2023 American Heart Association Focused Update on the Management of Patients With Cardiac Arrest or Life-Threatening Toxicity Due to Poisoning: An Update to the American Heart Association Guidelines for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiovascular Care.

In this focused update, the American Heart Association provides updated guidance for resuscitation of patients with cardiac arrest, respiratory arrest, and refractory shock due to poisoning. Based on structured evidence reviews, guidelines are provided for the treatment of critical poisoning from benzodiazepines, ß-adrenergic receptor antagonists (also known as ß-blockers), L-type calcium channel antagonists (commonly called calcium channel blockers), cocaine, cyanide, digoxin and related cardiac glycosides, local anesthetics, methemoglobinemia, opioids, organophosphates and carbamates, sodium channel antagonists (also called sodium channel blockers), and sympathomimetics. Recommendations are also provided for the use of venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. These guidelines discuss the role of atropine, benzodiazepines, calcium, digoxin-specific immune antibody fragments, electrical pacing, flumazenil, glucagon, hemodialysis, hydroxocobalamin, hyperbaric oxygen, insulin, intravenous lipid emulsion, lidocaine, methylene blue, naloxone, pralidoxime, sodium bicarbonate, sodium nitrite, sodium thiosulfate, vasodilators, and vasopressors for the management of specific critical poisonings.

Beyond the Four Walls: The American College of Emergency Physicians 2022 New Practice Models Task Force Report.

Emergency physicians are highly trained to deliver acute unscheduled care. The emergency physician core skillset gained during emergency medicine residency can be applied to many other roles that benefit patients and extend and diversify emergency physician careers. In 2022, the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) convened the New Practice Models Task Force to describe new care models and emergency physician opportunities outside the 4 walls of the emergency department. The Task Force consisted of 21 emergency physicians with broad experience and 2 ACEP staff. Fifty-nine emergency physician roles were identified (21 established clinical roles, 16 emerging clinical roles, 9 established nonclinical roles, and 13 emerging nonclinical roles). A strength-weakness-opportunity-threat (SWOT) analysis was performed for each role. Using the analysis, the Task Force made recommendations for guiding ACEP internal actions, advocacy, education, and research opportunities. Emphasis was placed on urgent care, rural medicine, telehealth/virtual care, mobile integrated health care, home-based services, emergency psychiatry, pain medicine, addiction medicine, and palliative care as roles with high or rising demand that draw on the emergency physician skillset. Advocacy recommendations focused on removing state and federal regulatory and legislative barriers to the expansion of new and emerging roles. Educational recommendations focused on aggregating available resources, developing a centralized resource for career guidance, and new educational content for emerging roles. The Task Force also recommended promoting research on potential advantages (eg, improved outcomes, lower cost) of emergency physicians in certain roles and new care models (eg, emergency physician remote supervision in rural settings).

Gabapentinoid prescribing patterns and predictors utilizing neural networks: An analysis across emergency departments Nationwide between 2012 and 2021.

BACKGROUND: Gabapentinoids increasingly utilized for neuropathic pain, possibly to curb opioid prescribing. At the same time, data suggest subsequent increases in misuse and overdose of gabapentinoids, often in mixed overdoses. We sought to determine national trends and characteristics of gabapentinoid prescribing, including co-use with opioids, from the emergency department (ED). METHODS: This is a retrospective review of the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NHAMCS) from 2012 to 2021. Our primary outcome was the trend in ED visits in which gabapentinoids were prescribed at discharge. Secondarily, we identified trends in gabapentinoid and opioid co-prescribing and gabapentin and pregabalin prescribing at ED discharge. We examined demographic data and used descriptive statistics, Shapiro Wilke's test, Pearson's Spearman's rho (SR) or Pearson's correlation coefficient (PC) as applicable. Neural networks were used to identify the most important predictors of opioid utilization during the same visit. RESULTS: Between 2012 and 2021, there were an estimated 7,242,694 (0.53% of all ED visits) visits in which gabapentinoids were prescribed at ED discharge. Prescriptions increased from a total of 138,479 (0.1%) in 2012 to 893,495 (0.63%) in 2021 (PC: 0.85, p < 0.001). Opioids were co-prescribed in 27.2% of all visits in which gabapentinoids were prescribed, with no change over time (PC: -0.47, p = 0.09). Pregabalin prescription increased linearly over time (PC: 0.64, p = 0.02). The most important predictors of opioid administration or co-prescribing were whether an alternative provider (e.g., consult or nurse practitioner) saw the patient (100%), insurance (94.4%), age (75.9%), and region (75.2%). CONCLUSION: Despite an association of misuse and overdose, often associated with opioids, gabapentinoids were increasingly prescribed at ED discharge. While these agents may be safer alternatives to opioids, misuse may be an associated consequence of increased prescribing, which warrants further investigation.

