Billy Sin

The Use of Subdissociative-dose Ketamine for Acute Pain in the Emergency Department

OBJECTIVES Ketamine is a well-known anesthetic with its use trailing back to the 1960s. It has antagonistic effects at the N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor. There is emerging literature to suggest the use of subdissociative-dose ketamine (SDDK) for pain reduction. This evidence-based review evaluates the evidence regarding the use of SDDK for acute pain control in the emergency department (ED). METHODS The MEDLINE and EMBASE databases were searched. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that described or evaluated the use of SDDK for acute pain in the ED were included. Literature was excluded if it was not published in English. Duplicate articles, unpublished reports, abstracts, and review articles were also excluded. Quality assessment and evaluation of literature were evaluated based on the GRADE criteria. The primary outcome of interest in this review was the difference in pain score from baseline to cutoff time as specified in the studies. Secondary outcome measures were the incidence of adverse events and reduction in the amount of adjuvant opioids consumed by patients who received SDDK. RESULTS Four RCTs met the inclusion criteria, which enrolled a total of 428 patients. Three adult trials and one pediatric trial were identified. The level of evidence for the individual trials ranged from low to moderate. A significant reduction in pain scores was only found in two of the four trials. One trial found a significant reduction in mean pain scores when ketamine was compared to morphine (p < 0.05). Another trial reported a significant decrease in mean distress scores, favoring SDDK over fentanyl (1.0 vs. 2.7, p < 0.05). One trial found a significant reduction in the amount of morphine consumed, favoring ketamine over placebo (0.14 mg/kg, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.13 to 0.16 mg/kg vs. 0.2 mg/kg, 95% CI = 0.18 to 0.22 mg/kg; p < 0.001). An emergence phenomenon was reported in one trial. CONCLUSIONS Four RCTs with methodologic limitations failed to provide convincing evidence to either support or refute the use of SDDK for acute pain control in the ED.

Impact of an Integrated Pharmacy Transitions of Care Pilot Program in an Urban Hospital

Purpose: To evaluate the effectiveness of an integrated Pharmacy Transitions of Care (PTC) pilot program on reducing hospital readmissions and improving patient satisfaction. Methods: This prospective observational cohort study compares patients who participated in the PTC program to a control of usual hospital discharged patients during January through April 2014. The PTC program provided discharge medication review, medication counseling, delivery of medications to bedside, clinic scheduling, and follow-up phone calls. The primary outcome measure was 30-day readmissions. Secondary outcomes included emergency department (ED) visits, pharmacist interventions, and patient satisfaction. Results: Seventy patients participated in the PTC program. Compared to the control (n = 725), the study group had decreased 30-day all-cause readmissions (5.7% vs 13.8%, P = .08), 30-day readmissions for the same diagnosis (2.9% vs 8.1%, P = .18), and ED visits (18.6% vs 25%, P = .82). Twenty-five interventions during discharge medication review included discontinuation of unnecessary medications and correction of medication dose or frequency. The majority of patients were satisfied with the medication education provided (94%) and the timely delivery of prescriptions to bedside (96%). Conclusion: There was no significant difference in 30-day readmission rates. However, pharmacists were able to make a positive impact on patient satisfaction and improve understanding of medications during discharge.

Implementation of a 24-Hour Pharmacy Service with Prospective Medication Review in the Emergency Department

Background It is reported that more than 128 million patients are seen in emergency departments (EDs) annually. Patient overcrowding had been associated with an increased occurrence of medication errors. Purpose Due to increased patient volume and the need for improved patient safety, a 24-hour pharmacy service was established for our institutions ED. The purpose of the study is to quantify and demonstrate the impact of a 24-hour pharmacy service in an urban ED. Methods This was a retrospective descriptive study conducted at a regional level 1 trauma center. The study period occurred between December 2012 and July 2013. The following variables were quantified and analyzed: number of medication orders reviewed, number of intravenous medications compounded, and number of clinical interventions that were recommended by the ED pharmacy team (EDPT) and accepted by ED clinicians. Results A total of 3,779 medication orders were reviewed by the EDPT. Of these orders, 3,482 (92%) were prospectively reviewed. A total of 3,068 (81.2%) and 711 (18.8%) orders were reviewed for the adult and pediatric ED, respectively. During the study period, the EDPT procured 549 intravenous admixtures and conducted 642 clinical interventions. Most of the interventions involved providing drug information for physicians and nurses (45.9%), adjusting drug dosages (21.1%), and recommending antimicrobial therapy (15.1%). Conclusion The implementation of a 24-hour pharmacy service at our institution was an innovative practice that increased the role of pharmacists in the ED. The EDPT conducted prospective medication review, procured intravenous admixtures from a sterile environment, and provided therapeutic recommendations for the ED interdisciplinary team.

