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Approximately 17,000 new spinal cord injuries occur each year in the United States, with motor vehicle collisions and falls being the most common causes. Even though 94% of patients survive the initial injury and corresponding hospitalization, their life expectancy is reduced secondary to the long-term complications that stem from their injury. Every patient should be approached in the same manner (i.e., as if they have a spinal cord injury) until proven otherwise to prevent additional injury. Important considerations that should take place in the emergency department include the patient's airway, the presence of shock, and the prevention of complications secondary to the primary injury. This article briefly summarizes the epidemiology and pathophysiology of spinal cord injuries and the therapies that may be recommended and initiated following a thorough assessment of the patient.

Heart failure impacts millions of Americans and has an approximate 5-year mortality rate of 50%-55%. Decompensation of this disease state could result in a patient's initial presentation and diagnosis or may reflect a worsening of a chronic condition that is being managed but needs optimization. Secondary to this, it is important for members of the health care team in the emergency department to recognize the presentation of this disease and manage the patient's signs and symptoms appropriately. Patients may be normotensive upon presentation or hemodynamically unstable. Those who are normotensive are often managed with loop diuretics and possibly low-dose vasodilators, whereas those who are hemodynamically unstable require more aggressive, focused care. It is important to note that some patients may present with respiratory failure and with no known history of heart failure. In these cases, a rapid and accurate diagnosis is critical. This article briefly summarizes the common acute clinical presentations of heart failure and the therapies considered first line for treatment based on the primary literature.

Vaccine-preventable diseases, such as tetanus, are oftentimes a thought of the past in countries that only see a handful of cases per year. In recent years, though, there has been more controversy around vaccinations and fewer individuals getting vaccinated. This movement has resulted in vaccine-preventable diseases resurfacing (e.g., measles). Tetanus is one of the diseases that health care providers should continue to be familiar with in regard to its clinical presentation and the treatments that are available to manage the corresponding signs and symptoms. Because tetanus is an acute, toxin-mediated illness that can be fatal, prevention and treatment are critical. This article briefly summarizes tetanus and the therapies considered to be first line in its management.

Migraine headaches can be a disabling condition for patients. Fortunately, most patients can be successfully managed in the outpatient setting, however, there are a number of patients who may not respond to the abortive treatments that they have been prescribed. These patients often present to the emergency department (ED) for further assistance with the management of their condition. Migraines are the fourth most common cause of ED visits and are associated with an estimated annual cost of $17 billion in the United States. Familiarity with abortive treatments is critical for providers in the ED as are treatments, such as valproic acid, that may be considered in patients who do not respond to other treatment options. Many providers are more familiar with the role of valproic acid in the treatment of mood and seizure disorders, but its tolerability and the successes reported in the primary literature make it a reasonable consideration for patients with migraine who fail to respond to other therapies. This article briefly summarizes the therapies considered first line for abortive treatment in the setting of migraines and provides an overview of the primary literature describing the use of valproic acid in these patients.

Purpose To summarize recently published research reports and practice guidelines on emergency medicine (EM)–related pharmacotherapy. Summary Our author group was composed of 14 EM pharmacists, who used a systematic process to determine main sections and topics for the update as well as pertinent literature for inclusion. Main sections and topics were determined using a modified Delphi method, author and peer reviewer groups were formed, and articles were selected based on a comprehensive literature review and several criteria for each author-reviewer pair. These criteria included the document “Oxford Centre for Evidence-based Medicine – Levels of Evidence (March 2009)” but also clinical implications, interest to reader, and belief that a publication was a “key article” for the practicing EM pharmacist. A total of 105 articles published from January 2011 through July 2018 were objectively selected for inclusion in this review. This was not intended as a complete representation of all available pertinent literature. The reviewed publications address the management of a wide variety of disease states and topic areas that are commonly found in the emergency department: analgesia and sedation, anticoagulation, cardiovascular emergencies, emergency preparedness, endocrine emergencies, infectious diseases, neurology, pharmacy services and patient safety, respiratory care, shock, substance abuse, toxicology, and trauma. Conclusion There are many important recent additions to the EM-related pharmacotherapy literature. As is evident with the surge of new studies, guidelines, and reviews in recent years, it is vital for the EM pharmacist to continue to stay current with advancing practice changes.

