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Background: Surgical site infection (SSI) after liver transplant (LT) is common, but no studies have been conducted in Australia. The purpose of this study was to determine the proportion of patients who developed an SSI post‐LT in Australia's largest LT unit. Methods: This was a single‐center retrospective cohort study. We included all LT recipients who were aged 18 years or more and received their transplant between March 1, 2018 and April 1, 2023. The primary outcome was to determine the proportion of LT recipients who developed an SSI within 30 days of transplantation. Results: There were 404 LTs performed during the study period, and 375 met inclusion criteria. Of these, 8% (n = 31/375) developed an SSI and were classified as superficial (3%, n = 12/375) or deep/organ space (5%, n = 19/375). The most common antibiotics used for prophylaxis were amoxicillin/clavulanate (75%, n = 281/375), followed by piperacillin/tazobactam (17%, n = 62/375). Independent risk factors associated with the development of SSI were Roux‐en‐Y hepaticojejunostomy (aOR 3.16, 95% CI 1.17–8.28, p =.02), operative time (per 60‐min increment) (aOR 1.23, 95% CI 1.02–1.48), and re‐operation (aOR 4.16, 95% CI 1.81–9.58, p <.01). Type of antibiotic received perioperatively was not significantly associated with SSI. Conclusion: SSI occurred in 8% of LT recipients and was predominantly related to operation‐related factors rather than patient‐ or antibiotic‐related factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary Background Methods Results Conclusions Opioid analgesic use before total hip or knee arthroplasty has been associated with worse postoperative outcomes. This pilot study aimed to examine the feasibility of a telehealth‐based pharmacist‐partnered opioid tapering intervention before elective primary hip or knee arthroplasty and its potential effectiveness compared with usual care.This study was conducted at seven hospitals in New South Wales, Australia. Eligible patients were those aged ≥ 18 years, scheduled to undergo primary hip or knee arthroplasty for osteoarthritis and taking opioid analgesics pre‐operatively. The intervention group participated in an opioid tapering telehealth service, a partnership between a pharmacist and general practitioner, for 3 months pre‐operatively up to the day of surgery, while the control group received usual care. The primary outcomes of the study were to investigate the feasibility of the intervention (i.e. adherence to treatment) and potential effectiveness in decreasing baseline daily opioid dose by > 50% before surgery.Between December 2021 and June 2023, 70 patients were recruited and assigned randomly to the intervention group (n = 35) or control group (n = 35). Baseline characteristics were similar between groups. Thirty patients in each group completed their allocated treatment. All patients allocated to the intervention group completed at least one appointment with a pharmacist, with the median (IQR [range]) being 2 (1–4 [1–6]) appointments. The number of patients who successfully decreased their baseline daily opioid dose by ≥ 50% before surgery was 27/30 in the intervention group compared with 5/30 in the usual care group (p < 0.001).The findings of this pilot study support the feasibility of a telehealth‐delivered, pharmacist‐partnered opioid tapering service for patients scheduled for primary hip or knee arthroplasty. A broader multicentre study to examine the effectiveness of this intervention on clinical outcomes is warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Total hip and knee arthroplasties are common surgeries performed worldwide, but the management of pain during the subacute period (defined as hospital discharge to 3 months postoperatively) is poorly understood. This study aimed to determine patients' experiences, facilitators and barriers to subacute pain management following total hip or knee arthroplasty. Methods: Semi‐structured interviews with a purposive sample of patients following total hip or knee arthroplasty were conducted between June and August 2022. Participants were recruited from two tertiary metropolitan hospitals. Interviews were audio‐recorded and transcribed verbatim. Data were analysed using an inductive thematic approach to identify common themes. Results: In total, 30 interviews were conducted with patients following hip or knee arthroplasty. Four main themes were identified: (i) Physical constitution before surgery (joint condition, analgesic use, age, and hearing); (ii) Attitude and knowledge (motivation, outlook on life, attitude towards taking medications, individual benchmarking, and knowledge); (iii) Socio‐ethno‐cultural factors (family and community connection, language, and religion), and (iv) Health‐system support (health‐professional delivered education, medications, services, staff, and costs). Conclusions: Participants' experiences of subacute pain following hip or knee arthroplasty were shaped by multidimensional factors. Strategies to empower patients through increased education and support during postoperative opioid tapering as well as a shift to a biopsychosocial approach to pain management during the subacute period may improve patient and health‐system outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Hospital‐acquired venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality. Aims: To determine