Spiced RCT: Success and Pain Associated with Intravenous Cannulation in the Emergency Department Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: Peripheral venous cannulation is one of the most common procedures in medicine. A larger cannula allows higher rates of fluid to be provided if needed in a deteriorating patient; however, it is also perceived that larger-gauge cannula placement is associated with increased pain and procedural difficulty. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to compare the pain and procedural difficulty experienced during insertion between 18-gauge (18G) and 20-gauge (20G) cannulas. METHODS: We conducted a single-blinded, randomized controlled trial on adult patients who required peripheral IV cannulation within a tertiary hospital emergency department between April and October 2018. Patients were randomized to either the 18G or 20G cannula group. The primary outcomes of the study-pain experienced by patients and procedural difficulties experienced by clinical staff-were recorded on two separate 10-cm visual analog scales. Other outcomes include first-attempt success rate, operator designation, complications, and the intent and actual use of the IV cannula were documented on preformatted questionnaires. RESULTS: Data from 178 patients were included in the analysis. Eighty-nine patients were allocated to each cannula group. There were no statistically or clinically significant differences between mean pain score (0.23; 95% CI 0.56-1.02; p = 0.5662) and mean procedural difficulty score (0.12; 95% CI 0.66-0.93; p = 0.7396). between the two groups. There was no difference in first-attempt success rate (73 of 89 vs. 75 of 89; p = 0.1288), complications (2 of 89 vs. 1 of 89) between the 20G group and 18G group, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: There was no significant difference between the 18G or 20G cannula for either pain experienced by patients or procedural difficulty experienced by clinicians.

Effectiveness of an injury prevention video on risky behaviours in youth snow sports: A randomized controlled trial.

Objectives: Ski and snowboard-related injuries are common among Canadian youth. Analyzing the role of risky behaviours that contribute to injury risk is essential for gaining an understanding of injury prevention opportunities. The objective was to determine if rates of risky behaviour seen at the ski hill were lower for children and adolescents exposed to an educational injury prevention video. Methods: This single-blinded cluster randomized controlled trial included students (ages 7-16) from 18 Calgary schools who were enrolled in novice levelled school-sanctioned ski and snowboard programs. Consenting schools were randomly assigned to the intervention or control. The control group followed standard preparation including watching a general ski hill orientation video that was created by the ski hill. The intervention group viewed the intervention video focussed on injury prevention. The Risky Behaviour and Actions Assessment Tool was used by blinded research assistants to observe and record students' risky behaviours at an Alberta ski hill. Results: In total, 407 observations estimated the rate of risky behaviour. The overall rate of risky behaviour was 23.31/100 person runs in the control group and 22.95/100 person runs in the intervention group. The most commonly observed risky behaviours in both groups were skiing too close to other skiers/snowboarders and near collision with an object/person. Conclusions: Both groups showed similar rates of risky behaviour and demonstrated the same most common type of behaviour. Practical applications: future work should focus on mitigating common risky behaviours.

Out of hospital cardiac arrest in Western Sydney-an analysis of outcomes and estimation of future eCPR eligibility.

BACKGROUND: Refractory out of hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) is associated with extremely poor outcomes. However, in selected patients extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (eCPR) may be an effective rescue therapy, allowing time treat reversible causes. The primary goal was to estimate the potential future caseload of eCPR at historically 'low-volume' extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) centres. METHODS: A 3-year observational study of OHCA presenting to the Emergency Department (ED of an urban referral centre without historical protocolised use of eCPR. Demographics and standard Utstein outcomes are reported. Further, an a priori analysis of each case for potential eCPR eligibility was conducted. A current eCPR selection criteria (from the 2-CHEER study) was used to determine eligibly. RESULTS: In the study window 248 eligible cardiac arrest cases were included in the OHCA registry. 30-day survival was 23.4% (n = 58). The mean age of survivors was 55.4 years. 17 (6.8%) cases were deemed true refractory arrests and fulfilled the 2-CHEER eligibility criteria. The majority of these cases presented within "office hours" and no case obtained a return of spontaneous circulation standard advanced life support. CONCLUSIONS: In this contemporary OHCA registry a significant number of refractory cases were deemed potential eCPR candidates reflecting a need for future interdisciplinary work to support delivery of this therapy.

