Emergency Medical Minute

Author: Rachel Brady, MD Educational Pearls: Medication errors are estimated to be the 3rd leading cause of death A 2016 study estimated 250,000 errors occur per year, with 7000-9000 leading to death About 50% are in the ordering/prescribing phase; 25-30% during administration phase. Overworked and distracted providers are the most common underlying reasons for medication error A 2017 study found 40% of ED nurses witnessed a medication error in the last year Editor's Note: This is a reasonable counterpoint References Farag A, Blegen M, Gedney-Lose A, Lose D, Perkhounkova Y. Voluntary Medication Error Reporting by ED Nurses: Examining the Association With Work Environment and Social Capital. J Emerg Nurs. 2017 May;43(3):246-254. doi: 10.1016/j.jen.2016.10.015. Epub 2017 Mar 28. PubMed PMID: 28359712. Makary MA, Daniel M. Medical error-the third leading cause of death in the US. BMJ. 2016 May 3;353:i2139. doi: 10.1136/bmj.i2139. PubMed PMID: 27143499. Summarized by Travis Barlock, MS4 | Edited by Erik Verzemnieks, MD

Author: Aaron Lessen, MD Educational Pearls: Choose the longest needle for the humeral IO Internally rotate and adduct the patients hand (resting on umbilicus) for best access to the site Aim 1 cm superior to the greater tuberosity of the humerus with the needle angled 45 degrees inferiorly Maintaining the line is critical - keep arm internally rotated with sling, tape or whatever works References Kovar J, Gillum L. Alternate route: the humerus bone - a viable option for IO access. JEMS. 2010 Aug;35(8):52-9. doi: 10.1016/S0197-2510(10)70207-2. PubMed PMID: 20708143. http://epmonthly.com/article/get-humeral-io-access/ Summarized by Travis Barlock, MS4 | Edited by Erik Verzemnieks, MD

Author: Chris Holmes, MD Educational Pearls: In WWI, the 2nd leading cause of soldier disability were STDs. An early treatment of syphilis included topical and inhaled mercury Bloodletting, vitriol, arsenic, and bismuth were other treatments for syphilis. Infecting patients with Malaria and treating the Malaria was also tried Thankfully penicillin was discovered for our syphilis woes References Frith J. . Syphilis – Its early history and Treatment until Penicillin and the Debate on its Origins. Journal of Military and Veterans Health. 2012. 20(4): 49-58 https://jmvh.org/article/syphilis-its-early-history-and-treatment-until-penicillin-and-the-debate-on-its-origins/ Summarized by Travis Barlock, MS4 | Edited by Erik Verzemnieks, MD

Author: Gretchen Hinson, MD Educational Pearls: Clinical manifestations of severe hypothyroidism may include: Pale, cool, diaphoretic skin Myxedema is the non-pitting edema seen in hypothyroidism Hypothermia, heart failure, hypotension and shock Shortness of breath Cholestasis, constipation Encephalopathy and coma Mortality is 30-50% Specific treatment includes thyroid hormone (T3, T4, or both) and glucocorticoids (for potential adrenal insufficiency) References: Kwaku MP, Burman KD. Myxedema coma. J Intensive Care Med. 2007 Jul-Aug;22(4):224-31. Review. PubMed PMID: 17712058. Ono Y, Ono S, Yasunaga H, Matsui H, Fushimi K, Tanaka Y. Clinical characteristics and outcomes of myxedema coma: Analysis of a national inpatient database in Japan. J Epidemiol. 2017 Mar;27(3):117-122. doi: 10.1016/j.je.2016.04.002. Epub 2017 Jan 5. PubMed PMID: 28142035; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC5350620. Lee CH, Wira CR. Severe angioedema in myxedema coma: a difficult airway in a rare endocrine emergency. Am J Emerg Med. 2009 Oct;27(8):1021.e1-2. doi: 10.1016/j.ajem.2008.12.027. PubMed PMID: 19857436. Summarized by Travis Barlock, MS4 | Edited by Erik Verzemnieks, MD

Author: Eric Miller, MD Educational Pearls: Recent CDC statement warms against consumption of cookie dough Two common ingredients can pose risk: eggs and flour Flour in dough is a raw agricultural product not treated to kill E. coli A 2016 E. coli outbreak was linked to flour References: https://www.cdc.gov/features/no-raw-dough/index.html https://www.cdc.gov/ecoli/2016/o121-06-16/index.html Summarized by Travis Barlock, MS4 | Edited by Erik Verzemnieks, MD

