Prediction of episode of hemodynamic instability using an electrocardiogram based analytic: a retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Predicting the onset of hemodynamic instability before it occurs remains a sought-after goal in acute and critical care medicine. Technologies that allow for this may assist clinicians in preventing episodes of hemodynamic instability (EHI). We tested a novel noninvasive technology, the Analytic for Hemodynamic Instability-Predictive Indicator (AHI-PI), which analyzes a single lead of electrocardiogram (ECG) and extracts heart rate variability and morphologic waveform features to predict an EHI prior to its occurrence. METHODS: Retrospective cohort study at a quaternary care academic health system using data from hospitalized adult patients between August 2019 and April 2020 undergoing continuous ECG monitoring with intermittent noninvasive blood pressure (NIBP) or with continuous intraarterial pressure (IAP) monitoring. RESULTS: AHI-PI's low and high-risk indications were compared with the presence of EHI in the future as indicated by vital signs (heart rate > 100 beats/min with a systolic blood pressure < 90 mmHg or a mean arterial blood pressure of < 70 mmHg). 4,633 patients were analyzed (3,961 undergoing NIBP monitoring, 672 with continuous IAP monitoring). 692 patients had an EHI (380 undergoing NIBP, 312 undergoing IAP). For IAP patients, the sensitivity and specificity of AHI-PI to predict EHI was 89.7% and 78.3% with a positive and negative predictive value of 33.7% and 98.4% respectively. For NIBP patients, AHI-PI had a sensitivity and specificity of 86.3% and 80.5% with a positive and negative predictive value of 11.7% and 99.5% respectively. Both groups performed with an AUC of 0.87. AHI-PI predicted EHI in both groups with a median lead time of 1.1 h (average lead time of 3.7 h for IAP group, 2.9 h for NIBP group). CONCLUSIONS: AHI-PI predicted EHIs with high sensitivity and specificity and within clinically significant time windows that may allow for intervention. Performance was similar in patients undergoing NIBP and IAP monitoring.

Impact of emergency department-based intensive care unit on outcomes of decompensating boarding emergency department patients.

Objectives: Emergency department (ED) boarding, or remaining in the ED after admission before transfer to an inpatient bed, is prevalent. Boarding patients may decompensate before inpatient transfer, necessitating escalation to the intensive care unit (ICU). We evaluated the impact of an ED-ICU on decompensating boarding ED patients. Methods: This is a retrospective single-center observational study. We identified decompensated boarding ED patients necessitating critical care before departure from the ED from October 2012 to December 2021. An automated query and manual chart review extracted data. Three cohorts were defined: pre-ED-ICU implementation (Group 1), post-ED-ICU implementation with ED-ICU care (Group 2), and post-ED-ICU implementation with inpatient ICU admission without ED-ICU care (Group 3). Primary outcome was ICU length of stay (LOS). Secondary outcomes included hospital LOS, in-hospital mortality, and ICU admissions with ICU LOS <24 hours. Between-groups comparisons used multiple regression analysis for continuous variables, χ2 tests and multivariable logistic regression analysis for binary variables, and follow-up contrasts for statistically significant omnibus tests. Results: A total of 1123 visits met inclusion criteria: 225 in Group 1, 780 in Group 2, and 118 in Group 3. Mean ICU LOS was shorter for Group 2 than Group 1 or 3 (47.4 vs 92.3 vs 103.9 hours, P < 0.001). Mean hospital LOS was shorter for Group 2 than Group 1 or 3 (185.1 vs 246.8 vs 257.3 hours, P < 0.01). In-hospital mortality was similar between groups. The proportion of ICU LOS <24 hours was lower for Group 2 than Group 1 or 3 (16.5 vs 27.1 vs 32.2%, P < 0.01). Conclusion: For decompensating boarding ED patients, ED-ICU care was associated with decreased ICU and hospital LOS, similar mortality, and fewer short-stay ICU admissions, suggesting ED-ICU care is associated with downstream resource preservation.

The Two-Bag Method for Management of Adult Diabetic Ketoacidosis-Experience With 634 Patients.

