Emergency medicine pharmacist interventions reducing exposure to costs (EMPIRE-C).

INTRODUCTION: Emergency Medicine (EM) pharmacists are considered essential healthcare providers in the Emergency Department (ED). Limited data are available representing the types of interventions performed by ED pharmacists, especially in community-based health systems. METHODS: Retrospective, multi-centered, observational review of documented EM clinical pharmacist interventions into the electronic medical record (EMR) across five separate EDs between July 1, 2020 and June 30, 2021. Interventions were separated into three categories: ED Intervention, ED Outpatient Culture Review, and ED Discharge Antimicrobial Review. Interventions with supporting literature related to cost avoidance were also analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 23,794 interventions were logged by the EM pharmacy team between the three categories. Of those, 9181 were cost avoidance interventions resulting in $5,350,755.63 in total cost avoidance, or $582.81 per intervention. CONCLUSION: EM pharmacists practicing in community settings have a substantial impact on patients as evidenced by the large quantity and variety of interventions logged which also results in significant cost avoidance to the healthcare system.

Fixed-dose prothrombin complex concentrate for emergent warfarin reversal among patients with intracranial hemorrhage.

INTRODUCTION: Four-factor prothrombin complex concentrate (4PCC) is the preferred reversal agent for warfarin reversal, although the ideal dose is unknown. Fixed-dose 4PCC offers simplified dosing compared to standard-dosing algorithms with potentially lower risks of thromboembolic complications given lower doses are typically utilized. METHODS: Retrospective, observational, multicentered, pre- post- study of patients who received 4PCC for warfarin reversal among four hospitals within the same regional health system. Standard-dose patients received variable doses ranging from 25 to 50 units/kg based on total body weight and initial INR and fixed-dose patients received 2000 units. The primary outcome was achievement of a target INR ≤ 1.4 on the first post-4PCC INR result. RESULTS: After exclusions, 48 and 42 patients were analyzed in the standard-dose and fixed-dose groups, respectively. There was no difference in the ability to achieve a target INR of ≤1.4 (82.6% vs 81.5%, p = 0.14). Both groups received the same median dose of 2000 units, although fixed-dose patients actually received a higher weight-based dose than standard-dose patients (27 units/kg vs 24.5 units/kg). CONCLUSION: A fixed-dose 4PCC regimen of 2000 units among patients with ICH was as effective as standard-dose 4PCC for INR reversal among patients with ICH. However, fixed-doses of 2000 units at times exceeded standard 4PCC doses which may be contradictory to the goals of fixed-dose 4PCC for warfarin reversal.

Emergent Warfarin Reversal With Fixed-Dose 4-Factor Prothrombin Complex Concentrate.

BACKGROUND: Four-factor prothrombin complex concentrate (4FPCC) is used for emergent warfarin reversal, but dosing remains controversial. Following approval, further studies have evaluated a variety of fixed-dose regimens. The studies utilized lower doses as compared with package insert dosing and provided data in regard to efficacy, safety, and cost savings. Further data are needed, however, to determine which fixed-dose regimen provides optimal efficacy and safety for emergent warfarin reversal. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy, safety, and cost-savings of a fixed-dose 4FPCC protocol. METHODS: This multicentered, retrospective chart review of adult patients requiring 4FPCC for emergent warfarin reversal utilized a fixed-dose regimen of 1500 units. The 2 primary outcomes were the proportion of patients who achieved a post-4FPCC international normalized ratio (INR) of ≤1.5 and ≤2. Secondary outcomes included thrombotic events within 7 days of 4FPCC administration and survival to discharge. A cost analysis was also performed to identify potential cost savings. RESULTS: Of the 64 patients included, 44 (68.8%) achieved a post-4FPCC INR ≤1.5, and 61 (95.3%) achieved a post-4FPCC INR ≤2.0. No thrombotic events were reported; 55 (85.9%) patients survived to hospital discharge. More than $1000 was saved per patient via utilization of the fixed-dose protocol. CONCLUSION AND RELEVANCE: A fixed-dose of 1500 units of 4FPCC successfully achieved a target INR of ≤1.5 in the majority of patients and resulted in no thrombotic events. This study adds to the data evaluating alternative 4FPCC dosing regimens in comparison to package insert recommended dosing.

Hemodynamic Effects of Propofol for Induction of Rapid Sequence Intubation in Traumatically Injured Patients.

Present guidelines for emergency intubation in traumatically injured patients recommend rapid sequence intubation (RSI) as the preferred method of airway management but specific pharmacologic agents for RSI remain controversial. To evaluate hemodynamic differences between propofol and other induction agents when used for RSI in trauma patients. Single-center, retrospective review of trauma patients intubated in the emergency department. Patients were divided in two groups based on induction agent, propofol or nonpropofol. The primary outcome was incidence of hypotension within 30 minutes of intubation. Secondary outcomes included hospital length of stay and inhospital mortality. The study protocol was approved by the Institutional Review Board. Of the 744 patients identified, 83 were analyzed, 43 in the propofol group and 40 in the nonpropofol group. Groups were similar at baseline in terms of pre-RSI hemodynamics, injury mechanism, initial Glasgow Coma Score, and Injury Severity Score. On univariate analysis, although not statistically significant, postintubation hypotension was more common in patients who received propofol compared with those who did not, 39.5 per cent versus 22.5 per cent (P = 0.9). When adjusted for age, Injury Severity Score, and pre-RSI hemodynamics, the risk of hypotension among propofol-treated patients was significantly higher (OR = 3.64; 95% Confidence interval 1.16-13.24). There were no significant differences between groups in hospital length of stay or mortality. Propofol increases the odds of postintubation hypotension in traumatically injured patients. Considerable caution should be used when contemplating the use of propofol the for induction of injured patients requiring RSI because other agents possess more favorable hemodynamic profiles.

Development of recommendations for dosing of commonly prescribed medications in critically ill obese children.

PURPOSE: The development and use of a decision support tool to help formulate recommendations for dosing of commonly prescribed medications in critically ill obese children are described. METHODS: Medications prescribed in 2010 to critically ill infants and children (younger than 18 years) were identified from the Pediatric Health Information System. The most commonly prescribed and therapeutically monitored medications were extracted. Supportive evidence for obesity dosing was identified through a standardized computerized search involving medical subject heading terminology and age filters using PubMed and Ovid. A usefulness scoring system was developed to rate the strength and applicability of the literature to critically ill obese children. A decision supporttool was then created to aid in the formulation of a dosing weight for each medication based on the usefulness score, published pharmacokinetic properties, clinical studies available in the primary literature, and consideration of clinical consequences of underdosing or overdosing. RESULTS: A total of 113 medications were evaluated, and 122 discrete citations, supporting 66 medications, were reviewed. Seventy-two percent of citations had general obesity dosing information, and 13% had pediatric-specific information. The overall mean usefulness score was 5.1±4.7 (median, 7). The decision support tool was incorporated to make final dosing weight recommendations for obese children. Ultimately, total body weight was recommended for 52 medications, adjusted weight for 43 medications, and ideal body weight for 18 medications. CONCLUSION: The inadequacy of obesity dosing information for most medications commonly ordered for children admitted to a pediatric intensive care unit led to the development of a decision support tool to aid in formulating dosing recommendations.