Author: Katrina Iverson, MD Educational Pearls: The winter holiday months present a unique picture of patient presentations to the emergency department Some of the unique presentations include: Children falling off Santa's lap Sledding injuries Falling off ladders Lacerations, ingestion, and insertion of broken ornaments (pediatrics) Parents tend to hurt themselves on their children's toys References: Lauche R, et al. (2018). 'Santa baby, hurry [extra carefully] down the chimney tonight' – Prevalence of Christmas related injuries 2007–2016 in the United States: Observational study. Advances in Integrative Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aimed.2018.11.004 https://areyouawellbeing.texashealth.org/common-winter-injuries/ Summarized by Travis Barlock, MS4 | Edited by Erik Verzemnieks, MD

Author: Aaron Lessen, MD Educational Pearls: Recent meta-analysis reviewed efficacy oseltamivir (Tamiflu) in pediatric populations treated for influenza, showing an 18 hour reduction in duration of illness for those with laboratory confirmed influenza Those with suspected influenza unsurprisingly had less effect Subgroup analysis showed most benefit in those treated within the first 24 hours of symptom onset Patients with confirmed influenza treated with oseltamivir had a 34% reduction in risk of otitis media Editor's note: Vomiting was higher in the treatment groups; There were no significantly different outcomes in regards to other endpoints, such as lower respiratory tract infections and hospitalizations References: Malosh RE, Martin ET, Heikkinen T, Brooks WA, Whitley RJ, Monto AS. Efficacy and Safety of Oseltamivir in Children: Systematic Review and Individual Patient Data Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. Clin Infect Dis. 2018 May 2;66(10):1492-1500. doi: 10.1093/cid/cix1040. PubMed PMID: 29186364. Summarized by Travis Barlock, MS4 | Edited by Erik Verzemnieks, MD

Author: Mike Hunt, MD Educational Pearls: Measles is highly contagious and successfully infects 90% of those at risk exposed to the virus. 10 day prodrome where patients are asymptomatic. 3 day period of characteristic cough, coryza, conjunctivitis, fever and Koplick spots with a maculopapular rash that moves from head through trunk Infection risk extends three to four days after the onset of rash but also three to four days prior to onset. Have fun with that. A potential exposure, say in an emergency department waiting room, needs review of any exposed patient's immunization history to contain spread References: Moss WJ. Measles. Lancet. 2017 Dec 2;390(10111):2490-2502. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(17)31463-0. Epub 2017 Jun 30. Review. PubMed PMID: 28673424. Bester JC. Measles and Measles Vaccination: A Review. JAMA Pediatr. 2016 Dec 1;170(12):1209-1215. doi: 10.1001/jamapediatrics.2016.1787. Review. PubMed PMID: 27695849. Summarized by Travis Barlock, MS4 | Edited by Erik Verzemnieks, MD

Author: Mike Hunt, MD Educational Pearls: Blunt cardiac injuries most commonly occur in motor vehicle collisions, auto-pedestrian collisions, and from sports injuries The more anterior right ventricle is the most commonly injured structure Look for new EKG changes such as bundle branch blocks, ST changes, or other arrhythmias New EKG abnormalities should prompt consideration of further workup and admission for telemetry Patients may have an elevated troponin - but it is unclear when exactly this should be drawn after the injury References: Bellister SA, Dennis BM, Guillamondegui OD. Blunt and Penetrating Cardiac Trauma. Surg Clin North Am. 2017 Oct;97(5):1065-1076. doi: 10.1016/j.suc.2017.06.012. Review. PubMed PMID: 28958358. Marcolini EG, Keegan J. Blunt Cardiac Injury. Emerg Med Clin North Am. 2015 Aug;33(3):519-27. doi: 10.1016/j.emc.2015.04.003. Epub 2015 Jun 10. Review. PubMed PMID: 26226863. Summarized by Travis Barlock, MS4 | Edited by Erik Verzemnieks, MD

Author: Jared Scott, MD Educational Pearls: From 1996 to 2012, the total quantity of opioids prescribed increased 647% for non-cancer pain Office based prescriptions accounted for 84% of the total opioid prescriptions, up from 64% The total share of opioids prescribed from the emergency department declined from 10% to 3.9% but Total opioids prescribed from the ED still increased 219% over this same time frame References: Axeen S, Seabury SA, Menchine M. Emergency Department Contribution to the Prescription Opioid Epidemic. Ann Emerg Med. 2018 Jun;71(6):659-667.e3. doi: 10.1016/j.annemergmed.2017.12.007. Epub 2018 Jan 16. PubMed PMID: 29373155 Summarized by Travis Barlock, MS4 | Edited by Erik Verzemnieks, MD