Patient-Reported Pain Outcomes for Children Attending an Emergency Department With Limb Injury.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to describe patient-reported pain outcomes at various stages of an emergency department (ED) visit for pediatric limb injury. METHODS: This prospective cohort consisted of 905 patients aged 4 to 17 years with acute limb injury and a minimum initial pain score of 4/10. Patients reported pain scores and treatments offered and received at each stage of their ED visit. Multiple logistic regression was used to identify predictors for severe pain on initial assessment and moderate or severe pain at ED discharge. RESULTS: The initial median pain score was 6/10 (interquartile range, 4-6) and decreased at discharge to 4/10 (interquartile range, 2-6). Stages of the ED visit where the highest proportion of patients reported severe pain (score, ≥8 of 10) were fracture reduction (26.0% [19/73]; 95% confidence interval [CI], 17.1%-37.5%), intravenous insertion (24.4% [11/45]; 95% CI, 13.8%-39.6%), and x-ray (23.7% [158/668]; 95% CI, 20.6%-27.0%). Predictors of severe pain at initial assessment included younger age (odds ratio [OR], 0.92; 95% CI, 0.87-0.97), female sex (OR, 0.58; 95% CI, 0.40-0.84), and presence of fracture (OR, 1.58; 95% CI, 1.07-2.33) whereas, at discharge, older age (OR, 1.14; 95% CI, 1.06-1.23) predicted moderate/severe pain (score, ≥4 of 10). CONCLUSIONS: These results on the location and predictors of severe pain during an ED visit for limb injury can be used to target interventions to improve pain management and patient outcomes.

Simulation-based medical education can be used to improve the mental health competency of emergency physicians.

OBJECTIVE: We explored the feasibility of developing, running and evaluating a simulation-based medical education (SBME) workshop to improve the knowledge, skills and attitudes of emergency department (ED) doctors when called on to assess patients in psychiatric crisis. METHOD: We designed a four-hour workshop incorporating SBME and a blend of pre-reading, short didactic elements and multiple-choice questions (MCQs). Emergency department nurses (operating as SBME faculty) used prepared scripts to portray patients presenting in psychiatric crisis. They were interviewed in front of, and by, ED doctors. We collected structured course evaluations, Debriefing Assessment for Simulation in Healthcare (DASH) scores, and pre- and post-course MCQs. RESULTS: The pilot workshop was delivered to 12 ED registrars using only existing resources of the Psychiatry and Emergency Departments. Participants highly valued both 'level of appropriateness' (Likert rating µ = 4.8/5.0) and 'overall usefulness' (µ = 4.7/5.0) of the programme. They reported an improved understanding of the mental state and of relevant legal issues and rated the debriefings highly (participant DASH rating: n = 193; score µ = 6.3/7.0). Median MCQ scores improved non-significantly pre- and post-course (7.5/12 vs 10/12, p = 0.261). CONCLUSION: An SBME workshop with these aims could be delivered and evaluated using the existing resources of the Psychiatry and Emergency Departments.

A provincial assessment of readiness for paediatric emergencies: What are the existing resource gaps in Alberta?

OBJECTIVES: A large proportion of all emergency visits for paediatric patients across Canada are to general emergency departments (EDs). These centres may not be adequately equipped to provide optimal care for high acuity paediatric emergencies. The objective of this study was to determine paediatric readiness for general EDs and urgent care centres (UCCs) across Alberta and provide each centre with an overall weighted Paediatric Readiness Score (WPRS). METHODS: A paediatric readiness assessment consisting of 55-questions normalized on a 100-point scale was used to survey 107 general EDs, UCCs, and tertiary paediatric EDs in Alberta, Canada. It addresses six primary categories, including Coordination of Patient Care, Physician/Nurse Staffing and Training, Quality Improvement Activities, Patient Safety Initiatives, Policies and Procedures, and Equipment and Supplies. Descriptive statistics were used to present the WPRS score among different groups. Linear regression models were used to explore factors associated with the score. RESULTS: The overall response rate was 59.8%. The median overall WPRS (/100) for all general EDs and UCCs was 48.4 ([interquartile range {IQR}] 17.6). Factors that were correlated with overall score included high paediatric patient volume (24.28, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 10.52 to 38.04) and involvement in a simulation education outreach program (9.38, 95% CI: 1.11 to 17.66). CONCLUSION: Based on this survey, the WPRS of EDs and UCCs across Alberta suggest a need to improve readiness to respond to high acuity paediatric emergencies in these settings.

What are the risk factors for injuries and injury prevention strategies for skiers and snowboarders in terrain parks and half-pipes? A systematic review.

