Procedural simulation: medical student preference and value of three task trainers for ultrasound guided regional anesthesia.

BACKGROUND: Ultrasound guided regional anesthesia is widely taught using task trainer models. Commercially available models are often used; however, they can be cost prohibitive. Therefore, alternative "homemade" models with similar fidelity are often used. We hypothesize that professional task trainers will be preferred over homemade models. The purpose of this study is to determine realism, durability and cleanliness of three different task trainers for ultrasound guided nerve blocks. METHODS: This was a prospective observational study using a convenience sample of medical student participants in an ultrasound guided nerve block training session on January 24th, 2015. Participants were asked to perform simulated nerve blocks on three different task trainers including, 1 commercial and 2 homemade. A questionnaire was then given to all participants to rate their experiences both with and without the knowledge on the cost of the simulator device. RESULTS: Data was collected from 25 participants. The Blue Phantom model was found to have the highest fidelity. Initially, 10 (40%) of the participants preferred the Blue Phantom model, while 10 (40%) preferred the homemade gelatin model and 5 (20%) preferred the homemade tofu model. After cost awareness, the majority, 18 (72%) preferred the gelatin model. CONCLUSION: The Blue Phantom model was thought to have the highest fidelity, but after cost consideration the homemade gelatin model was preferred.

Reliable Rapid Assay for Gonorrhea and Chlamydia in the Emergency Department.

BACKGROUND: Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) and Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG) are common sexually transmitted infections seen in the emergency department (ED). Due to an inability to reliably make accurate diagnosis by physical examination, concern for unreliable follow-up, and current delays in diagnostic nucleic acid amplification testing (NAAT), presumptive treatment active against CT and NG, as described by Centers for Disease Control clinical practice guidelines, is often performed. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to determine whether a rapid, urine NAAT performed in the ED is noninferior in its diagnostic sensitivity compared with a traditional, swab NAAT assay. METHODS: We performed a prospective, noninferiority study comparing two U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved NAAT assays for CT and NG: a 90-min rapid assay, the Xpert CT/NG Assay (Cepheid, Sunnyvale, CA) using a urine sample vs. a traditional assay, the Aptima Combo 2 Assay (Gen-Probe Incorporated, San Diego, CA) using a swab sample. This study was registered on Clinicaltrials.gov (NCT02386514). RESULTS: A total of 1162 patient samples were included in the primary analysis. We observed excellent kappa agreement between assays: NG for men, 1.00 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.00-1.00); NG for women, 0.87 (95% CI 0.79-0.94); CT for men, 0.81 (95% CI 0.59-1.00); and CT for women: 0.85 (95% CI 0.80-0.90), as well as excellent negative and positive predictive values for the rapid assay. CONCLUSION: Although the rapid Xpert CT/NG assay's diagnostic sensitivity did not meet our prespecified threshold for noninferiority, the diagnostic characteristics are robust enough to fit into a management pathway that may reduce unnecessary antibiotic use. There may be an opportunity to utilize the rapid Xpert CT/NG assay to improve accuracy of treatment in the ED.

A Prospective Evaluation of Transverse Tracheal Sonography During Emergent Intubation by Emergency Medicine Resident Physicians.

OBJECTIVES: Establishing a definitive airway is often the first step in emergency department treatment of critically ill patients. Currently, there is no agreed upon consensus as to the most efficacious method of airway confirmation. Our objective was to determine the diagnostic accuracy of real-time sonography performed by resident physicians to confirm placement of the endotracheal tube during emergent intubation. METHODS: We performed a prospective cohort study of adult patients in the emergency department undergoing emergent endotracheal intubation. Thirty emergency medicine residents, who were blinded to end-tidal carbon dioxide detection results, performed real-time transverse tracheal sonography during intubation to evaluate correct endotracheal tube placement. RESULTS: Seventy-two patients were enrolled in the study. Sixty-eight instances (94.4%) were interpreted as correct placement in the trachea; 4 (5.6%) were interpreted as esophageal, of which 1 was a false-negative finding, therefore conferring sensitivity of 98.5% (95% confidence interval, 92.1%-99.9%) and specificity of 75.0% (95% confidence interval, 19.4%-99.4%) for correct placement. There was no significant difference in accuracy among resident sonographers with different levels of residency training. CONCLUSIONS: A simple transverse tracheal sonographic examination performed by emergency medicine resident physicians can be used as an adjunct to help confirm correct endotracheal tube placement during intubation. In our cohort, the level of training did not appear to affect the ability of residents to correctly identify the endotracheal tube position.

Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy in Youth Athletes: Successful Screening With Point-of-Care Ultrasound by Medical Students.

OBJECTIVES: Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a life-threatening genetic cardiovascular disease that often goes undetected in young athletes. Neither history nor physical examination are reliable to identify those at risk. The objective of this study is to determine whether minimally trained medical student volunteers can use ultrasound to screen for HCM. METHODS: This was a prospective enrollment of young athletes performed at 12 area high schools and three area colleges, between May 2012 and August 2013. All participants underwent point-of-care ultrasound performed screening for HCM by trained medical students and reviewed by a pediatric cardiologist. An interventricular septum to left ventricular posterior wall ratio greater than 1.25 was considered to be abnormal (positive screen). RESULTS: A total of 2332 participants were enrolled. There were 137 (5.8%) with a positive screening for HCM, of which 7 (5.1%) were confirmed to have HCM by a pediatric cardiologist. In a small cohort with positive screen for HCM, there was a 100% sensitivity (95% confidence interval, 59.04 to 100%) and 4.86% (95% confidence interval, 1.98 to 9.76%) positive predictive value of for having HCM. CONCLUSIONS: Volunteer medical students, using point-of-care ultrasound, were able to effectively screen for HCM in young athletes.

Simplified point-of-care ultrasound protocol to confirm central venous catheter placement: A prospective study.

BACKGROUND: The current standard for confirmation of correct supra-diaphragmatic central venous catheter (CVC) placement is with plain film chest radiography (CXR). We hypothesized that a simple point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) protocol could effectively confirm placement and reduce time to confirmation. METHODS: We prospectively enrolled a convenience sample of patients in the emergency department and intensive care unit who required CVC placement. Correct positioning was considered if turbulent flow was visualized in the right atrium on sub-xiphoid, parasternal or apical cardiac ultrasound after injecting 5 cc of sterile, non-agitated, normal saline through the CVC. RESULTS: Seventy-eight patients were enrolled. POCUS had a sensitivity of 86.8% (95%CI 77.1%-93.5%) and specificity of 100% (95%CI 15.8%-100.0%) for identifying correct central venous catheter placement. Median POCUS and CXR completion were 16 minutes (IQR 10-29) and 32 minutes (IQR 19-45), respectively. CONCLUSION: Ultrasound may be an effective tool to confirm central venous catheter placement in instances where there is a delay in obtaining a confirmatory CXR.

Gonorrhea and chlamydia in the emergency department: Continued need for more focused treatment for men, women and pregnant women.

INTRODUCTION: Delay in current nucleic acid amplification testing for Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Chlamydia trachomatis has led to recommendations for presumptive treatment in patients with concern for infection and unreliable follow-up. In the urban setting, it is assumed that many patients have unreliable follow-up, therefore presumptive therapy is thought to be used frequently. We sought to measure the frequency of disease and accuracy of presumptive treatment for these infections. METHODS: This was an observational cohort study performed at an urban academic Level 1 trauma center ED with an annual census of 95,000 visits per year. Testing was performed using the APTIMA Unisex swab assay (Gen-Probe Incorporated, San Diego, CA). Presumptive therapy was defined as receiving treatment for both infections during the initial encounter without confirmation of diagnosis. RESULTS: A total of 1162 patients enrolled. Infection was present in 26% of men, 14% of all women and 11% of pregnant women. Despite high frequency of presumptive treatment, >4% of infected patients in each category went untreated. CONCLUSION: Inaccuracy of presumptive treatment was common for these sexually transmitted infections. There is an opportunity to improve diagnostic accuracy for treatment.

Implementation of a 4-Year Point-of-Care Ultrasound Curriculum in a Liaison Committee on Medical Education-Accredited US Medical School.