Concurrent Alcohol and Opioid Intoxication in Emergency Department Patients Leads to Greater Resource Utilization.

Background: Concurrent alcohol intoxication can complicate emergency department (ED) presentations for opioid-related adverse events. We sought to determine if there was a difference in resource utilization among patients who presented to the ED with concurrent opioid and alcohol intoxication compared to opioid intoxication alone. Methods: Using linked state-wide databases from the Maryland Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP), we identified patients with a diagnosis of opioid intoxication treated in the ED from 2016 to 2018. We measured healthcare utilization for each patient in the ED settings for one year after the initial ED visit and estimated direct costs. We performed logistic regression comparing patients presented with co-intoxication to those without. Results: Of 12,295 patients who presented to the ED for opioid intoxication during the study period, 703 (5.7%) had concurrent alcohol intoxication. Patients with co-intoxication had more recurrent ED visits (340 vs 247.4 per 1000 patients, p < 0.05), higher index ED visit admission rates (26.9% vs 19.4%, p < 0.001), but similar overall costs ($3736 vs $2861, p < 0.05) at one year. Co-intoxication was associated with suicidal ideation (OR = 1.58, 95% CI 1.51-1.65), high zip code income (OR = 1.16, 95% CI 1.12-1.21), and higher rates of intoxication with all classes of drugs analyzed (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Our study demonstrated that mental health disorders, socioeconomic status, and increased ED utilization are associated with co-intoxication of opioids and alcohol presenting to the ED. Further research is needed to elucidate factors responsible for the increased resource use in this population.

Opioid and Benzodiazepine Co-Prescribing Trends from the Emergency Department from 2012 to 2019: A National Analysis.

BACKGROUND: In 2016, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued its strongest safety warning ("Black Box Warning") for concomitant use of prescription opioids and benzodiazepines due to overdose deaths. OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to look at trends of opioid and benzodiazepine co-prescribing in the emergency department (ED) using national data, because recent data are sparse. METHODS: This is a retrospective review of data collected by the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey between 2012 and 2019. Our primary outcome was to determine whether there was a trend in ED visits when opioids and benzodiazepines were co-prescribed at discharge. We also compared the rate of visits when co-prescribing occurred before (2012-2015) and after (2017-2019) the 2016 FDA warning. We identified commonly co-prescribed benzodiazepines and opioids, and the rate of naloxone co-prescribing. We used descriptive statistics and bivariate tests to describe data. RESULTS: Between 2012 and 2019, there were 4,489,613 ED visits (0.41% of ED visits) when benzodiazepines and opioids were co-prescribed. There was no trend in the rate of co-prescribing overall, but a decrease in visits after the 2016 FDA Black Box Warning (2012-2015: mean 0.49%; 2017-2019: mean 0.29%; p < 0.0001). There were 7980 ED visits (0.18%) when naloxone was co-prescribed for these visits within this time frame and an increase over time (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Our study found that between 2012 and 2019, there was no overall reduction in co-prescribing of opioids and benzodiazepines across EDs nationwide, but a decrease after the 2016 Black Box Warning.

