bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
LO58: Risk factors associated with acute in-hospital delirium for patients diagnosed with a hip fracture in the emergency department
Authors: Brienza V. , Thompson C. , Sandre A. , McLeod S.L. , Caine S. , Borgundvaag B.
Published: May 2017

Introduction: Hip fractures affect over 35,000 Canadians each year. Delirium, or acute confusion, occurs in up to 62% of patients following a hip fracture. Delirium substantially increases hospital length of stay and doubles the risk of nursing home admissions and death. The primary objective of this study was to identify risk factors independently associated with acute in-hospital delirium within 72 hours of emergency department (ED) arrival for patients diagnosed with a hip fracture. Methods: This was a retrospective chart review of patients aged 65 years and older presenting to one of two academic EDs with a discharge diagnosis of hip fracture from January 1st 2014 to December 31st 2015. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to determine variables independently associated with the development of acute in-hospital delirium within 72 hours of ED arrival. Results: Of the 668 included patients, mean (SD) age was 84.1 (8.0) years and 501 (75%) were female. 521 (78.0%) patients received an opioid analgesic and/or femoral nerve block in the ED. The most common analgesics used in the ED were intravenous (IV) morphine (35.8%), IV hydromorphone (35.2%), or dual therapy with both IV hydromorphone and IV morphine (2.2%). Femoral nerve blocks were initiated for 36 (5.4%) patients and successfully completed in 35 (5.2%) patients in the ED. 181 (27.1%) patients developed delirium within 72 hours of ED arrival. History of neurodegenerative disease or dementia (OR: 5.7, 95% CI: 3.9, 8.4), age >75 (OR: 2.8, 95% CI: 1.4, 5.6) and absence of analgesia in the ED (OR: 2.1, 95% CI: 1.3, 3.2) were independently associated with acute in-hospital delirium. Conclusion: The development of in-hospital delirium is common in patients diagnosed with a hip fracture. We have identified modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors independently associated with acute in-hospital delirium, which can be identified in the ED. Clinicians should be aware of these risk factors in order to implement strategies directed at reducing the development of acute delirium. Additionally, further research is needed in order to understand the relationship between analgesia delivered in the ED and the development of delirium for patients diagnosed with a hip fracture.
LO60: Validation of the PHQ-9 as a screen for depression in the emergency department
Authors: Barbic S. , MacEwan W.G. , Leon A. , Chau S. , Barbic D.
Published: May 2017

Introduction: Screening for depression in the emergency department (ED) has been recommended for the last two decades. It is estimated that 1 in 5 adults presenting to the ED meet the criteria for depression, making this setting an ideal point of care for proper and early referral to general practitioners and/or specialist mental health services. One of the barriers to assessment of depression in the ED is a lack of validated tools to screen for depression in this context of use. The purpose of this study is to test the extent to which the commonly used Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) is valid and reliable to screen for depression in adults presenting to the ED. Methods: Adults, aged 19 years and over, presenting to an inner-city, academic ED with an acute mental health complaint (AMHC) completed a questionnaire package that included demographic questions, the PHQ-9, and 5 other questionnaires for validation purposes. Traditional and Rasch Measurement (RM) methods were applied to the data to examine how well the items: captured the 95% range (±2 logits) of the concept of interest, were reliable and valid, and met the criteria for unidimensional and invariant measurement. Results: Preliminary prospective data from 108/200 adults (mean age 39.7±13.6 years; 65% male) completed the questionnaire package. A total of 58.9% of the sample met the criteria for moderate-severe depression (PHQ-9≥15), with 37% reporting thoughts of suicide and/or self-harm nearly every day for the past two weeks. Analysis of these items showed good overall fit to the Rasch model (χ2=28.3, df=18, p=.06), good reliability (r

p
=0.84), an ordered 4-point response scale structure, excellent individual item fit, and no item bias for gender, age, level of education, or employment status. Items covered between -1.45 to 1.52 logits, spanning 74% of the targeted theoretical continuum, with gaps at each end of the range. Item #3 (trouble falling or staying asleep) was the easiest item (indicating lower depression) and Items #8 and #9 (moving slowly and thoughts of harm/suicide) were the more difficult items (indicating more severe depression). Conclusion: This study supports the PHQ-9 as a reliable and valid screen for depression in the ED. Incorporating standardized and uniform assessment in Canadian EDs will begin the process of advancing the role of the ED to initiate evidence-based care to optimize the outcomes of Canadians with an AMHC.
LO63: External validation of the BIG score to predict mortality in pediatric blunt trauma
Authors: Grandjean-Blanchet C. , Gravel J. , Emeriaud G. , Beaudin M.
Published: May 2017

