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The use of a rapid, easy‐to‐use intervention could improve needle‐related procedural pain management practices in the context of the Emergency Department (ED). As such, the Buzzy device seems to be a promising alternative to topical anesthetics. The aim of this study was to determine if a cold vibrating device was non‐inferior to a topical anesthetic cream for pain management in children undergoing needle‐related procedures in the ED. In this randomized controlled non‐inferiority trial, we enrolled children between 4 and 17 years presenting to the ED and requiring a needle‐related procedure. Participants were randomly assigned to either the cold vibrating device or topical anesthetic (4% liposomal lidocaine; standard of care). The primary outcome was the mean difference (MD) in adjusted procedural pain intensity on the 0–10 Color Analogue Scale (CAS), using a non‐inferiority margin of 0.70. A total of 352 participants were randomized (cold vibration device n = 176, topical anesthetic cream n = 176). Adjusted procedural pain scores' MD between groups was 0.56 (95% CI:−0.08–1.20) on the CAS, showing that the cold vibrating device was not considered non‐inferior to topical anesthetic. The cold vibrating device was not considered non‐inferior to the topical anesthetic cream for pain management in children during a needle‐related procedure in the ED. As topical anesthetic creams require an application time of 30 min, cost approximately CAD $40.00 per tube, are underused in the ED setting, the cold vibrating device remains a promising alternative as it is a rapid, easy‐to‐use, and reusable device. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives To evaluate the effectiveness of a high-dose (HD) oral cephalexin treatment guideline for children with moderate cellulitis treated as outpatients. Methods In this retrospective cohort study, we included children who presented to the emergency department (ED) with moderate cellulitis and treated according to the institution's HD oral cephalexin guideline over a 2-year period. All children had standardized follow-up at a medical day hospital (MDH). Treatment was considered effective in the absence of treatment failure, defined as admission, switch to IV treatment or ED visit within 2 weeks of discharge from the MDH. Safety was ascertained by recording adverse events and severe complications at follow-up. Results A total of 123 children were treated as outlined in the guideline, including 117 treated with HD oral cephalexin. The success rate was 89.7% (105/117). Among 12 (10.3%) children who had treatment failure, 10 (8.5%) required admission, 1 (0.9%) received IV antibiotics at the MDH and 1 (0.9%) had a return visit to the ED without admission. No severe complications were reported; four abscesses required drainage and one patient had a rash. The mean number of visits per child at the MDH was 1.6 (SD 1.0). Conclusions With a success rate of 89.7%, HD oral cephalexin seems effective and safe for the treatment of children with moderate cellulitis. Its use potentially reduces hospitalization rates for this condition and decreases the need for IV insertion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Vaso-occlusive crisis (VOC) is one of the most frequent causes of emergency visits and admission in children with sickle cell disease (SCD). Objectives This study aims to evaluate whether the use of a new pain management pathway using intranasal (IN) fentanyl from triage leads to improved care, translated by a decrease in time to first opiate dose. Methods We performed a retrospective chart review of patients with SCD who presented to the emergency department (ED) with VOC, in the period pre- (52 patients) and post- (44 patients) implementation period of the protocol. Time to first opiate was the primary outcome and was evaluated pre- and postimplementation. Patients received a first opiate dose within 52.3 minutes of registration (interquantile range [IQR] 30.6, 74.6), corresponding to a 41.4-minute reduction in the opiate administration time (95% confidence interval [CI] −56.1, −27.9). There was also a 43% increase in the number of patients treated with a nonintravenous (IV) opiate as first opiate dose (95% CI 26, 57). In patients who were discharged from the ED, there was a 49% decrease in the number of IV line insertions (95% CI −67, −22). There was no difference in the hospitalization rates (difference of 6 [95% CI −13, 25]). Conclusions This study validates the use of our protocol using IN fentanyl as first treatment of VOC in the ED by significantly reducing the time to first opiate dose and the number of IVs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Vaso-occlusive crisis (VOC) is one of the most frequent causes of emergency visit and admission in children with sickle cell disease (SCD). Objectives This study