Availability of Safe and Effective Therapeutic Options to Pregnant and Lactating Individuals Following the United States Food and Drug Administration Pregnancy and Lactation Labeling Rule.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the extent and type of pregnancy and lactation data of newly approved prescription drugs and assess whether the presented recommendations are data-driven, as required by the US Food and Drug Administration Pregnancy and Lactation Labeling Rule implemented in 2015. STUDY DESIGN: In this descriptive analysis, we reviewed pregnancy and lactation data of all new molecular entities approved between 2001 and 2020 in their most updated labeling. Information was collected regarding the pregnancy and lactation risk statements, the source of pregnancy and lactation data, and the design and methods of pregnancy and lactation studies in the labeling. RESULTS: Of the 422 new molecular entities, the key advisory statement for use of 133 (32%) drugs in pregnancy and 194 (46%) drugs in lactation were classified as "against use." Less than 2% of all drugs had a key advisory statement that supported their use during pregnancy or lactation. The sources of data regarding use in pregnancy were studies in human and animals in 46 (11%) and 348 (82%) drugs, respectively. For use during lactation, data included studies in human and animals in 23 (5%) and 251 (59%) drugs, respectively. The key advisory recommendation was consistent with the available human information in 4 (8%) drugs in pregnancy and 3 (13%) drugs in lactation. Prescription drug labeling contains limited data to support informed decision-making for the use of prescription drugs during pregnancy/lactation. Close collaboration among stakeholders is required to enhance the availability of data in this population.

Emergency contraception in the emergency department.

BACKGROUND: On June 24, 2022, the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, which will limit legal abortion in many areas of the U.S., making the need for effective emergency contraception even more critical. METHODS: This narrative review focuses on the approach to providing safe and effective emergency contraception in the emergency department (ED) with a focus on agents that are used in the U. S.; however, many of the agents discussed are also available and utilized in other countries. RESULTS: Emergency contraception methods included in this review are, ulipristal, levonorgestrel, combined oral contraceptive pills, and copper intrauterine devices (IUDs). CONCLUSION: The efficacy of products used for emergency contraception depend on patient and temporal factors. Emergency physicians must have an understanding of the optimal use of these agents to prevent unwanted pregnancy, particularly in the setting of restricted abortion access.

Tacrolimus toxicity due to enzyme inhibition from ritonavir.

Tacrolimus is commonly used for immunosuppression in patients following solid organ transplantation. For transplant patients with COVID-19 infection, early treatment is indicated due to the risk of progression to severe disease. However, the first line agent, nirmatrelvir/ritonavir, has multiple drug-drug interactions. We report a case of tacrolimus toxicity in a patient with a history of renal transplant due to enzyme inhibition related to nirmatrelvir/ritonavir. An 85-year-old woman with a history of multiple comorbidities presented to the emergency department (ED) with weakness, increasing confusion, poor oral intake, and inability to walk. She had been recently diagnosed with COVID-19 infection and was prescribed nirmatrelvir/ritonavir due to her underlying comorbidities and immune suppression. In the ED, she was dehydrated and had an acute kidney injury (creatinine 2.1 mg/dL, up from a baseline of 0.8 mg/dL). The tacrolimus concentration on initial labs was 143 ng/mL (5-20 ng/mL) and it continued to rise despite being held, to a peak of 189 ng/mL on hospital day 3. The patient was treated with phenytoin for enzyme induction and the tacrolimus concentration began to fall. She was discharged to a rehabilitation facility after a 17 day hospitalization. ED physicians must be cognizant of drug-drug interactions when prescribing nirmatrelvir/ritonavir and evaluating patients recently treated with the drug to identify toxicity due to these interactions.

Trends in naloxone prescribed at emergency department discharge: A national analysis (2012-2019).

