Educational and personal impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on emergency medicine resident physicians: a qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on both the clinical practice and the psychological states of frontline physicians in the emergency department. Trainees, at the beginning of their careers and thus still developing their practice styles and identities as physicians, were uniquely affected. OBJECTIVE: In this qualitative study, we sought to explore how the pandemic environment shaped the experiences of emergency medicine resident physicians. METHODS: This was a qualitative study. We conducted in-depth interviews with emergency medicine faculty, resident physicians, and staff at a single emergency department based at an urban academic institution in the northeastern United States. Interviews were audio recorded and transcribed, and transcripts were then analyzed in an iterative process by our coding team for recurring themes related to the resident experience. RESULTS: We reached data saturation with 27 individuals. Of those who were interviewed, 10 were resident physicians [6 senior residents (PGY-3 or PGY-4) and 4 junior residents (PGY-1 or PGY-2)]. Three major recurring themes regarding resident physician experience emerged during our analysis of the interviews: (1) novel educational experiences dampened by negative structural forces from the pandemic, (2) fracturing of social interactions and mitigation through ad-hoc support systems and community of practice, and (3) development of negative emotions and psychological trauma including fear, resentment, and moral injury causing lasting harm. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that emergency medicine resident physicians training during the COVID-19 pandemic faced unique experiences concerning their education, social support systems, and emotional states. While the educational and social experiences were described as having both negative and positive impacts, the emotional experiences were largely negative. Residency program leadership may use these insights to improve resident preparation, wellness, and resilience in the face of future adverse events.

Dark Radiation from Neutrino Mixing after Big Bang Nucleosynthesis.

Light dark fermions can mass mix with the standard model (SM) neutrinos. As a result, through oscillations and scattering, they can equilibrate in the early universe. Interactions of the dark fermion generically suppress such production at high temperatures but enhance it at later times. We find that for a wide range of mixing angles and interaction strengths equilibration with SM neutrinos occurs at temperatures near the dark fermion mass. For masses below an MeV, this naturally occurs after nucleosynthesis and opens the door to a variety of dark sector dynamics with observable imprints on the CMB and large scale structure, and with potential relevance to the tensions in H_{0} and S_{8}.

Stress as tool or toxin: physiologic markers and subjective report in neonatal simulation.

BACKGROUND: Cognitive appraisal of stress can influence performance. Increased awareness could facilitate titration to optimal stress levels. This study's primary aim was to investigate whether physiologic variables change with increasingly stressful simulations. Secondary aims include effect of stress on procedural competency and whether individuals recognize their experienced stress. METHODS: This was a single-center, mixed-method, simulation-based study. Participants completed three scenarios requiring resuscitation under increasingly stressful conditions. Wearable biometric devices recorded physiologic parameters. Subjects completed surveys assessing knowledge and perceived stress. Intubation success or failure was noted. Heart rate variability (HRV) analysis was used as a proxy for stress. RESULTS: Twelve participants completed the study. Survey analysis revealed progressive amplification of endorsement of affective states associated with stress. Median low frequency (LF)/high frequency (HF) ratio from scenario 1 (median = 2.29, IQR = 1.97, 3.91) was significantly lower than scenario 2 (median = 4.7, IQR = 2.32, 8.35, p = 0.04) and scenario 3 (median = 4.63, IQR = 2.2, 7.43, p = 0.04). Changes in HRV were noted during all scenarios irrespective of subjective self-assessment of stress. Procedural proficiency suffered during more stressful scenarios. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates alterations in subjective assessment and objective physiologic data in simulations with increasing stress. HRV is useful as a proxy for stress response and does not always correlate with perception.

LGBTQ+ individuals are not explicitly represented in emergency medicine simulation curricula.

