A review of ECG and QT interval measurement use in a public psychiatric inpatient setting.

OBJECTIVES: There is an increased rate of sudden cardiac death (SCD) in mental health patients. Some antipsychotic medications are known to prolong the QT interval, thus increasing a patient's risk of SCD via the arrhythmia, torsades de pointes (TdP). Our aim was to evaluate assessment for QT prolongation within a public inpatient mental health facility by auditing electrocardiograph (ECG) use. METHODS: We reviewed records of all mental health inpatient admissions to a public emergency mental health inpatient unit between 1 January 2016 and 11 February 2016. ECG availability was noted and QT interval was manually measured and assessed for risk of TdP using the QT nomogram when present. Demographic information and medication use was collected. RESULTS: Of 263 mental health inpatient admissions, 50 (19%) presentations had an ECG. A total of four (8%) had a prolonged QT interval. Of the 50 patients with an ECG, 12 (24%) were taking medication known to prolong the QT interval. CONCLUSIONS: There was very limited risk assessment for QT prolongation in a public hospital psychiatric inpatient unit, with less than 20% of patients having an ECG performed. Our study supports an association between QT-prolonging drugs and a clinically significant prolonged QT interval; however, a larger study with routine ECG screening is required.

Restricting cough and cold medicines in children.

AIMS: Based on concerns about safety and efficacy, international authorities have either advised against the use of cough and cold medication or considering such action. We aimed to systematically review the evidence for the effectiveness and safety of cough and cold medicines in children. METHODS: We conducted a systematic review to identify studies relating to the use of products to treat symptoms of the common cold, influenza or allergic rhinitis, and relating to poisoning or toxicity from unintentional ingestion or overdose in children (<12 years). Medline, Embase and the Cochrane database were searched. No meta-analysis was undertaken because of the paucity of evidence, multiple medicines available, and the need to consider both effectiveness and safety. RESULTS: Seventy two relevant studies or clinical reports were identified. There was little support for the effectiveness of these medicines for acute cough or the common cold in children. However, the majority of these medicines do not appear to be highly toxic in children and are not a major cause of severe effects following unintentional poisoning. The common use of these agents does not appear to be responsible for increased deaths in young children. Many cases of toxicity from cough and cold medications in young children are a result of therapeutic error. Particular medications, including diphenhydramine and codeine, appear to be associated with a high frequency of severe adverse effects and toxicity. CONCLUSION: Restriction of cough and cold medicines in children is supported by currently available evidence.

Safety of nitrous oxide administration in patients with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease.

Nitrous oxide is routinely administered to children and adults with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT) as an anaesthetic for procedures such as nerve conduction studies and maintenance for general anaesthesia. However it is listed as a 'moderate to significant' risk of potential toxicity and worsening neuropathy in people with CMT by the CMT Association (USA), CMT Association of Australia, CMT International (Canada) and CMT United Kingdom. We performed a systematic review focussing on the use of nitrous oxide in patients with CMT to help clarify its safety. This identified 11 studies reporting 41 exposures to therapeutically inhaled nitrous oxide as maintenance for general anaesthesia with no reports of adverse effects or worsening of CMT neuropathy. In the absence of a single case in the literature reporting worsening neuropathy in CMT patients receiving nitrous oxide, this review provides good evidence that nitrous oxide should be considered a safe agent for use in children and adults with CMT.