BACKGROUND: While having access to naloxone is recommended for patients at risk for opioid overdose, little is known about trends in national naloxone prescribing rates in emergency departments (EDs) both for co-prescription with opioids and for patients who presented with opioid abuse or overdose. This study aims to evaluate the change in naloxone prescribing and opioid/naloxone co-prescribing at discharge using national data. METHODS: We conducted an IRB exempt retrospective review of data collected by the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey from 2012 to 2019. The primary outcome was trend in rate of naloxone prescribing at discharge from ED visits. We also computed the proportion of visits where naloxone was both administered in the ED and prescribed at discharge, where naloxone and opioids were co-prescribed at discharge, and where an opioid was administered during the ED visit and naloxone was prescribed at discharge. All data were summarized using descriptive statistics and Spearman's Rho (SR) or Pearson's correlation (PR) were used to describe trends. RESULTS: There was an estimated total of 250,365 patient visits where naloxone was prescribed at discharge with an increasing rate over time (0% of all ED visits in 2012 to 0.075% in 2019, p = 0.002). There were also increases in naloxone being both administered in the ED and prescribed at discharge (PC: 0.8, p = 0.02) as well as in naloxone and opioid co-prescribing (SR: 0.76, P = 0.03). There was an increase in utilization of opioids during the ED visit and naloxone prescribing at discharge for the same visit (SR: 0.80, p = 0.02). CONCLUSION: There are increases in naloxone prescribing at discharge, naloxone and opioid co-prescribing, and opioid utilization during the same visit where naloxone is prescribed at discharge. Future studies should be done to confirm such trends, and targeted interventions should be put into place to increase access to this life-saving antidote.

Trends in amphetamine prescriptions given at discharge in emergency departments: A national analysis (2012-2019).

OBJECTIVES: In parallel with the opioid epidemic, there has been a resurgence in abuse, medical complications, and deaths related to amphetamines. The opioid epidemic began with increasing rates of prescription products that evolved overtime to include heroin and more recently, fentanyl analogues. Current trends in amphetamine prescriptions are less well described. We sought to determine if there has been a change in amphetamine prescriptions given at discharge in U.S. emergency departments (EDs) in recent years. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective review of data provided by the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NHAMCS) from 2012 to 2019. We computed total number of visits that were given amphetamine prescriptions (amphetamine salts, methylphenidate derivatives, and dexmethylphenidate) at discharge for each year. We computed the total number and rate of visits (of all ED visits) that had both amphetamines and opioids prescribed at discharge over the years. We computed data normality using Shapiro Wilke's test and used descriptive statistics such as mean to describe the data distribution as applicable. We used spearman's rho (SR) or pearson's correlation (PC) as applicable to describe trends in data. All p-values were one-tailed and were reported at a 0.05 significance level. All analyses were conducted in IBM SPSS version 28. RESULTS/FINDINGS: From 2012 to 2019, there were an estimated 817,895 ED visits where an amphetamine prescription was given at discharge, with an overall strong increase in rate over time (SR = 0.71, p = 0.02). At the beginning of the study period (2012) there were 83,503 (0.06%) visits and in 2019 there were 186,539 (0.12%) visits (123% absolute increase). On average, there were 102,237 (SD: 52,725) visits with discharge amphetamine prescriptions per year. There was a strong, linear increase in number of visits that involved a discharge amphetamine salt prescription (PC = 0.92, p = 0.001). In 2012, there were a total of 23,676 visits and in 2019, a total of 124,773 visits (427% increase). There was no trend in visits where both an amphetamine and opioid were prescribed (PC: 0.61, p = 0.06). CONCLUSION: There have been increases in discharge prescriptions for amphetamines in the ED over time. This was largely driven by prescriptions for amphetamine salts. Future research initiatives should continue to monitor this trend and in prescriptions and associated abuse in the setting of rising amphetamine abuse.

Cyclobenzaprine utilization for musculoskeletal back pain: Analysis of 2007-2019 National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey Data.