Background: Medical educational societies have emphasized the inclusion of marginalized populations, including the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ+) population, in educational curricula. Lack of inclusion can contribute to health inequality and mistreatment due to unconscious bias. Little didactic time is spent on the care of LGBTQ+ individuals in emergency medicine (EM) curricula. Simulation based medical education can be a helpful pedagogy in teaching cross-cultural care and communication skills. In this study, we sought to determine the representation of the LGBTQ+ population in EM simulation curricula. We also sought to determine if representations of the LGBTQ+ population depicted stigmatized behavior. Methods: We reviewed 971 scenarios from six simulation case banks for LGBTQ+ representation. Frequency distributions were determined for major demographic variables. Chi-Squared or Fisher's Exact Test, depending on the cell counts, were used to determine if relationships existed between LGBTQ+ representation and bank type, author type, and stigmatized behavior. Results: Of the 971 scenarios reviewed, eight (0.82%) scenarios explicitly represented LGBTQ+ patients, 319 (32.85%) represented heterosexual patients, and the remaining 644 (66.32%) did not specify these patient characteristics. All cases representing LGBTQ+ patients were found in institutional case banks. Three of the eight cases depicted stigmatized behavior. Conclusions: LGBTQ+ individuals are not typically explicitly represented in EM simulation curricula. LGBTQ+ individuals should be more explicitly represented to reduce stigma, allow EM trainees to practice using gender affirming language, address health conditions affecting the LGBTQ+ population, and address possible bias when treating LGBTQ+ patients.

Increasing Diversity Content in Graduate Coursework: A Pilot Investigation.

Recent data indicate that BACB certificants are largely homogenous with respect to racial and gender identity. There is also evidence that many practitioners do not receive training in culturally responsive service delivery (CSRD). Applied behavior analysis (ABA) graduate programs would therefore benefit from incorporating training on diversity and CSRD. In this pilot investigation, a pre/post design was used to evaluate the effects of providing ABA faculty members with a supplemental diversity/CRSD curriculum on the presence of diversity/CRSD content in course syllabi. Six faculty members, who were collectively responsible for teaching courses in an ABA master's program, participated in this study. All participants were provided with a general list of resources related to diversity/CRSD in ABA. The supplemental curriculum included tailored diversity course objectives and supporting resources for courses assigned to the intervention group. Results suggest that the provision of tailored objectives and supporting resources to faculty may lead to increases in diversity/CRSD content in course syllabi. Despite the methodological shortcomings of this pilot investigation, this study represents a preliminary step toward the development of a line of empirical research on ABA graduate training and diversity/CRSD. Implications for graduate training programs in ABA and future research in this area are discussed. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s40617-022-00714-8.

The impact of interviewer characteristics on residency candidate scores in Emergency Medicine: a brief report.

Background: At the conclusion of residency candidate interview days, faculty interviewers commonly meet as a group to reach conclusions about candidate evaluations based on shared information. These conclusions ultimately translate into rank list position for The Residency Match. The primary objective is to determine if the post-interview discussion influences the final scores assigned by each interviewer, and to investigate whether interviewer characteristics are significantly associated with the likelihood of changing their score. Based on Foucault's 'theory of discourse' and Bourdieu's 'social capital theory,' we hypothesized that interviewer characteristics, and the discourse itself, would contribute to score changes after a post-interview discussion regarding emergency medicine residency candidates. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional observational study of candidate scores for all candidates to a four-year emergency medicine residency program affiliated with Yale University School of Medicine during a single application cycle. The magnitude and direction of score changes, if any, after group discussion were plotted and grouped by interviewer academic rank. We created a logistic regression model to determine the odds that candidate scores changed from pre- and post-discussion ratings related to specific interviewer factors. Results: A total of 24 interviewers and 211 candidates created 471 unique interviewer-candidate scoring interactions, with 216 (45.8%) changing post-discussion. All interviewers ranked junior to professor were significantly more likely to change their score compared to professors. Interviewers who were women had significantly lower odds of changing their individual scores following group discussion (p=0.020; OR 0.49, 95% CI 0.26-0.89). Conclusions: Interviewers with lower academic rank had higher odds of changing their post-discussion scores of residency candidates compared to professors. Future work is needed to further characterize the influencing factors and could help create more equitable decision processes during the residency candidate ranking process.