the proportion of patients with hospital‐acquired VTE that are preventable. Methods: This was a retrospective study of patients in two tertiary care hospitals in Sydney, Australia. Data were collected for patients with hospital‐acquired VTE based on International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, 10th Revision, Australian Modification (ICD‐10‐AM) coding from January 2018 to May 2020. Patients were classified as low, moderate or high risk of developing a VTE during hospitalisation based on demographic and clinical factors. A hospital‐acquired VTE was considered to be potentially preventable if there was suboptimal prophylaxis in the absence of contraindications. Suboptimal therapy included at least one of the following related to VTE prophylaxis: low dose, missed dose (prior to developing a VTE), suboptimal drug and delayed start (>24 h from admission). Results: There were 229 patients identified with VTE based on ICD‐10‐AM coding. A subset of 135 patients were determined to have actual hospital‐acquired VTE. Of these, there were no patients at low risk, 64% (87/135) at moderate risk and 44% (48/135) at high risk of developing a VTE. Most (65%; n = 88/135) patients had one or more contraindications to receive recommended prophylaxis. Overall, the proportion of patients who received suboptimal prophylaxis was 11% (15/135). Conclusion: Approximately one out of 10 hospital‐acquired VTE are preventable. Hospitals should focus on measuring and reporting VTE that are preventable to provide a more accurate measure of the burden of VTE that can be reduced by improving care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to summarize the effectiveness of organizational interventions on appropriate opioid prescribing for noncancer pain upon hospital discharge. A systematic search was conducted on 6 electronic databases by 2 independent reviewers. We included original research articles reporting on quantitative outcomes of organizational interventions targeting appropriate opioid prescribing on hospital discharge. Quality assessment was performed by 2 independent reviewers. The protocol for this review was prospectively registered on PROSPERO (ID: CRD42020156104). Out of 173 full texts assessed for eligibility, 43 were included in this review. The majority of studies had a moderate to serious risk of bias (33 out of 43). Most of the studies implemented a multifaceted organizational intervention (16 studies). Other interventions included guideline implementation, prescriber education and default opioid‐prescribing quantity changes in electronic medical records. Multiple studies found that the dissemination of patient‐specific and procedure‐specific guidelines reduced the quantity of opioids prescribed by 44 to 57%. Prescriber education provided with feedback was implemented in 4 studies and resulted in a 33 to 44% decrease in prescribing rates. Lowering the default quantities in the electronic medical records produced a 40% decrease in opioids prescribed in 1 study. Guideline implementation, prescriber education and default opioid‐prescribing quantity changes all appear effective in improving the appropriate prescribing of opioids on hospital discharge. However, the extent of reduction of opioid prescribing upon hospital discharge after the implementation of multifaceted intervention strategies appears similar to that of simpler interventions which require fewer resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID‐19 pandemic has required an unprecedented surge in the pharmacy workforce to support mass vaccination hubs. This review discusses the challenges faced while training and credentialing a surge pharmacy workforce and how these challenges were overcome. The process used for training and credentialing new employees has been described and recommendations and insights have been provided based on the lessons learned at two COVID‐19 mass vaccination hubs in New South Wales. Operationalising one of the largest mass vaccination hubs in Australia required efficient training and credentialing of the pharmacy workforce. This process included the use of pharmacist‐extenders such as students, assistants, and those from other healthcare and non‐healthcare backgrounds. Training was optimised by using a flipped classroom model, so that the vaccine preparation process was provided via asynchronous online videos. The videos covered each step of vaccine dose preparation with visual cues to guide appropriate technique. On‐site training involved use of simulation and checklists for credentialing. Many factors contributed to the success of this process, including the use of triaging and the re‐allocation of personnel based on skill level, collaboration with the Sydney Pharmacy School to train and support a surge workforce involving students, initial on‐site information technology support in the form of pharmacy superusers, the use of checklists and guides for troubleshooting, and assigned pharmacy educators to train new employees. The public health response to the COVID‐19 pandemic forced us to rapidly adapt to build a pharmacy workforce in record time to support mass vaccination hubs. The recommendations and insights provided from our experience can guide future surges. Some of these concepts may also be applied to pharmacy practice in hospitals when resources are constrained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To benchmark annual