Articles: emergency-medicine.
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Used as a veterinary sedative and not approved for human use, xylazine has been increasingly linked with opioid overdose deaths in the United States. A growing number of people have been exposed to xylazine in the illicit opioid supply (especially fentanyl) or in other drugs, particularly in some areas of the Northeast. Xylazine is an α-2 adrenergic agonist that decreases sympathetic nervous system activity. ⋯ The significance and clinical effects of xylazine as an adulterant is focused on 4 domains that merit further evaluation: fentanyl-xylazine overdose, xylazine dependence and withdrawal, xylazine-associated dermal manifestations, and xylazine surveillance and detection in clinical and nonclinical settings. This report reflects the Proceedings of the National Institute on Drug Abuse Center for the Clinical Trials Network convening of clinical and scientific experts, federal staff, and other stakeholders to describe emerging best practices for treating people exposed to xylazine-adulterated opioids. Participants identified scientific gaps and opportunities for research to inform clinical practice in emergency departments, hospitals, and addiction medicine settings.
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Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) remains a significant challenge for healthcare systems due to prolonged lengths of stay and rising costs. The current American Diabetes Association (ADA) guidelines recommend starting basal insulin after resolution of DKA. ⋯ This article assesses the rationale and literature associated with the recommendation for early basal insulin administration in the management of DKA. Benefits of early basal insulin in this cohort appears to be associated with less rebound hyperglycemia, reduction in time to DKA resolution, reduced intravenous insulin requirements, and reduced length of stay without associated increases in hypoglycemic or hypokalemic events.
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Extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR), has demonstrated promise in the management of refractory out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). However, evidence from observational studies and clinical trials are conflicting and the factors influencing outcome have not been well established. ⋯ The findings of this review confirm several clinical concepts wellestablished in the cardiac arrest literature and their applicability to the patient for whom ECPR is considered - that is, the impact of pre-existing patient factors, the benefit of timely and effective CPR, as well as the prognostic importance of minimizing low-flow time. We advocate for the thoughtful consideration of these prognostic factors as part of a risk stratification framework when evaluating a patient's potential candidacy for ECPR.
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Older adults visit emergency departments (EDs) at higher rates than their younger counterparts. However, less is known about the rate at which older adults living with dementia visit and revisit EDs. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to quantify the revisit rate to the ED among older adults living with a dementia diagnosis. ⋯ Existing literature on ED revisits among older adults living with dementia highlights the medical complexities and challenges surrounding discharge and follow-up care that may cause these patients to seek ED care at an increased rate. ED personnel may play an important role in connecting patients and caregivers to more appropriate medical and social resources in order to deliver an efficient and more rounded approach to care.
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Mixed reality has been used in trauma and emergency medicine simulation for more than a decade. As mixed reality potential in trauma simulation continues to expand, so too does the need to validate it as a surrogate for real-life emergency scenarios. Validation of these simulations can occur by measuring fidelity, or the degree to which a computing system can reproduce real-world experiences. After performing a literature review, we determined that most fidelity assessments of trauma and emergency simulations focus on how the user subjectively experiences the simulation. Although subjective user assessment is an important component of determining fidelity, we pose an introductory three-part framework that may assess mixed reality trauma simulation more adequately. ⋯ We propose a methodology to assess mixed reality trauma simulation fidelity. Once fidelity is more fully known to the researcher and the simulation user, adjustments can be made to approach reality more closely. Improved simulators may enrich the preparedness of both junior and senior learners for real-life emergencies. We believe assessing the three domains using the Wide Area Virtual Experience at the Val G. Hemming simulation center in Bethesda, MD, will validate mixed reality-trauma simulators as invaluable surrogates for real-life emergency scenarios and ultimately contribute to improved clinical outcomes for clinicians and their patients.