Introduction: The BIG score is a new pediatric trauma score composed of the admission base deficit (BD), the international normalized ratio (INR) and the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS). A score<16 identifies children with a high probability of survival following blunt trauma.The objective of this study was to measure the criterion validity of the BIG score to predict in-hospital mortality among children visiting an emergency department with blunt trauma requiring an admission to the intensive care unit. Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study performed in a single tertiary care pediatric hospital between 2008 and 2016. Participants were all children (<18 years) visiting the emergency department for a blunt trauma requiring intensive care unit admission or who died at the emergency department. All charts were reviewed by a member of the research team using a standardized report form. To insure quality of data abstraction, 10% of the charts were reviewed in duplicate by a second rater blinded to the first evaluation. The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality. Baseline demographics, initial components of the BIG score, Injury Severity Score (ISS) and disposition were extracted. The primary analysis was the association between a BIG score ≥16 and in-hospital mortality. It was calculated that the inclusion of at least 25 deaths would provide confidence intervals of +/- 0.20 for proportions in the worst-case scenario. Results: Twenty-eight children died among the 336 who met the inclusion criteria. The inter-rater agreement for data abstraction was excellent with kappa scores or intraclass correlation coefficients higher than 0.8 for all variables. Two hundred eighty-four children had information on the three components of the BIG score and they were included in the primary analysis. A BIG score ≥16 demonstrated a sensitivity of 0.93 (95%CI: 0.76-0.98) and specificity of 0.83 (95%CI 0.78-0.87) to identify mortality. Using ROC curves, the area under the curve was higher for the BIG score (0.97; 95%IC: 0.95-0.99) in comparison to the ISS (0.78; 95%IC: 0.71-0.85). Conclusion: The BIG score is an excellent predictor of survival for children visiting the emergency department following a blunt trauma.
LO69: Evaluating the impact of night shifts on emergency medicine resident competence in simulated resuscitations
Authors: Edgerley S. , McKaigney C. , Boyne D. , Dagnone D. , Hall A.K.
Published: May 2017

Introduction: Sleep deprivation negatively affects cognitive and behavioural performance. Emergency Medicine (EM) residents commonly work night shifts and are then expected to perform with competence. This study examines the impact of night shifts on EM resident performance in simulated resuscitation scenarios. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was completed at a single Canadian academic centre where residents participate in twice-annual simulation-based resuscitation objective structured clinical examinations (OSCEs). OSCE scores for all EM residents between 2010-2016 were collected, as well as post-graduate year (PGY1-5), gender, and shift schedules. OSCEs were scored using the Queen’s Simulation Assessment Tool (QSAT) evaluating four domains: primary assessment, diagnostic actions, therapeutic actions and communication, and an overall global assessment score (GAS). A night shift was defined as a late evening (beyond 23:00) or overnight shift within the three days before an OSCE. A mixed effects linear regression model was used to model the association between night shifts and OSCE scores while adjusting for gender and PGY. Results: A total of 136 OSCE scores were collected from 56 residents. PGY-5 residents had 37.1% (31.3 to 34.0%; p<0.01) higher OSCE scores than those in PGY-1 with an average increase of 8.8% (7.5 to 10.1%; p<0.01) per year. Working one or more night shifts in the three days before an OSCE reduced the total and communication scores by an average of 3.8% (p=0.04) and 4.5% (p=0.04) respectively. We observed a significant gender difference in the effects of acute shift work (p=0.03). Working a night shift one night prior to an OSCE was not associated with total score among male residents (p=0.33) but was associated with a 6.1% (-11.9 to -0.2; p=0.04) decrease in total score among female residents. This difference was consistent across PGY and was primarily due to an 8.5% (-15.5 to -1.6%; p=0.02) decrease in communication scores and a 6.7% (-13.1 to -0.3%; p=0.04) reduction in GAS. Conclusion: Proximity to night shifts significantly impaired the performance of EM trainees in simulated resuscitation scenarios, particularly in the domain of communication. For female residents, the magnitude of difference in total scores after working such shifts one night prior to a resuscitation OSCE was approximately equal to the difference seen between residents one year apart in training.
LO76: Emergency department procedural sedation in elderly patients
Authors: Harris A. , Butler M.B. , Watson M.
Published: May 2017