research output from hospital pharmacy departments in Australian principal referral hospitals. Data sources: Embase, Medline, and Scopus. Study selection: All 29 principal referral hospitals listed by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare were searched using the institution field from 2018–2020. Articles were included if an author was affiliated with a hospital pharmacy department. Conference abstracts, letters, narrative reviews, opinions, commentaries, or editorials were excluded. Results: A total of 261 research articles were identified from 27 principal referral hospital pharmacy departments from 2018–2020. Median research output over 3 years was five (interquartile range, 3–9) articles. In terms of annual research, hospital pharmacy departments in the 50th and 90th percentile for total publication output published two and ten original research articles every year, respectively. Overall, 56% (n = 145) of the published studies were observational, 35% (n = 90) had a first author with a pharmacy department affiliation, 97% (n = 252) had at least one author with a university affiliation, and in 5% (n = 12) of the articles there was more than one hospital pharmacy department affiliation. Conclusion: On average, hospital pharmacy departments in Australian principal referral hospitals publish two original research articles every year. Nearly all of these articles are published in collaborations with universities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Despite healthcare professionals (HCP) endorsing the clinical utility of pharmacogenomics testing, use in clinical practice is limited. Aims: To assess HCP' perceptions of pharmacogenomic testing and identify barriers to implementation. Methods: HCP involved in prescribing decisions at three hospitals in Sydney, Australia, were invited to participate. The online survey assessed perceptions of pharmacogenomic testing, including: (i) demographic and practice variables; (ii) use, knowledge and confidence; (iii) perceived benefits; (iv) barriers to implementation; and (v) operational and/or system changes and personnel required to implement on site. Results: HCP were predominantly medical practitioners (75/107) and pharmacists (25/107). HCP perceived pharmacogenomic testing was beneficial to identify reasons for drug intolerance (85/95) and risk of side‐effects (86/95). Although testing was considered relevant to their practice (79/100), few HCP (23/100) reported past or intended future use (26/100). Few HCP reported confidence in their ability to identify indications for pharmacogenomic testing (14/107), order tests (19/106) and communicate results with patients (16/107). Lack of clinical practice guidelines (62/79) and knowledge (54/77) were identified as major barriers to implementation of pharmacogenomics. Comprehensive reimbursement for testing and clinical practice guidelines, alongside models‐of‐care involving multidisciplinary teams and local clinical champions were suggested as strategies to facilitate implementation of pharmacogenomic testing into practice. Conclusions: Pharmacogenomic testing was considered important to guide drug selection and dosing decisions. However, limited knowledge, low confidence and an absence of guidelines impede the use of pharmacogenomic testing. Establishment of local resources including multidisciplinary models‐of‐care was suggested to facilitate implementation of pharmacogenomics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To assess the efficacy and safety of metaraminol infusions in comparison to other vasopressors in critically ill patients with shock with regard to hospital mortality, effect on haemodynamics (mean arterial pressure or systolic blood pressure), duration of vasopressor use, and adverse events. Data sources: A systematic review was conducted in eight electronic databases and nine trial registers from inception to 17 March 2021. Study selection: Studies included randomised or non‐randomised controlled trials, and retrospective or prospective observational studies of critically ill adult patients admitted to the intensive care unit or emergency department with shock of any aetiology and who received metaraminol via continuous infusion compared to patients who received other vasopressors. Results: Out of 1387 eligible articles, three observational studies and one controlled trial were included involving a total of 54 patients. Study patients had different types of shock including septic (n = 28), cardiogenic (n = 21), hypovolemic (n = 3) and neurogenic shock (n = 2). All studies compared metaraminol to noradrenaline and were of poor quality and high risk of bias. There was no difference in hospital mortality or effect on mean arterial pressure or systolic blood pressure between metaraminol and noradrenaline in any of the studies. None of the studies reported the duration of vasopressor use or adverse drug events such as extravasation or tissue injury. Conclusion: There is limited and low‐quality efficacy and safety data to support the use of metaraminol over other vasopressors in critically ill patients with shock. Future clinical trials are needed before this agent is routinely used in this patient population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Opioid utilization has increased fourfold over the past two decades among developed countries. Previous studies have found that opioid‐related adverse drug events (ORADEs) are strongly associated with adverse clinical outcomes in hospitalized patients. The Society of Hospital Medicine in the United States recently published a Consensus Statement regarding opioid safety and suggested that extra caution is needed when using opioids in patients with risk factors for ORADEs. This systematic review aimed to summarize common patient risk factors for ORADEs in hospitalized patients. Methods: Five databases were searched including Medline, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, International Pharmaceutical Abstracts, and Scopus. Search themes include opioids, adverse drug events, and acute care settings. Original full‐text studies that were published and identified patient risk factors for ORADEs in hospitalized patients were included. Results: A total of 16 observational studies were included, with only two studies considered as poor quality. Seven studies focused on severe ORADEs including over‐sedation and respiratory depression. Common patient risk factors for severe ORADEs included comorbidities (eg, sleep apnea and renal diseases), concurrent use of sedatives, and prior opioid exposure. Nine studies focused on a combination of general ORADEs and common patient risk factors included advanced age, male gender, comorbidities (eg, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and neurologic disorders), concurrent use of sedating medications, and prior opioid exposure. Conclusions: Successful identification of patient risk factors for ORADEs summarized by this systematic review could benefit clinicians when deciding on the appropriateness of opioid therapy in hospital patients. Future studies could focus on developing a validated risk assessment tool based on these risk factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: The aim of this study was to determine the conversion dose ratio between continuous infusion metaraminol and norepinephrine in critically ill patients with shock. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted in adult patients with shock admitted to an intensive care unit from 29 October 2018 to 30 October 2019 and who transitioned from metaraminol monotherapy to norepinephrine monotherapy. Mean arterial pressure (MAP) and infusion doses for both drugs were collected at hourly intervals; 2 hours before to 5 hours after switching from metaraminol monotherapy to norepinephrine monotherapy. The conversion dose ratio was defined as the ratio of metaraminol (μg.kg−1.min‐1): norepinephrine (μg.kg−1.min−1) required to achieve a similar MAP. Results: A total of 43 out of 144 eligible patients were included. The median age was 68 years (IQR 56–76) and 22 (51%) were male. There was no significant difference between the baseline MAP during metaraminol monotherapy (median 71 mm Hg, IQR 66–76) and the post‐transition MAP during norepinephrine monotherapy (median 70 mm Hg, IQR 66–73) (P =.09). The median conversion dose ratio between metaraminol and norepinephrine was 13 (IQR 7–24). In the sensitivity analyses, the median conversion dose ratio using the maximum and the mean norepinephrine infusion dose was 8 (IQR 5–16) and 12 (IQR 8–23), respectively. Conclusion: A conversion dose ratio of 10:1 (metaraminol μg.kg−1.min−1:norepinephrine μg.kg−1.min−1) may be used in critically ill patients with shock to account for ease of calculations and variability of the conversion ratio in the primary and sensitivity analyses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Medication errors upon hospital discharge can lead to patient harm. Medication reconciliation during the admission process can potentially impact discharge medication lists. This study aimed to determine the extent to which a pharmacist medication reconciliation on hospital admission affects the accuracy of discharge medication lists. Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted in a major metropolitan tertiary hospital in Sydney, Australia. Patients in the hospital discharge lounge were recruited to evaluate the accuracy of their medication list in the discharge letter. Patients were categorized into two groups: (a) those who received a pharmacist admission medication history (PHARM) and (b) those who did not (non‐PHARM). The primary outcomes were the proportion of patients with medication errors in their discharge letter. Results: There were 102 patients included in the study (51 in each group). Patients in the PHARM group were less likely to have one or more medication errors in the discharge letter compared to the no‐PHARM group (70.6% [n = 36/51] versus 92.2% [n = 47/51] [P =.010]). When restricted to prescription only errors (i.e. excluding over the counter [OTC] or herbal medications) the proportion with errors was 51.0% (n = 26/51) in the PHARM group versus 84.3% (n = 43/51) in the no‐PHARM group (P =.001). Patients in the PHARM group were less likely to have errors that were of moderate or greater risk (31.4% [n = 16/51] versus 68.6% [n = 35/51] [P <.001]). After adjusting for confounders in the Poisson regression analysis, patients in the PHARM group had a lower error rate compared to the non‐PHARM group (incidence rate ratio 0.51, 95% confidence interval 0.38–0.69, P <.001). Conclusion: A pharmacist‐completed medication history and reconciliation on hospital admission improves the accuracy of discharge medication lists. This study highlights that medication errors during the admission process may be