Can acutely ill patients predict their outcomes? A scoping review.

INTRODUCTION: The full impact of an acute illness on subsequent health is seldom explicitly discussed with patients. Patients' estimates of their likely prognosis have been explored in chronic care settings and can contribute to the improvement of clinical outcomes and patient satisfaction. This scoping review aimed to identify studies of acutely ill patients' estimates of their outcomes and potential benefits for their care. METHODS: A search was conducted in PubMed, Embase, Web of Science and Google Scholar, using terms related to prognostication and acute care. After removal of duplicates, all articles were assessed for relevance by six investigator pairs; disagreements were resolved by a third investigator. Risk of bias was assessed according to the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions. RESULTS: Our search identified 3265 articles, of which 10 were included. The methods of assessing self-prognostication were very heterogeneous. Patients seem to be able to predict their need for hospital admission in certain settings, but not their length of stay. The severity of their symptoms and the burden of their disease are often overestimated or underestimated by patients. Patients with severe health conditions and their relatives tend to be overoptimistic about the likely outcome. CONCLUSION: The understanding of acutely ill patients of their likely outcomes and benefits of treatment has not been adequately studied and is a major knowledge gap. Limited published literature suggests patients may be able to predict their need for hospital admission. Illness perception may influence help-seeking behaviour, speed of recovery and subsequent quality of life. Knowledge of patients' self-prognosis may enhance communication between patients and their physicians, which improves patient-centred care.

Emergency department management of older people living with frailty: a guide for emergency practitioners.

Emergency Departments (EDs) are increasingly seeing more seriously unwell older people living with frailty. In the context of limited resources and increasing demand it's the ED practitioner's challenge to unpick this constellation of physical, psychological, functional and social issues.To properly assess older people living with frailty at the ED it is crucial to use an holistic approach. This consists of triage with algorithms sensitive to the higher risk of older people living with frailty, a frailty assessment, and an assessment with the help of the principles of Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment. Multi-disciplinary care, a tailor-made treatment plan, based on what the person values most, will help the ED practitioner to deliver appropriate and valuable care during the ED stay, but also in transition from hospital to home.

Discharge Communication in Patients Presenting to the Emergency Department With Chest Pain: Defining the Ideal Content.

In an emergency department (ED), discharge communication represents a crucial step in medical care. In theory, it fosters patient satisfaction and adherence to medication, reduces anxiety, and ultimately promotes better outcomes. In practice, little is known about the extent to which patients receiving discharge information understand their medical condition and are able to memorize and retrieve instructions. Even less is known about the ideal content of these instructions. Focusing on patients with chest pain, we systematically assessed physicians' and patients' informational preferences and created a memory aid to support both the provision of information (physicians) and its retrieval (patients). In an iterative process, physicians of different specialties (N = 47) first chose which of 81 items to include in an ED discharge communication for patients with acute chest pain. A condensed list of 34 items was then presented to 51 such patients to gauge patients' preferences. Patients' and physicians' ratings of importance converged in 32 of the 34 items. Finally, three experts grouped the 34 items into five categories: (1) information on diagnosis; (2) follow-up suggestions; (3) advice on self-care; (4) red flags; and (5) complete treatment, from which we generated the mnemonic acronym "InFARcT." Defining and structuring the content of discharge information seems especially important for ED physicians and patients, as stress and time constraints jeopardize effective communication in this context. Chest pain accounts for up to 10% of all patient presentations in emergency departments (EDs) (Konkelberg & Esterman, 2003). The majority of these patients will usually be discharged within hours, after exclusion of serious conditions such as myocardial infarction (Goodacre et al., 2011). A comprehensive workup of low- to intermediate-risk patients is not feasible in the ED (Reichlin et al., 2009). Yet many of these patients go on to suffer from repeated episodes of chest pain, associated with anxiety and uncertainty about diagnosis and outcome (Jones & Mountain, 2009). Effective discharge communication, empowering patients to understand and memorize medical information, should therefore be an integral part of patient care. It is a likely contributor to better outcomes (Bishop, Barlow, Hartley, & William, 1997; Kessels, 2003), higher patient satisfaction (Kessels, 2003), better adherence to medication (Cameron, 1996; Kessels, 2003), more adequate disease management, and reduced anxiety (Galloway et al., 1997; Mossman, Boudioni, & Slevin, 1999).

Multidimensional versus unidimensional pain scales for the assessment of analgesic requirement in the emergency department: a systematic review.

