Effect of intravenous fluid volume on biomarkers of endothelial glycocalyx shedding and inflammation during initial resuscitation of sepsis.

PURPOSE: To investigate the effect of IV fluid resuscitation on endothelial glycocalyx (EG) shedding and activation of the vascular endothelium and inflammation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A planned biomarker sub-study of the REFRESH trial in which emergency department (ED) patients) with suspected sepsis and hypotension were randomised to a restricted fluid/early vasopressor regimen or IV fluid resuscitation with later vasopressors if required (usual care). Blood samples were collected at randomisation (T0) and at 3 h (T3), 6 h (T6)- and 24 h (T24) for measurement of a range of biomarkers if EG shedding, endothelial cell activation and inflammation. RESULTS: Blood samples were obtained in 95 of 99 enrolled patients (46 usual care, 49 restricted fluid). Differences in the change in biomarker over time between the groups were observed for Hyaluronan (2.2-fold from T3 to T24, p = 0.03), SYN-4 (1.5-fold from T3 to T24, P = 0.01) and IL-6 (2.5-fold from T0 to T3, p = 0.03). No difference over time was observed between groups for the other biomarkers. CONCLUSIONS: A consistent signal across a range of biomarkers of EG shedding or of endothelial activation or inflammation was not demonstrated. This could be explained by pre-existing EG shedding or overlap between the fluid volumes administered in the two groups in this clinical trial. Trial registration Australia New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN126160000006448 Registered 12 January 2016.

Evaluation of targeted implementation interventions for reducing investigations and therapies in infants with bronchiolitis.

AIM: To evaluate the impact of locally adapted targeted implementation interventions on bronchiolitis management through reduction in ineffective investigation and therapies within emergency departments. METHODS: A multi-centred, quality improvement study in four different grades of hospitals in Western Australia that provide paediatric emergency and inpatient care. All hospitals incorporated an adapted implementation intervention package for infants under 1 year with bronchiolitis. The proportion whose care complied with guideline recommendations to not receive investigations and therapies of minimal benefit were compared to pre-intervention care in a previous bronchiolitis season. RESULTS: A total of 457 infants in 2019 (pre-intervention) and 443 in 2021 (post-intervention) were included, with mean age of 5.6 months (SD 3.2, 2019; SD 3.0, 2021). In 2019, compliance was 78.1% versus 85.6% in 2021, RD 7.4 (95% CI -0.6; 15.5). The strongest evidence was reduced salbutamol use (compliance improvement: 88.6% to 95.7%, RD 7.1 95% CI (1.7; 12.4)). Hospitals initially at <80% compliance demonstrated greatest improvements (Hospital 2: 95 (78.5%) to 108 (90.8%) RD 12.2 95% CI (3.3; 21.2); Hospital 3: 67 (62.6%) to 63 (76.8%) RD 14.2 95% CI (1.3; 27.2)). CONCLUSION: Targeted site-adapted implementation interventions resulted in improvement in compliance with guideline recommendations, particularly for those hospitals with initial low compliance. Maximising benefits through guidance on how to adapt and effectively use interventions will enhance sustainable practice change.

Prehospital continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) for acute respiratory distress: a randomised controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) versus usual care for prehospital patients with severe respiratory distress. METHODS: We conducted a parallel group, individual patient, non-blinded randomised controlled trial in Western Australia between March 2016 and December 2018. Eligible patients were aged ≥40 years with acute severe respiratory distress of non-traumatic origin and unresponsive to initial treatments by emergency medical service (EMS) paramedics. Patients were randomised (1:1) to usual care or usual care plus CPAP. The primary outcomes were change in dyspnoea score and change in RR at ED arrival, and hospital length of stay. RESULTS: 708 patients were randomly assigned (opaque sealed envelope) to usual care (n=346) or CPAP (n=362). Compared with usual care, patients randomised to CPAP had a greater reduction in dyspnoea scores (usual care -1.0, IQR -3.0 to 0.0 vs CPAP -3.5, IQR -5.2 to -2.0), median difference -2.0 (95% CI -2.5 to -1.6); and RR (usual care -4.0, IQR -9.0 to 0.0 min-1 vs CPAP -8.0, IQR -14.0 to -4.0 min-1), median difference -4.0 (95% CI -5.0 to -4.0) min-1. There was no difference in hospital length of stay (usual care 4.2, IQR 2.1 to 7.8 days vs CPAP 4.8, IQR 2.5 to 7.9 days) for the n=624 cases admitted to hospital, median difference 0.36 (95% CI -0.17 to 0.90). CONCLUSIONS: The use of prehospital CPAP by EMS paramedics reduced dyspnoea and tachypnoea in patients with acute respiratory distress but did not impact hospital length of stay. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ACTRN12615001180505.