Introduction: The use of procedural sedation and analgesia (PSA) for the performance of Emergency Department (ED) procedures has been reported to be safe and effective. However, few studies have evaluated the safety of PSA in the elderly, with conflicting results. Our primary objective was to determine if elderly patients undergoing PSA for the management of an orthopedic injury had an increased risk of adverse events (AEs) during the procedure. Methods: This retrospective review of prospectively recorded data between 2006 and 2016 included patients aged ≥16 years undergoing PSA at a single institution to facilitate treatment of a fracture or dislocation. Patients were separated into 3 age groups for analysis: young (18-40), middle-aged (41-64) and elderly (≥65). Elderly patients were divided into 3 subgroups. The primary AEs studied include hypoxia (SpO2<90 %) and hypotension (systolic blood pressure <100 mmHg, or >15% reduction from baseline if initial <100 mmHg). Logistic regression (LR) models tested for associations between age and outcome measurements. Effect sizes were described as odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals. Results: 4171 patients were studied, including 1125 patients ≥65 years of age. More than 90% of the time, propofol was used as a single agent sedative. Fentanyl was given as an analgesic adjunct in 88% of patients. Medication dosing declined as patients aged. In the young group, the average total propofol dose was 2.34 mg/kg compared to 1.42 mg/kg in the elderly (≥85 years subgroup: 1.07 mg/kg). Despite this, hypoxia was more likely to occur in elderly patients (2.3%) compared to younger patients (0.4%). LR models demonstrated that hypoxia was more likely to occur in: the elderly [OR 4.29 (1.58,11.70)], patients with an ASA classification score of 3 or higher [OR 4.71 (1.89,11.70)], and higher dosing of fentanyl in the elderly [OR 2.35 (1.21,4.57)]. Oral or nasal airway, assisted ventilation, and suctioning were required in less than 1% of all patients. Endotracheal intubation was never required. Hypotension was more likely in elderly patients (11.6%) than younger patients (8.3%). Conclusion: When performing PSA, clinicians should be aware of the increased risk of AEs in the elderly, particularly hypoxia, and modify selection, dosing, and administration of the PSA medication(s) appropriately. Future study should examine the intermediate and long-term outcomes of elderly patients following ED PSA.
LO81: Optimizing the use of CT scanning for pulmonary embolism in the emergency department
Authors: Sharif S. , Kearon C. , Li M. , Eventov M. , Sneath P.E. , Leung R. , Jiang R. , de Wit K.
Published: May 2017

