Patients suffering from an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) associated with an initial shockable rhythm have a better prognosis than their counterparts. The implications of recurrent or refractory malignant arrhythmia in such context remain unclear. The objective of this study is to evaluate the association between the number of prehospital shocks delivered and survival to hospital discharge among patients in OHCA.

This cohort study included adult patients with an initial shockable rhythm over a 5-year period from a registry of OHCA in Montreal, Canada. The relationship between the number of prehospital shocks delivered and survival to discharge was described using dynamic probabilities. The association between the number of prehospital shocks delivered and survival to discharge was assessed using multivariable logistic regression.

A total of 1,788 patients (78% male with a mean age of 64 years) were included in this analysis, of whom 536 (30%) received treatments from an advanced care paramedic. A third of the cohort (583 patients, 33%) survived to hospital discharge. The probability of survival was highest with the first shock (33% [95% confidence interval 30%-35%]), but decreased to 8% (95% confidence interval 4%-13%) following nine shocks. A higher number of prehospital shocks was independently associated with lower odds of survival (adjusted odds ratio=0.88 [95% confidence interval 0.85-0.92], p < 0.001).

Survival remains possible even after a high number of shocks for patients suffering from an OHCA with an initial shockable rhythm. However, requiring more shocks is independently associated with worse survival.

The Canadian Stroke Best Practice Recommendations suggests that patients suspected of transient ischemic attack (TIA)/minor stroke receive urgent brain imaging, preferably computed tomography angiography (CTA). Yet, high requisition rates for non-cerebrovascular patients overburden limited radiological resources, putting patients at risk. We hypothesize that our clinical decision support tool (CDST) developed for risk stratification of TIA in the emergency department (ED), and which incorporates Canadian guidelines, could improve CTA utilization.

Retrospective study design with clinical information gathered from ED patient referrals to an outpatient TIA unit in Victoria, BC, from 2015-2016. Actual CTA orders by ED and TIA unit staff were compared to hypothetical CTA ordering if our CDST had been used in the ED upon patient arrival.

For 1,679 referrals, clinicians ordered 954 CTAs. Our CDST would have ordered a total of 977 CTAs for these patients. Overall, this would have increased the number of imaged-TIA patients by 89 (10.1%) while imaging 98 (16.1%) fewer non-cerebrovascular patients over the 2-year period. Our CDST would have ordered CTA for 18 (78.3%) of the recurrent stroke patients in the sample.

Our CDST could enhance CTA utilization in the ED for suspected TIA patients, and facilitate guideline-based stroke care. Use of our CDST would increase the number of TIA patients receiving CTA before ED discharge (rather than later at TIA units) and reduce the burden of imaging stroke mimics in radiological departments.

Atrial fibrillation or flutter (AFF) patients with renal impairment have poor long-term prognosis, but their emergency department (ED) management has not been described. We investigated the association of renal impairment upon outcomes after rate or rhythm control (RRC) including ED-based adverse events (AE) and treatment failure.

This cohort study used an electrocardiogram database from two urban centres to identify consecutive AFF patients and reviewed charts to obtain comorbidities, ED management, including RRC, prespecified AE, and treatment failure. Patients were dichotomized into a normal estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) > 60 mL/min/1.73 m2) or impaired renal function (“low eGFR”). Primary and secondary outcomes were prespecified AEs and treatment failure, respectively. We calculated 1) adjusted excess AE risk for patients with decreased renal function receiving RRC; and 2) adjusted odds ratio of RRC treatment failure.

Of 1,112 consecutive ED AFF patients, 412 (37.0%) had a low eGFR. Crude AE rates for RRC were 27/238 (11.3%) for patients with normal renal function and 26/103 (25.2%) for patients with low eGFR. For patients with low eGFR receiving RRC, adjusted excess AE risk was 13.7%. (95% CI 1.7 to 25.1%). For patients with low eGFR, adjusted odds ratio for RRC failure was 3.07. (95% CI 1.74 to 5.43)

In this cohort of ED AFF patients receiving RRC, those with low eGFR had significantly increased adjusted excess risk of AE compared with patients with normal renal function. Odds of treatment failure were also significantly increased.

Trauma induced coagulopathy is a disorder of the coagulation pathway that occurs following major trauma. “Code red trauma” require massive hemorrhage protocol activation. The aim was to qualitatively establish the reasons TEG is not currently utilized and the ongoing practicalities in performing a TEG sample for trauma-related massive hemorrhage.

A pilot study was performed using a TEG6s machine within one central London Major Trauma Centre’s resuscitation department. Staff were asked to run a TEG sample on any “code red” patient who attended during the trial. Staff were given questionnaires both before and after the trial to assess the knowledge around TEG.

A TEG sample was performed in 75% of the sixteen “code red traumas,” with one sample being unsuccessful. Only one patient had their blood component management altered due to the TEG result with only 50% of consultants and registrars surveyed feeling confident in interpreting TEG results.

