department (ED) stroke and STEMI care has adapted in response to different COVID-19 variants and stages of the pandemic, as well as identifying strategies used by EDs that were successful in providing effective emergency care in the face of the pandemic.