Adverse Events in Patients Aged 90 Days or Younger Receiving Ketamine in the Emergency Department.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to identify the incidence of adverse events of ketamine administration in the pediatric emergency department in patients aged 90 days or younger in order to demonstrate the safety and efficacy of administration in this patient population. METHODS: An 8-year retrospective chart review of patients aged 90 days or younger who received ketamine in the pediatric emergency department was conducted. All patients who met the age criteria were included in this study. Identified routes of ketamine administration included oral, intramuscular, and intravenous. RESULTS: Fourteen patients were identified who met the inclusion criteria and were included in the final analysis. The median age was 45 days old. Indications for ketamine administration included 7 cases for procedural sedation, 5 cases for RSI, and 2 cases for postintubation sedation. The average dose amount (mg/kg) of ketamine administered was 10, 4.43, and 1.59 for oral, intramuscular, and intravenous routes, respectively. Of the 14 patients, 1 patient was identified to have an adverse event to ketamine administration. A transient desaturation and bradycardic event due to laryngospasm was observed during laryngoscopy performed for RSI that was resolved with administration of anticholinergics and paralytics as well as successful intubation and ventilation. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, 1 patient suffered an adverse event due to laryngospasm during intubation. In the pediatric population, the incidence of adverse events of ketamine administration has been found to be variable in the current literature, ranging from 0.71% to 7.26%. In our study, an adverse event occurred in 1 out of 14 administrations (7.1%). The incidence of adverse events associated with ketamine administration in our patients aged 90 days or less appeared to be similar to that reported in the general pediatric population.

Right-sided weakness in a Rwandan patient with untreated Tetralogy of Fallot.

BACKGROUND: Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) is the most common cyanotic congenital heart disease encountered in pediatrics with surgical repair being the definitive treatment. Long-term survival after surgical repair has improved; however, reported mortality rates in untreated TOF are significant. Associated complications include neurological sequelae such as brain abscess and stroke. In countries without early intervention for congenital heart disease (including TOF), delayed presentations and complications require recognition by healthcare workers. CASE PRESENTATION: A 22-year-old male with a history of untreated TOF presented to Rwanda's tertiary university hospital, University Teaching Hospital of Kigali, with acute right-sided hemiparesis. Diagnostic imaging identified a left-sided brain lesion consistent with brain abscess and cardiac mass, concerning endocardial vegetation. He was managed with intravenous antibiotics but subsequently died due to complications of septicemia. DISCUSSION: In countries where surgical repair of TOF is not available, early recognition and medical management are key in temporizing the development of devastating sequelae. Describing the prevalence of CHD in Rwanda is urgent, requiring further research by which effective prevention and treatment strategies can be developed.

Chest trauma epidemiology and emergency department management in a tertiary teaching hospital in Kigali, Rwanda.

Introduction: Chest trauma is a major contributor to injury morbidity and mortality, and understanding trends is a crucial part of addressing this burden in low- and middle-income countries. This study reports the characteristics and emergency department (ED) management of chest trauma patients presenting to Rwanda's national teaching hospital in Kigali. Methods: This descriptive analysis included a convenience sample of patients presenting to a single tertiary hospital ED with chest trauma from June to December 2017. Demographic data were collected as well as injury mechanism, thoracic and associated injuries, types of imaging obtained, and treatments performed. Chart review was conducted seven days post-admission to follow up on outcomes and additional diagnoses and interventions. Incidences were calculated with Microsoft Excel. Results: Among the 62 patients included in this study, 74% were male, and mean age was 35 years. Most patients were injured in road traffic crashes (RTCs) (68%). Common chest injuries included lung contusions (79% of cases), rib fractures (44%), and pneumothoraces (37%). Head trauma was a frequent concurrent extra-thoracic injury (61%). Diagnostic imaging primarily included E-FAST ultrasound (92%) and chest x-ray (98%). The most common therapies included painkillers (100%), intravenous fluids (89%), and non-invasive oxygen (63%), while 29% underwent invasive intervention in the form of thoracostomy. The majority of patients were admitted (81%). Pneumonia was the most common complication to occur in the first seven days (32% of admitted patients). Ultimately, 40% of patients were discharged home within seven days of presentation, 50% remained hospitalized, and 5% died. Conclusion: This study on the epidemiology of chest trauma in Rwanda can guide injury prevention and medical training priorities. Efforts should target prevention in young males and those involved in RTCs. ED physicians in Rwanda need to be prepared to diagnose and treat a variety of chest injuries with invasive and noninvasive means.

Clinical Presentation of Toddlers With New Intracranial Space-Occupying Lesions: A Case Series.

OBJECTIVE: Intracranial space occupying lesions (ICSOLs) like tumors and abscesses can be life-threatening conditions. It can be especially difficult to diagnose these conditions in toddlers. We aimed to describe symptoms and signs present in a sample of toddlers with ICSOLs. METHODS: We performed a retrospective chart review of 15 toddlers with intracranial tumors, abscesses, or infected cysts. We collected data on the presence of various signs and symptoms on presentation to the emergency department. RESULTS: Eight toddlers (53%) presented with vomiting. A change in behavior was the second most common symptom (6, 40%). Seven children (47%) had motor weakness, and 5 (33%) had ataxia. Eleven of the 12 children with tumors (92%) had documented abnormal neurologic signs on initial physical examination. CONCLUSIONS: Vomiting, a change in behavior, and an abnormal neurologic examination were common signs and symptoms in our sample of toddlers with ICSOLs. An accurate history and appropriate neurologic examination can help physicians make this challenging diagnosis in this age group.