PURPOSE: To compare key resource utilization and safety outcomes of adult emergency department (ED) patients in diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) managed via the Two-Bag or traditional One-Bag method. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a retrospective review at an academic medical center ED. Patients were included if >18 years, met diagnostic criteria for DKA (pH ≤ 7.30, bicarbonate ≤ 18 mmol/L, anion gap ≥ 10), and were managed via a standardized order set (either Two-Bag or One-Bag Method). Comparisons used independent-groups t-tests for continuous variables and χ2 tests for binary variables. RESULTS: We identified 634 patients with DKA managed via the Two-Bag method, and 107 managed via the One-Bag method. Cohorts were similar in demographics and presenting laboratories. The Two-Bag Method was associated with 8.1 h shorter to first bicarbonate >18 mmol/L (11.9 vs 20.0, P < .001), and 24 fewer IV fluid bags (5.3 vs 29.7, P < .001). Incidence of hypokalemia (potassium <3.0 mmol/L) was 53% lower in the Two-Bag cohort (6.6 vs 14.0%, P = .03); incidence of hypoglycemia (glucose <70 mg/dL) was 5.8 versus 10.3%, P = .16. CONCLUSIONS: For adult ED patients in DKA, the Two-Bag Method was associated with faster resolution of acidosis, fewer IV fluid bags charged, lower incidence of hypokalemia, and trend toward lower incidence of hypoglycemia compared to the One-Bag Method.

Euglycemic Diabetic Ketoacidosis: Experience with 44 Patients and Comparison to Hyperglycemic Diabetic Ketoacidosis.

Introduction: Euglycemic diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) (glucose <250 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) has increased in recognition since introduction of sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors but remains challenging to diagnose and manage without the hyperglycemia that is otherwise central to diagnosing DKA, and with increased risk for hypoglycemia with insulin use. Our objective was to compare key resource utilization and safety outcomes between patients with euglycemic and hyperglycemic DKA from the same period. Methods: This is a retrospective review of adult emergency department patients in DKA at an academic medical center. Patients were included if they were >18 years old, met criteria for DKA on initial laboratories (pH ≤7.30, serum bicarbonate ≤18 millimoles per liter [mmol/L], anion gap ≥10), and were managed via a standardized DKA order set. Patients were divided into euglycemic (<250 milligrams per deciliter [mg/dL]) vs hyperglycemic (≥250 mg/dL) cohorts by presenting glucose. We extracted and analyzed patient demographics, resource utilization, and safety outcomes. Etiologies of euglycemia were obtained by manual chart review. For comparisons between groups we used independent-group t-tests for continuous variables and chi-squared tests for binary variables, with alpha 0.05. Results: We identified 629 patients with DKA: 44 euglycemic and 585 hyperglycemic. Euglycemic patients had milder DKA on presentation (higher pH and bicarbonate, lower anion gap; P < 0.05) and lower initial glucose (195 vs 561 mg/dL, P < 0.001) and potassium (4.3 vs 5.3 mmol/L, P < 0.001). Etiologies of euglycemia were insulin use prior to arrival (57%), poor oral intake with baseline insulin use (29%), and SGLT2 inhibitor use (14%). Mean time on insulin infusion was shorter for those with euglycemic DKA: 13.5 vs 19.4 hours, P = 0.003. Mean times to first bicarbonate >18 mmol/L and first long-acting insulin were similar. Incidence of hypoglycemia (<70 mg/dL) while on insulin infusion was significantly higher for those with euglycemic DKA (18.2 vs 4.8%, P = 0.02); incidence of hypokalemia (<3.3 mmol/L) was 27.3 vs 19.1% (P = 0.23). Conclusion: Compared to hyperglycemic DKA patients managed in the same protocolized fashion, euglycemic DKA patients were on insulin infusions 5.9 hours less, yet experienced hypoglycemia over three times more frequently. Future work can investigate treatment strategies for euglycemic DKA to minimize adverse events, especially iatrogenic hypoglycemia.

Cost-effectiveness of an Emergency Department-Based Intensive Care Unit.