propagated to hospital discharge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: A flexible, rapid, and scalable multicenter network is needed for pharmacotherapy research in emergency medicine (EM). The objective of this study was to evaluate the types of studies EM pharmacists are willing to conduct in multicenter research. Methods: This was a cross‐sectional national survey conducted in the United States. The survey was developed using an iterative process to establish face and content validity. Members of the American College of Clinical Pharmacy EM Practice and Research Network were invited to complete the survey using Research Electronic Data Capture. Online consent was obtained prior to survey completion. The survey consisted of 14 questions, which was expected to take less than 5 minutes to complete. Data were descriptively evaluated. Results: There were a total of 637 potentially eligible participants for the survey. Of these, 98 completed the survey (15% response rate). In terms of types of studies, 91 (93%) would participate in studies involving retrospective acquisition of data, 83 (85%) in observational studies not requiring patient consent, 48 (49%) in observational studies involving a patient consent procedure, and 26 (27%) in implementing and conducting a clinical trial. Overall, 85 (87%) would participate without funding and 66 (67%) would participate without receiving authorship. Conclusions: A substantial number of EM pharmacists are willing to participate in multicenter research. The number of participants decreases without provision of authorship or for studies involving patient consent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous studies have shown associations between genetic polymorphisms and pain tolerance, but psychological evaluations are seldom measured. The objective of this study was to determine the independent effects of demographic, psychological, and genetic predictors of cold noxious pain tolerance. Healthy subjects (n = 89) completed the Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS) and Fear of Pain Questionnaire (FPQ‐III), underwent genotyping for candidate single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), and completed a cold‐pressor test in a 1–2°C water bath for a maximum of 3 minutes. The primary outcome measure was pain tolerance, defined as the maximum duration of time subjects left their nondominant hand in the cold‐water bath. Cox proportional hazards regression indicated that female sex, Asian race, and increasing PCS and FPQ‐III scores were associated with lower pain tolerance. No candidate SNP was significantly associated with pain tolerance. Future genetic studies should include demographic and psychological variables as confounders in experimental pain models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The objective was to determine the impact of a soiled airway on firstpass success when using the GlideScope video laryngoscope or the direct laryngoscope for intubation in the emergency department ( ED). Methods Data were prospectively collected on all patients intubated in an academic ED from July 1, 2007, to June 30, 2016. Patients ≥ 18 years of age, who underwent rapid sequence intubation by an emergency medicine resident with the GlideScope or the direct laryngoscope, were included in the analysis. Data were stratified by device used (GlideScope or direct laryngoscope). The primary outcome was firstpass success. Patients were categorized as those without blood or vomitus ( CLEAN) and those with blood or vomitus ( SOILED) in their airway. Multivariate regression models were developed to control for confounders. Results When using the GlideScope, the firstpass success was lower in the SOILED group (249/306; 81.4%) than the in CLEAN group (586/644, 91.0%; difference = 9.6%; 95% confidence interval [ CI] = 4.7%-14.5%). Similarly, when using the direct laryngoscope, the firstpass success was lower in the SOILED group (186/284, 65.5%) than in the CLEAN group (569/751, 75.8%; difference = 10.3%; 95% CI = 4.0%-16.6%). The SOILED airway was associated with a decreased firstpass success in both the GlideScope cohort (adjusted odds ratio [ aOR] = 0.4; 95% CI = 0.3-0.7) and the direct laryngoscope cohort ( aOR = 0.6; 95% CI = 0.5-0.8). Conclusion Soiling of the airway was associated with a reduced firstpass success during emergency intubation, and this reduction occurred to a similar degree whether using either the GlideScope or the direct laryngoscope. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives The objective of this study was to determine if physicians would alter their prescribing preferences after sampling liquid formulations of medications for common pediatric diagnoses. Methods This was a prospective interventional before/after study conducted at an academic medical center in the United States. The participants of interest included emergency, family medicine, and pediatric physicians. Participants initially completed a brief survey for their primary oral liquid medication of choice for the treatment of selected disease states. These included otitis media, sinusitis, cellulitis, asthma, colitis, and pneumonia. Participants were asked to choose one of the medication options for each disease and then were given all medications to sample for a taste test. The prescribing preference survey was then repeated. The primary outcome was change in prescribing. McNemar's