Burnout and Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms Among Emergency Medicine Resident Physicians During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

INTRODUCTION: Emergency medicine is characterized by high volume decision-making while under multiple stressors. With the arrival of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) virus in early 2020, physicians across the world were met with a surge of critically ill patients. Emergency physicians (EP) are prone to developing burnout and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), due to experiencing emotional trauma as well as the cumulative stress of practice. Thus, calls have been made for attempts to prevent physician PTSD during this current pandemic. METHODS: From July 2019-January 2020, emergency medicine (EM) resident physicians at a large, academic healthcare system were surveyed for symptoms of burnout using the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI). In late April and early May 2020, during the outbreak surge of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the Northeast USA, these same residents and the whole EM residency at the institution were again surveyed for symptoms of burnout as well as post-traumatic stress using the PTSD Checklist for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition (PCL-5). A final survey was administered to the EM residents after the COVID-19 surge had largely subsided in June 2020. RESULTS: Twenty-two residents participated in the pre-pandemic study and completed the MBI. Twelve (55%) completed the two follow-up MBI surveys. In the larger EM residency cohort, 31/60 residents completed the MBI and PCL-5 survey during the pandemic peak and 30/60 (50%) completed the follow-up surveys. There were no significant differences in the three MBI burnout category measures of emotional exhaustion (P = 0.49), depersonalization (P = 0.13), and personal accomplishment (P = 0.70) pre-, during, and post-COVID. Of 31 participants, 11 (35%) scored greater than 31 on the PCL-5. Two residents had scores between 21-30, interpreted as "at risk." At greater than one month follow-up, 2/30 continued to meet criteria for a preliminary PTSD diagnosis, and five were "at risk." CONCLUSION: A significant proportion of residents (35%) experienced post-traumatic symptoms acutely during the COVID-19 pandemic crisis, potentially indicating a high prevalence of acute stress disorder in this population and increased risk of developing PTSD. However, there was no significant difference in burnout levels in this cohort before, during, or after the initial COVID-19 surge. Early screening for physicians at risk and referral for assessment and treatment may be important to mitigate pandemic-related PTSD.

Improving patient and clinician safety during COVID-19 through rapidly adaptive simulation and a randomised controlled trial: a study protocol.

INTRODUCTION: COVID-19 required healthcare systems to iteratively adapt for safe and up-to-date care as knowledge of the disease rapidly evolved. Rates of COVID-19 infections continue to fluctuate and patients without COVID-19 increasingly return to the emergency department (ED) for care. This leads to new challenges and threats to patient and clinician safety as suspected patients with COVID-19 need to be quickly detected and isolated among other patients with non-COVID-19-related illnesses. At the front lines, emergency physicians also face continued personal safety concerns and increased work burden, which heighten stress and anxiety, especially given the prolonged course of the pandemic. Burnout, already a serious concern for emergency physicians due to the cumulative stresses of their daily practice, may present as a longer-term outcome of these acute stressors. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: We will implement a rapidly adaptive simulation-based approach to understand and improve physician preparedness while decreasing physician stress and anxiety. First, we will conduct semi-structured qualitative interviews and human factor observations to determine the challenges and facilitators of COVID-19 preparedness and mitigation of physician stress. Next, we will conduct a randomised controlled trial to test the effectiveness of a simulation preparedness intervention on physician physiological stress as measured by decreased heart rate variability on shift and anxiety as measured by the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: The protocol was reviewed and approved by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality for funding, and ethics approval was obtained from the Yale University Human Investigation Committee in 2020 (HIC# 2000029370 and 2000029372). To support ongoing efforts to address clinician stress and preparedness, we will strategically disseminate the simulation intervention to areas most impacted by COVID-19. Using a virtual telesimulation and webinar format, the dissemination efforts will provide hands-on learning for ED and hospital administrators as well as simulation educators. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT04614844.

