What Do Emergency Department Patients and Their Guests Expect From Their Health Care Provider in an Active Shooter Event?

BACKGROUND: "Run-Hide-Fight" is the summative life-saving mantra taught by governmental and private agencies in active shooter training. Initial research focused on patient expectations of health care provider responses in life-threatening situations suggests patients believe health care providers will take significant action to protect patient well-being. The potential disparity between expectations of the public and health care practitioner training must be examined, as conflict, confusion, and delays may have mortal consequences in active shooter situations. OBJECTIVE: Public perceptions of the extent of health care practitioners' duties and responsibilities to themselves and their patients during an active shooter event were investigated. METHODS: A survey that queried perceived expectations of health care provider response efforts in 4 emergency department patient case scenarios interrupted by an active shooter event was developed and implemented to patients and retinue of the University of Toledo Emergency Department. Responses were grouped into provider-centric or patient-centric actions. RESULTS: One hundred twenty-seven participants responded to the survey and were included in the analysis: 82 patients and 45 guests. In all 4 scenarios, a mean of 87.4% responses was patient-centric. Frequency of patient-centric responses differed significantly by scenario, and women were more likely to have patient-centric expectations. DISCUSSION: The public has significant expectations that the health care provider will assist them during active shooter situations. Providing for the security of the health care provider and patient simultaneously is in conflict with common hospital crisis training. Efforts must be taken to bring patient expectations and provider training into greater alignment.

Ancillary Findings on CT Pulmonary Angiograms that are Negative for Pulmonary Embolism.

CONTEXT: One advantage of computed tomographic pulmonary angiograms (CTPA) is that they often show pathology in patients in whom pulmonary embolism (PE) has been excluded. In this investigation, we identified the ancillary findings on CTPAs that were negative for PE to obtain an impression of the type of findings shown. METHODS: This was a retrospective analysis of findings on CTPAs that were negative for PE obtained in nine emergency departments between January 2016 - February 2018. Ancillary findings were assessed by review of the radiographic reports. RESULTS: Ancillary findings were identified in N=338 (40.9%) of 825 patients with CTPAs that were negative for PE. Most ancillary findings, 254 (75.1%) of 338 were pulmonary or pleural abnormalities. Liver, gall bladder, kidney, or pancreatic abnormalities were shown in 26 (7.7%) cases, and abnormalities of the heart or great vessels were shown in 23 (6.8%) of cases. Abnormalities of the esophagus or intestine were shown in 12 (3.6%), abnormalities of the thyroid in 10 (3.0%) and abnormalities of bone or soft tissue lesions were shown in three (0.9%) cases. Inferential statistical procedures demonstrated that the occurrence of ancillary findings in patients with negative CTPAs was proportionately greater in patients who were 50 years and older (p < 0.001), although not between genders (p = 0.145). CONCLUSIONS: Ancillary findings on CTPAs that were negative for PE were frequently reported. Future studies might focus of the extent to which ancillary findings on CTPA assisted physicians in management of the patient.

Effectiveness of Hands-Only Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Teaching on Lay Bystander Attitudes Toward Future Resuscitation.

CONTEXT: It is estimated that there are approximately 1,000 sudden cardiac events occurring daily outside of the hospital setting in the US. OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this pilot project were to determine lay participants' ability to remember the steps of hands-only cardiopulmonary resuscitation (HOCPR) following a 30-minute instructional session regarding proper technique and their willingness to perform bystander CPR (BCPR) on victims of sudden cardiac arrest outside in the community. SAMPLE AND SETTING: A nine-item survey questionnaire that was created by the authors was first administered to a sample of 75 adults who had volunteered at their institutions' emergency department. Inclusion criteria included all adults over the age of eighteen years. OUTCOME MEASURES: To gauge whether basic HOCPR training improved bystander preparedness and willingness to provide assistance to a victim of sudden cardiac event. METHODS: After IRB approval, participants were shown a one-minute video by the American Heart Association (AHA) and provided a 30-minute demonstration of key HOCPR skills on a mannequin. A post-instruction nine-item survey was sent by mail/email or administered by phone at one month after training to assess participants' retention of HOCPR knowledge and attitude. RESULTS: The initial survey responses showed 75 (100%) were able to recall the basic steps of HOCPR, with 59 (79%) "very likely" to help provide BCPR. Not needing to provide breaths made 57 (76%) of lay participants more willing to assist a person in need. A subgroup of 31 (41%) of the initial 75 participants were lost to follow-up. Out of the 44 (59%) who completed the one-month survey, 44 (100%) of participants remembered the primary HOCPR steps and technique. A subgroup of 32 (73%) one-month respondents indicated that they were more likely to assist victims if rescue breathing was not required, and 11 (25%) had reportedly tried to teach family and friends about HOCPR. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that of those involved in the survey, the majority could recall the correct steps and be willing to provide HOCPR. These results could help in shaping community outreach and training programs designed to improve the rate and quality of response to victims of sudden cardiac arrest.