Importance: Value in health care is quality per unit cost (V = Q/C), and an emergency department-based intensive care unit (ED-ICU) model has been associated with improved quality. To assess the value of this care delivery model, it is essential to determine the incremental direct cost of care. Objective: To determine the association of an ED-ICU with inflation-adjusted change in mean direct cost of care, net revenue, and direct margin per ED patient encounter. Design, Setting, and Participants: This retrospective economic analysis evaluated the cost of care delivery to patients in the ED before and after deployment of the Joyce and Don Massey Family Foundation Emergency Critical Care Center, an ED-ICU, on February 16, 2015, at a large academic medical center in the US with approximately 75 000 adult ED visits per year. The pre-ED-ICU cohort was defined as all documented ED visits by patients 18 years or older with a complete financial record from September 8, 2012, through June 30, 2014 (660 days); the post-ED-ICU cohort, all visits from July 1, 2015, through April 21, 2017 (660 days). Fiscal year 2015 was excluded from analysis to phase in the new care model. Statistical analysis was performed March 1 through December 30, 2021. Exposures: Implementation of an ED-ICU. Main Outcomes and Measures: Inflation-adjusted direct cost of care, net revenue, and direct margin per patient encounter in the ED. Results: A total of 234 884 ED visits during the study period were analyzed, with 115 052 patients (54.7% women) in the pre-ED-ICU cohort and 119 832 patients (54.5% women) in the post-ED-ICU cohort. The post-ED-ICU cohort was older (mean [SD] age, 49.1 [19.9] vs 47.8 [19.6] years; P < .001), required more intensive respiratory support (2.2% vs 1.1%; P < .001) and more vasopressor use (0.5% vs 0.2%; P < .001), and had a higher overall case mix index (mean [SD], 1.7 [2.0] vs 1.5 [1.7]; P < .001). Implementation of the ED-ICU was associated with similar inflation-adjusted total direct cost per ED encounter (pre-ED-ICU, mean [SD], $4875 [$15 175]; post-ED-ICU, $4877 [$17 400]; P = .98). Inflation-adjusted net revenue per encounter increased by 7.0% (95% CI, 3.4%-10.6%; P < .001), and inflation-adjusted direct margin per encounter increased by 46.6% (95% CI, 32.1%-61.2%; P < .001). Conclusions and Relevance: Implementation of an ED-ICU was associated with no significant change in inflation-adjusted total direct cost per ED encounter. Holding delivery costs constant while improving quality demonstrates improved value via the ED-ICU model of care.

Detection of Hemodynamic Status Using an Analytic Based on an Electrocardiogram Lead Waveform.

OBJECTIVES: Delayed identification of hemodynamic deterioration remains a persistent issue for in-hospital patient care. Clinicians continue to rely on vital signs associated with tachycardia and hypotension to identify hemodynamically unstable patients. A novel, noninvasive technology, the Analytic for Hemodynamic Instability (AHI), uses only the continuous electrocardiogram (ECG) signal from a typical hospital multiparameter telemetry monitor to monitor hemodynamics. The intent of this study was to determine if AHI is able to predict hemodynamic instability without the need for continuous direct measurement of blood pressure. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING: Single quaternary care academic health system in Michigan. PATIENTS: Hospitalized adult patients between November 2019 and February 2020 undergoing continuous ECG and intra-arterial blood pressure monitoring in an intensive care setting. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: One million two hundred fifty-two thousand seven hundred forty-two 5-minute windows of the analytic output were analyzed from 597 consecutive adult patients. AHI outputs were compared with vital sign indications of hemodynamic instability (heart rate > 100 beats/min, systolic blood pressure < 90 mm Hg, and shock index of > 1) in the same window. The observed sensitivity and specificity of AHI were 96.9% and 79.0%, respectively, with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.90 for heart rate and systolic blood pressure. For the shock index analysis, AHI's sensitivity was 72.0% and specificity was 80.3% with an AUC of 0.81. CONCLUSIONS: The AHI-derived hemodynamic status appropriately detected the various gold standard indications of hemodynamic instability (hypotension, tachycardia and hypotension, and shock index > 1). AHI may provide continuous dynamic hemodynamic monitoring capabilities in patients who traditionally have intermittent static vital sign measurements.

Emergency department length of stay and outcomes of emergency department-based intensive care unit patients.

OBJECTIVE: Emergency department (ED) boarding of patients who are critically ill is associated with poor outcomes. ED-based intensive care units (ED-ICUs) may mitigate the risks of ED boarding. We sought to analyze the impact of ED length of stay (LOS) before transfer to an ED-ICU on patient outcomes. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed adult ED patients managed in the ED-ICU at a US medical center. Bivariate and multivariable linear regressions tested ED LOS as a predictor of inpatient ICU and hospital LOS, and separate bivariate and multivariable logistic regressions tested ED LOS as a predictor of inpatient ICU admission, 48-hour mortality, and hospital mortality. Multivariable analyses' covariates were age, sex, Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI), Emergency Severity Index, and eSimplified Acute Physiology Score (eSAPS3). RESULTS: We included 5859 ED visits with subsequent care in the ED-ICU. Median age, CCI, eSAPS3, ED LOS, and ED-ICU LOS were 62 years (interquartile range [IQR], 48-73 years), 5 (IQR, 2-8), 46 (IQR, 36-56), 3.6 hours (IQR, 2.5-5.3 hours), and 8.5 hours (IQR, 5.3-13.4 hours), respectively, and 46.3% were women. Bivariate analyses showed negative associations of ED LOS with hospital LOS (ß = -3.4; 95% confidence interval [CI], -5.9 to -1.0), inpatient ICU admission (odds ratio [OR], 0.86, 95% CI, 0.84-0.88), 48-hour mortality (OR, 0.89; 95% CI, 0.82-0.98), and hospital mortality (OR, 0.89; 95% CI, 0.85-0.92), but no association with inpatient ICU LOS. Multivariable analyses showed a negative association of ED LOS with inpatient ICU admission (OR, 0.91; 95% CI, 0.88-0.93), but no associations with other outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: We observed no significant associations between ED LOS before ED-ICU transfer and worsened outcomes, suggesting an ED-ICU may mitigate the risks of ED boarding of patients who are critically ill.