Introduction: Diagnosing pulmonary embolism (PE) can be challenging because the signs and symptoms are often non-specific. Studies have shown that evidence-based diagnostic algorithms are not always adhered to in the Emergency Department (ED), which leads to unnecessary CT scanning. In 2013, the American College of Chest Physicians identified CT pulmonary angiography as one of the top five avoidable tests. One solution is to use a clinical prediction rule combined with the D-dimer, which safely reduces the use of CT scanning. The objective of this study was to compare the proportion of patients tested for PE in two emergency departments, who 1) had a CT-PE and 2) whose diagnosis of PE was missed. We compared these rates to those if the Wells rule and D-dimer had been applied as standard. Methods: This was a retrospective chart review of ED patients investigated for PE at two hospitals from April 2013 to March 2015 (24 months). Inclusion criteria were the ED physician ordered CT-PE, Ventilation-Perfusion (VQ) scan or D-dimer for investigation of PE. Patients under the age of 18 were excluded. PE was defined as CT/VQ diagnosis of acute PE or acute PE/DVT in 30-day follow-up. Trained researchers extracted anonymized data. The rate of CT/VQ imaging and the false-negative rates were calculated. The false-negative rate was calculated as the number of patients diagnosed with PE within 30 days as a proportion of those patients who did not have a CT/VQ scan at initial presentation. Results: There were 1,189 patients included in this study. 55/1,189 patients (4.6%; 95%CI 3.6-6.0%) were ultimately diagnosed with PE within 30 days. 397/1,189 patients (33.4%; 95%CI 30.8-36.1%) had CT/VQ scans for PE. 3 out of 792 who were not scanned had a missed PE resulting in a false-negative rate of 0.4% (95% CI 0.1-1.1%). 80 patients had an elevated D-dimer or high Wells score but were not imaged. Furthermore, 75 patients who did not have an elevated D-dimer nor a high Wells score were imaged. Had Wells rule/D-dimer been adhered to, 402/1,189 patients (33.8%; 95%CI 31.9-36.6%) would have undergone imaging and the false negative rate would be 0/727, 0% (95%CI 0.0-0.5%). Conclusion: If the Wells rule and D-dimer was used in all patients tested for PE, a similar proportion would have a CT scan but fewer PEs would be missed.
LO83: Effectiveness of implementing evidence based interventions to reduce C-spine imaging in the emergency department: a systematic review
Authors: Desai S. , Lui C. , Krebs L. , Kirkland S.W. , Keto-Lambert D. , Rowe B.H.
Published: May 2017

Introduction: Unnecessary imaging of adult cervical spine (C-spine) injury patients in the Emergency Department (ED) is a concern. Guidance for C-spine image ordering exists; however, the effectiveness and safety of their implementation in the ED is not well studied. This review examines their implementation and effectiveness at reducing C-spine imaging in adults presenting to the ED with stable neck trauma. Methods: Six electronic databases and the grey literature were searched. Comparative studies examining interventions to reduce C-spine imaging were eligible for inclusion. Two independent reviewers screened for study eligibility, assessed study quality, and extracted data. Data were analyzed using RevMan (Version 5.3) to explore the effectiveness of these interventions in safely reducing C-Spine radiography. Results: A total of 848 unique citations were screened of which six before-after studies and one randomized controlled trial were included. The study population varied with respect to injury severity (i.e., stability status). None of the studies were assessed as high quality. The interventions employed included locally developed guidelines and clinical decision rules, specifically the National X-radiography Utilization Study (NEXUS) criteria and the Canadian C-Spine Rule (CCR). Various implementation strategies, such as teaching sessions, pocket reminder cards, posters and computerized decision support were used. Several studies used multi-faceted interventions. Overall, of the five study groups that examined change in x-ray ordering, three groups reported a significant reduction in c-spine radiography. The remaining two showed no change in imaging. A pooled estimate of the effectiveness of the interventions was prohibited by significant heterogeneity. Conclusion: The evidence regarding the effectiveness of interventions to reduce C-spine imaging in adult ED patients with stable neck trauma is inconclusive. Given the national and international focus on improving appropriateness and reducing unnecessary imaging through campaigns such as Choosing Wisely®, additional interventional research in this field is warranted.
LO85: Substantial variation in CTPE ordering patterns and diagnostic yield in a large group of specialty-trained emergency physicians
Authors: Lang E. , Andruchow J. , Grigat D. , Innes G. , McRae A.
Published: May 2017