All clinical stressors are not created equal: Differential task stress in a simulated clinical environment.

Background: A variety of stressors are encountered while working in the emergency department and are often recreated in simulation-based medical education. We seek to examine the physiologic and stress state response of participants in a simulated clinical environment to commonly encountered stressors. Methods: Emergency medicine (EM) residents participated in a randomized, controlled trial of six simulated patient encounters with one of three stressors, medical difficulty, interpersonal challenge, and technology/equipment failure, randomized into each scenario. Participants wore smart shirts to measure heart rate variability (HRV) at rest and just after the introduced stressor and completed the Short Stress State Questionnaire (SSSQ) before and after each scenario. Results: Twenty-seven EM residents participated in the study. Interpersonal challenge resulted in increased distress as measured by SSSQ compared to the other two stressors (one way ANOVA, F[2,144] = 9.95, p < 0.001). There was no difference in worry or task engagement across stressors. HRV decreased significantly from rest for all stressors (p = 0.0003, p = 0.0112, p = 0.0027 for medical difficulty, interpersonal challenge, and equipment failure, respectively), but there was no statistically significant difference between mean change in HRV across stressors (one way ANOVA, F[2,120] = 0.17, p = 0.8452). Conclusions: Interpersonal challenge stressor was significantly associated with an increase in distress in EM residents during the simulated encounters as compared to the other stressors. While heart rate variability decreased from rest for each stressor as expected following stressor introduction, differing stressors did not produce a differential change.

Pediatric Rattlesnake Envenomation: A Simulation Scenario With Optional Health Equity, Virtual Facilitation, and Senior Learner Modifications.

Rattlesnake envenomation is an uncommon but urgent cause of presentation for emergency care. Recognition of envenomation, timely administration of antivenom when indicated, and recognition of antivenom reactions are of critical importance to mitigate the local, hematologic, and systemic effects of Crotaline venom. This technical report describes the presentation and use of a simulation-based scenario of an envenomated child who requires treatment with antivenom. Optional additions to this scenario are described and include antivenom reaction, health equity considerations, and virtual facilitation.

Virtual Telesimulation for Medical Students During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

PROBLEM: In March 2020, the novel coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) became a global pandemic. Medical schools around the United States faced difficult decisions, temporarily suspending hospital-based clerkship rotations for medical students due to potential shortages of personal protective equipment and a need to social distance. This decision created a need for innovative, virtual learning opportunities to support undergraduate medical education. APPROACH: Educators at Yale School of Medicine developed a novel medical student curriculum converting high-fidelity, mannequin-based simulation into a fully online virtual telesimulation format. By using a virtual videoconferencing platform to deliver remote telesimulation as an immersive educational experience for widely dispersed students, this novel technology retains the experiential strengths of simulation-based learning while complying with needs for social distancing during the pandemic. The curriculum comprises simulated clinical scenarios that include live patient actors; facilitator interactions; and real-time assessment of vital signs, labs, and imaging. Each 90-minute session includes 2 sets of simulation scenarios and faculty-led teledebriefs. A team of 3 students performs the first scenario, while an additional team of 3 students observes. Teams reverse roles for the second scenario. OUTCOMES: The 6-week virtual telesimulation elective enrolled the maximum 48 medical students and covered core clinical clerkship content areas. Communication patterns within the virtual telesimulation format required more deliberate turn-taking than normal conversation. Using the chat function within the videoconferencing platform allowed teams to complete simultaneous tasks. A nurse confederate provided cues not available in the virtual telesimulation format. NEXT STEPS: Rapid dissemination of this program, including online webinars and live demonstration sessions with student volunteers, supports the development of similar programs at other universities. Evaluation and process improvement efforts include planned qualitative evaluation of this new format to further understand and refine the learning experience. Future work is needed to evaluate clinical skill development in this educational modality.