Pain is a multidimensional experience, potentially rendering unidimensional pain scales inappropriate for assessment. Prior research highlighted their inadequacy as reliable indicators of analgesic requirement. This systematic review aimed to compare multidimensional with unidimensional pain scales in assessing analgesic requirements in the emergency department (ED). Embase, Medline, CINAHL, and PubMed Central were searched to identify ED studies utilizing both unidimensional and multidimensional pain scales. Primary outcome was desire for analgesia. Secondary outcomes were amount of administered analgesia and patient satisfaction. Two independent reviewers screened, assessed quality, and extracted data of eligible studies. We assessed risk of bias with the ROBINS-I tool and provide a descriptive summary. Out of 845 publications, none met primary outcome criteria. Three studies analyzed secondary outcomes. One study compared the multidimensional Defense and Veterans Pain Rating Scale (DVPRS) to the unidimensional Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) for opioid administration. DVPRS identified more patients with moderate instead of severe pain compared to the NRS. Therefore, the DVPRS might lead to a potential reduction in opioid administration for individuals who do not require it. Two studies assessing patient satisfaction favored the short forms (SF) of the Brief Pain Inventory (BPI) and McGill Pain Questionnaire (MPQ) over the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and the NRS. Limited heterogenous literature suggests that in the ED, a multidimensional pain scale (DVPRS), may better discriminate moderate and severe pain compared to a unidimensional pain scale (NRS). This potentially impacts analgesia, particularly when analgesic interventions rely on pain scores. Patients might prefer multidimensional pain scales (BPI-SF, MPQ-SF) over NRS or VAS for assessing their pain experience.

Frailty assessment in emergency medicine using the Clinical Frailty Scale: a scoping review.

BACKGROUND: Frailty is a common condition present in older Emergency Department (ED) patients that is associated with poor health outcomes. The Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS) is a tool that measures frailty on a scale from 1 (very fit) to 9 (terminally ill). The goal of this scoping review was to describe current use of the CFS in emergency medicine and to identify gaps in research. METHODS: We performed a systemic literature search to identify original research that used the CFS in emergency medicine. Several databases were searched from January 2005 to July 2021. Two independent reviewers completed screening, full text review and data abstraction, with a focus on study characteristics, CFS assessment (evaluators, timing and purpose), study outcomes and statistical methods. RESULTS: A total of 4818 unique citations were identified; 34 studies were included in the final analysis. Among them, 76% were published after 2018, mainly in Europe or North America (79%). Only two assessed CFS in the pre-hospital setting. The nine-point scale was used in 74% of the studies, and patient consent was required in 69% of them. The main reason to use CFS was as a main exposure (44%), a potential predictor (15%) or an outcome (15%). The most frequently studied outcomes were mortality and hospital admission. CONCLUSION: The use of CFS in emergency medicine research is drastically increasing. However, the reporting is not optimal and should be more standardized. Studies evaluating the impact of frailty assessment in the ED are needed. REGISTRATION: https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/W2F8N.

Accuracy of plain radiography in detecting fractures in older individuals after low-energy falls: current evidence.

BACKGROUND: Older individuals sustaining low-energy falls (LEF) and presenting to the emergency department (ED) demand straightforward diagnostic measures for injury detection. Plain radiography (XR) series for diagnosis of fall-related injuries are standard of care, but frequently subsequent CT examination is required for diagnostic assurance. A systematic database search of diagnostic accuracy of XR for detection of fractures in older LEF patients was performed. METHODS: We searched PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, WHO International Clinical Trial Platform, and Clinical trials.gov databases from inception to January 2020 for studies including older patients (≥65 years) with LEF and obtaining CT examination and XR of the skeleton in an ED setting. RESULTS: From 8944 references screened, 11 studies met the criteria for inclusion. Performance of XR for detection of fractures of the pelvic ring and hip was analyzed in nine studies, two studies investigated XR performance to detect rib fractures, and two studies compared diagnostic accuracy of thoracolumbar spine XR. Sensitivity estimates ranged from 10% to 58% and specificity estimates from 55% to 100%. Clinical and statistical heterogeneity was significant among included studies, with an overall considerable risk of bias. DISCUSSION: High-quality evidence on accurate imaging strategies in older patients with LEF is lacking to date. XR is missing a reasonable amount of fractures of the pelvic ring, rib cage, and thoracic and lumbar spine. However, the utility of first-line CT imaging and the benefit of diagnosing every fracture is unknown, demanding high-quality prospective trials considering patient-oriented outcome as well.