Initiation of a Lung Protective Ventilation Strategy in the Emergency Department: Does an Emergency Department-Based ICU Make a Difference?

BACKGROUND: Lung protective ventilation (LPV) is a key component in the management of acute respiratory distress syndrome and other acute respiratory pathology. Initiation of LPV in the emergency department (ED) is associated with improved patient-centered and system outcomes, but adherence to LPV among ED patients is low. The impact of an ED-based ICU (ED-ICU) on LPV adherence is not known. METHODS: This single-center, retrospective, cohort study analyzed rates of adherence to a multifaceted LPV strategy pre- and post-implementation of an ED-ICU. LPV strategy components included low tidal volume ventilation, avoidance of severe hyperoxia and high plateau pressures, and positive end-expiratory pressure settings in alignment with best-evidence recommendations. The primary outcome was adherence to the LPV strategy at time of ED departure. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: A total of 561 ED visits were included in the analysis, of which 60.0% received some portion of their emergency care in the ED-ICU. Adherence to the LPV strategy was statistically significantly higher in the ED-ICU cohort compared with the pre-ED-ICU cohort (65.8% vs 41.4%; p < 0.001) and non-ED-ICU cohort (65.8% vs 43.1%; p < 0.001). Among the ED-ICU cohort, 92.8% of patients received low tidal volume ventilation. Care in the ED-ICU was also associated with shorter ICU and hospital length of stay. These findings suggest improved patient and resource utilization outcomes for mechanically ventilated ED patients receiving care in an ED-ICU.

An emergency department-based intensive care unit is associated with decreased hospital length of stay for upper gastrointestinal bleeding.

INTRODUCTION: Upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB) is associated with substantial morbidity, mortality, and intensive care unit (ICU) utilization. Initial risk stratification and disposition from the Emergency Department (ED) can prove challenging due to limited data points during a short period of observation. An ED-based ICU (ED-ICU) may allow more rapid delivery of ICU-level care, though its impact on patients with UGIB is unknown. METHODS: A retrospective observational study was conducted at a tertiary U.S. academic medical center. An ED-ICU (the Emergency Critical Care Center [EC3]) opened in February 2015. Patients presenting to the ED with UGIB undergoing esophagogastroduodenoscopy within 72 h were identified and analyzed. The Pre- and Post-EC3 cohorts included patients from 9/2/2012-2/15/2015 and 2/16/2015-6/30/2019. RESULTS: We identified 3788 ED visits; 1033 Pre-EC3 and 2755 Post-EC3. Of Pre-EC3 visits, 200 were critically ill and admitted to ICU [Cohort A]. Of Post-EC3 visits, 682 were critically ill and managed in EC3 [Cohort B], whereas 61 were critically ill and admitted directly to ICU without care in EC3 [Cohort C]. The mean interval from ED presentation to ICU level care was shorter in Cohort B than A or C (3.8 vs 6.3 vs 7.7 h, p < 0.05). More patients in Cohort B received ICU level care within six hours of ED arrival (85.3 vs 52.0 vs 57.4%, p < 0.05). Mean hospital length of stay (LOS) was shorter in Cohort B than A or C (6.2 vs 7.3 vs 10.0 days, p < 0.05). In the Post-EC3 cohort, fewer patients were admitted to an ICU (9.3 vs 19.4%, p < 0.001). The rate of floor admission with transfer to ICU within 24 h was similar. No differences in absolute or risk-adjusted mortality were observed. CONCLUSION: For critically ill ED patients with UGIB, implementation of an ED-ICU was associated with reductions in rate of ICU admission and hospital LOS, with no differences in safety outcomes.

Clinical Informatics Training During Emergency Medicine Residency: The University of Michigan Experience.