Follow-up CT pulmonary angiograms in patients with acute pulmonary embolism.

Computed tomographic (CT) angiography is associated with a non-negligible lifetime attributable risk of cancer. The risk is considerably greater for women and younger patients. Recognizing that there are risks from radiation, the purpose of this investigation was to assess the frequency of follow-up CT angiograms in patients with acute pulmonary embolism. This was a retrospective cohort study of patients aged ≥18 years with acute pulmonary embolism seen in three emergency departments from January 2013 to December 2014. Records of all patients were reviewed for at least 14 months. Pulmonary embolism was diagnosed by CT angiography in 600 patients. At least one follow-up CT angiogram in 1 year was obtained in 141 of 600 (23.5 %). Two follow-ups in 1 year were obtained in 40 patients (6.7 %), 3 follow-ups were obtained in 15 patients (2.5 %), and 4 follow-ups were obtained in 3 patients (0.5 %). Among young women (aged ≤29 years) with pulmonary embolism, 10 of 21 (47.6 %) had at least 1 follow-up and 4 of 21 (19.0 %) had 2 or more follow-ups in 1 year. Among all patients, recurrent pulmonary embolism was diagnosed in 15 of 141 (10.6 %) on the first follow-up CT angiogram and in 6 of 40 (15.0 %) on the second follow-up. Follow-up CT angiograms were obtained in a significant proportion of patients with pulmonary embolism, including young women, the group with the highest risk. Alternative options might be considered to reduce the hazard of radiation-induced cancer, particularly in young women.

Home Treatment of Pulmonary Embolism in the Era of Novel Oral Anticoagulants.

BACKGROUND: Outpatient therapy of patients with acute pulmonary embolism has been shown to be safe in carefully selected patients. Problems related to the injection of low-molecular-weight heparin at home can be overcome by use of novel oral anticoagulants. The purpose of this investigation is to assess the prevalence of home treatment in the era of novel oral anticoagulants. METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study of patients aged ≥18 years with acute pulmonary embolism seen in 5 emergency departments from January 2013 to December 2014. RESULTS: Pulmonary embolism was diagnosed in 983 patients. Among these, 237 were considered ineligible for home treatment because of instability or hypoxia. Home treatment was selected for 13 of 746 (1.7%) patients who were potentially eligible. Anticoagulant treatment for those treated at home was low-molecular-weight heparin or warfarin in 9 (69.2%) and novel oral anticoagulants in 4 (30.8%). Hospitalization was chosen for 733 of 746 (98.3%). Discharge in ≤2 days was in 119 patients (16.2%). Treatment of these patients was low-molecular-weight heparin or warfarin in 76 (63.9%), novel oral anticoagulants in 34 (28.6%), and in 9 (7.6%), anticoagulants were not given because of metastatic cancer or treatment was not known. CONCLUSION: Even in the era of novel oral anticoagulants, the vast majority of patients with acute pulmonary embolism were hospitalized, and only a small proportion were discharged in ≤2 days. Although home treatment has been found to be safe in carefully selected patients, and scoring systems have been derived to identify those at low risk of adverse events, home treatment was infrequently selected.

Home treatment of deep venous thrombosis in the era of new oral anticoagulants.

This is a retrospective cohort study of adults with a primary diagnosis of deep venous thrombosis (DVT) unaccompanied by pulmonary embolism (PE), seen in 4 emergency departments in 2013 and part of 2014. The purpose was to assess the prevalence of home treatment of DVT in the present era of new oral anticoagulants. Among 96 patients with DVT and no PE, 85 (88.5%) were hospitalized and 11 (11.5%) were discharged to home. Most of the patients discharged to home received low-molecular-weight heparin, 9 (81.8%) of 11. None were prescribed new oral anticoagulants. Early discharge in ≤2 days occurred 28 (32.9%) of 85 patients. Most (64.3%) received enoxaparin and/or warfarin at early discharge. Rivaroxaban was prescribed in 7 (25.0%) of those discharged in ≤2 days. We conclude that in some emergency departments, patients with DVT are uncommonly discharged to home even though new oral anticoagulants are available.

Specificity of quantitative latex agglutination assay for D-dimer in exclusion of pulmonary embolism in the emergency department.