A Novel Application of the Modified Angoff Method to Rate Case Difficulty in Simulation-Based Research.

INTRODUCTION: Simulation use in research is often limited by controlling for scenario difficulty when using repeated measures. Our study assesses the feasibility of the Modified Angoff Method to reach expert consensus regarding difficulty of medical simulations. We compared scores with participant physiologic stress. METHODS: Emergency medicine physicians with expertise in simulation education were asked to review 8 scenarios and estimate the percentage of resident physicians who would perform all critical actions using the modified Angoff method. A standard deviation (SD) of less than 10% of estimated percentage correct signified consensus. Twenty-five residents then performed the 6 scenarios that met consensus and heart rate variability (HRV) was measured. RESULTS: During round 1, experts rated 4/8 scenarios within a 10% SD for postgraduate year 3 (PGY3) and 3/8 for PGY4 residents. In round 2, 6/8 simulation scenarios were within an SD of 10% points for both years. Intraclass correlation coefficient was 0.84 for PGY3 ratings and 0.89 for PGY4 ratings. A mixed effects analysis of variance showed no significant difference in HRV change from rest to simulation between teams or scenarios. Modified Angoff Score was not a predictor of HRV (multiple R2 = 0.0176). CONCLUSIONS: Modified Angoff ratings demonstrated consensus in quantifying the estimated percentage of participants who would complete all critical actions for most scenarios. Although participant HRV did decrease during the scenarios, we were unable to significantly correlate this with ratings. This modified Angoff method is a feasible approach to evaluate simulation difficulty for educational and research purposes and may decrease the time and resources necessary for scenario piloting.

Sexual Assault in an Adolescent Female: A Pediatric Simulation Case for Emergency Medicine Providers.

Introduction: Many emergency medicine (EM) physicians have limited training in the care of sexual assault patients. Simulation is an effective means to increase the confidence and knowledge of physicians in such high-stakes, low-frequency clinical scenarios as sexual assault. We sought to develop and implement a sexual assault simulation with a structured debriefing for EM residents and to determine its impact on resident learners' attitudes and knowledge skills in the care of patients with sexual assault. Methods: The simulation blended psychomotor skills (e.g., collecting forensic evidence), cognitive skills (e.g., ordering laboratory studies and medications), and communication skills (e.g., obtaining relevant patient history, responding to psychosocial concerns raised by team members and simulator). Our emergency department checklist was available as a cognitive aid for each step of the evidence collection process. A content expert answered questions in real time during the simulation and provided structured debriefing following the simulation. Trainees completed an anonymous survey within a week after the intervention and a follow-up survey within 8 months. Results: Nineteen EM trainees participated. Presimulation, 39% reported never having received training in the medical care of a patient with sexual assault. The proportion of trainees agreeing or strongly agreeing with the statement "I am comfortable and confident managing a case of sexual assault" increased from 21% to 74% following the simulation (p < .05). Discussion: This intervention was associated with EM trainees' increased confidence with and knowledge of medical and forensic evaluations for an adolescent with sexual assault.

Comparison of Two Telemedicine Delivery Modes for Neonatal Resuscitation Support: A Simulation-Based Randomized Trial.