Intravenous Acetaminophen for Renal Colic in the Emergency Department: Where Do We Stand?

Background: The efficacy, safety, opioid-sparing effects, and cost–benefit analyses of intravenous (IV) acetaminophen (APAP) in treating renal colic remain controversial. Study Question: To evaluate the safety, efficacy, opioid-sparing effects, and cost–benefits of IV APAP in patients who present with renal colic in the emergency department (ED). Data Sources: We systematically searched PubMed (January 1970 to April 2016). Study Design: Randomized controlled trials which evaluated IV APAP for renal colic in the ED were eligible. The clinical outcomes measured were change in pain scores from baseline, incidence of adverse events, use of rescue analgesia, and cost–benefits. Forest plots were constructed using the Mantel–Haenszel method in a random effect model to changes in pain scores from the baseline to designated intervals. Results: The analysis suggested a difference in pain reduction favoring IV APAP over morphine. IV APAP had a significant effect in pain reduction than IV morphine (difference in mean pain score reduction = 7.5 in a 100-point visual analog scale (VAS); 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.99–13.00; P = 0.008). There was mild-to-moderate study heterogeneity (I2 = 42%). No difference was observed when IV APAP was compared with intramuscular piroxicam for pain reduction (difference in mean pain score reduction = 0.17 in a VAS reduction ≥50% VAS; 95% CI, −0.22 to 0.57) and to intramuscular diclofenac (difference in mean pain score reduction = 0.00 in a numeric rating scale reduction ≥50%; 95% CI, −0.12 to 0.12). The analysis for nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs versus IV APAP revealed no difference (difference in mean pain score reduction = 0.01 in a 100-point VAS; 95% CI, −0.10 to 0.13; P = 0.80). Conclusions: In this meta-analysis, we found that data on the efficacy, safety, opioid-sparing effects, and cost–benefit analyses of IV APAP for renal colic were weak. Based on the available data, IV APAP should not be considered as an alternative to opioids or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for the primary management of renal colic in the ED.

Hydrochlorothiazide Induced Lichen Planus in the Emergency Department: A Case Report

Lichen planus (LP) is a mucocutaneous inflammatory disease that involves papulosquamous eruption of the skin, scalp, nails, and mucous membranes. This uncommon condition has a higher prevalence in African Americans and females. Women accounts for 50% of cutaneous LP (CLP) and 60% to 75% of oral LP (OLP) cases. Diagnosis is centered around clinical presentation. Patient evaluation requires a comprehensive physical examination to identify any potential sites of involvement. LP is usually described by the “Six P’s”: planar, purple, polygonal, pruritic, papules, and plaques. Drug-induced LP, or lichenoid drug reactions, is uncommon and usually indiscernible from other forms of LP. Lichenoid drug reactions exhibit parakeratosis, dermal infiltrates of eosinophils, or perivascular lymphocytic infiltrates affecting the reticular dermis. An extended time interval between the initiation of drug to the onset of symptoms usually does not exclude potential diagnosis of a lichenoid drug reaction. We describe a case of hydrochlorothiazide-induced LP without prolonged exposure to sunlight diagnosed in the emergency department (ED). In this case, a pharmacist-conducted medication reconciliation played an integral role in accurately recognizing this adverse drug reaction. Our case report adds to the limited available literature on the topic, most of which originated more than 30 years ago.