aimed to evaluate whether the implementation of a protocol promoting the use of oral morphine as a primary intervention has led to improved care of SCD. Methods We performed a retrospective chart review of patients with SCD who presented to the emergency department (ED) and hematology outpatient clinic (HOC) with VOC, in the year pre and postimplementation of the protocol. The primary outcome was the hospitalization rate. Results The protocol resulted in a significant 43% reduction of hospitalization rate (95% confidence interval [CI] −53.0, 26.5). Results also showed a 35% increase in the use of oral morphine as first-line opiate treatment (95% CI 17.9, 45.2), a 28% increase in the use of pain scales (95% CI 17.3, 43.2) and a 30% net increase in patients eventually not requiring intravenous (IV) line placement (95% CI 16.0, 39.9). While we did observe an overall decrease in length of stay in ED of -55 min (95% CI −100.6, −12.0), there was a nonsignificant decrease of 7 minutes (95% CI −26, 3) in the opiate administration time. Conclusions This study validates the use of our oral morphine protocol for the treatment of VOC by significantly reducing the admission rate and decreasing the number of IVs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction Needle-related procedures are considered as the most important source of pain and distress in children in hospital settings. Considering the physiological and psychological consequences that could result from these procedures, management of pain and distress through pharmacological and non-pharmacological methods is essential. Therefore, it is important to have interventions that are rapid, easy-to-use and likely to be translated into clinical practice for routine use. The aim of this study will be to determine whether a device combining cold and vibration (Buzzy) is non-inferior to a topical anaesthetic (liposomal lidocaine 4% cream) for pain management of children undergoing needle-related procedures in the emergency department. Methods and analysis This study will be a randomised controlled non-inferiority trial comparing the Buzzy device to liposomal lidocaine 4% cream for needle-related pain management. A total of 346 participants will be randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to one of the two study groups. The primary outcome will be the mean difference in pain intensity between groups during needle-related procedures. A noninferiority margin of 0.70 on the Color Analogue Scale will be considered. A Non-inferiority margin of 0.70 on the Color Analogue Scale will be considered. The secondary outcomes will be the level of distress during the procedure, the success of the procedure at first attempt, the occurrence of adverse events, the satisfaction of both interventions and the memory of pain 24 hours after the procedure. The primary outcome will be assessed for non-inferiority and the secondary outcomes for superiority. Ethics and dissemination This study protocol was reviewed and approved by the institutional review board of the study setting. Findings of this trial will be disseminated via peerreviewed publications and conference presentations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Objectives: In 2013, the TRAPPED-1 survey reported inconsistent availability of pain and distress management strategies across all 15 Canadian paediatric emergency department (PEDs). The objective of the TRAPPED-2 study was to utilize a procedural pain quality improvement collaborative (QIC) and evaluate the number of newly introduced pain and distress-reducing strategies in Canadian PEDs over a 2-year period. Methods: A QIC was created to increase implementation of new strategies, through collaborative information sharing among PEDs. In 2015, 11 of the 15 Canadian PEDs participated in the TRAPPED QIC. At the end of the year, the TRAPPED-2 survey was electronically sent to a representative member at each of the 15 PEDs. The successful introduction of the chosen strategies by the QIC was assessed as well as the addition of new strategies per site. The number of new strategies introduced in the participating and nonparticipating QIC sites were described. Results: All 15 PEDs (100%) completed the TRAPPED-2 survey. Overall, 10/11 of QIC-participating sites implemented the strategy they had initially identified. All 15 Canadian PEDs implemented some new strategies during the study period; participants in the QIC reported a mean of 5.2 (1-11) new strategies compared to 2.5 (1-4) in the nonactively participating sites. Conclusion: While all PEDs introduced new strategies during the study, QIC-participating sites successfully introduced the majority of their previously identified new strategies in a short time period. Sharing deadlines and information between centres may have contributed to this success. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]