INTRODUCTION: Previous research has described technical aspects of telemedicine and the clinical impact of provider-to-patient telemedicine; however, little is known about provider-to-provider telemedical interventions. OBJECTIVE: The primary aim of this study was to compare two telemedicine delivery modes on the quality of a simulated neonatal resuscitation. Our secondary aim was to evaluate the providers' task load. METHODS: This was a prospective, single-center, randomized, simulation-based trial comparing a remote neonatal team leader ("teleleader") versus a remote consultant ("teleconsultant"). Participants resuscitated a simulated, apneic, and bradycardic neonate. Performance was assessed by video review and task load was measured by the self-reported NASA task load index (NASA-TLX) tool. In the teleleader group, one remote neonatal specialist assumed the role of team leader in the resuscitation. In the teleconsultant group, the same remote specialist assumed the role of teleconsultant. RESULTS: Twenty-two participants were included in the analyses. The teleleader group was associated with a higher overall checklist score compared to teleconsultants (median score 68%, interquartile range [IQR]: 66-69 vs. 58%, IQR: 42-62; p = 0.016). No significant difference was seen in overall subjective workload as measured by the NASA-TLX tool. However, mental demand and frustration were significantly greater with teleconsultants compared to teleleaders (mean mental demand: 14.1 vs. 17.0 out of 21; frustration: 7.9 vs. 14.7 out of 21). CONCLUSIONS: Simulated neonates randomized to teams with teleleaders received significantly better resuscitative care compared to those randomized to teams with teleconsultants. Mental demand and frustration were higher for providers in the teleconsultant compared to teleleader teams.

Saliva control issues in the neurologically challenged. A 30 year experience in team management.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this paper is to report the experience of a multidisciplinary team (otolaryngologist, speech-language pathologists, pediatric dentist, and social worker) functioning at a pediatric rehabilitation center have had in the management of 1487 neurologically challenged individuals with saliva control issues assessed from 1976 to the end of 2004. METHOD: The role of each team member is outlined. Management decisions have consisted of no treatment, utilization of oral-motor training program, elimination of contributing situational factors, utilization of medication, surgery and Botox injections of the major salivary glands. RESULTS: Oral-motor programs to improve oral-motor function is essential initially if there is patient compliance. Surgery was recommended in the majority of patients. Submandibular duct relocation with simultaneous sublingual gland excision remains the procedure of first choice for persistent significant drooling. Aspiration is much less common than drooling and is more problematic to treat. Simultaneous ligation of the submandibular and parotid ducts (aka 4-duct ligation) is promising. A recent initiative to inject the major salivary glands with Botox is being evaluated. CONCLUSIONS: Team evaluation with consensus decision making has worked well in this patient population with complex medical conditions.

Four-Duct Ligation for the Treatment of Sialorrhea in Children.

IMPORTANCE: The 4-duct ligation procedure has appeal for its surgical simplicity and limited invasiveness in the management of pediatric sialorrhea. However, more information is required to understand the benefits, risks, success rates, and long-term effects of this intervention. OBJECTIVES: To report the clinical outcomes of the 4-duct ligation procedure in pediatric patients diagnosed as having sialorrhea and the associated complication rates and to characterize patient and caregiver satisfaction in a consecutive series. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This investigation was a retrospective cohort study at an academic tertiary pediatric center and pediatric rehabilitation hospital. Patients included 38 children with neurological impairment who underwent a 4-duct salivary gland ligation (parotid and submandibular glands) between January 1, 2004, and July 31, 2012. The dates of the analysis were August 2013 through February 2015. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Posttreatment assessments included duration of effect, severity and frequency of drooling before and after the procedure, patient complications, caregiver satisfaction, caregiver recommendation of the procedure, and caregiver overall assessment of the child's quality of life. Clinical and outcome measures were collected before the procedure, 1 month after the procedure, 1 year after the procedure, and at the most recent follow-up (range, 3-8 years). RESULTS: The study cohort comprised 38 participants. Their median age was 11 years (age range, 5-17 years), and 37% (14 of 38) were female. The mean (SD) duration of effect was 52.6 (20.4) months. Patients with previous sialorrhea management were more likely to demonstrate an improvement in their drooling frequency score at 1 year. Thirteen complications were documented in 12 patients. The most common complications were persistent facial swelling and aspiration pneumonia. Eighty percent (28 of 35) of caregivers reported an improvement in their child's drooling at 1 month, while 69% (25 of 36) and 71% (24 of 34) stated that there was an improvement at the 1-year follow-up and the most recent follow-up, respectively. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: The 4-duct ligation procedure offers a simple, effective, and minimally invasive approach to the management of sialorrhea in children.