OBJECTIVES: The established benefits of point-of-care ultrasound have given rise to multiple new and innovative curriculums to incorporate ultrasound teaching into medical education. This study sought to measure the educational success of a comprehensive and integrated 4-year point-of-care ultrasound curriculum. METHODS: We integrated a curriculum consisting of traditional didactics combined with asynchronous learning modules and hands-on practice on live models with skilled sonographers into all 4 years of education at a Liaison Committee on Medical Education-accredited US Medical School. Each graduating student was administered an exit examination with 48 questions that corresponded to ultrasound milestones. RESULTS: Ninety-five percent (n = 84) of fourth-year medical students completed the exit examination. The mean score was 79.5% (SD, 10.2%), with mean scores on the ultrasound physics and anatomy subsections being 77.1% (SD, 11.0%) and 85.9% (SD, 21.0%), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: A comprehensive 4-year point-of-care ultrasound curriculum integrated into medical school may successfully equip graduating medical students with a fundamental understanding of ultrasound physics, anatomy, and disease recognition.

Prospective evaluation of point-of-care ultrasound for pre-procedure identification of landmarks versus traditional palpation for lumbar puncture.

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study is to determine if point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) pre-procedure identification of landmarks can decrease failure rate, reduce procedural time, and decrease the number of needle redirections and reinsertions when performing a lumbar puncture (LP). METHODS: This was a prospective, randomized controlled trial comparing POCUS pre-procedure identification of landmarks versus traditional palpation for LP in a cohort of patients in the emergency department and intensive care unit. RESULTS: A total of 158 patients were enrolled. No significant difference was found in time to completion, needle re-direction, or needle re-insertion when using POCUS when compared to the traditional method of palpation. CONCLUSION: Consistent with findings of previous studies, our data indicate that there was no observed benefit of using POCUS to identify pre-procedure landmarks when performing an LP.

Point-of-care ultrasound versus radiology department pelvic ultrasound on emergency department length of stay.

BACKGROUND: The study aimed to compare the time to overall length of stay (LOS) for patients who underwent point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) versus radiology department ultrasound (RDUS). METHODS: This was a prospective study on a convenience sample of patients who required pelvic ultrasound imaging as part of their emergency department (ED) assessment. RESULTS: We enrolled a total of 194 patients who were on average 32 years-old. Ninety-eight (51%) patients were pregnant (<20 weeks). Time to completion of RDUS was 66 minutes longer than POCUS (95%CI 60-73, P<0.01). Patients randomized to the RDUS arm experienced a 120 minute longer ED length of stay (LOS) (95%CI 66-173, P<0.01). CONCLUSION: In patients who require pelvic ultrasound as part of their diagnostic evaluation, POCUS resulted in a significant decrease in time to ultrasound and ED LOS.

Thrombosis of Inferior Vena Cava Diagnosed Using Point-of-Care Ultrasound After Pediatric Near-Syncope.

BACKGROUND: Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is extremely rare but under recognized in the pediatric population. Although the literature on the use of ultrasound to detect VTEs in adults is plentiful, little has been documented on its use in the pediatric population. CASE REPORT: We present a case of a healthy 16-year-old female who presented to our emergency department with 3 months of dyspnea on exertion and one episode of near-syncope. Point-of-care cardiac ultrasound identified an inferior vena cava thrombosis. Subsequent computed tomography angiography diagnosed concurrent bilateral pulmonary emboli (PE). The patient's identical twin sister presented with similar symptoms shortly thereafter and was also diagnosed with VTE and bilateral PE. WHY SHOULD AN EMERGENCY PHYSICIAN BE AWARE OF THIS?: This case demonstrates an instance of VTE and pulmonary embolism in twin adolescent girls. Physical examination findings, electrocardiogram, chest x-ray study, and several previous evaluations did not reveal the diagnosis. Point of care ultrasound was used to correctly diagnosis VTE and for heightened concern for a pulmonary embolism.

Ultrasound-guided central venous access: which probe is preferred for viewing the subclavian vein using a supraclavicular approach?