BACKGROUND: With musculoskeletal back pain being one of the most common presentations in the emergency department, evidence-based management strategies are needed to address such complaints. Along with other medications, cyclobenzaprine is a muscle relaxant commonly prescribed for patients complaining of musculoskeletal pain, in particular, pain associated with muscle spasms. However, with recent literature questioning its efficacy, the role of cyclobenzaprine use in patients with musculoskeletal back pain remains unclear. OBJECTIVES: The objective of the study is to investigate trends of cyclobenzaprine utilization among patients presenting to the emergency department (ED) in the United States. METHODS: This is a retrospective cohort review of data obtained from the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NHAMCS) between 2007 and 2019. We analyzed ED visits of patients 18 years and older. Visits during which cyclobenzaprine was administered in the ED or prescribed at discharge were identified. Trends were described using a time series analysis of patients' visits who received administration and prescriptions of cyclobenzaprine. RESULTS: Between 2007 and 2019, we identified an estimated 1.35 billion ED visits, 57.2% (772.6 million) were female. From that sample, 2.4% (32.7 million) of all visits received cyclobenzaprine prescription in the ED only, and 0.5% (6.6 million) of total visits were both given the drug in the ED and were prescribed the drug at discharge). Overall trend analysis shows a slight decrease in annual percentages of cyclobenzaprine administration and prescriptions during the study period. Visits of certain subgroups: 26-44 years, white showed relatively higher percentages of administration and prescription of cyclobenzaprine. CONCLUSIONS: Although there was a slight decrease, our study still shows significant cyclobenzaprine utilization in the ED, despite conflicting evidence demonstrating efficacy for patients with musculoskeletal complaints and the concern for adverse effects. Additional studies are needed to examine its overall effectiveness and risk-benefit analysis in treating patients with such conditions.

Shortages of agents used to treat antimuscarinic delirium.

INTRODUCTION: Antimuscarinic delirium (AD), a potentially life-threatening condition frequently encountered by emergency physicians, results from poisoning with antimuscarinic agents. Treatment with physostigmine and benzodiazepines is the mainstay of pharmacotherapy, and use of dexmedetomidine and non-physostigmine centrally-acting acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (cAChEi) such as rivastigmine has also been described. Unfortunately, these medications are subject to drug shortages which negatively impact the ability to provide appropriate pharmacologic treatment of patients with AD. METHODS: Drug shortage data were retrieved from the University of Utah Drug Information Service (UUDIS) database from January 2001 through December 2021. Shortages of first-line agents used to treat AD (physostigmine and parenteral benzodiazepines) and second-line agents (dexmedetomidine and non-physostigmine cAChEi) were examined. Drug class, formulation, route of administration, reason for shortage, shortage duration, generic status, and whether the drug was a single-source product (made by only one manufacturer) were extracted. Shortage overlap and median shortage durations were calculated. RESULTS: Twenty-six shortages impacting drugs used to treat AD were reported to UUDIS from January 1, 2001 to December 31, 2021. Median shortage duration for all medication classes was 6.0 months. Four shortages were unresolved at the end of the study period. The single medication most often on shortage was dexmedetomidine, however benzodiazepines were the most common medication class on shortage. Twenty-five shortages involved parenteral formulations, and one shortage involved the transdermal patch formulation of rivastigmine. The majority (88.5%) of shortages involved generic medications, and 50% of products on shortage were single-source. The most common reported reason for shortage was a manufacturing issue (27%). Shortages were often prolonged and, in 92% of cases, overlapped temporally with other shortages. Shortage frequency and duration increased during the second half of the study period. CONCLUSION: Shortages of agents used in the treatment of AD were common during the study period and affected all agent classes. Shortages were often prolonged and multiple shortages were ongoing at study period end. Multiple concurrent shortages involving different agents occurred, which could hamper substitution as a means of mitigating shortage. Healthcare stakeholders must develop innovative patient- and institution-specific solutions in times of shortage and work to build resilience into the medical product supply chain to minimize future shortages of drugs used for treatment of AD.

A national analysis of ED presentations for early pregnancy and complications: Implications for post-Roe America.