A Woman with Unilateral Rash and Fever: Cellulitis in the Setting of Lymphedema.

Cellulitis in the setting of lymphedema is an uncommon but clinically important presentation to the emergency department. Stagnant lymph is an ideal medium for bacterial growth and progression can be rapid due to decreased ability to fight infection in the affected area. Infections are commonly caused by gram-positive cocci, though blood cultures are often negative. Treatment should be aimed at rapid initiation of antibiotics targeting these species. There may be a role for antibiotic prophylaxis in recurrent cases.

The implementation of therapeutic hypothermia in the emergency department: a multi-institution case review.

BACKGROUND: The use of therapeutic hypothermia (TH) is a burgeoning treatment modality for post-cardiac arrest patients. OBJECTIVES: We performed a retrospective chart review of patients who underwent post-cardiac arrest TH at eight different institutions across the United States. Our objectives were to assess how TH is currently being implemented in emergency departments and to examine the feasibility of conducting TH research using multi-institution prospective data. METHODS: A total of 94 cases were identified in a 3-year period and submitted for review by participating institutions of the Peri-Resuscitation Consortium. Of those, seven charts were excluded for missing data. Two independent reviewers performed the data abstraction. Results were subsequently compared, and discrepancies were resolved by a third reviewer. We assessed patient demographics, initial presenting rhythm, time until TH initiation, duration of TH, cooling methods and temperature reached, survival to hospital discharge, and neurological status on discharged. RESULTS: The majority of cases had initial cardiac rhythms of asystole or pulseless electrical activity (55.2%), followed by ventricular tachycardia or fibrillation (34.5%). The inciting cardiac rhythm was unknown in 10.3% of cases. Time to initiation of TH ranged from 0 to 783 minutes with a mean time of 99 minutes (SD=132). Length of TH ranged from 25 to 2,171 minutes with a mean time of 1,191 minutes (SD=536). The average minimum temperature achieved was 32.5°C, with a range from 27.6°C to 36.7°C (SD=1.5°C). Of the 87 charts reviewed, 29 (33.3%) of the patients survived to hospital discharge. CONCLUSION: The implementation of TH across the country is extremely varied with no universally accepted treatment. While our study is limited by sample size, it illustrates some compelling trends. A large, prospective, multicenter trial or registry is necessary to elucidate further the optimal parameters for TH and its benefit in various population subsets.

Botulinum toxin A for treatment of sialorrhea in children: an effective, minimally invasive approach.

OBJECTIVES: To report (1) our experience with botulinum toxin A injections into the salivary glands of pediatric patients with sialorrhea, (2) the clinical outcomes of these interventions, and (3) the associated complication rates. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING: Urban pediatric hospital and pediatric rehabilitation center. PATIENTS: Forty-five neurologically impaired children. INTERVENTIONS: Patients received botulinum toxin A intrasalivary injections between January 2004 and May 2008 at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. All patients received sedation or general anesthesia for their botulinum toxin A injections, which were performed using ultrasonographic guidance. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Posttreatment assessments included the duration of effect, patient complications, saliva consistency, caregiver willingness to repeat the treatment, caregiver satisfaction with the treatment, and caregiver overall assessment of the child's posttreatment quality of life. RESULTS: Forty-five subjects received a total of 91 botulinum toxin A treatments. The mean (SD) duration of effect was 4.6 (5.2) months. Duration of effect (log transformed) was significantly negatively associated with saliva quantity (P = .02), and there was a positive association with both increasing age and female sex, although neither reached statistical significance (P = .08 for each). Seven of the 24 documented complications were major, according to the Society of Interventional Radiology Classification System for Complications by Outcome scale. Thirty-six of the caregivers reported that this treatment improved the child's quality of life (80%). CONCLUSION: Ultrasonographically guided botulinum toxin A injections into the salivary glands are safe and efficacious in the management of sialorrhea in children with neurologic disorders.