BACKGROUND: Point-of-care ultrasound guidance using a linear probe is well established as a tool to increase safety when performing a supradiaphragmatic cannulation of the internal jugular central vein. However, little data exist on which probe is best for performing a supradiaphragmatic cannulation of the subclavian vein. METHODS: This was a prospective, observational study at a single-site emergency department, where 5 different physician sonologists evaluate individual practice preference for visualization of the subclavian vein using a supraclavicular approach with 2 different linear probes and 1 endocavitary probe. RESULTS: Of 155 patients enrolled, there was no clear preference any of the probes (P= .03). After pooling linear probe preference, there was a preference for either linear probe over the alternative endocavitary probe (76.8% vs 23.1%, P< .05). CONCLUSION: We observed a preference for a linear probe over an endocavitary probe. Further investigation is necessary to determine which probe is optimal for this application.

Pilot Study to Determine Accuracy of Posterior Approach Ultrasound for Shoulder Dislocation by Novice Sonographers.

INTRODUCTION: The goal of this study was to investigate the efficacy of diagnosing shoulder dislocation using a single-view, posterior approach point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) performed by undergraduate research students, and to establish the range of measured distance that discriminates dislocated shoulder from normal. METHODS: We enrolled a prospective, convenience sample of adult patients presenting to the emergency department with acute shoulder pain following injury. Patients underwent ultrasonographic evaluation of possible shoulder dislocation comprising a single transverse view of the posterior shoulder and assessment of the relative positioning of the glenoid fossa and the humeral head. The sonographic measurement of the distance between these two anatomic structures was termed the Glenohumeral Separation Distance (GhSD). A positive GhSD represented a posterior position of the glenoid rim relative to the humeral head and a negative GhSD value represented an anterior position of the glenoid rim relative to the humeral head. We compared ultrasound (US) findings to conventional radiography to determine the optimum GhSD cutoff for the diagnosis of shoulder dislocation. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of the derived US method were calculated. RESULTS: A total of 84 patients were enrolled and 19 (22.6%) demonstrated shoulder dislocation on conventional radiography, all of which were anterior. All confirmed dislocations had a negative measurement of the GhSD, while all patients with normal anatomic position had GhSD>0. This value represents an optimum GhSD cutoff of 0 for the diagnosis of (anterior) shoulder dislocation. This method demonstrated a sensitivity of 100% (95% CI [82.4-100]), specificity of 100% (95% CI [94.5-100]), positive predictive value of 100% (95% CI [82.4-100]), and negative predictive value of 100% (95% CI [94.5-100]). CONCLUSION: Our study suggests that a single, posterior-approach POCUS can diagnose anterior shoulder dislocation, and that this method can be employed by novice ultrasonographers, such as non-medical trainees, after a brief educational session. Further validation studies are necessary to confirm these findings.

Identifying a need for more focused treatment of chlamydia and gonorrhoea in the emergency department.

The indolent nature of chlamydia and gonorrhoea, along with the time delay associated with current diagnostic testing, makes definitive diagnosis while in the emergency department impossible. We therefore sought to determine the proportion of patients who receive accurate, presumptive antimicrobial treatment for these infections. A retrospective chart review was performed on all patient encounters that underwent chlamydia and gonorrhoea testing at an urban emergency department during a single month in 2012. Each encounter was reviewed for nucleic acid amplification test results and whether presumptive antibiotics were given during the initial visit. A total of 639 patient encounters were reviewed; 87.2% were female and the mean age was 26.7 years. Chlamydia was present in 11.1%, with women and men having similar infection rates: 10.6% vs. 14.6% (p = 0.277). Gonorrhoea was present in 5.0%, with a lower prevalence among women than men: 3.2% vs. 17.1% (p < 0.001). Women received presumptive treatment less often than men: 37.7% vs. 82.9% (p < 0.001). Presumptive treatment was less accurate in women than men: 7.9% vs. 25.6% (p < 0.001). After combining genders, 10.2% received accurate presumptive treatment; 33.3% were overtreated and 4.4% missed treatment. Presumptive treatment for chlamydia and gonorrhoea was more frequent and more accurate in men than in women. Overall, one-third of patients received unnecessary antibiotics, yet nearly 5% missed treatment. Better methods are needed for identifying patients who need treatment.