We assessed the prevalence of elevated quantitative latex agglutination assay for D-dimer in patients in the emergency department in whom pulmonary embolism (PE) was excluded. D-dimer was normal (<230 ng/mL) in 435 (83%) of the 522 patients. D-dimer was normal in 88% of the patients with musculoskeletal or related chest pain, 74% with pleurisy or pleuritic chest pain, and 85% with upper respiratory tract infection. D-dimer was 230 to 500 ng/mL in 65 (75%) of the 87 in whom D-dimer was elevated. Clinical probability was low in 31 (48%) of the 65 patients with D-dimer levels of 230 to 500 ng/mL. D-dimer was 230 to 500 ng/mL and clinical probability was low in 31 (36%) of the 87 patients who had computed tomographic (CT) angiograms because of elevated D-dimer. Negative likelihood ratio for PE is sufficiently low that PE can be excluded with reasonable certainty in such patients. Tailoring cutoff value to 500 ng/mL in patients with low clinical probability would have reduced CT angiograms by 36%.

Relation of electrocardiographic changes in pulmonary embolism to right ventricular enlargement.

The electrocardiographic (ECG) findings in patients with pulmonary embolism (PE) and no previous cardiopulmonary disease are well documented; however, investigation of the relation of ECG abnormalities to right ventricular (RV) enlargement has been limited. The purpose of the present investigation was to assess further the relation of ECG changes in acute PE to RV cavity enlargement (dilation). The records of patients hospitalized from January 2009 to December 2012 with acute PE and no previous cardiopulmonary disease were reviewed. A total of 289 patients were included. RV cavity enlargement was present in 141 patients (49%). Normal ECG findings were less prevalent in patients with PE and RV enlargement than those with PE and no RV enlargement (35 of 141 [25%] vs 56 of 148 [38%]; p = 0.02). One or more of the traditional ECG manifestations of acute cor pulmonale (S1Q3T3, complete right bundle branch block, P pulmonale, or right axis deviation) was found in 18 of 141 patients (13%) with RV enlargement and 13 of 148 (8.8%) with a normal size RV (p = NS). None of the ECG abnormalities was sensitive for RV enlargement. The specificity of P and QRS abnormalities was high. The positive predictive values were ≤83% or had wide 95% confidence intervals. The negative predictive values ranged from 50% to 61%. In conclusion, ECG findings were not useful for the detection or exclusion of RV cavity enlargement in patients with acute PE.

Conversion of atrial fibrillation to sinus rhythm during treatment with intravenous esmolol or diltiazem: a prospective, randomized comparison.

Prior studies have suggested that intravenous diltiazem reduces the probability of spontaneous conversion of atrial fibrillation (AF) to sinus rhythm in the electrophysiology laboratory and in patients with postoperative AF. Whether diltiazem exerts the same effect in patients presenting to the emergency department (ED) with spontaneous AF is unclear. Fifty patients presenting to the ED with new-onset or paroxysmal AF and a rapid ventricular rate (>100 beats per minute) were randomly assigned to receive intravenous diltiazem or esmolol during the first 24 hours of presentation. Conversion to sinus rhythm occurred in 10 patients (42%) in the diltiazem group compared with 10 patients (39%) in the esmolol group (P = 1.0). Diltiazem does not decrease the likelihood of spontaneous conversion of AF to sinus rhythm in the ED setting.

Open-chest CPR improves survival and neurologic outcome following cardiac arrest.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To determine if 15 min of open-chest cardiac massage (OC-CPR) versus closed-chest compressions (CC-CPR) improves 72-h survival and neurologic outcome (behavioral and histologic) after 5 min of untreated cardiac arrest. METHODS: Mongrel dogs were anesthetized and instrumented. Cardiac arrest was induced by KCl injection and after a 5-min period of non-intervention, dogs were randomized to receive either CC-CPR (N = 7) or OC-CPR (N = 5) performed for 15 min. The dogs were then resuscitated and physiologic data was recorded. Surviving dogs were scored at 72 h using canine neurodeficit score of Safar et al. (NDS; 0 = behaviorally normal, 500 = brain death). Dogs that could not be resuscitated or died before 72 h were assigned a score of 500. Brain histology was performed on all survivors. RESULTS: All OC-CPR dogs were successfully resuscitated and were behaviorally normal at 72 h (NDS = 0). Histology in OC-CPR dogs showed little to no injury. Only three out of the seven CC-CPR dogs survived to 72 h. Of the survivors, one dog exhibited minor ataxia (NDS = 15), and two had incapacitating deficits (both NDS = 180). Two dogs died within 24 h after extubation, and one could not be resuscitated and the other could not be weaned from the ventilator (each NDS = 500). Histology of the CC-CPR survivors revealed moderate to severe lesions. NDS between groups was statistically significant (p < 0.0079). CONCLUSION: In our canine model of cardiac arrest, OC-CPR significantly improved 72-h survival and neurologic outcome when compared to CC-CPR.