The Use of Intravenous Lidocaine for the Management of Acute Pain Secondary to Traumatic Ankle Injury: A Case Report:

Sports-related injuries are a frequent cause of visits to the emergency department (ED) across the United States. A majority of these injuries affect the lower extremities with the ankle as the most frequently reported site. Most sports-related injuries are not severe enough to require inpatient hospitalization; however, they often lead to acute distress and pain which require prompt treatment with analgesics. Approximately 22% of patients who presented to the ED required pharmacotherapy for acute pain management. Opioids have been traditionally used for the management of severe acute pain in the ED; however, there are growing concerns for opioid overuse and misuse. As a result, there is growing controversy regarding the appropriate selection of analgesic agents, optimal dosing, and need for outpatient therapy which has contributed to changes in prescribing patterns of opioids in the ED. Lidocaine, a class 1b antiarrhythmic, has been utilized as an analgesic agent. Its use has been documented for the management of intractable chronic pain caused by cancer, stroke, neuropathies, or nephrolithiasis. However, literature describing the use of intravenous lidocaine for the management of acute pain secondary to trauma is limited to a single case series. This case report describes the use of intravenous lidocaine in a 17-year-old male who presented to the ED in acute distress secondary to ankle dislocation and fracture. This report serves to describe additional clinical experience with intravenous lidocaine for the management of acute pain secondary to ankle fracture in the emergency department.

The Feasibility and Impact of Prospective Medication Review in the Emergency Department

Objective: We evaluated the feasibility and impact of prospective medication review (PMR) in the emergency department (ED). Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study of all nonadmitted ED patients who were prescribed medication orders by ED clinicians from September 2014 to September 2015 to determine the time intervals utilized during each step of the medication use process and quantify the number of interventions conducted by the pharmacist and cost avoidance accrued from the interventions. Results: A total of 834 medication orders were included for evaluation. The median time for order verification, order verification to dispense, and dispense to administration were 3 minutes (interquartile range [IQR] = 1-7 minutes), 20 minutes (IQR = 7-45 minutes), and 10 minutes (IQR = 6-16 minutes). The median time interval for order verification was longer during the overnight pharmacy shift (median = 5 minutes, IQR = 2-9 minutes) compared to the day and evening shifts (median = 3 minutes, IQR = 1-6 minutes). A total of 563 interventions were recommended by the pharmacists and accepted by ED clinicians. These interventions equated to US

Recognition of Sympathetic Crashing Acute Pulmonary Edema (SCAPE) and use of high-dose nitroglycerin infusion

47 585 worth of cost avoidance. Conclusion: The PMR is a feasible process that resulted in safe and effective use of medications without causing delays to patient care.

The use of intranasal analgesia for acute pain control in the emergency department: A literature review

ABSTRACT Sympathetic Crashing Acute Pulmonary Edema (SCAPE), or flash pulmonary edema, is the extreme end of the acute pulmonary edema spectrum. A sympathetic surge occurs as a result of decreased systemic perfusion resulting in further increases in afterload, causing the patient to decompensate. Patients can decompensate quickly, therefore patients require rapid interventions. The use of high‐dose nitroglycerin (HDN) has been a topic of interest as it is believed to achieve preload and afterload reduction. However, its use continues to be controversial due to concerns of drug induced hypotension, syncope or paresthesia. Although there are Free Open Access Medical Education (FOAM) based podcasts as well as few studies to suggest the use of HDN, the evidence is limited by statistical flaws, incomplete dosing parameters and inconsistent methods of administration. In order to address these limitations, a protocol at our ED was created to ensure the safe and effective use of HDN. Here, we present a case of HDN use for the management of SCAPE based on this protocol.

A Case of an Older Adult Patient and Drugs Associated with Serotonin Syndrome.

Background Traditional routes for administration of pain medications include oral (PO), intravenous (IV), or intramuscular routes (IM). When these routes are not feasible, the intranasal (IN) route may be considered. The objectives of this evidence‐based review were: to review the literature which compared the safety and efficacy of IN analgesia to traditional routes and to determine if IN analgesia should be considered over traditional routes for acute pain control in the ED. Methods The MEDLINE and EMBASE databases from July 1970 to July 2017 were searched. Randomized controlled trials (RCT) that evaluated the use of IN analgesia for acute pain in the ED were included. Methodological quality of the trials was assessed using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation criteria. Results Eleven randomized controlled trials (RCT) met the inclusion criteria. Four trials found significant reductions in pain scores, favoring IN analgesia. However, in all of the trials, pain relief was not sustained. Three trials reported superior pain reduction with comparators and three trials reported no statistical significance. One trial described effective pain relief with IN analgesia but did not provide data on statistical analysis. Conclusion Eleven randomized controlled trials with various methodological flaws revealed conflicting conclusions. There is limited evidence to support the use of the IN analgesia over traditional routes for acute pain in the ED. The IN route may be a good alternative in scenarios where IV access is not feasible, patients are refusing injectable medications, or a fast onset of pain relief is needed.