OBJECTIVE: To synthesise the current evidence regarding the risk factors, the injury prevention strategies and the profile of injured skiers and snowboarders in terrain parks (TPs) and half-pipes (HPs). DESIGN: Systematic review following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis guidelines. DATA SOURCES: Literature searches from six electronic databases and manual searches were performed. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR SELECTING STUDIES: Inclusion criteria were: (1) publication based on original data; (2) injuries sustained in TPs or HPs; (3) recreational skiing or snowboarding injuries; (4) observational or experimental study design with a comparison group. RESULTS: No study explored the risk factors in HPs or the prevention strategies in TPs or HPs. From the literature retrieved, there is strong evidence that skiing or snowboarding in a TP is a risk factor for head, neck, back and severe injuries. Two papers assessed the risk factors for injuries in TPs, mainly demonstrating that features promoting aerial manoeuvres or a large drop to the ground were associated with higher feature-specific injury rates. The profile of injured skiers and snowboarders in TPs described in the literature suggested some evidence of associations between factors including activity, sex, skill level, helmet use, age and TP injuries. SUMMARY/CONCLUSIONS: This systematic review demonstrates the need for studies identifying the risk factors for injuries to skiers and snowboarders and on interventions to reduce the risk of injury in TPs and HPs. Studies addressing the issue of TP design should be considered. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD42016045206.

Test characteristics of common appendicitis scores with and without laboratory investigations: a prospective observational study.

BACKGROUND: Despite the poor independent test characteristics of the white blood cell count (WBC) and neutrophil count (NC) in identifying appendicitis, common clinical decision supports including the Pediatric Appendicitis Score (PAS) and Alvarado Score (AS), require the WBC and NC values. Moreover, blood tests cause discomfort/pain to children and require time for processing results. Scores based on clinical information alone may be of benefit in the pediatric population. The objective of our study was to determine the test characteristics of the PAS and the AS with and without laboratory investigations (mPAS, mAS respectively) as well as the Lintula Score. METHODS: A prospective cohort study of children aged 5-17 years presenting to a pediatric ED with suspected appendicitis. Clinical care of the patient was left to the managing physician. At risk for appendicitis was defined by PAS ≥6; AS ≥5; LS ≥16, as originally described; modified cutoffs were defined as mPAS ≥4; mAS ≥4. Appendicitis was defined as acute inflammation, rupture or abscess of the appendix on pathologic evaluation. Test characteristics for each of the 5 scores were calculated. RESULTS: Of the 180 eligible children, 102 (56.7 %) were female. The average age was 11.2 years (SD 3.1). Appendectomy was performed in 58 (32.2 %) of children, 55 (94.8 %) were positive. For the PAS and mPAS, sensitivity and negative predictive values were similar (80.0 %, 86.4 % vs 87.3 %, 85.1 % respectively). For the AS and mAS, sensitivity and negative predictive values were also similar (85.5 %, 87.1 % vs 83.6 %, 83.3 % respectively). Specificities in the PAS, mPAS, AS and mAS were low (56.0 %, 32.0 %, 43.2 %, 63.0 % respectively). Test characteristics of the LS were poor (59.3 %, 79.2 %, 55.2 %, 81.8 %). CONCLUSIONS: A modified Alvarado and PAS can be used to screen for children at low risk of appendicitis who may be carefully observed at home without the need for laboratory investigation. Translation to primary care settings should evaluate generalizability and determine impact on referral patterns.

Randomized Controlled Trial of Adult Therapeutic Coloring for the Management of Significant Anxiety in the Emergency Department.

BACKGROUND: Anxiety and acute distress are significant concerns in the emergency department (ED). Adult coloring books are often utilized as an effective means of relaxation in waiting rooms and newsstands, but there are no reported randomized trials examining their effectiveness as a treatment for anxiety. METHODS: We set out to examine the effectiveness of adult coloring books using a randomized placebo-controlled trial at a university-affiliated tertiary ED. Anxiety was measured using a validated self-reporting score, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS-A), with a range of 0 to 21. Patients with HADS-A ≥ 7 were randomly assigned to either an adult coloring pack (n = 26) or placebo pack (n = 27). The primary outcome measure was the within-patient change in HADS-A scores following 2 hours of exposure. RESULTS: A convenience sample of 117 patients were screened, and 53 patients were randomized. Characteristics of allocated groups were similar in terms of sex, diagnosis, and ethnicity. A higher proportion of intervention subjects spent ≥1 hour engaged with their activity (46.2% vs. 4.0%, p = 0.01). For the primary outcome measure, the mean within-patient decrease in HADS-A score at 2 hours for intervention subjects was 3.7 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 2.4 to 5.1, p < 0.001) versus a decrease of 0.3 (95% CI = -0.6 to 1.2, p = 0.51) in the placebo group. CONCLUSIONS: Among ED patients, exposure to adult coloring books resulted in lower self-reported levels of anxiety at 2 hours compared to placebo.