BACKGROUND: Most obstetric emergencies are initially managed in the emergency department (ED). The Supreme Court decision of Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, overturning Roe v. Wade, in June 2022, eliminated constitutional protection of abortion rights, allowing states to swiftly enact laws that can greatly change reproductive medicine. In this post-Roe landscape, the ambiguity and uncertainty being imposed on clinicians regarding the legality of certain interventions may have catastrophic effects. To understand and plan for the changes that will come and attempt to mitigate adverse outcomes, the authors first assessed the current state of pregnancy-related complication care in the ED setting. This study utilized data obtained from the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NHAMCS) to evaluate trends in pregnancy-related ED visits from 2016 to 2020 that could be impacted by restricted abortion access and trigger laws. The authors subsequently analyzed the legislative changes and translated the pertinent ones to dispel misunderstandings and provide a framework for appropriate medical practice. METHODS: The retrospective study utilized data from the NHAMCS database from 2016 to 2020, encompassing an estimated total of 4,556,778 pregnancy-related ED visits. NHAMCS is a multi-stage probabilistic sample collected by the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) using an annual survey of EDs in the United States. All data were summarized using descriptive statistics such as proportions and 95% confidence intervals Furthermore, the supreme court decision was analyzed in addition to multiple state laws and legal texts. The findings were summarized and discussed. RESULTS: The majority (79.4%) of all studied visits were for patients between the ages of 18-34 years, capturing those in peak reproductive years. This age group also comprised of the bulk (76.4%) of visits for pathologic pregnancies, including ectopic and molar pregnancies, and 79.8% of visits for a spontaneous miscarriage or threatened miscarriage in early pregnancy. Black patients accounted for 25.7%, white patients 70.1%. Regarding ethnicity, patients were separated into Hispanic and non-Hispanic, with Hispanic patients comprising 27% of all ED visits for included diagnoses between 2016 and 2020. Most visits for complications following an induced abortion occurred in the south (70.8%) and were nearly twice as likely to occur in non-metropolitan areas. Approximately 18% patients presenting with a pathologic pregnancy required admission to the hospital and approximately 50% of those visits for pathologic pregnancies and visits for bleeding in pregnancy had a procedure in the ED (49.8% and 49.5%). There were 111,264 estimated visits in which methotrexate was administered, amounting to approximately 1 in 7 visits for ectopic or molar pregnancy. In this data set, approximately 14,000 miscarriage and early bleeding patients received misoprostol. CONCLUSION: Pregnancy-related ED visits comprise of a significant proportion of emergency care. As it relates to many of the trends previously elucidated on, the true extent of the burden cannot be predicted. It must be emphasized that contrary to popular belief, Dobbs v. Jackson does not prohibit termination of pregnancy in the setting of life-threatening conditions to the mother, including ectopic pregnancy, preeclampsia, and others, but the resultant uncertainty and ambiguity surrounding the constitutional change is leading to an over-compliance of the law, necessarily obstructing reproductive health care. The authors recommend that physicians be mindful of the rapidly-evolving laws in their particular state, and to also practice in accordance with Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act (EMTALA). Patient safety must be prioritized.

Toxicity of abortifacients: A review for physicians in the post roe era.

BACKGROUND: On June 24, 2022, the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, which will limit legal abortion in many areas of the U.S. Over half of abortions in the U.S. are performed using medication as opposed to surgical techniques. With widespread access to agents that are used for medication abortion, there may be an increase in emergency department presentations related to improper or unsupervised use of these medications. METHODS: This narrative review focuses on the contraindications, adverse effects, and toxicities of the most common agents used for medication abortion in the U.S. RESULTS: Medications included in this review are mifepristone, misoprostol, and methotrexate. Each of these medications has a unique adverse effect and toxicity profile. CONCLUSION: Agents used for medication abortion have unique contraindications and adverse effects. Improper or unsupervised use may occur in the setting of limited abortion access and emergency medicine physicians are on the front lines in managing these presentations.

Valproic Acid Overdose: Case Report and Literature Review.

BACKGROUND: Valproic acid (VPA) is a common antiepileptic drug that is also used routinely for various psychiatric disorders. VPA toxicity typically manifests as central nervous system depression, while hyperammonemic encephalopathy and hepatotoxicity are potentially life-threatening complications. CASE REPORT: We describe the case of a 56-year-old man who presented to the emergency department after an intentional VPA overdose, was found to have hyperammonemia, and was treated with L-carnitine exclusively. He was subsequently admitted to the hospital for monitoring and serial laboratory testing. WHY SHOULD AN EMERGENCY PHYSICIAN BE AWARE OF THIS?: Although VPA toxicity has conventionally been managed by gastric decontamination, L-carnitine, and, in severe and refractory cases, extracorporeal removal, recent literature supports the use of carbapenem antibiotics, particularly meropenem. Thus, we report the details of current treatment modalities for VPA toxicity by reviewing current literature.