Nausea and vomiting are 2 of the most common complaints of patients presenting to the emergency department (ED). In addition, antiemetics are the most commonly prescribed medications in the ED behind analgesics. Treating these conditions can be complex, especially as one considers that nausea and/or vomiting could be the primary presenting illness or simply a symptom of a more complex etiology. Although there is a wide variety of pharmacotherapeutic options in the armamentarium to treat these conditions, very few consensus recommendations exist to help guide the use of antiemetic agents in the ED, leading to wide variability in medication use. Contributing to these variations in practice is the extended spectrum of etiologies and potential physiological factors that contribute to the development of nausea or vomiting. A thorough understanding of the pharmacology and administration of these agents can help practitioners devise tailored antiemetic regimens based upon the underlying etiology.

Purpose: Prophylactic antibiotic therapy is a standard of care for patients who present with open fractures due to the risk of infectious complications. This study was conducted to characterize the use of initial prophylactic antibiotic use in open fractures, guideline compliance, and its impact on care. Methods: Retrospective chart review of adult patients presenting with an open fracture to a Level 1 Trauma Center Emergency Department over a 12-month period was conducted. Results: Of the 202 patients meeting inclusion criteria, overall compliance with guideline recommendations for antibiotic prophylaxis was found to be 33.2%. The duration of prophylactic therapy was significantly longer in the noncompliant group and among those who received a secondary antibiotic ( P < .05 for both comparisons). The duration of therapy was found to be significantly longer in those patients who developed an infection ( P < .001). Those who developed an infection had a longer hospital length of stay (LOS) ( P < .001) and intensive care unit LOS ( P = .002). In addition, those who developed an infection had significantly more surgeries ( P < .001) and received more red blood cell transfusions ( P < .001). Correlation analysis confirmed a significant association between infection and duration of antibiotic prophylaxis ( P = .02), number of surgeries ( P < .0001), and number of transfusions ( P < .0001). Conclusion: Guideline compliance was exceedingly low due to the extended duration of initial antibiotic therapy and did not appear to yield any clinical benefits. Infection was significantly associated with longer duration of initial prophylactic therapy and morbidity. Opportunities exist to elevate compliance with guidelines and to reevaluate prophylactic antimicrobial therapy in this setting.

It is not uncommon for providers in the emergency department to take care of patients who are taking anticoagulant therapy in the outpatient setting. However, the bigger challenge is caring for these patients when they present with bleeding that could be secondary to 1 or more of these medications. In recent years, this class of medications has expanded from warfarin to include direct thrombin inhibitors and Factor Xa inhibitors. As this class of medications has evolved, so has the approach to the reversal of these agents. Thus, it is imperative that providers in the emergency department be familiar not only with the anticoagulants that patients may be taking in the outpatient setting but also with their reversal agents.

Purpose Glucagon is thought to decrease lower esophageal sphincter tone and is used as an alternative to invasive endoscopy for esophageal foreign body impaction (EFBI). The purpose of this study was to evaluate efficacy and safety of glucagon and identify characteristics associated with success. Methods A multicenter, retrospective study of patients receiving glucagon for EFBI at 2 academic emergency departments was conducted between 2006 and 2010. A control group of patients that did not receive glucagon was evaluated. Data collection included demographics, type of foreign body, glucagon dose, resolution of impaction, incidence of vomiting, additional medication, and endoscopy required. Descriptive and univariate analysis was performed as appropriate. Results A total of 133 doses of glucagon were administered in 127 patients. Glucagon-related resolution of EFBI occurred in 18 patients (14.2%) and vomiting in 16 patients (12.6%). No statistical differences between successful and unsuccessful groups were seen with the exception of concomitant medication administration (benzodiazepine or nitroglycerin) being associated with less glucagon success, 33.3% vs 59.6%, respectively (P = .04). Eighty-four percent of patients in the unsuccessful group underwent endoscopy. Comparing those that received glucagon (n = 127) and the control group (n = 29), there was no significant difference in resolution of EFBI, 14.2% vs 10.3%, respectively (P = .586). Conclusions Glucagon-related resolution occurred in 14.2% of patients and was not significantly different compared with those that did not receive glucagon (10.3%). Concomitant medication administration was associated with lower success. Overall, glucagon had a low success rate, was related to adverse effects, and does not offer advantages for treatment.