Clinical informatics (CI) is a rich field with longstanding ties to resident education in many clinical specialties, although a historic gap persists in emergency medicine. To address this gap, we developed a CI track to facilitate advanced training for senior residents at our 4-year emergency medicine residency. We piloted an affordable project-based approach with strong ties to operational leadership at our institution and describe specific projects and their outcomes. Given the relatively low cost, departmental benefit, and unique educational value, we believe that our model is generalizable to many emergency medicine residencies. We present a pathway to defining a formal curriculum using Kern's framework.

Impact of Providing a Tape Measure on the Provision of Lung-protective Ventilation.

INTRODUCTION: Emergency department (ED) patients are frequently ventilated with excessively large tidal volumes for predicted body weight based on height, which has been linked to poorer patient outcomes. We hypothesized that supplying tape measures to respiratory therapists (RT) would improve measurement of actual patient height and adherence to a lung-protective ventilation strategy in an ED-intensive care unit (ICU) environment. METHODS: On January 14, 2019, as part of a ventilator-associated pneumonia prevention bundle in our ED-based ICU, we began providing RTs with tape measures and created a best practice advisory reminding them to record patient height. We then retrospectively collected data on patient height and tidal volumes before and after the intervention. RESULTS: We evaluated 51,404 tidal volume measurements in 1,826 patients over the 4 year study period; of these patients, 1,579 (86.5%) were pre-intervention and 247 (13.5%) were post-intervention. The intervention was associated with a odds of the patient's height being measured were 10 times higher post-intervention (25.1% vs 3.2%, P <0.05). After the bundle was initiated, we observed a significantly higher percentage of patients ventilated with mean tidal volumes less than 8 cubic centimeters per kilogram (93.9% vs 84.5% P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Patients in an ED-ICU environment were ventilated with a lung-protective strategy more frequently after an intervention reminding RTs to measure actual patient height and providing a tape measure to do so. A significantly higher percentage of patients had height measured rather than estimated after the intervention, allowing for more accurate determination of ideal body weight and calculation of lung-protective ventilation volumes. Measuring all mechanically ventilated patients' height with a tape measure is an example of a simple, low-cost, scalable intervention in line with guidelines developed to improve the quality of care delivered to critically ill ED patients.

Effect of an emergency department intensive care unit on medical intensive unit admissions and care: A retrospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: Evaluate the impact of an emergency critical care center (EC3) on the admissions of critically ill patients to a critical care medicine unit (CCMU) and their outcomes. METHODS: This was a retrospective before/after cohort study in a tertiary university teaching hospital. To improve the care of critically ill patients in the emergency department (ED), a 9-bed EC3 was opened in the ED in February 2015. All critically ill patients in the emergency department must receive intensive support in EC3 before being considered for admission to the CCMU for further treatment. Patients from the emergency department account for a significant proportion of the patients admitted to the CCMU. The proportions of patients admitted to the CCMU from the ED were analyzed 1 year before and 1 year after the opening of the EC3. We also compared the admission data, demographic data, APACHE III scores and patient outcomes among patients admitted from ED to the CCMU in the year before and the year after the opening of the EC3. RESULT: The establishment of the EC3 was associated with a decreased proportion of patients admitted to the CCMU from the ED (OR 0.73 95% CI 0.63-0.84, p < 0.01), a decrease in the proportion of patients with sepsis admitted from the ED (OR 0.68, 95% CI, 0.54-0.87, p < 0.01) and a decrease in the proportion of patients with gastrointestinal bleeding admitted from the ED (OR 0.49, 95% CI 0.28-0.84, p < 0.05). Following the establishment of the EC3, patients admitted to the CCMU had a higher APACHE III score in 2015 (74.85 ± 30.42 vs 72.39 ± 29.64, p = 0.015). Fewer low-risk patients were admitted to the CCMU for monitoring following the opening of the EC3 (112 [6.8%] vs. 181 [9.3%], p < 0.01). Propensity score matching analysis showed that the opening of the EC3 was associated with improved 60-day survival (HR 0.84, 95% CI 0.70-0.99, p = 0.046). CONCLUSION: Following the opening of the EC3, the proportion of CCMU admissions from the ED decreased. The EC3 may be most effective at reducing the admission of lower-acuity patients with GI bleeding and possibly sepsis. The EC3 may be associated with improved survival in ED patients.