TEG6s samples can be run within the resuscitation department in a “code red trauma.” However, there is a significant lack of knowledge relating to TEG within the emergency department which is likely to hinder its impact on personalized blood component management. More research is required in how to provide appropriate education in a busy setting to enable TEG to be utilized appropriately.

Prehospital blood transfusion has been adopted by many civilian helicopter emergency medical services agencies, and early outcomes are positive. The Shock Trauma Air Rescue Society operates six bases in Western Canada and started a blood on board process in 2013 in Regina that has expanded to all bases. Two units of O negative packed red blood cells are carried on every mission. We describe the processes and standard work ensuring safe storage, administration, and stewardship of this important resource.

The packed red blood cells are stored in an inexpensive, reusable temperature controlled cooler at 1°C–6°C. Close collaboration with local transfusion services and adherence to Canadian transfusion standards contributes to safety and sustainability.

From October 1, 2013 to October 10, 2017, the Shock Trauma Air Rescue Society administered blood to 431 patients. Of this total, 62.9% received blood carried on our aircraft. A total of 463 blood box units were administered, and the majority of patients (69.0%) received both units. Blood used in Calgary, Alberta was 100% traceable, and only 1.2% of total units dispensed was wasted. The vast majority of unused units were returned to circulation.

We describe the process to set up and monitor a prehospital blood transfusion program. Our standard work and stewardship processes minimize wastage of blood while keeping it readily available for our critically ill and injured patients.

The objective of this study was to examine temporal trends in mental health visits to the emergency department (ED) and to determine differences in length of stay (LOS) between mental health visits and visits for non-mental health conditions.

A population-based retrospective study was conducted for patients who visited the ED of an academic hospital located in Toronto, ON, between fiscal years 2012 and 2016. Trends in the number of visits and descriptive statistics were calculated for both mental health and non-mental health groups. Quantile regression was used to compare the median and 90th percentile LOS.

In five years, the absolute increase in the number of mental health visits to the ED was 55.7%. The 90th percentile LOS was similar for mental and non-mental health visits that were internally transferred (10.7 hours v. 8.3 hours) but significantly higher for those who were discharged (11.4 hours v. 7.3 hours), admitted (52.6 hours v. 29.3 hours), and externally transferred (21.9 hours v. 10.0 hours). After adjusting for other variables, the 90th percentile LOS was 3.3 hours longer for mental health visits resulting in discharge (p<0.001), 24.5 hours longer for those admitted (p<0.001), and 12.7 hours longer for those externally transferred (p<0.001).

The number of mental health visits to the ED is linearly increasing over time, and the LOS in the ED is significantly longer for mental health visits for almost all discharge dispositions. Thus, systematic changes are needed to address the ED capacity to provide care for the growing mental health population.

Patients often bring their smartphones to the emergency department (ED) and want to record their procedures. There was no clear ED recording policy in the Saskatoon Health Region nor is there in the new Saskatchewan Health Authority. With limited literature on the subject, clinicians currently make the decision to allow/deny the request to record independently. The purpose of this study was to examine and compare patient and clinician perspectives concerning patients recording, in general, and recording their own procedures in the ED.

Surveys were developed for patients and clinicians with respect to history and opinions about recording/being recorded. ED physicians and nurses, and patients>17 years old who entered the ED with a laceration requiring stitches were recruited to participate; 110 patients and 156 staff responded.

There was a significant difference between the proportion of patients (61.7% [66/107]) and clinicians (28.1% [41/146]) who believed that patients should be allowed to video record their procedure. There was also a significant difference between clinicians and patients with regard to audio recording, but not “selfies” (pictures). However, with no current policy, 47.8% (66/138) of clinicians said that they would allow videos if asked, with caveats about staff and patient privacy, prior consent, and procedure/patient care.

Contrary to patients’ views, clinicians were not in favour of allowing audio or video recordings in the ED. Concerns around consent, staff and patient privacy, and legal issues warrant the development of a detailed policy if the decision is made in favour of recording.

The objective of this study was to determine the outcomes of women who presented to the emergency department (ED) with suspected ectopic pregnancy and received methotrexate as first-line treatment.

This was a retrospective chart review of pregnant (< 12 week’ gestational age) women from an academic tertiary care ED with a diagnosis of ectopic pregnancy, rule-out ectopic pregnancy, or pregnancy of unknown location over a 7-year period.

Of 612 patients with a suspected ectopic pregnancy at initial ED presentation, 326 (53.3%) had non-ectopic pregnancy outcomes, 30 (4.9%) were diagnosed with a ruptured ectopic pregnancy at the index ED visit, and 18 (2.9%) were diagnosed and managed as non-tubal ectopic pregnancies and excluded from further analyses; 238 patients were diagnosed with a tubal ectopic pregnancy, and 152 (63.9%) were treated with methotrexate at the index ED visit or in follow-up. Of patients treated with methotrexate, 27 (17.8%) went on to require surgical management, with 17 (11.2%) documented as having ruptured on surgical evaluation.

The proportion of patients failing methotrexate as first-line treatment was higher than previously reported. Further investigation is needed to determine whether methotrexate failure was due to non-adherence to recommended guidelines.