Introduction: Computerized tomography for pulmonary embolism (CTPE) has come under increased scrutiny with recommendations for evidence-based use found on Choosing Wisely lists in both Canada and the US. However practice variation in ordering patterns and diagnostic yield have not been well-reported for the Canadian context. Our objective was to investigate practice variation in CTPE ordering and rule-in rates within a large group of specialty-trained emergency physicians. Methods: We undertook an analysis of a computerized physician order entry database from four tertiary care EDs covering a 12-month period from August 1, 2016 to July 30, 2016 with 31 419 visits for potential pulmonary embolism (PE) as determined by a previously validated algorithm based on presenting complaints. CTPE utilization and diagnostic yield were determined for 149 physicians who ordered at least 10 studies over that time period. Outcomes of interest included CT utilization as determined by electronic order entry and a confirmed diagnosis of PE based on ICD-10 coding of the emergency visit. Descriptive statistics using medians, IQR and 95% confidence intervals are reported. This study is approved through REB14-0650 and is a component of a larger cluster RCT to improve CTPE utilization. Results: During the study period 2670 CTPE studies were ordered for potential PE patients representing 8.5% of the total with relevant complaints. We observed a 10-fold variation in CTPE ordering among physicians with rates as low as 2.7% and as high as 25%. The median rate of CTPE ordering for potential PE was 8.8% with an IQR of 6.0% to 11.7%. A total of 4146 CTPE studies were ordered during the study period with physicians ordering an average of 28 CTPE studies each; range 10-90. In terms of diagnostic yield, 591/4146 studies, or 14.3% (95% CI 13.2-15.3%) were associated with a diagnosis of PE. Diagnostic yield per physician ranged from 0 to 50%, with a median of 13.5% and an IQR of 7.6% to 21.4%. Conclusion: In this large, robust administrative dataset from four Canadian urban EDs, threshold for CTPE ordering varies widely among physicians as does diagnostic yield. Efforts to improve appropriate utilization are justified with an eye to reducing unnecessary radiation, costs and incidental findings.
LO86: Overutilization of computed tomography as a first-line investigation for patients presenting with suspected recurrent nephrolithiasis in the emergency department: a retrospective cohort study
Authors: Himelfarb J. , Lee J.S. , Shelton D.
Published: May 2017

Introduction: Computed tomography (CT) has increasingly been used as a standard initial investigation for patients presenting to the Emergency Department (ED) with suspected nephrolithiasis. Compared to ultrasound, CT has increased system-level costs, ionizing radiation exposure and frequently does not alter management. For these reasons, Choosing Wisely (CW) recommends avoiding CT imaging of otherwise healthy patients younger than age 50 years presenting with symptoms of uncomplicated renal colic that have a known history of nephrolithiasis or ureterolithiasis. We aimed to evaluate the degree of utilization of CT imaging for this subgroup of patients in a tertiary care centre ED. Methods: A retrospective chart review was performed for all patients younger than 50 years who visited Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre ED for six months between December 2015 and May 2016 with renal colic symptoms and a history of nephrolithiasis. Demographic data, relevant past medical history, clinical presentation, lab values, urology consultation, ED treatments administered, diagnostic imaging orders and dispositions were recorded for each eligible patient. Results: Out of 130 reviewed patient charts, 73 patients were identified with a previous history of nephrolithiasis and a presentation consistent with uncomplicated renal colic. 54 patients received ultrasound, KUB x-ray, or no imaging. The other 19 (26.0%) of these patients received an abdominal/pelvic CT with an indication of looking for renal or ureteral stones. Of the patients that received CT, none demonstrated significant findings warranting hospital admission or leading to identifiable changes in ED management. Five (26.3%) of these 19 patients had received a total of three to four CTs for renal colic during past Sunnybrook ED visits, while one had previously received 13 CTs. Conclusion: CT scans are often used as an initial diagnostic modality for suspected renal colic despite a Choosing Wisely recommendation to restrict the use of CT scans in a target population and infrequent changes in management after obtaining a CT. These findings highlight the need for quality improvement strategies to decrease CT utilization in this patient population with suspected renal colic.
LO88: Bedside sonography performed by emergency physicians to detect acute appendicitis in the pediatric emergency department
Authors: Nicole M. , Gravel J. , Desjardins M.
Published: May 2017