Extracorporeal Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation for Refractory Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest (EROCA): Results of a Randomized Feasibility Trial of Expedited Out-of-Hospital Transport.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: Outcomes of extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR) for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest depend on time to therapy initiation. We hypothesize that it would be feasible to select refractory out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients for expedited transport based on real-time estimates of the 911 call to the emergency department (ED) arrival interval, and for emergency physicians to rapidly initiate ECPR in eligible patients. METHODS: In a 2-tiered emergency medical service with an ECPR-capable primary destination hospital, adults with refractory shockable or witnessed out-of-hospital cardiac arrest were randomized 4:1 to expedited transport or standard care if the predicted 911 call to ED arrival interval was less than or equal to 30 minutes. The primary outcomes were the proportion of subjects with 911 call to ED arrival less than or equal to 30 minutes and ED arrival to ECPR flow less than or equal to 30 minutes. RESULTS: Of 151 out-of-hospital cardiac arrest 911 calls, 15 subjects (10%) were enrolled. Five of 12 subjects randomized to expedited transport had an ED arrival time of less than or equal to 30 minutes (overall mean 32.5 minutes [SD 7.1]), and 5 were eligible for and treated with ECPR. Three of 5 ECPR-treated subjects had flow initiated in less than or equal to 30 minutes of ED arrival (overall mean 32.4 minutes [SD 10.9]). No subject in either group survived with a good neurologic outcome. CONCLUSION: The Extracorporeal Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation for Refractory Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest trial did not meet predefined feasibility outcomes for selecting out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients for expedited transport and initiating ECPR in the ED. Additional research is needed to improve the accuracy of predicting the 911 call to ED arrival interval, optimize patient selection, and reduce the ED arrival to ECPR flow interval.

Calcium Channel Blocker Intoxication: A Critical Care Transport Perspective.

Calcium channel blockers (CCBs) have seen an increase in rate of non-therapeutic exposure that is both accidental and intentional in nature. Patients experiencing the toxic effects of a CCB overdose are resource intensive and can quickly outstrip the capabilities of local health systems, necessitating transfer to larger tertiary or quaternary care centers. We present a case of intentional non-dihydropyridine CCB overdose and toxicity in a 20-year-old patient requiring initial stabilization at a referring critical access emergency department with continuation of treatment and support during a 60-minute rotor wing transport from the referring hospital to an academic quaternary care center. Emphasis is placed on the unique challenges in resuscitation and ongoing critical care administration during the transport phase of care. Proper stabilization of patients, planning, and consideration of potential problems associated with transport can help minimize stresses and risk of the transport, improving the outcome of extremely ill patients even under challenging circumstances.

In-situ Simulation Use for Rapid Implementation and Process Improvement of COVID-19 Airway Management.

INTRODUCTION: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic presents unique challenges to frontline healthcare workers. In order to safely care for patients new processes, such as a plan for the airway management of a patient with COVID-19, must be implemented and disseminated in a rapid fashion. The use of in-situ simulation has been used to assist in latent problem identification as part of a Plan-Do-Study-Act cycle. Additionally, simulation is an effective means for training teams to perform high-risk procedures before engaging in the actual procedure. This educational advance seeks to use and study in-situ simulation as a means to rapidly implement a process for airway management in patients with COVID-19. METHODS: Using an airway algorithm developed by the authors, we designed an in-situ simulation scenario to train physicians, nurses, and respiratory therapists in best practices for airway management of patients with COVID-19. Physician participants were surveyed using a five-point Likert scale with regard to their comfort level with various aspects of the airway algorithm both before and after the simulation in a retrospective fashion. Additionally, we obtained feedback from all participants and used it to refine the airway algorithm. RESULTS: Over a two-week period, 93 physicians participated in the simulation. We received 81 responses to the survey (87%), which showed that the average level of comfort with personal protective equipment procedures increased significantly from 2.94 (95% confidence interval, 2.71-3.17) to 4.36 (4.24-4.48), a difference of 1.42 (1.20-1.63, p < 0.001). There was a significant increase in average comfort level in understanding the physician role with scores increasing from 3.51 (3.26-3.77) to 4.55 (2.71-3.17), a difference of 1.04 (0.82-1.25, p < 0.001). There was also increased comfort in performing procedural tasks such as intubation, from 3.08 (2.80-3.35) to 4.38 (4.23-4.52) after the simulation, a difference of 1.30 points (1.06-1.54, p < 0.001). Feedback from the participants also led to refinement of the airway algorithm. CONCLUSION: We successfully implemented a new airway management guideline for patients with suspected COVID-19. In-situ simulation is an essential tool for both dissemination and onboarding, as well as process improvement, in the context of an epidemic or pandemic.

Emergency Department-based Intensive Care Unit Use Peaks Near Emergency Department Shift Turnover.