Risk of adverse outcome in patients referred by emergency medical services in Switzerland.

AIMS OF THE STUDY: Comparison of outcomes between different emergency medical services (EMS) is difficult and lacking in Switzerland. Therefore, knowledge about the inherent risks of EMS-referred patients is important. Targeted interventions may benefit these patients by optimising resource allocation. We therefore aimed to study outcomes in EMS-referred patients presenting to a Swiss emergency department (ED). METHODS: Prospective observational study in all patients presenting to the ED of Basel University Hospital. Mode of referral was recorded (EMS or other). Univariate and multivariate linear, Poisson and logistic regression models were used. Crude and age/gender adjusted associations between mode of referral and outcomes were calculated. Outcomes were shown for admission, length of stay (LOS), in-hospital, and 1-year mortality. RESULTS: Of 5634 patients presenting in the inclusion period, 4703 were screened, 4544 were included and 4287 were followed up for 365 days. Associations between EMS referral and several adverse outcomes were found and expressed as odds ratios (ORs) and geometric mean ratios (GMRs): hospital admission (OR 3.8, 95% CI 3.2-4.5; p <0.001), intensive care unit (ICU) admission (OR 4.2, 95% CI 3.2-5.5, p <0.001), ED-LOS (GMR 1.2, 95% CI 1.1-1.2; p <0.001), in-hospital mortality (OR 6.4, 95% CI 2.9-15.6; p <0.001) and 1-year mortality (OR 2.3, 95% CI 1.7-3.0; p <0.001). CONCLUSION: Patients referred by EMS have higher odds of admission to hospital and ICU, a longer ED LOS, and higher short- and long-term mortalities than the general ED population.

[Emergency Triage. An Overview]. / Bedeutung der Triage in der klinischen Notfallmedizin.

In emergency departments, patients present with different severities of diseases and traumatic injuries. However, patients with severe and life-threatening conditions compete for the same resources such as personal and structure. As a general rule, each patient should receive immediate diagnostic and treatment, independent of his or her severity of disease or traumatic injury. However, an unexpected number of patients presenting to the emergency department at the same time may exceed available resources. Thus, waiting times will occur and management of patients may be impeded. As a consequence, patients with diseases or traumatic injuries with a need for time-critical management, have to be detected at the time of presentation. After categorization, patients have to be prioritized and guided to the correct place of treatment ("triage"). Starting in Australia and the United States, nurse-driven triage systems have been introduced in the emergency departments. Aim of triage is to correctly identify at increased risk of death and guide them to rapid and correct treatment. In Germany, two five-level triage systems have been introduced: Manchester Triage System (MTS) and Emergency Severity Index (ESI). We give an overview of these risk assessment tools and discuss pros and cons. In addition, new options such as "team triage" and a combination with "Early Warning Scores" are reported. In summary, nurse-driven triage is an instrument to improve patient safety in emergency medicine. A structured and systematic triage of patients using validated triage assessment tools are recommended from national and international societies of emergency medicine. Therefore, nurse-driven triage is also a must in Germany.

Adrenomedullin for Risk Stratification of Emergency Patients With Nonspecific Complaints: An Interventional Multicenter Pilot Study.

Patients with nonspecific complaints (NSC) presenting to the emergency department (ED) are at risk of life-threatening conditions. New stress biomarkers such as the midregional portion of adrenomedullin (MR-proADM) promise to support decision-making. This study tested the following hypotheses: biomarker-assisted disposition of patients with NSC will not increase mortality. Second, discharge from the ED will increase if clinical risk assessment is combined with low MR-proADM levels. Third, inappropriate disposition to a lower level of care will decrease, if clinical assessment is combined with high MR-proADM levels, and fourth that this algorithm is feasible in the ED setting. Prospective, multicenter, randomized, controlled interventional feasibility study with a 30-day follow-up, including patients with NSC. Patients were randomly assigned to either the standard group (decision-making solely based on clinical assessment) or the Novum group (biomarker-assisted). Regarding disposition, patients were assigned to 1 of 3 risk classes: high-risk (admission to hospital), intermediate risk (community geriatric hospital), and low-risk patients (discharge). In the Novum group, in addition to clinical risk assessment, the information of the MR-proADM level was used. Unless there were overruling criteria, patients were transferred or discharged according to the risk assessment. Primary endpoint was 30-day mortality. Secondary endpoints were comparisons of patient disposition and related mortality rates, ED, and hospital length of stay and readmission. The final study cohort consisted of 398 patients (210 in the Standard group and 188 in the Novum group). Overruling, that is, disposition not according to the result of the proposed algorithm occurred in 51 cases. Baseline characteristics between Standard and Novum groups were similar. The mortality rate in the Novum group was 4.3%, as compared to the Standard group mortality of 6.2%, which was not significantly different (intention-to treat analysis). This was confirmed by the perprotocol analysis as well as by sensitivity analysis. For the secondary endpoints, no significant differences were detected. Biomarker-assisted disposition is safe in patients with NSC. Discharge rates did not increase. Feasibility could only partly be shown due to an unexpectedly high overruling rate. Inappropriate disposition to lower levels of care did not change. ClinicalTrials. gov Identifier: NCT00920491.