Tramadol Use in United States Emergency Departments 2007-2018.

BACKGROUND: Amidst the opioid epidemic, there has been an increasing focus on opioid utilization in U.S. emergency departments (EDs). Compared with other opioids, little is known about the use of tramadol over the past decade. Tramadol has uncertain efficacy and a concerning adverse effect profile compared with traditional opioids. OBJECTIVE: Our aim was to describe trends in tramadol use in U.S. EDs between 2007 and 2018. METHODS: We analyzed the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey from 2007 to 2018 to examine ED visits by patients 18 years or older in which tramadol was administered or prescribed. We examined trends in demographics and resource utilization and compared these trends with those of traditional opioids. Survey-weighted analyses were conducted to provide national-level estimates. RESULTS: Between 2007 and 2018, ED visits in which tramadol was used increased 70.6%, from 1.7% of all ED visits in 2007 to 2.9% in 2018. The largest increases were noted among patients aged 55 through 64 years and 65 years and older. Diagnostic resource utilization increased across the study period. Overall opioid utilization during the study period decreased from 28.4% in 2007 to 17.9% in 2018 (p < 0.001). The use of other specific opioids declined or remained stable between 2007 and 2018. CONCLUSIONS: Although the use of traditional opioids decreased from 2007 to 2018, the use of tramadol increased. Increases were largest among older patients, who may be more susceptible to the adverse effects associated with this medication. Further research in the appropriate use of tramadol in the ED setting is warranted.

Trends in the Evaluation and Management of Back Pain in Emergency Departments, United States, 2007-2016.

OBJECTIVE: Back pain is one of the most common pain syndromes in the United States, but there has been limited recent description of the role of emergency departments (EDs) in caring for patients with back pain. We investigated trends in the evaluation and management of back pain in U.S. EDs from 2007 to 2016. METHODS: We performed a retrospective analysis of the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey, a nationally representative annual survey of ED visits, which includes data on patient-, hospital-, and visit-level characteristics. We evaluated trends among adult ED visits for back pain, including demographics, resource utilization, and disposition. Trends were assessed through the use of survey-weighted analyses. RESULTS: Visit rates as a proportion of overall ED visits were stable from 2007 to 2016 (9.1% [95% confidence interval (CI): 8.5-9.6] vs. 9.3% [95% CI: 8.6-10.0]; P = 0.44). Admission rates declined from 6.4% (95% CI: 5.1-8.0) to 5.0% (95% CI: 3.5-6.9; P < 0.001). Imaging utilization increased from 51.7% (95% CI: 49.3-54.1) to 57.6% (95% CI: 53.3-61.7; P = 0.023), with an increase of 58.3% in computed tomography. Overall opioid utilization declined from 53.5% (95% CI: 49.4-57.5) to 46.5% (95% CI: 43.2-49.8; P < 0.001). Tramadol use increased over the study period (4.1% [95% CI: 3.0-5.8] vs. 8.4% [95% CI: 6.6-10.7]; P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Opioid utilization during ED visits for back pain decreased from 2007 to 2016, whereas tramadol use more than doubled. Care intensity increased significantly despite declining admission rates. Further research into optimal strategies for back pain management in the ED is needed.

An international perspective of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest and cardiopulmonary resuscitation during the COVID-19 pandemic.

BACKGROUND: Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) accounts for a substantial proportion of sudden cardiac events globally, with hundreds of thousands of cases reported annually in the United States. The mortality rate of patients who suffer OHCA remains high despite extensive utilization of resources. OBJECTIVES: We aim to describe the current landscape of OHCA during the COVID-19 pandemic and provide an overview of the logistical challenges and resuscitation protocols amongst emergency medical service (EMS) personnel. DISCUSSION: Recent studies in Italy, New York City, and France characterized a significant increase in OHCA incidence in conjunction with the arrival of the 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. The presence of the pandemic challenged existing protocols for field resuscitation of cardiac arrest patients as the pandemic necessitated prioritization of EMS personnel and other healthcare providers' safety through stringent personal protective equipment (PPE) requirements. Studies also characterized difficulties encountered by the first responder system during COVID-19, such as dispatcher overload, increased response times, and adherence to PPE requirements, superimposed on PPE shortages. The lack of guidance by governmental agencies and specialty organizations to provide unified safety protocols for resuscitation led to the development of different resuscitative protocols globally. CONCLUSIONS: The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic modified the approach of first responders to OHCA. With the rise in OCHA during the pandemic in several geographic regions and the risks of disease transmission with superimposed equipment shortages, novel noninvasive, adjunct tools, such as point of care ultrasound, warrant consideration. Further prehospital studies should be considered to optimize OHCA and resource management while minimizing risk to personnel.