INTRODUCTION: The Emergency Critical Care Center (EC3) is an emergency department-based intensive care unit (ED-ICU) designed to improve timely access to critical care for ED patients. ED patients requiring intensive care are initially evaluated and managed in the main ED prior to transfer to a separate group of ED-ICU clinicians. The timing of patient transfers to the ED-ICU may decrease the number of handoffs between main ED teams and have an impact on both patient outcomes and optimal provider staffing models, but has not previously been studied. We aimed to analyze patterns of transfer to the ED-ICU and the relationship with shift turnover times in the main ED. We hypothesized that the number of transfers to the ED-ICU increases near main ED shift turnover times. METHODS: An electronic health record search identified all patients managed in the ED and ED-ICU in 2016 and 2017. We analyzed the number of ED arrivals per hour, the number of ED-ICU consults per hour, the time interval from ED arrival to ED-ICU consult, the distribution throughout the day, and the relationship with shift turnover times in the main ED. RESULTS: A total of 160,198 ED visits were queried, of which 5308 (3.3%) were managed in the ED-ICU. ED shift turnover times were 7 am, 3 pm, and 11 pm. The mean number of ED-ICU consults placed per hour was 221 (85 standard deviation), with relative maximums occurring near ED turnover times: 10:31 pm-11:30 pm (372) and 2:31 pm-3:30 pm (365). The minimum was placed between 7:31 am - 8:30 am (88), shortly after the morning ED turnover time. The median interval from ED arrival time to ED-ICU consult order was 161 minutes (range 6-1,434; interquartile range 144-174). Relative minimums were observed for patients arriving shortly prior to ED turnover times: 4:31 am - 5:30 am (120 minutes [min]), 12:31 pm - 1:30 pm (145 min), and 9:31 pm - 10:30 pm (135 min). Relative maximums were observed for patients arriving shortly after ED turnover times: 7:31 am - 8:30 am (177 min), 4:31 pm - 5:30 pm (218 min), and 11:31 pm - 12:30 am (179 min). CONCLUSION: ED-ICU utilization was highest near ED shift turnover times, and utilization was dissimilar to overall ED arrival patterns. Patients arriving immediately prior to ED shift turnover received earlier consults to the ED-ICU, suggesting these patients may have been preferentially transferred to the ED-ICU rather than signed out to the next team of emergency clinicians. These findings may guide operational planning, staffing models, and timing of shift turnover for other institutions implementing ED-ICUs. Future studies could investigate whether an ED-ICU model improves critically ill patients' outcomes by minimizing ED provider handoffs.

Utilization of a Resuscitative Care Unit for Initial Triage, Management, and Disposition of Minor Intracranial Hemorrhage.

Management of minor intracranial hemorrhage typically involves ICU admission. ICU capacity is increasingly strained, resulting in increased emergency department boarding of critically ill patients. Our objectives were to implement a novel protocol using our emergency department-based resuscitative care unit for management of management of minor intracranial hemorrhage patients in the emergency department setting, to provide timely and appropriate critical care, and to decrease inpatient ICU utilization. DESIGN: Retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data. SETTING: Single large academic medical center in the United States. PATIENTS: Adult patients presenting to the emergency department with management of minor intracranial hemorrhage managed via our resuscitative care unit-management of minor intracranial hemorrhage protocol from September 2017 to April 2019. INTERVENTION: Implementation of a resuscitative care unit-management of minor intracranial hemorrhage protocol. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Demographic data, need for vasoactive infusions in the emergency department, emergency department and hospital length of stay, emergency department disposition, and 30-day outcomes (readmission, mortality, need for neurosurgical procedure) were collected. Fifty-five patients were identified, with mean age 67.1 ± 20.0 years. Mean Glasgow Coma Scale on presentation was 14.8 ± 0.5, and 66% had a history of trauma. Locations of hemorrhage were subdural (42%), intraparenchymal (35%), subarachnoid (15%), intratumoral (7%), and intraventricular (2%). Nineteen patients (35%) were discharged from the emergency department, 22 (40%) were admitted to general care, and 14 (26%) were admitted to intensive care. In discharged patients, there was no mortality or neurosurgical interventions at 30 days. In a subgroup analysis of 36 patients with a traumatic mechanism, 18 (50%) were able to be discharged from the emergency department after management in the resuscitative care unit. CONCLUSIONS: Initial management of emergency department patients with minor intracranial hemorrhage in a resuscitative care unit appears safe and feasible and was associated with a substantial rate of discharge from the emergency department (35%) and a low rate of admission to an inpatient ICU (26%). Use of this strategy was associated with rapid initiation of ICU-level care, which may help alleviate the challenge of increasing emergency department boarding time of critically ill patients facing many institutions.

