Oliver W. Hayes

Adenosine Induced Ventricular Fibrillation in Wolff‐Parkinson‐White Syndrome

GUPTA, A. K., et al.: Adenosine Induced Ventricular Fibrillation in Wolff‐Parkinson‐White Syndrome. VF was observed in four patients (group A) with preexcited AF presenting to the emergency department who had been given 12 mg of adenosine. These patients were resuscitated and underwent electrophysiological study and catheter ablation of the accessory pathway (AP). In a control (group B) of five patients with manifest AP, sustained AF was induced by rapid atrial pacing during electrophysiological study and 12 mg of adenosine was administered. The ECG and electrophysiologic features in the two groups were compared. All patients had a single manifest AP. In group A, three patients had a left free‐wall AP and one patient had a posteroseptal AP, while in the control group all had left free‐wall APs. The antegrade AP effective refractory period (ERP) in groups A and B was 227 ± 29 and 289 ± 37 ms, respectively (P < 0.05). The atrial ERP was 210 ± 17 versus 219 ± 21 ms, respectively, in groups A and B (P > 0.05). The shortest R‐R interval during AF in group A was 246 ± 51 ms and 301 ± 60 ms in group B (P value < 0.05). After adenosine, no patient in group B developed VF. Adenosine may cause VF when administered during preexcited AF. This phenomenon is seen in patients having APs with short refractory periods.

Ethics and consent to treat issues in acute stroke therapy

Consent to treat with thrombolytic therapy for acute ischemic stroke presents an ethical dilemma for hospitals, physicians, patients, and their families. This article presents four aspects of this controversial topic and provides recommendations for conditions that allow for ethical consent to treat.

EVALUATION OF SYNCOPE IN THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT

Although most cases of syncope are benign, an adequate evaluation, which begins in the emergency department, is required to exclude life-threatening disorders. In addition, life-threatening disorders such as QT prolongation as well as confounding alternative diagnoses (e.g., seizure disorder) are also discussed.

QT dispersion may be a useful adjunct for detection of myocardial infarction in the chest pain center

BACKGROUND QT dispersion has been proposed as a noninvasive measurement of the degree of inhomogeneity in myocardial repolarization. Increased QT dispersion has been reported after myocardial infarction. We hypothesized that increased QT dispersion may be a useful adjunct for risk stratification in patients being evaluated in a chest pain center. METHODS AND RESULTS Patients were admitted to the chest pain center for evaluation of chest pain. Exclusion criteria included (1) systolic blood pressure <90 mm Hg, (2) ischemia or infarction on the initial electrocardiograph (ECG), (3) elevated creatine kinase or MB fraction, and (4) chest pain associated with cocaine use. Serial creatine kinase and MB levels and ECGs were obtained at 0, 6, and 9 hours. Patients were monitored for (1) creatine kinase and MB rise, (2) ECG changes for infarction, (3) ST-segment changes, and (4) rest angina. A negative evaluation at the chest pain center led to an exercise stress test. Patients with a positive exercise stress test were admitted for further evaluation and patients with a negative exercise stress test result were discharged home. Patients were divided into 3 groups. Group 1 consisted of patients who were found to have an acute myocardial infarction (AMI), group 2 consisted of patients with prior history of coronary artery disease but no evidence of AMI, and group 3 consisted of patients without prior coronary artery disease or AMI. QT dispersion was measured on the initial ECG in all patients. A total of 586 patients were evaluated. Group 1 consisted of 13 patients with mean QT dispersion of 44.6+/-18.5 ms, group 2 consisted of 267 patients with a mean QT dispersion of 10.0+/-13.8 ms, and group 3 consisted of 303 patients with a mean QT dispersion of 10.5+/-10.0 ms. Analysis of variance showed a significantly higher QT dispersion in patients who had AMI compared with other patients with chest pain (P< .001). CONCLUSIONS QT dispersion can be a useful diagnostic adjunct for detection of AMI in patients with chest pain with a normal ECG and normal cardiac enzymes.

General Competencies are intrinsic to emergency medicine training: A multicenter study

OBJECTIVES The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) has promulgated six areas called General Competencies (GCs) that residency programs are required to evaluate. The authors sought to determine if these domains were an intrinsic part of emergency medicine (EM) residency training by using a global assessment evaluation device. METHODS This was an observational, multicenter, cross-sectional study that compared GC acquisition between first-, second-, and third-year (EM1, EM2, and EM3) residents. Five postgraduate year (PGY) 1 to PGY 3 allopathic EM programs in Michigan participated. A global assessment form using a 1 through 9 ordinal scale with 86 scoring items was given to program directors for each resident in their programs. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to compare the means between EM1, EM2, and EM3 scores. RESULTS Five EM programs evaluated 150 residents. The GC scores were as follows: Patient Care: EM1 4.92, EM2 5.79, and EM3 6.40; Medical Knowledge: EM1 4.90, EM2 5.80, and EM3 6.46; Practice-based Learning and Improvement: EM1 4.60, EM2 5.48, and EM3 6.16; Interpersonal and Communication Skills: EM1 4.99, EM2 5.39, and EM3 6.01; Professionalism: EM1 5.43, EM2 5.68, and EM3 6.27; Systems-based Practice: EM1 4.80, EM2 5.48, and EM3 6.21. ANOVA showed statistically significant differences (p < 0.001) for all GCs. CONCLUSIONS EM residents from several residency programs showed statistically significant progressive acquisition of the ACGME GCs using a global assessment device. This suggests that the GCs may be an intrinsic component in the training of EM residents.

Evaluating Systems‐based Practice in Emergency Medicine

The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education has required that training programs initiate an evaluation process to assess resident acquisition of the newly promulgated general competencies (GCs). Certain GCs (e.g., systems-based practice, problem-based learning and improvement) are somewhat more challenging to define and measure than others. Systems-based practice essentially captures the interactions of the emergency medicine resident that expand beyond isolated contact with the patient. Evaluating these various interactions is readily accomplished using a detailed ordinal evaluation form that measures commonly occurring easily identified actions. Examples of measurable items and the method by which they can be integrated into an evaluation device are presented.

Traumatic rupture of right mainstem bronchus in a child

We report a case of a 7-year-old boy who sustained a ruptured right mainstem bronchus in a motor vehicle accident. The clinical presentation, pathophysiology, and diagnosis of tracheobronchial injuries secondary to nonpenetrating thoracic trauma are discussed.

EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT OF ACUTE MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION: Focus on Pharmacologic Therapy

Treatment of acute myocardial infarction has evolved significantly in the past two decades. Reperfusion therapies of thrombolysis and percutaneous angioplasty are major advances that can be employed to save infarcting myocardium and reduce mortality. When reperfusion therapy is combined with the use of aspirin, beta-blockade, heparin, and nitroglycerin, the emergency management of the patient with myocardial infarction can be completed. Outcomes in patients are determined by what happens in the first few minutes to hours after onset, and any delay in diagnosis or treatment may have significant consequences. This article reviews intervention and treatment strategies for acute myocardial infarction.