test was used to evaluate change in proportion of medications chosen before and after taste testing. Results There were 101 physicians who participated in the study. There were three conditions for which participants changed their prescribing preferences significantly. These were otitis media (change from amoxicillin to cefdinir, difference = 13.2%, 95% confidence interval [ CI] = 5.5% to 21.0%), asthma exacerbation (change from dexamethasone or prednisone to prednisolone, 28%, 95% CI = 15.9% to 40.1%), and pneumonia (change from azithromycin to amoxicillin, 16.0%, 95% CI = 6.4% to 25.6%). There was no significant change with respect to the other scenarios. Conclusions Physicians showed preferences for certain pediatric medications based on taste and showed significant changes in prescribing preferences for some common pediatric diagnoses after tasting different medications for these conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives The objective was to determine the effect of apneic oxygenation ( AP OX) on first pass success without hypoxemia ( FPS-H) in adult patients undergoing rapid sequence intubation ( RSI) in the emergency department ( ED). Methods Continuous quality improvement data were prospectively collected on all patients intubated in an academic ED from July 1, 2013, to June 30, 2015. During this period the use of AP OX was introduced and encouraged for all patients undergoing RSI in the ED. Following each intubation, the operator completed a standardized data form that included information on patient, operator, and intubation characteristics. Adult patients 18 years of age or greater who underwent RSI in the ED by emergency medicine residents were included in the analysis. The primary outcome was FPS-H, which was defined as successful tracheal intubation on a single laryngoscope insertion without oxygen saturation falling below 90%. A multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the effect of AP OX on FPS-H. Results During the 2-year study period, 635 patients met inclusion criteria. Of these, 380 (59.8%) had AP OX utilized and 255 (40.2%) had no AP OX utilized. In the AP OX cohort the FPS-H was 312/380 (82.1%) and in the no AP OX cohort the FPS-H was 176/255 (69.0%) (difference = 13.1%, 95% confidence interval [ CI] = 6.2% to 19.9%). In the multivariate logistic regression analysis, the use of AP OX was associated with an increased odds of FPS-H (adjusted odds ratio = 2.2, 95% CI = 1.5 to 3.3). Conclusions The use of AP OX during the RSI of adult patients in the ED was associated with a significant increase in FPS-H. These results suggest that the use of AP OX has the potential to increase the safety of RSI in the ED by reducing the number of intubation attempts and the incidence of hypoxemia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To compare succinylcholine and rocuronium regarding mortality in patients with traumatic brain injury ( TBI) who are intubated in the emergency department ( ED). Methods This was a retrospective cohort study conducted in an academic ED in the United States. Adult patients with TBI who underwent rapid sequence intubation ( RSI) in the ED with rocuronium or succinylcholine between October 2010 and October 2014 were included. The main outcome of interest was in-hospital mortality. Subjects were stratified based on severity of injury using head abbreviated injury scores. The high-severity group had a severe or critical head injury (score 4 or higher); the low-severity group had a less than severe head injury (score lower than 4). Main Results The final study cohort included 233 patients who were underwent RSI with succinylcholine (149 patients) or rocuronium (84 patients). In patients who received rocuronium, mortality was 22% (12/54) and 23% (7/30) in the low-severity and high-severity categories, respectively (difference 1%, 95% confidence interval [ CI] −18% to 20%). In patients who received succinylcholine, mortality was 14% (14/103) and 44% (20/46) in the low-severity and high-severity categories, respectively (difference 30%, 95% CI 14-46). In the multivariate analysis after adjusting for important confounders, there was no significant association between succinylcholine and mortality in the low-severity category (odds ratio [ OR] 0.75, 95% CI 0.29-1.92). However, in patients in the high-severity category, succinylcholine was associated with increased mortality compared with rocuronium ( OR 4.10, 95% CI 1.18-14.12). Conclusions In severely brain-injured patients undergoing RSI in the ED, succinylcholine was associated with increased mortality compared with rocuronium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Study Objective. To determine the effect of a short-acting, inhaled β2- adrenergic receptor agonist, albuterol sulfate, administered by nebulization, on cardiovascular function and sympathetic activity in healthy individuals. Design. Prospective, placebo-controlled, single-blind, crossover study. Setting. University research center. Subjects. Seventeen healthy subjects. Intervention. After a screening visit to rule out cardiovascular abnormalities and anemia, each subject participated in two more separate visits. At the second visit, they were administered a single dose of either nebulized albuterol sulfate 2.5 mg diluted in 3 ml of normal saline or placebo (3 ml of normal saline). One week later, subjects returned for their third visit and received