Neurological outcome in adult out-of-hospital cardiac arrest - Not all doom and gloom!

AIMS: To describe neurological and functional outcomes among out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) patients who survived to hospital discharge; to determine the association between neurological outcome at hospital discharge and 12-month survival. METHODS: Our cohort comprised adult OHCA patients (≥18 years) attended by St John WA (SJWA) paramedics in Perth, Western Australia (WA), who survived to hospital discharge, between 1st January 2004 and 31st December 2019. Neurological and functional status at hospital discharge (and before the arrest) was determined by medical record review using the five-point 'Cerebral Performance Category (CPC)' and 'Overall Performance Category (OPC)' scores. Adjusted multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to estimate the association of CPC score at hospital discharge with 12-month survival, adjusted for prognostic variables. RESULTS: Over the study period, SJWA attended 23,712 OHCAs. Resuscitation was attempted in 43.4% of cases (n = 10,299) with 2171 subsequent admissions, 99.4% (n = 2158) of these were admitted to a study hospital. Of the 1062 hospital survivors, 71.3% (n = 757) were CPC1 (highest category of neurological performance), 21.4% (n = 227) CPC2, 6.3% (n = 67) CPC3 and 1.0% (n = 11) CPC4. OPC scores followed a similar distribution. Of the 1,011 WA residents who survived to hospital discharge, 92.3% (n = 933) survived to 12-months. A CPC1-2 at hospital discharge was significantly associated with 12-month survival (adjusted odds ratio 3.28, 95% confidence interval 1.69-6.39). CONCLUSION: Whilst overall survival is low, most survivors of OHCA have a good neurological outcome at hospital discharge and are alive at 12-months.

Artificial intelligence-enhanced echocardiography in the emergency department.

A focused cardiac ultrasound performed by an emergency physician is becoming part of the standard assessment of patients in a variety of clinical situations. The development of inexpensive, portable handheld devices promises to make point-of-care ultrasound even more accessible over the coming decades. Many of these handheld devices are beginning to integrate artificial intelligence (AI) for image analysis. The integration of AI into focused cardiac ultrasound will have a number of implications for emergency physicians. This perspective presents an overview of the current state of AI research in echocardiography relevant to the emergency physician, as well as the future possibilities, challenges and risks of this technology.

Predicting outcome following mild traumatic brain injury: protocol for the longitudinal, prospective, observational Concussion Recovery (CREST) cohort study.

INTRODUCTION: Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) is a complex injury with heterogeneous physical, cognitive, emotional and functional outcomes. Many who sustain mTBI recover within 2 weeks of injury; however, approximately 10%-20% of individuals experience mTBI symptoms beyond this 'typical' recovery timeframe, known as persistent post-concussion symptoms (PPCS). Despite increasing interest in PPCS, uncertainty remains regarding its prevalence in community-based populations and the extent to which poor recovery may be identified using early predictive markers. OBJECTIVE: (1) Establish a research dataset of people who have experienced mTBI and document their recovery trajectories; (2) Evaluate a broad range of novel and established prognostic factors for inclusion in a predictive model for PPCS. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: The Concussion Recovery Study (CREST) is a prospective, longitudinal observational cohort study conducted in Perth, Western Australia. CREST is recruiting adults aged 18-65 from medical and community-based settings with acute diagnosis of mTBI. CREST will create a state-wide research dataset of mTBI cases, with data being collected in two phases. Phase I collates data on demographics, medical background, lifestyle habits, nature of injury and acute mTBI symptomatology. In Phase II, participants undergo neuropsychological evaluation, exercise tolerance and vestibular/ocular motor screening, MRI, quantitative electroencephalography and blood-based biomarker assessment. Follow-up is conducted via telephone interview at 1, 3, 6 and 12 months after injury. Primary outcome measures are presence of PPCS and quality of life, as measured by the Post-Concussion Symptom Scale and the Quality of Life after Brain Injury questionnaires, respectively. Multivariate modelling will examine the prognostic value of promising factors. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Human Research Ethics Committees of Royal Perth Hospital (#RGS0000003024), Curtin University (HRE2019-0209), Ramsay Health Care (#2009) and St John of God Health Care (#1628) have approved this study protocol. Findings will be published in peer-reviewed journals and presented at scientific conferences. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ACTRN12619001226190.