Hereditary angioedema attacks are rare, but emergency care providers must be aware of the clinical presentation and treatment of these patients because the emergency department remains the most common setting where these patients seek treatment. If providers are not aware of the past medical history of these patients, they are likely to receive standard therapies for respiratory distress and anaphylaxis including antihistamines, corticosteroids, and epinephrine. However, these medications may not work in these patients, given the pathophysiology of their underlying disease. Since 2009, several new therapies have been approved for the treatment of acute hereditary angioedema attacks. This article discusses pathophysiology, clinical presentation, and use of novel therapies for the management of angioedema.

Rapid sequence intubation (RSI) involves a rapidly acting sedative plus a neuromuscular blocking agent (NMBA) to facilitate endotracheal intubation. Rocuronium and succinylcholine are NMBAs commonly used in RSI with drastically different durations of action.Evaluate whether patients receiving RSI with a longer-acting NMBA had a greater delay in sedation or analgesia than patients that received a short-acting NMBA.This was a retrospective review of patients presenting to the emergency department requiring endotracheal intubation. Exclusions included age18 years, pregnancy, prior intubation, and contraindication to sedation and analgesia. Primary endpoint was time to continuous sedation or analgesia after RSI in patients receiving rocuronium or succinylcholine. Secondary endpoints included hospital length of stay (HLOS), intensive care unit length of stay (ICU LOS), and impact of an emergency medicine pharmacist (EPh).A total 106 patients met inclusion criteria, 76 patients receiving rocuronium and 30 receiving succinylcholine. Mean time to sedation or analgesia was longer in the rocuronium group when compared to the succinylcholine group at 34 ± 36 min vs. 16 ± 21 min (p = 0.002). In the presence of an EPh, the mean time to sedation or analgesia was 20 ± 21 min, vs. 49 ± 45 min (p0.001). Time spent on ventilator, HLOS, and ICU LOS were not significantly different between groups.Patients receiving rocuronium in RSI had a significantly longer time to sedation or analgesia when compared to patients receiving succinylcholine. The presence of an EPh significantly decreased the time to administration of sedation or analgesia after RSI.

North American rattlesnake envenomations are known to produce coagulopathies and thrombocytopenia. However, the occurrence of delayed hematologic toxicity (less than seven days after envenomation) is poorly characterized in the medical literature. While the recurrence of hematologic derangements has been documented following envenomation, it is usually in the absence of clinically significant bleeding. Although commonly recommended to treat delayed coagulopathies, the effectiveness of crotalidae polyvalent immune Fab ovine (CroFab®) in managing this condition remains in question and warrants further investigation and exploration. We describe the case of a 19-year-old male who presented following rattlesnake envenomation at a church service who was treated with antivenin for 48 h and discharged home only to return four days later with profound thrombocytopenia, coagulopathy, and clinically significant bleeding.

Approximately 1.6% of all emergency department (ED) visits in the United States are for vaginal bleeding in early pregnancy, translating to around 500,000 ED visits per year. A potentially life-threatening condition, ectopic pregnancy occurs in 1.5%-2% of pregnancies. Many patients will require either surgical or pharmacological intervention following a positive diagnosis. With regard to pharmacological options, methotrexate, largely known for its use in the oncology arena, has emerged as the most effective nonsurgical option and the pharmacological agent of choice. However, this therapy is not without its own unique adverse event profile and patients should be adequately educated on the monitoring parameters of this pharmacotherapy.