Bedside ultrasound in the emergency department is a common diagnostic tool, especially when evaluating trauma patients. Many trauma patients have blood on their chest and abdomen that may contact the probe during examination. The primary aim of this study was to investigate whether occult blood contamination was present on the emergency department ultrasound machine, both after daily use and after use in trauma.

For a period of 31 days, the ultrasound machine at the trauma centre emergency department in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, was tested once daily and following all Level 1 traumas. The ultrasound machine probes and keyboard were swabbed, and contamination was detected using a commercially available phenolphthalein blood testing kit. Any visible blood contamination was also noted. The machine was then cleaned following each positive test and re-tested to ensure the absence of contamination.

Over the study period, the ultrasound machine tested positive for occult blood contamination on 10% of daily tests and on 43% of assessments after its use in trauma. The curvilinear probe was most frequently contaminated (daily, 6%; trauma, 26%), followed by the keyboard (daily, 3%; trauma, 26%), but both lacked visible contamination.

In this single centre study, there was evidence of occult blood on the emergency department ultrasound machine after both routine use and major trauma cases, highlighting the need for a standardized cleaning and disinfection protocol.

Lung ultrasound has value in diagnosing dyspnea. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of a modified lung ultrasound (MLUS) score to predict the severity of acute dyspnea in elderly patients.

This was an observational single-centre study including patients over age 64 admitted to the emergency department for acute dyspnea with hypoxia. Participants had an early lung ultrasound performed by a dedicated emergency physician, followed by the usual care by a team blinded to the lung ultrasound results. Patients were allocated by disposition to either a critical care (CC) group (patients who needed admission to the intensive care unit [ICU] and/or who died within 48 h) or a standard care group.

Among 137 patients analysed (mean age 79 ± 13 years, 74 [54%] women), 43 (31%) were categorized into the CC group. The time taken to obtain the MLUS was 30 ± 22 min. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of the MLUS for predicting the CC group was 0.97 (0.92–0.99; p < 0.01) with a cut-off set strictly above 17 for 93% sensitivity (81–99), 99% specificity (94–100), a positive predictive value of 98% (87–100), a negative predictive value of 97% (91–99), a positive likelihood ratio of 86, a negative likelihood ratio of 0.07, and a diagnostic accuracy of 97% (93–99). In a multivariate analysis, the MLUS was the only independent associated factor for the CC group.

An early lung ultrasound score can predict the need for ICU admission and/or death within 48 hours in elderly dyspneic patients.

The aim of this study was to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis of the diagnostic accuracy of a point-of-care ultrasound exam for undifferentiated shock in patients presenting to the emergency department.

Ovid MEDLINE, Scopus, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and research meeting abstracts were searched from 1966 to June 2018 for relevant studies. QUADAS-2 was used to assess study quality, and meta-analysis was conducted to pool performance data of individual categories of shock.

A total of 5,097 non-duplicated studies were identified, of which 58 underwent full-text review; 4 were included for analysis. Study quality by QUADAS-2 was considered overall a low risk of bias. Pooled positive likelihood ratio values ranged from 8.25 (95% CI 3.29 to 20.69) for hypovolemic shock to 40.54 (95% CI 12.06 to 136.28) for obstructive shock. Pooled negative likelihood ratio values ranged from 0.13 (95% CI 0.04 to 0.48) for obstructive shock to 0.32 (95% CI 0.16 to 0.62) for mixed-etiology shock.

The rapid ultrasound for shock and hypotension (RUSH) exam performs better when used to rule in causes of shock, rather than to definitively exclude specific etiologies. The negative likelihood ratios of the exam by subtype suggest that it most accurately rules out obstructive shock.

Emergency medicine residents may be transitioning to practice with minimal training on how to supervise and assess trainees. Our study sought to examine: 1) physician comfort with supervision and assessment, 2) what the current training gaps are within these competencies, and 3) what barriers or enablers might exist in implementing curricular improvements.

Qualitative data were collected in two phases through individual interviews from September 2016 to November 2017, at the University of Toronto and McMaster University after receiving ethics approval from both sites. Eligible participants were final year emergency medicine residents, residents pursuing an enhanced skills program in emergency medicine, and attendings within their first 3 years of practice. A semi-structured interview guide was developed and refined after phase one, to reflect content identified in the first set of interviews. All interviews were recorded, transcribed, coded, and collapsed into themes. Data analysis was guided by constructivist grounded theory.

A thematic analysis revealed five themes: 1) Supervision and assessment skills were acquired passively through modelling, 2) the training available in these areas is variably used, creating a diversity of comfort levels, 3) competing priorities in the emergency department represent significant barriers to improving supervision and assessment; 4) providing negative feedback is difficult and often avoided; and 5) competence by design will act as an impetus for formal curriculum development in these areas.

As programs transition to competence by design, there will be a need for formal training in supervision and assessment, with a focus on negative feedback, to achieve a standardized level of competence among emergency physicians.