Ventricular tachycardia cardiac arrest during central line placement.

Central venous catheterization is often necessary for the safe administration of medications that are caustic to peripheral veins, to place temporary transvenous pacemakers and to provide invasive hemodynamic monitoring in the critically ill. While a wide range of complications are known to occur with insertion of these catheters, there is a paucity of cases associated with cardiac arrest during the catheters placement. We describe an unusual case of sustained ventricular tachycardia and subsequent cardiac arrest that occurred during an ultrasound guided central venous catheter placement for a patient in septic shock. This case serves as a reminder of the rare, but potentially fatal complication of central venous access placement.

The Urban Emergency Department: A Potential Increased Occupational Hazard for Sharps-related Injuries.

OBJECTIVES: Health care workers are at risk for sharps-related injuries while working in the clinical arena. The authors sought to quantify and compare the frequency of these injuries for all health care personnel between the urban and community emergency department (ED). METHODS: A retrospective review was performed on the institutional human resources database of all self- or supervisor-reported sharps-related injuries that occurred to ED personnel in a single health system from January 2010 through September 2014. The health system was composed of a single urban academic Level I trauma center and seven community EDs, two of which were academic Level III trauma centers. Each sharps-related injury was reviewed for site of injury, job class, and type of instrument causing the injury. RESULTS: There were 171 sharps-related injuries reported during 447,986 urban and 1,350,623 community patient visits. Of the 171 injuries, 44.4% occurred to physicians, 39.2% to nurses, 12.9% to support staff, and 3.5% to physician assistants. Injuries occurred more frequently at the urban academic medical center when compared to the pooled community sites: 20.3 per 100,000 patient visits (n = 91) versus 5.9 per 100,000 patient visits (n = 80), respectively (odds ratio = 3.43, 95% confidence interval = 2.54 to 4.63, p < 0.001). They also occurred more frequently at the urban site when individually compared to each community site. CONCLUSIONS: Physicians accounted for the largest proportion of health care workers reporting sharps-related injuries. These injuries occurred more frequently in the urban ED than in the community EDs.

Prompt Diagnosis of an Unusual Cause of Obstructive Shock Using Point-of-Care Ultrasound.

BACKGROUND: The patient presenting in an undifferentiated shock state can produce a diagnostic challenge for even the most seasoned clinician. CASE REPORT: We present an unusual case of an elderly woman in obstructive shock from a large atrial mass that was promptly diagnosed with point-of-care ultrasound. WHY SHOULD AN EMERGENCY PHYSICIAN BE AWARE OF THIS?: Ultrasound is a non-invasive tool that can help facilitate the early diagnosis of a patient in undifferentiated shock.

Evaluation of cervical spine fracture in the elderly: can we trust our physical examination?

The purpose of this trial was to compare National Emergency X-Radiography Utilization Study (NEXUS) criteria (NC) with computed tomography (CT) as the gold standard to evaluate cervical spine (C-spine) fractures in elderly blunt trauma patients. We prospectively compared adult blunt trauma patients 65 years or older (E) with younger than 65 years (NE), evaluating the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) of NC compared with CT in these two cohorts. A total of 2785 blunt trauma patients were included of whom 320 were E (average age, 75 years) and 2465 were NE (average age, 36 years). Incidence of C-spine fracture was 12.8 per cent (E) versus 7.4 per cent (NE) (P = 0.002). Age was an independent predictor of fracture (P = 0.01). NC had a sensitivity of 65.9 per cent in E and PPV of 19.3 per cent in E (P = 0.001) versus a sensitivity of 84.2 per cent in NE and PPV of 10.6 per cent (P < 0.0001). The specificity was 59.5 per cent for E versus 42.6 per cent for NE (NPV, 92.2% E vs 97.1% NE). This study suggests that NEXUS criteria are not an appropriate assessment tool when applied to severe blunt trauma patients, particularly in the elderly population who had more missed injures than their younger counterparts. CT should be used in all blunt trauma patients regardless of whether they meet NEXUS criteria.