Descriptive Analysis of Extubations Performed in an Emergency Department-based Intensive Care Unit.

INTRODUCTION: Extubation of appropriate patients in the emergency department (ED) may be a strategy to avoid preventable or short-stay intensive care unit (ICU) admissions, and could allow for increased ventilator and ICU bed availability when demand outweighs supply. Extubation is infrequently performed in the ED, and a paucity of outcome data exists. Our objective was to descriptively analyze characteristics and outcomes of patients extubated in an ED-ICU setting. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective observational study at an academic medical center in the United States. Adult ED patients extubated in the ED-ICU from 2015-2019 were retrospectively included and analyzed. RESULTS: We identified 202 patients extubated in the ED-ICU; 42% were female and median age was 60.86 years. Locations of endotracheal intubation included the ED (68.3%), outside hospital ED (23.8%), and emergency medical services/prehospital (7.9%). Intubations were performed for airway protection (30.2%), esophagogastroduodenoscopy (27.7%), intoxication/ingestion (17.3%), respiratory failure (13.9%), seizure (7.4%), and other (3.5%). The median interval from ED arrival to extubation was 9.0 hours (interquartile range 6.2-13.6). One patient (0.5%) required unplanned re-intubation within 24 hours of extubation. The attending emergency physician (EP) at the time of extubation was not critical care fellowship trained in the majority (55.9%) of cases. Sixty patients (29.7%) were extubated compassionately; 80% of these died in the ED-ICU, 18.3% were admitted to medical-surgical units, and 1.7% were admitted to intensive care. Of the remaining patients extubated in the ED-ICU (n = 142, 70.3%), zero died in the ED-ICU, 61.3% were admitted to medical-surgical units, 9.9% were admitted to intensive care, and 28.2% were discharged home from the ED-ICU. CONCLUSION: Select ED patients were safely extubated in an ED-ICU by EPs. Only 7.4% required ICU admission, whereas if ED extubation had not been pursued most or all patients would have required ICU admission. Extubation by EPs of appropriately screened patients may help decrease ICU utilization, including when demand for ventilators or ICU beds is greater than supply. Future research is needed to prospectively study patients appropriate for ED extubation.

Implementation of a Multidisciplinary Care Pathway via an Emergency Department-ICU to Improve Care of Emergency Department Patients Presenting With Leukostasis.

Leukostasis is a life-threatening complication of acute hyperleukocytic leukemia, and is associated with substantial mortality. Management of leukostasis requires time-sensitive diagnostics and therapeutics, and leukapheresis remains a mainstay of treatment in select patients. Leukapheresis requires coordination of multi-disciplinary resources, which can prove challenging in the emergency department setting, and delays in treatment due to the complexity and coordination required are common. The objective of this study was to assess the effect of utilization of an emergency department-ICU and a multidisciplinary care pathway on outcomes of critically ill leukostasis patients presenting to the emergency department. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING: Single large academic medical center in the United States. PATIENTS: Adult emergency department patients with signs and symptoms of leukostasis requiring emergent leukapheresis from 2012-2019. INTERVENTIONS: Implementation of a hybrid emergency department-ICU setting (emergency critical care center) and a multidisciplinary care pathway with members from Emergency Medicine, Hematology, Blood Bank, and Clinical Pathology. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: A total of 70 patients were identified and included for analysis: 14 preemergency critical care center; 32 postemergency critical care center, premultidisciplinary care pathway; and 24 postemergency critical care center, postmultidisciplinary care pathway. A statistically significant reduction in the time from emergency department presentation to initiation of leukapheresis was observed from preemergency critical care center to postemergency critical care center, premultidisciplinary care pathway and postemergency critical care center, postmultidisciplinary care pathway (11.5 vs 7.9 vs 7.7 hr; p = 0.004). Statistically significant reductions in in-hospital mortality were observed from preemergency critical care center to postemergency critical care center, premultidisciplinary care pathway and postemergency critical care center, postmultidisciplinary care pathway (64.3% vs 21.9% vs 25.0%; p = 0.01). A trend toward decreased inpatient ICU utilization was observed, although was not statistically significant (35.7% vs 12.5% vs 25.0%; p = 0.14.). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Implementation of a multidisciplinary care pathway via use of an emergency department-ICU for critically ill patients with leukostasis was associated with statistically significant reductions in time to leukapheresis and in-hospital mortality. These findings suggest an emergency department-ICU model may allow for maximal resource and care coordination at the point of contact with critically ill patients and improved clinical outcomes.