Factors predictive for computed tomography use and abnormality in paediatric head injuries in Australia and New Zealand.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate patient-level factors predictive for computed tomography of the brain (CTB) use and abnormality in head injured children in Australia and New Zealand. METHODS: Retrospective data from tertiary, urban/suburban and regional/rural EDs including factors predictive for CTB use and abnormality. RESULTS: Of 3072 children at 31 EDs, 212 (6.9%) had a CTB scan, of which 66 (31%) were abnormal. Increasing age, serious mechanisms of injury and decreasing Glasgow Coma Score were predictive for ordering CTB. Decreasing age was predictive for CTB abnormalities. Other factors were not. CONCLUSION: Patient-level drivers of CTB use in children in Australia and New Zealand are consistent with international data.

Is it septic or cardiogenic shock? Papillary muscle rupture masquerading as sepsis.

INTRODUCTION: Rupture of a papillary muscle is an extremely rare but catastrophic complication of an acute myocardial infarction. Survival is time dependent on the expedition of the patient from the area of presentation to the operating theatre for surgery. Diagnosis in the ED is possible within minutes of presentation if an echo is performed by an emergency physician skilled in echocardiography, as we demonstrate. CASE PRESENTATION: We present a case of a 59 years male self-presenting to the emergency department with undifferentiated shock. An EP performed echo directed us towards the rare but correct diagnosis. He was then transferred for percutaneous coronary intervention and surgical management. CONCLUSION: Often in the past a diagnosis made on coronary care units or post-mortem, we believe this diagnosis in the future will be made more frequently at the bedside in emergency departments across the world as emergency physicians continue to incorporate echocardiography as a skill in their diagnostic armoury.

Heartbreak: A case of post-infarction cardiogenic shock.

Ventricular septal rupture is a rare but catastrophic complication of acute myocardial infarction. Although it has declined in incidence since the introduction of percutaneous coronary intervention, there hasn't been a significant change of mortality from the condition. In the chain of survival, prompt diagnosis and definitive surgery form the cardinal links. Prolonged medical management is not a feasible option as it is likely to be futile but the aim should be to reduce afterload with the help of intra-aortic balloon pump or support with ventricular assist devices. Echocardiography sits at the heart of the diagnosis of this time critical condition and will guide accurate therapy and intervention. We present the first reported case from an Australian emergency department, where the echocardiography done by the emergency physician clinched the diagnosis. We emphasise here the paramountcy of emergency physicians being proficient in basic echocardiography to achieve rapid diagnosis. Once diagnosed it is critical to have an individual case-tailored multi-disciplinary discussion between emergency medicine, cardiothoracic surgery, cardiology and intensive care as to plan the optimal timing of surgery.

Restricted fluid resuscitation in suspected sepsis associated hypotension (REFRESH): a pilot randomised controlled trial.

PURPOSE: To determine if a regimen of restricted fluids and early vasopressor compared to usual care is feasible for initial resuscitation of hypotension due to suspected sepsis. METHODS: A prospective, randomised, open-label, clinical trial of a restricted fluid resuscitation regimen in the first 6 h among patients in the emergency department (ED) with suspected sepsis and a systolic blood pressure under 100 mmHg, after minimum 1000 ml of IV fluid. Primary outcome was total fluid administered within 6 h post randomisation. RESULTS: There were 99 participants (50 restricted volume and 49 usual care) in the intention-to-treat analysis. Median volume from presentation to 6 h in the restricted volume group was 2387 ml [first to third quartile (Q1-Q3) 1750-2750 ml]; 30 ml/kg (Q1-Q3 32-39 ml/kg) vs. 3000 ml (Q1-Q3 2250-3900 ml); 43 ml/kg (Q1-Q3 35-50 ml/kg) in the usual care group (p < 0.001). Median duration of vasopressor support was 21 h (Q1-Q3 9-42 h) vs. 33 h (Q1-Q3 15-50 h), (p = 0.13) in the restricted volume and usual care groups, respectively. At 90-days, 4 of 48 (8%) in the restricted volume group and 3 of 47 (6%) in the usual care group had died. Protocol deviations occurred in 6/50 (12%) in restricted group and 11/49 (22%) in the usual care group, and serious adverse events in four cases (8%) in each group. CONCLUSIONS: A regimen of restricted fluids and early vasopressor in ED patients with suspected sepsis and hypotension appears feasible. Illness severity was moderate and mortality rates low. A future trial is necessary with recruitment of high-risk patients to determine effects on clinical outcomes in this setting.