Initial test of emergency procedure performance in temporary negative pressure isolation by using simulation technologies.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: The potential of infectious disease spread in diseases such as tuberculosis, infectious disease epidemic such as avian flu and the threat of terrorism with agents capable of airborne transmission have focused attention on the need for increased surge capacity for patient isolation. Total negative pressure isolation using portable bioisolation tents may provide a solution. The study assesses the ability of health care workers to perform emergency procedures in this environment. METHODS: Physician performance in completing predetermined critical actions in 5 emergency care scenarios inside and outside of a bioisolation tent ("setting") was studied in an advanced medical simulation laboratory. By design, no pretraining of subjects about total negative pressure isolation use occurred. Impact of setting on time to completion of predetermined critical actions was the primary outcome measured. Secondary variables studied included impact of study groups, scenarios, and run order (inside or outside of the tent first). Subjective assessments were obtained through questionnaires. RESULTS: Four teams of 3 physicians completed 5 emergency patient care scenarios during 2 4-hour sessions. Mean time to completion of critical actions was for tent/no tent 298 seconds/284 seconds (P=.69, one way ANOVA), respectively. Mean time to completion for first versus second performance of a scenario in the crossover design was 338 versus 243 (P=.01). The mean score for self-assessed performance did not differ according to setting. CONCLUSION: The ability of physicians naive to the total negative pressure isolation environment to perform emergency medical critical actions was not significantly degraded by a simulated bioisolation tent patient care environment.

Demystifying bioterrorism: misinformation and misperceptions.

The true threat of bioterrorism remains mysterious and elusive to the common citizen. It principally has become the dominion of a few "experts", many of whom have limited apparent expertise, who have failed to effectively communicate the risks and realities to society, and have instead created an air of uncertainty surrounding the topic. Unlike the great classic deceptions of modern life (e.g., "the check is in the mail"), the misinformation and misperceptions associated with bioterrorism can be dangerous and are not merely humorous. Indeed, it is possible to grasp the facts as well as fallacies associated with bioterrorism, and, as a result, demystify this nightmare scenario and prepare for the "unthinkable".

Systemic effects of shock and resuscitation monitored by visible hyperspectral imaging.

Hyperspectral imaging (HSI) has been useful in monitoring several medical conditions, which to date have generally involved local changes in skin oxygenation of isolated regions of interest such as skin flaps or small burns. Here, by contrast, we present a study in which HSI was used to assess the local cutaneous manifestations of significant systemic events. HSI of the ventral surface of the lower jaw was used to monitor changes in skin oxygenation during hypovolemic shock induced by hemorrhage with additional pulmonary contusion injury in a porcine model, and to monitor the subsequent recovery of oxygenation with resuscitation. Quantitative and qualitative changes were observed in the level of skin oxygenation during shock and recovery. Quantitative values were obtained by fitting reference spectra of oxyhemoglobin and deoxyhemoglobin to sample spectra. Qualitative changes included changes in the observed spatial distribution or pattern of skin oxygenation. A mottled pattern of oxygen saturation was observed during hemorrhagic shock, but not observed during hypovolemic shock or following resuscitation. Historically, the assessment of skin color and mottling has been an important, albeit inexact, component of resuscitation algorithms. Now, it is possible to analyze these variables during shock and resuscitation in an objective manner. The clinical utility of these advances needs to be determined.

Some considerations for mass casualty management in radiation emergencies.

Radiation emergencies are rather new to humankind, as compared to other types of emergencies such as earthquakes, floods, or hurricanes. Fortunately, they are rare, but because of that, planning for response to large-scale radiation emergencies is least understood. Along with the specific technical aspects of response to radiation emergencies, there are some general guiding principles of responding to mass casualty events of any nature, as identified by the World Health Organization in its 2007 manual for mass casualty management systems. The paper brings forward such general considerations as applicable to radiation mass casualty events, including (1) clear lines of communication; (2) scalability of approach; (3) whole-of-health approach; (4) knowledge based approach; and (5) multisectoral approach. Additionally, some key considerations of planning for mass casualty management systems are discussed, namely, health systems surge capacity and networking, risk and resources mapping, and others.