the other treatment. Measurements and Main Results. At the two study visits, before and 30, 60, and 90 minutes after administration of albuterol or placebo, we measured plasma catecholamine levels (epinephrine and norepinephrine), cardiac output, heart rate, and systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and we calculated stroke volume, mean arterial pressure, and systemic vascular resistance (SVR). Inhaled placebo resulted in no significant change overall in any of the measured or calculated cardiovascular parameters. Compared with baseline values, albuterol administration after 30, 60, and 90 minutes, increased cardiac output (mean ± SD 4.2 ± 1.1, 4.4 ± 1.3, and 4.3 ± 1.1 L/min, respectively, vs 3.6 ± 1.0 L/min) and stroke volume (51 ± 15, 56 ± 14, and 56 ± 13 ml, respectively, vs 46 ± 12 ml), did not significantly change blood pressure, and decreased SVR (1401 ± 432, 1393 ± 424, and 1384 ± 391 dynes·sec/cm5 respectively, vs 1661 ± 453 dynes·sec/cm5) (p<0.05 for all comparisons). Heart rate was significantly changed with both albuterol and placebo, but only at 30 minutes after treatment. Albuterol, but not placebo, also increased plasma norepinephrine levels. Conclusion. In these healthy subjects, administration of a nebulized β2- agonist resulted in enhanced ventricular function and a decrease in SVR, suggesting peripheral vasodilation. In addition, the increase in norepinephrine level with albuterol, but not placebo, may have important implications in patients with known cardiovascular disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The objective was to determine the effect of paralytic type and dose on first-attempt rapid sequence intubation (RSI) success in the emergency department (ED). Methods: This was a retrospective evaluation of information collected prospectively in a quality improvement database between July 1, 2007, and October 31, 2008. Information regarding all intubations performed in a tertiary care ED was recorded in this database. All RSI performed using succinylcholine or rocuronium were included. Logistic regression was used to analyze the effect of paralytic type and dosing, as well as age, sex, body mass index, physician experience, device type, and presence of difficult airway predictors on first attempt RSI success. Results: A total of 327 RSI were included in the final analyses. All patients received etomidate as the induction sedative and were successfully intubated. Of these, 113 and 214 intubations were performed using succinylcholine and rocuronium, respectively. The rate of first-attempt intubation success was similar between the succinylcholine and rocuronium groups (72.6% vs. 72.9%, p = 0.95). Median doses used for succinylcholine and rocuronium were 1.65 mg/ kg (interquartile range [IQR] = 1.26-1.95 mg/ kg) and 1.19 mg/ kg (IQR = 1-1.45 mg/ kg), respectively. In the univariate logistic regression analyses, variables predictive of first-attempt intubation success were laryngeal view (more success if Grade 1 or 2 compared to Grade 3 or 4 of the Cormack-Lehane classification, odds ratio [OR] = 55.18, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 18.87 to 161.39), intubation device (less success if direct laryngoscopy, OR = 0.57, 95% CI = 0.34 to 0.96), and presence of a difficult airway predictor (OR = 0.55, 95% CI = 0.31 to 0.99). In the multivariate analysis, the only variable predictive of first-attempt intubation success was laryngeal view. Conclusions: Succinylcholine and rocuronium are equivalent with regard to first-attempt intubation success in the ED when dosed according to the ranges used in this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Study Objectives. To compare opioid requirements in opioid-tolerant and opioid-naive patients after total knee arthroplasty, and to compare pain scores, sedation scores, and adverse effects between the groups. Design. Prospective, observational study. Setting. Academic medical center. Patients. Twenty-nine patients aged 18 years or older who underwent elective total knee arthroplasty between October 1, 2005, and June 31, 2007. Measurements and Main Results. Patients were classified on the basis of their daily opioid consumption during the week before surgery: those who required 10 mg or less of oral morphine equivalent were considered opioid naive (20 patients), and those who required at least 30 mg of oral morphine equivalent were opioid tolerant (nine patients). Postoperative opioid consumption, pain scores, sedation scores, and adverse effects were compared between the two groups up to 48 hours after discharge from the postanesthesia care unit (PACU). Postoperative opioid consumption (in intravenous morphine equivalents) was significantly greater in the opioidtolerant group than in the opioid-naive group in the PACU (median 56 vs 8.2 mg, p=0.0013), during the first 24 hours after discharge from the PACU (108 vs 20.5 mg, p=0.0004), and 24-48 hours after discharge from the PACU (152.3 vs 25 rag, p=0.0001). Pain scores, assessed by using a verbal numeric scale from 0-10, were significantly greater in the opioid-tolerant group than in the opioid-naive group during the first 24 hours after discharge from the PACU (5.9 vs 4.1, p=0.03). We observed no significant difference in pain scores during the other time periods studied. Sedation scores and adverse effects were similar between groups. Conclusion. After total knee arthroplasty, patients