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Background: This study aimed to evaluate whether out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) patients with initial shockable rhythm without prehospital return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) who are directly transported to Heart Centers in appropriate time will have better post-cardiac arrest four months survival and neurological outcomes at discharge. Methods: This retrospective study assessed the data of 1,588 OHCA patients with shockable rhythm and without prehospital ROSC collected from the registry database of Taoyuan City between January 2014 and June 2018. The relationships of transport time to Heart Centers with survival at discharge and with neurological outcomes were investigated for survival analysis. Results: Among the 1,588 OHCA patients with initial shockable rhythm and without prehospital ROSC, 1,222 (77.0%) and 366 (23.0%) were transported to Heart Centers and non-Heart Centers, respectively. However, the transport to Heart Centers was associated with an increased survival at discharge (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 2.00, 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.42–2.81) and good neurological outcomes (cerebral performance category [CPC] 1 and 2) (aOR 3.14, 95% CI, 1.88–5.23), regardless of the transport time. The overall mortality reduction for Heart Centers was 39% (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.61; 95% CI 0.47–0.78), compared to that for non-Heart Centers. At 120 days of follow-up, the results showed a higher survival rate for patients who were transported to Heart Centers within a short time. The percentages of good CPC showed a better distribution for non-Heart Centers versus those for Heart Centers. Conclusions: Adult OHCA patients with initial shockable rhythm and without prehospital ROSC who were transported to Heart Centers directly had better post-cardiac arrest survival and good neurologic outcomes, regardless of the transport time.

Introduction: Seizure is a common poisoning-related neurological presentation in the emergency department (ED). Although brain computed tomography (CT) is recommended in patients presenting with first seizures, its role in patients with a suspected drug/substance-induced seizure (DSS) remains inconclusive. This study evaluated whether brain CT examination changes the management and outcome of DSS patients. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed adult patients presenting to the ED with a DSS in Linkou and Taipei Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taiwan, from January 2008 to December 2015. We also analyzed whether the brain CT examinations found meaningful acute abnormalities and their impact on subsequent management. We compared the differences between DSS patients undergoing CT scans or not to identify factors that affect the decision to arrange brain CT. Results: The study enrolled 97 patients (69 males). The most common cause of DSS was alcohol withdrawal (58.76%), followed by carbon monoxide (12.37%) and stimulants (8.25%). Eight (8.25%) patients developed status epilepticus, 15 (15.46%) were intubated, and 37 (37.76%) were admitted, including 12 (12.26%) to the intensive care unit. Brain CT was performed in 64 (66.0%) patients and four had abnormal reports that led to further imaging studies. The abnormal findings ultimately had no significant clinical impact. Patients who underwent CT scans had a worse Glasgow Coma Scale score (p = 0.024) and higher rate of status epilepticus (p = 0.031). Conclusion: Brain CT does not provide substantial information for the care of DSS patients. Multi-center prospective studies are needed to obtain stronger evidence.

Background: Emergency department (ED) overcrowding and overuse are global healthcare problems. Despite that substantial pieces of literature have explored quality parameters to monitor the patients’ safety and quality of care in the ED, to the best of our knowledge, no reasonable patient-to-ED staff ratios were established. Objectives: This study aimed to find the association between unexpected emergency department cardiac arrest (EDCA) and the patient-to-ED staff ratio. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted in a medical center in Taiwan. Non-trauma patients (age > 18) who visited the ED from January 1, 2016 to November 30, 2018 were included. The total number of patients in ED, number of patients waiting for boarding, length of stay over 48 hours, and physician/nurse number in ED were collected and analyzed. The primary outcome was the association of each parameter with the incidence of EDCA. Results: A total of 508 patients were included. The total number of patients in ED ( > 361, RR: 1.54; 95% CI {1.239-1.917}), ED occupancy rate (> 280, RR: 1.54; 95% CI {1.245-1.898}), ED bed occupancy rate (> 184, RR: 1.63; 95% CI {1.308-2.034}), number of patients waiting for boarding (> 134, RR: 1.45; 95% CI {1.164-1.805}), number of patients in ED with length of stay over 48 hours (> 36, RR: 1.27; 95% CI {1.029-1.558}) and patient-to-nurse ratio (> 8.5, adjusted RR: 1.33; 95% CI {1.054-1.672}) had significant associations with higher incidence of EDCA. However, the patient-to-physician ratio was not associated with EDCA incidence. Discussions: Regarding loading parameters, the patient-to-nurse ratio is more representative than the patient-to-physician ratio as regards association with higher EDCA incidence. Conclusions: A higher patient-to-nurse ratio (> 8.5) was associated with an increment in the incidence of EDCA. Our findings provide a basis for setting different thresholds for different ED settings to adjust ED staff and develop individually tailored approaches corresponding to the level of ED overcrowding.

Purpose: Pain is a major symptom for patients to seek medical services, but limited evidence supports the applicability and usage of facial expressions as a pain measurement strategy in the emergency department (ED). In this study, we explored possible differences in facial expressions before and after pain management and compared these differences with those in a self-reported pain scale. Methods: In this observational study, convenience sampling of patients admitted to the ED was conducted. Two video sessions of facial expressions were recorded for each participant, and participants rated their painon a self-reported numeric rating scale (NRS). A total of 25 facial parameters were extracted per frame. The main outcome measurements were the differences in facial parameters, and their correlation with changes in NRS scores was examined. Results: This study included 163 participants. A stronger reduction in NRS scores was associated with differences in systolic blood pressure (sBPr = 0.247, P = 0.011) and the following changes in facial features: eye opening (left: r = -0.210, P = 0.007; right: r = -0.206, P = 0.008), eye aspect ratio (left: r = -0.382, P < 0.001; right: r = -0.305, P < 0.001), and head rotation angle (r = 0.218, P = 0.005). Pain improvement (a difference of ≥ 4 in NRS scores) was associated with differences in BP (sBP, odds ratio [OR] = 0.973, 95%confidence interval [CI]: 0.949-0.998, P = 0.034; dBP, OR = 1.078, 95% CI: 1.026-1.113, P = 0.003), eye aspect ratio (Left: β = 5.613, 95% CI: 2.234-14.104, P < 0.001; Right: β = 2.743, 95% CI: 1.395-5.391, P = 0.003), and nasolabial fold variation (β = 0.548, 95% CI: 0.306-0.982, P = 0.043), after adjustment for variables Conclusions: Intraindividual changes in facial expressions can be used to track clinically relevant differences in pain. Facial expressions alone cannot be used as a pain measurement strategy in the ED.