Introduction: Previous studies have suggested that emergency physicians (EP) highly experienced in point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) have similar performance to formal ultrasound to identify appendicitis in children. The aim of this study was to evaluate the ability of EP with various levels of POCUS experience to detect appendicitis with POCUS among children visiting a pediatric ED. Methods: A prospective cohort study was conducted in an urban, tertiary care pediatric ED. Children aged 2 to 18 years old who presented to the ED with acute abdominal pain suggesting appendicitis were included. Patients were excluded if they had a history of appendectomy, hemodynamic instability requiring resuscitation, or were transferred with proven diagnosis of appendicitis. Participating EP had various levels of POCUS experience. Four of the 22 physicians were experienced in bowel sonography (EDU 2 level and higher) while the others were inexperienced in bowel sonography (EDU 1). All the participants received a 1-hour didactical and practical training session on appendix ultrasound. The treating physician performed all POCUS following initial physical exam, before further radiological evaluation. Final outcomes were determined by pathology and/or operative reports for surgical cases, and telephone follow-up at 3 weeks for those who did not have surgery. The primary analysis was a simple proportion for sensitivity and specificity for POCUS. Expecting a sensitivity of 80% based on previous studies, we calculated that a sample size of 50 cases would provide a 95%CI ranging from 66 to 90%. Results: We approached 140 patients, of which 121 accepted to participate and were recruited. After excluding 4 patients for missing POCUS data, 117 patients were included in the primary analysis, of which 51 (44%) had appendicitis. Twenty-two EP performed between 1 and 20 POCUS. The POCUS identified 27 out of 51 appendicitis for a sensitivity of 0.53 (95%CI 0.40-0.66). A negative POCUS was reported for 54 out of 66 patients without appendicitis (specificity of 0.82; 95%CI 0.71-0.89). Conclusion: This study shows limited sensitivity and specificity of POCUS when performed by EP with various level of experience for appendicitis in children. While showing lower sensitivity and specificity than previous studies, the inclusion of a large number of physicians solidifies the external validity of our conclusion.
LO89: Factors associated with delay in trauma team activation and impact on patient outcomes
Authors: Connolly R. , Woo M. , Lampron J. , Perry J.J.
Published: May 2017

Introduction: Trauma code activation is initiated by emergency physicians using physiologic and anatomic criteria, mechanism of injury and patient demographic factors in conjunction with data obtained from emergency medical service personnel. This enables rapid definitive treatment of trauma patients. Our objective was to identify factors associated with delayed trauma team activation. Methods: We conducted a health records review to supplement data from a regional trauma center database. We assessed consecutive cases from the trauma database from January 2008 to March 2014 including all cases in which a trauma code was activated by an emergency physician. We defined a delay in trauma code activation as a time greater than 30 minutes from time to arrival to trauma team activation. Data were collected in Microsoft Excel and analyzed in Statistical Analysis System (SAS). We conducted univariate analysis for factors potentially influencing trauma team activation and we subsequently used multiple logistic regression analysis models for delayed activation in relation to mortality, length of stay and time to operative management. Results: 1020 patients were screened from which 174 patients were excluded, as they were seen directly by the trauma team. 846 patients were included for our analysis. 4.1% (35/846) of trauma codes were activated after 30 minutes. Mean age was 40.8 years in the early group versus 49.2 in the delayed group p=0.01. There was no significant difference in type of injury, injury severity or time from injury between the two groups. Patients were over 70 years in 7.6% in the early activation group vs 17.1% in the delayed group (p=0.04). 77.7% of the early group were male vs 71.4% in the delayed group (p=0.39). There was no significant difference in mortality (15.2% vs 11.4% p=0.10), median length of stay (10 days in both groups p=0.94) or median time to operative management (331 minutes vs 277 minutes p=0.52). Conclusion: Delayed activation is linked with increasing age with no clear link with increased mortality. Given the severe injuries in the delayed cohort which required activation of the trauma team further emphasis on the older trauma patient and interventions to recognize this vulnerable population should be made. When assessing elderly trauma patients emergency physicians should have a low threshold to activate trauma teams.
LO91: Repeat exposures to culprit drugs contribute to adverse drug events in emergency department patients
Authors: Hohl C.M. , Woo S. , Cragg A. , Villanyi D. , Wickham M.E. , Ackerley C.R. , Scheuermeyer F.X.
Published: May 2017