E-cigarettes and Vaping, Product-use Associated Lung Injury: A Case Series of Adolescents.

INTRODUCTION: Lung injury associated with the use of electronic cigarettes and vaping (EVALI) was first identified in 2019. Since then, clusters of cases have been reported in the literature. Our aim was to describe the clinical presentation of adolescents with EVALI in the emergency department and their clinical outcomes. CASE SERIES: In our case series, we identified seven adolescents diagnosed with EVALI. We describe their signs and symptoms on presentation to the emergency department and their clinical course. The most common symptoms on presentation were cough, shortness of breath, and vomiting. Each of these symptoms was seen in 71% of patients (n = 5), although not always together. Sinus tachycardia was noticed in 100% of patients (n = 7) and tachypnea in 85% (n = 6). While 85% (n = 6) required hospitalization for respiratory support, all patients were later discharged home on room air. After the diagnosis of EVALI, 85% of patients (n = 6) were treated with steroids. CONCLUSION: EVALI is a new disease with unclear mechanisms that commonly presents with symptoms of cough, shortness of breath, and vomiting. It causes severe respiratory compromise in the adolescent population, requiring hospitalization and respiratory support.

A Mixed Methods Study of Senior Medical Student Help Calling in an Individual, Acute Care Simulation Experience.

INTRODUCTION: The ability to appropriately seek help is a key skill for medical students transitioning to residency. We designed a simulation activity for senior medical students and became interested in studying help calling behaviors and attitudes. METHODS: We collected quantitative data regarding help calling for 2 simulation cases and qualitative data using a survey. We undertook a structured thematic analysis based on grounded theory methodology. We identified and compared groups who did and did not call for help. RESULTS: One hundred thirty-four students participated and 122 (91%) completed an evaluation. More students called for help without prompting in the second case (34/134, 25% in first case; 110/134, 82% in second case, P < 0.001). Most students did not call for help in the first case but called in the second case (81, 60%). Our qualitative analysis identified 5 themes: (1) students seek to avoid shame and burdening their team, (2) prior institutional simulation and testing experience may imprint help calling behaviors, (3) students view help calling primarily through an individual lens, (4) students overestimate the complexity of the help calling process, and (5) the simulation environment and intentional experimentation make it difficult to observe natural behavior. When compared with help callers, more non-help callers had phrases coded as "perception of expectations" (37% vs. 10%, P = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: Learners participating in simulation exercises designed to promote help-calling behaviors face training-based barriers related to shame and the desire for autonomy and simulation-based challenges related to assessment.

Emergency department management of eating disorder complications in pediatric patients

Although eating disorders are on the psychiatric spectrum, they can have serious associated medical complications. Patients with eating disorders may present with complaints common to the emergency department such as abdominal pain, chest pain, syncope, or palpitations, but management of these conditions in eating disordered patients can pose a challenge. This issue provides a systems-based approach to the history, physical examination, evaluation, and treatment of acute complications of eating disorders, with a specific focus on the pathophysiology and management differences between an otherwise healthy patient and a patient with an eating disorder.

Yogaman: An Inexpensive, Anatomically-detailed Chest Tube Placement Trainer.

INTRODUCTION: Opportunities for chest tube placement in emergency medicine training programs have decreased, making competence development and maintenance with live patients problematic. Available trainers are expensive and may require costly maintenance. METHODS: We constructed an anatomically-detailed model using a Halloween skeleton thorax, dress form torso, and yoga mat. Participants in a trial session completed a survey regarding either their comfort with chest tube placement before and after the session or the realism of Yogaman vs. cadaver lab, depending on whether they had placed <10 or 10 or more chest tubes in live patients. RESULTS: Inexperienced providers reported an improvement in comfort after working with Yogaman, (comfort before 47 millimeters [mm] [interquartile ratio {IQR}, 20-53 mm]; comfort after 75 mm [IQR, 39-80 mm], p=0.01). Experienced providers rated realism of Yogaman and cadaver lab similarly (Yogaman 79 mm [IQR, 74-83 mm]; cadaver lab 78 mm [IQR, 76-89 mm], p=0.67). All evaluators either agreed or strongly agreed that Yogaman was useful for teaching chest tube placement in a residency program. CONCLUSION: Our chest tube trainer allowed for landmark identification, tissue dissection, pleura puncture, lung palpation, and tube securing. It improved comfort of inexperienced providers and was rated similarly to cadaver lab in realism by experienced providers. It is easily reusable and, at $198, costs a fraction of the price of available commercial trainers.

An Inexpensive Esophageal Balloon Tamponade Trainer.

BACKGROUND: Emergency medicine practitioners must be able to perform rare, life-saving procedures. One such example is esophageal balloon tamponade, which is complex, fraught with complications, and difficult to demonstrate and practice. DISCUSSION: We constructed a simple, inexpensive model esophagus and stomach that we attached to a mannequin, allowing emergency medicine residents to visualize and practice esophageal balloon tamponade device placement. CONCLUSION: Our esophageal balloon tamponade model was easy to construct and allowed demonstration, conceptual visualization, and simulated performance of the procedure.