Topical capsaicin for the treatment of cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome, a systematic review and meta-analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome (CHS) is a condition that is being recognized and treated more frequently in emergency departments (EDs) across the United States. Currently, ED providers rely on antiemetics, antipsychotics and benzodiazepines to alleviate the symptoms. Topical capsaicin, a transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) agonist, has been proposed in recent years as a low-cost and effective alternative to the traditional antiemetic regimen when treating CHS. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to demonstrate the reliability and the gaps of what is known about this treatment modality. METHODS: Articles were extracted from PubMed, SCOPUS, and Google Scholar databases. Publication dates ranged from the inception of the databases to October 2020. Initial searches found 328 studies. After careful review and screening by two investigators, 7 studies met the inclusion criteria and were included for our meta-analysis. Variables that were evaluated included the prevalence of hospital admissions for patients treated with capsaicin, time to relief of symptoms after capsaicin administration, and ED length of stay (LOS). I-square and Q-statistic values were used to assess heterogeneity. RESULTS: Among the 7 studies, there was a total of 106 patients. Two studies reported time to resolution of symptoms following capsaicin administration and ED LOS. Means for these outcomes were 325 (95% CI 234-787) and 379 (95% CI 10-747) minutes respectively. I-square was 44%, and Q-statistic was 11 with 6 degrees of freedom, with a p-value of 0.1. DISCUSSION: With acceptable time to resolution of symptoms after topical administration and ED LOS, capsaicin appears to be an effective treatment option for symptomatic relief of CHS. Further randomized controlled trials should be conducted to examine if it is the more efficacious and efficient treatment for CHS across various care settings.

A practical review of buprenorphine utilization for the emergency physician in the era of decreased prescribing restrictions.

INTRODUCTION: Opioid abuse and overdose deaths have reached epidemic proportions in the last couple decades. In response to rational prescribing initiatives, utilization of prescription opioids has decreased; however, the number of deaths due to opioid overdoses continues to rise, largely driven by fentanyl analogues in adulterated heroin. Solutions to the opioid crisis must be multifaceted and address underlying opioid addiction. In recent years, buprenorphine has become a cornerstone in the treatment of opioid use disorder (OUD) and initiation of therapy in the emergency department (ED) has become increasingly common. There have also been calls by many organizations to remove the requirement for additional training and X-waiver to prescribe buprenorphine. In April 2021, the Biden Administration eased prescribing restrictions on the drug. These initiatives are expected to increase ED utilization of the buprenorphine. The purpose of this paper is to provide an updated overview of the role and use of buprenorphine in the ED setting so physicians may adapt to the changing practice environment. OBJECTIVES: This is a narrative review describing the role of buprenorphine in the ED. A PubMed search was conducted using the keywords "opioid epidemic" "buprenorphine," and "medication assisted therapy", and "emergency department". All the articles that contained information on the opioid epidemic, medication assisted therapy, and the biological effects of buprenorphine, that were also relevant to pain management and the ED, were included in the review. DISCUSSION: Multiple studies have pointed to the effective use of buprenorphine as a treatment for OUDs in ED patients and are superior to standard care; however, there are various barriers to its use in the ED setting. CONCLUSION: Emergency physicians can influence opioid related morbidity and mortality, by familiarizing themselves with the use of buprenorphine to treat opioid withdrawal and addiction, particularly now that prescribing restrictions have been eased. Further ED research is necessary to assess the optimal use of buprenorphine in this care setting.