tolerant to opioids required significantly more opioids in the PACU and up to 48 hours after discharge from the PACU than did opioid-naive patients. Opioid-tolerant patients also experienced greater pain during the first 24 hours after discharge from the PACU; however, sedation scores and adverse effects did not appear to be significantly different at any of the time periods studied. Clinicians need to be aggressive with pain management immediately after surgery and ensure that patients restart any opioid treatment at home as soon as possible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Study Objective. To compare the effectiveness of common laxatives in producing a bowel movement in patients admitted to a medical intensive care unit (M1CU). Design. Retrospective medical record review. Setting. MICU of an academic medical center. Patients. Ninety-five patients admitted to the MICU from July 1-October 31, 2004. Measurements and Main Results. Fifty patients satisfied the inclusion criteria. Patient-specific data such as age, weight, sex, length of MICU stay, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II score, dietary intake, opioid intake, laxative intake, and bowel movements were recorded during the first 96 hours of admission. Logistic regression analysis was used to compare patients who did and did not have a bowel movement. Of the 50 patients, 25 did not have a bowel movement during the first 96 hours of M1CU admission. Patients given a stimulant laxative (senna, bisacodyl) and/or an osmotic laxative (lactulose, milk of magnesia) were more likely to have a bowel movement (odds ratio [OR] 26.6, 95% confidence interval [CI] 3.2-221, p=0.002). Opioid intake, expressed as logarithmic morphine equivalents, was negatively associated with occurrence of a bowel movement (OR 0.76, 95% C1 0.59-0.97, p=0.027). Disease severity, as determined by APACHE I1 score, was also negatively associated with a bowel movement (OR 0.84, 95% CI 0.7-0.99, p=0.04). Conclusion. Critically ill patients have a high frequency of constipation, and opioid therapy is a significant risk factor. Routine administration of stimulant or osmotic laxatives should be considered for this patient population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a case study of a 37-year-old male brought to the emergency department (ED) after a high-speed motorcycle collision. It notes the patients with altered mental status with a Glasgow Coma Scale score of seven. The article discusses role of pharmacist in evaluating the patient based on principles of advanced trauma life support and anticipating pharmacological requirements.

Abstract Compilations of articles important to the pharmacist practicing in the emergency department have not been published. Consistent with other specialty areas of practice, a collection of important literature is valuable for both the new and experienced clinician. A diverse breadth of medical problems are represented that were felt to be the most pertinent issues facing the emergency medicine pharmacist; however, it is not intended to be a complete representation of available literature.

Study Objective: To determine the effect of a short-acting, inhaled β(2)-adrenergic receptor agonist, albuterol sulfate, administered by nebulization, on cardiovascular function and sympathetic activity in healthy individuals., Design: Prospective, placebo-controlled, single-blind, crossover study., Setting: University research center., Subjects: Seventeen healthy subjects., Intervention: After a screening visit to rule out cardiovascular abnormalities and anemia, each subject participated in two more separate visits. At the second visit, they were administered a single dose of either nebulized albuterol sulfate 2.5 mg diluted in 3 ml of normal saline or placebo (3 ml of normal saline). One week later, subjects returned for their third visit and received the other treatment., Measurements and Main Results: At the two study visits, before and 30, 60, and 90 minutes after administration of albuterol or placebo, we measured plasma catecholamine levels (epinephrine and norepinephrine), cardiac output, heart rate, and systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and we calculated stroke volume, mean arterial pressure, and systemic vascular resistance (SVR). Inhaled placebo resulted in no significant change overall in any of the measured or calculated cardiovascular parameters. Compared with baseline values, albuterol administration after 30, 60, and 90 minutes, increased cardiac output (mean ± SD 4.2 ± 1.1, 4.4 ± 1.3, and 4.3 ± 1.1 L/min, respectively, vs 3.6 ± 1.0 L/min) and stroke volume (51 ± 15, 56 ± 14, and 56 ± 13 ml, respectively, vs 46 ± 12 ml), did not significantly change blood pressure, and decreased SVR (1401 ± 432, 1393 ± 424, and 1384 ± 391 dynes•sec/cm(5), respectively, vs 1661 ± 453 dynes•sec/cm(5)) (p<0.05 for all comparisons). Heart rate was significantly changed with both albuterol and placebo, but only at 30 minutes after treatment. Albuterol, but not placebo, also increased plasma norepinephrine levels., Conclusion: In these healthy subjects, administration of a nebulized β(2)-agonist resulted in enhanced ventricular function and a decrease in SVR, suggesting peripheral vasodilation. In addition, the increase in norepinephrine level with albuterol, but not placebo, may have important implications in patients with known cardiovascular disease.