P-chloroaniline poisoning causing methemoglobinemia: a case report and review of the literature.

Background. Methemoglobin (MetHb) most commonly results from exposure to an oxidizing chemical but may also arise from genetic, dietary, or even idiopathic etiologies. P-chloroaniline (PCA) was one of the first substances described in the context of acquired methemoglobinemia. Case Report. We report the case of a cyanotic chemistry worker who presented to our emergency department (ED) after working with PCA. His peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO2) measured by pulse oximetry was at 81% and remained on that level despite oxygen administration (100% oxygenation via nonrebreather mask). His MetHb level was measured at 42.8% in arterial blood gas analysis. After treatment with intravenous methylene blue cyanosis resolved and the patient was discharged after 36 hours of observation. Conclusion. Acquired methemoglobinemia is a treatable condition, which may cause significant morbidity and mortality. The knowledge about the most common causes, fast diagnostic, and proper treatment is crucial.

Impact of observation on disposition of elderly patients presenting to emergency departments with non-specific complaints.

BACKGROUND: Emergency Departments (EDs) have to cope with an increasing number of elderly patients, often presenting with non-specific complaints (NSC), such as generalized weakness. Acute morbidity requiring early intervention is present in the majority of patients with NSC. Therefore, an early and optimal disposition plan is crucial. The objective of this study was to prospectively study the disposition process of patients presenting to the ED with NSC. METHODS: For two years, all patients presenting with NSC presenting to an urban ED were screened and consecutively included. The initial disposition plan was compared to the effective transfer after observation. Optimal disposition was defined as a high accuracy regarding disposition of patients with acute morbidity to an internal medicine ward. RESULTS: The final study population consisted of 669 patients with NSC. Admission to internal medicine increased from 297 (44%) planned admissions to 388 (58%) effective admissions after observation. Conversely, transfers to geriatric community hospitals and discharges decreased from the initially planned 372 (56%) patients to 281 (42%) effectively transferred and discharged patients. The accuracy regarding disposition of patients with acute morbidity increased from 53% to 68% after observation. CONCLUSION: Disposition planning in patients with NSC improves after observation, if defined by the accuracy regarding hospitalization of patients with acute morbidity. Further research should focus on risk stratification tools for timely disposition planning in order to reduce high admission rates for patients without acute morbidity and high readmission rates for discharged patients with non-specific complaints.

The last century of symptom-oriented research in emergency presentations--have we made any progress?

This review is dedicated to the last century of symptom-oriented research, taking three symptom complexes as typical examples of medical progress, and focusing on emergency presentations. Landmark publications in each area are discussed, with an attempt to focus on the methods used to achieve major breakthroughs. In abdominal pain, progress was achieved over a century ago by correlating symptoms and surgical pathology. Most diagnoses were made by using the clinical tools elaborated with careful observation and clinical examination. Together with the later reported outcomes, surgeons had an early and powerful tool for symptom-oriented research. In dyspnoea, progress was achieved much later, as a universal definition had to be elaborated over decades by consolidating clinical research, predominantly symptom-pathology correlation, and experimental research, such as function testing and experiments with animals and humans. In nonspecific presentations in emergency situations, progress has been achieved only recently, most probably owing to the fact that elderly patients are presenting in steeply increasing numbers, and the hallmark of disease presentation in the elderly seems to be less specific symptoms and complaints. This may be caused by altered physiology, polymorbidity, polypharmacy and the multiple difficulties encountered when taking histories in the elderly. Taken together, symptom-oriented research has been an important contributor to medical progress in the last century. Though it may be challenged by image- and laboratory-oriented research, it will remain part of patient-centred research because the epidemiology of symptoms, their clinical outcomes and their diagnostic importance according to severity will be the basis for the diagnostic process.