Bioterrorism presents a real and omnipresent risk to public health throughout the world. More than 30 biological agents have been identified as possessing the potential to be deployed in a bioterrorist attack. Those that have been determined to be of the greatest concern and possess the greatest potential of use in this arena are known as the Category A agents: Bacillus anthracis (anthrax); Variola major (smallpox); Yersinia pestis (plague); Francisella tularensis (tularemia); viral hemorrhagic fevers; and Clostridium botulinum toxin (botulism toxin). Although the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention utilizes surveillance systems to identify illnesses, the weight of diagnosing, effectively treating, and notifying the appropriate public health officials lies squarely on the shoulders of emergency care personnel. Part I of this two-part review will focus on the clinical presentation and treatment of anthrax, plague, and tularemia. The subsequent Part II of this review will discuss smallpox, viral hemorrhagic fevers, botulism toxin, and the provision of mass prophylaxis.

Background: Tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) is the only pharmacotherapy shown to improve outcomes in acute ischemic stroke. The American Heart Association (AHA) recommends a door-to-needle (DTN) time of Objective: The purpose of this study was to analyze the possible barriers that may delay tPA administration within the emergency department (ED) of an academic medical center. Methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted from February 2011 to October 2013. Patients were included if they were admitted through the ED with a diagnosis of acute ischemic stroke and received tPA. Results: Of the 130 patients who met inclusion criteria, 43.1% received tPA in ≤60 minutes. Several factors were identified to be significantly different in those with a DTN time of >60 minutes—time to ED physician consultation, neurologist arrival, blood sample acquisition, and result time ( P < .05 for all comparisons). Correlation analysis demonstrated several independent variables associated with DTN time of ≤60 minutes—time from admission to ED physician consultation, receipt of computed tomography (CT) scan, blood sample acquisition, laboratory results, and neurology service arrival ( P < .05 for all comparisons). Conclusion: The findings from this study highlight the importance of prompt physician evaluation, direct transfer to the CT scanner, and a quick turnaround time on laboratory values. The development of protocols to ensure the rapid receipt of tPA therapy should focus on limiting any potential delay these steps may cause.

OBJECTIVES: Emergency department (ED) providers are faced with the challenge of diagnosing and treating patients in a timely fashion given many obstacles including limited patient information, complex disease states, and high patient turnover. Time delays in administration or selection of appropriate drug therapies have been associated with negative outcomes in severe infections. This study was conducted to assess the impact of an emergency medicine pharmacist (EPh) on the selection of appropriate antibiotics and the timeliness of administration in pediatric patients in the ED. METHODS: Patients younger than 18 years were evaluated who were admitted through the ED and received 1 dose of intravenous antibiotic for the following conditions: community-acquired pneumonia, complicated skin and soft tissue infection (SSTI), meningitis, and sepsis. To evaluate the impact of the presence of an EPh, patients with orders placed during the EPh's hours of 1 pm and 11 pm were compared to those with an order placed between 11 pm and 1 pm. RESULTS: A total of 142 patients were included in the study. Patients seen during EPh hours received an appropriate first antibiotic 93.4% of the time (p = 0.157) and second antibiotic 96.8% of the time (p = 0.023). Time from order to verification was significantly shorter for the first 2 antimicrobials in the EPh group (10.5 minutes [p = 0.003] and 11.4 minutes [p = 0.047], respectively). The days from discharge to return to readmission to the ED were also significantly different (17.5 days vs. 62.4 days, p = 0.008). CONCLUSIONS: The available data suggest that patients are more likely to receive appropriate doses of antimicrobials, and in a more timely fashion, whenever the EPh is present. Areas for future investigation include whether the presence of EPhs at the bedside has the potential to impact areas of patient care, including readmission rates, drug costs, and medication errors.

Health care providers in the emergency department (ED) frequently find themselves caring for patients who may have overdosed on a medication(s) or other toxic substance. These patients can prove to be a challenge, as providers must try to determine the substance(s) involved so that the appropriate treatment can be initiated. For those patients who are hemodynamically unstable upon presentation, it is important to note that supportive care is of the utmost importance, as there are few substances that have antidotes available. In these situations, lipid emulsion can be considered. This is especially true in the setting of the following toxicities: local anesthetics, β-blockers, calcium channel blockers, and the tricyclic antidepressants. Even though lipid emulsion may not be used that frequently in the ED, it is important to be aware of its role in the setting of toxicological emergencies, how it should be dosed and administered, and the necessary safety precautions.