Safety and Effectiveness of Antidysrhythmic Drugs for Pharmacologic Cardioversion of Recent-Onset Atrial Fibrillation: a Systematic Review and Bayesian Network Meta-analysis.

PURPOSE: The available evidence to determine which antidysrhythmic drug is superior for pharmacologic cardioversion of recent-onset (onset within 48 h) atrial fibrillation (AF) is uncertain. We aimed to identify the safest and most effective agent for pharmacologic cardioversion of recent-onset AF in the emergency department. METHODS: We searched MEDLINE, Embase, and Web of Science from inception to February 21, 2023 (PROSPERO: CRD42018083781). Eligible studies were randomized controlled trials that enrolled adult participants with AF ≤ 48 h, compared a guideline-recommended antidysrhythmic drug with another antidysrhythmic drug or a different formulation of the same drug or placebo and reported specific adverse events. The primary outcome was immediate, serious adverse event - cardiac arrest, sustained ventricular tachydysrhythmia, atrial flutter 1:1 atrioventricular conduction, hypotension, and bradycardia. Additional analyses included the outcomes of conversion to sinus rhythm within 4 h and 24 h. We extracted data according to PRISMA-NMA and appraised trials using Cochrane RoB 2. We performed Bayesian network meta-analysis (NMA) using a Markov Chain Monte Carlo method with random-effect model and vague prior distribution to calculate odds ratios with 95% credible intervals. We assessed confidence using CINeMA. We used surface under the cumulative ranking curve (SUCRA) to rank agent(s). RESULTS: The systematic review initially identified 5545 studies. Twenty-five studies met eligibility criteria, and 22 studies (n = 3082) provided data for NMA, which demonstrated that vernakalant (SUCRA = 70.9%) is most likely to be safest. Additional effectiveness NMA demonstrated that flecainide (SUCRA = 89.0%) is most likely to be superior for conversion within 4 h (27 studies; n = 2681), and ranolazine-amiodarone IV (SUCRA 93.7%) is most likely to be superior for conversion within 24 h (24 studies; n = 3213). Confidence in the NMA estimates is variable and limited mostly by within-study bias and imprecision. CONCLUSIONS: Among guideline-recommended antidysrhythmic drugs, the combination of digoxin IV and amiodarone IV is definitely among the least safe for cardioversion of recent onset AF; flecainide, vernakalant, ibutilide, propafenone, and amiodarone IV are definitely among the most effective for cardioversion within 4 h; flecainide is definitely among the most effective for cardioversion within 24 h. Further, randomized controlled trials with predetermined and strictly defined, hemodynamic adverse event outcomes are recommended.

The "NUTS" statistic: Applying an EBM disease model to defensive medicine.

Physicians believe that malpractice concerns result in unnecessary testing, and many emergency physicians state that avoiding malpractice is a contributing factor to ordering medically unnecessary tests. Unfortunately, defensive medicine does not come without possible harm to patients who may be subject to non-beneficial, downstream testing, procedures, and hospitalizations. We submit a novel statistic, "NUTS" or "Number of Unnecessary Tests to avoid one Suit. " We calculated a NUTS of 4737 for troponin testing in ED patients with suspected myocardial infarction, meaning a clinician will need to order 4737 medically unnecessary troponin tests to avoid one missed myocardial infarction lawsuit. The NUTS framework offers us an evidence-based lens to examine defensive medicine less superstitiously and more based on currently available data.

Rapid tranquilization of the agitated patient in the emergency department: A systematic review and network meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Safe and effective tranquilization of the acutely agitated patient is challenging, and head-to-head comparisons of medications are limited. We aimed to identify the most optimal agent(s) for rapid tranquilization of the severely agitated patient in the emergency department (ED). METHODS: The protocol for systematic review was registered (PROSPERO; CRD42020212534). We searched MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, and Cochrane Database/CENTRAL from inception to June 2, 2021. We limited studies to randomized controlled trials that enrolled adult ED patients with severe agitation and compared drugs for rapid tranquilization. Predetermined outcomes were: 1) Adequate sedation within 30 min (effectiveness), 2) Immediate, serious adverse event - cardiac arrest, ventricular tachydysrhythmia, endotracheal intubation, laryngospasm, hypoxemia, hypotension (safety), and 3) Time to adequate sedation (effect onset). We extracted data according to PRISMA-NMA and appraised trials using Cochrane RoB 2 tool. We performed Bayesian network meta-analysis (NMA) using a Markov Chain Monte Carlo method with random-effects model and vague prior distribution to calculate odds ratios with 95% credible intervals for dichotomous outcomes and frequentist NMA to calculate mean differences with 95% confidence intervals for continuous outcomes. We assessed confidence in results using CINeMA. We used surface under the cumulative ranking (SUCRA) curves to rank agent(s) for each outcome. RESULTS: Eleven studies provided data for effectiveness (1142 patients) and safety (1147 patients). Data was insufficient for effect onset. The NMA found that ketamine (SUCRA = 93.0%) is most likely to have superior effectiveness; droperidol-midazolam (SUCRA = 78.8%) is most likely to be safest. There are concerns with study quality and imprecision. Quality of the point estimates varied for effectiveness but mostly rated "very low" for safety. CONCLUSIONS: Available evidence suggests that ketamine and droperidol have intermediate effectiveness for rapid tranquilization of the severely agitated patient in the ED. There is insufficient evidence to definitively determine which agent(s) may be safest or fastest-acting. Further, direct-comparison study of ketamine and droperidol is recommended.

An unusual case of burning hands.

Burning Hands Syndrome is an unusual variant of central cord syndrome. There have been few published reports, and none in the emergency medicine literature. We present a case of Burning Hands Syndrome in which there were no computed tomography (CT) findings of cervical spine injury and only subtle magnetic resonance (MR) abnormalities. We discuss the importance of early diagnosis, as the optimal management of these patients ultimately depends upon prompt recognition of the underlying cervical trauma and a spinal cord at risk for further injury.

The soymilk diet: A previously unknown etiology of acute pancreatitis.

We present a case of daily, large ingestions of soymilk that likely led to acute pancreatitis. Soybean contains trypsin inhibitor that when ingested will reduce the activity of trypsin in the intestine. A decrease in intestinal proteolytic activity removes the negative feedback on the pancreatic acinar cells, leading to an inappropriate increase in intrapancreatic trypsin secretion. When trypsin activation exceeds the capacity of pancreatic secretory trypsin inhibitor, the subsequent cascade of events can lead to acute pancreatitis.

Ventricular tachycardia as a consequence of triggered activity.

One of the less frequent underlying mechanisms of ventricular tachycardia (VT) is triggered activity. Triggered activity refers to an extrasystole due to a premature depolarization that occurs when the amplitude of an early or delayed afterdepolarization brings the cardiac membrane to its threshold potential. Hydrochlorothiazide and hydroxyzine can prolong repolarization and QT interval and are associated with early afterdepolarizations. Cyclic AMP-mediated, delayed afterdepolarizations can occur as a result of catecholaminergic surge. Delayed afterdepolarization is classically associated with outflow tract (OT) tachycardia, a type of VT that is uniquely defined by its termination with adenosine. We present a case of triggered OT tachycardia for which intravenous amiodarone through its antiadrenergic effect may have been effective. Infusions of magnesium and a cardioselective, ß-receptor antagonist that does not prolong repolarization may have been more appropriate given the concurrent, acquired prolonged QT syndrome. After initial stabilization, considering the underlying VT mechanism may prompt the clinician to select the most appropriate, further treatment.