Introduction: Adverse drug events (ADEs), unintended and harmful events associated with medications, cause or contribute to 2 million annual emergency department (ED) visits in Canada. Australian data indicate that 27% of ADEs requiring admission are events caused by re-exposure to drugs that previously caused harm. Our objective was to estimate the frequency of repeat ADEs. Methods: We reviewed the charts of ADE patients who had been enrolled in 1 of 3 prospective studies conducted in 2 tertiary care and 1 urban community ED. In the parent studies, researchers enrolled patients by applying a systematic selection algorithm to minimize selection bias, and physicians and pharmacists evaluated patients prospectively to evaluate the causal association between the drug regimens and patient presentations. After completion of the parent studies, a research pharmacist and a physician independently reviewed the charts of ADE patients, abstracted data using electronic forms, and searched that hospital’s records for previously recorded ADEs. The main outcome was a repeat ADE, defined as a same or same-class drug re-exposure, or repeat inappropriate drug withdrawal, causing a same or similar presentation as a prior ADE. Sample size was based on enrolment into the parent studies. Results: We reviewed the charts of 614 ED patients diagnosed with 655 ADEs. Of these, 20% (133/665, 95%CI 17.0-23.0%) were repeat events. Most repeat ADEs were moderate (61%) or severe (32%) in nature, and 33% (95%CI 25.1-41.1%) required hospital admission. The most commonly implicated drugs were warfarin (10%), hydrochlorothiazide (4%) and insulin (4%), and the most commonly implicated drug classes were antithrombotics (17%), psychotropics (12%) and analgesics (9%). Repeat ADEs commonly required clinical monitoring (59%), additional medications to treat the ADE (50%) and follow-up lab testing (35%). Overall, 61% (95%CI 51.3-70.7%) of culprit drug re-exposures were deemed potentially or definitely inappropriate. Conclusion: Inappropriate re-exposures to previously harmful medications cause a substantial number of recurrent ADEs, and may represent an ideal target for prevention. We were unable to search for repeat ADEs in the records of other hospitals that our patients may have visited, and could not detect ADEs that were not documented in the medical record. As a result, we likely underestimated the frequency of repeat ADEs.
LO92: Factors contributing to the development of adverse drug events treated in emergency departments
Authors: Woo S. , Cragg A. , Wickham M.E. , Ackerley C.R. , Villanyi D. , Scheuermeyer F.X. , Hohl C.M.
Published: May 2017

Introduction: Adverse drug events (ADEs), unintended and harmful events associated with medications, commonly cause or contribute to emergency department (ED) presentations. Understanding provider, patient and system factors that contribute to their development may assist in developing effective preventative strategies. Our objective was to identify factors that contributed to the development of ADEs that caused ED presentations. Methods: We reviewed the charts of ADE patients enrolled in 1 of 3 prospective studies conducted in 3 tertiary care and 1 urban community ED. In the parent studies, researchers enrolled patients by applying a systematic selection algorithm to minimize selection bias, and physicians and pharmacists evaluated patients prospectively to evaluate the causal associations between the drug regimens and patient presentations. Subsequently, a research pharmacist and physician independently reviewed the charts of ADE patients from these cohorts, abstracting data using electronic forms. Reviewers recorded patient, provider and system factors that contributed to the development of ADEs. The main outcome was the presence of at least one contributing factor in the development of an ADE. We used descriptive statistics with appropriate measures of variance. The sample size was determined by enrolment into the primary studies. Results: We reviewed the charts of 670 patients diagnosed with 725 ADEs. We identified ≥1 contributing factors in 62% (95%CI 58-65%) of ADEs. Multiple contributing factors were present in 17% of ADEs (95%CI 13-20%). The most common contributing factors were inadequate patient counseling or instructions about medication use (15%), insufficient laboratory monitoring or follow-up of monitoring tests (12%), lack of staff education (7%), lack of provider adherence with recommended treatment guidelines (7%), and delayed or inadequate clinical reassessment after a medication change (6%). Provider errors in drug administration contributed to 0.3% of ADEs (95%CI 0.0-0.7). Conclusion: Contributing factors were identified for most ADEs. They were often related to inadequate counseling and follow-up, and were rarely the result of errors. Further research is required to understand how communication of medication instructions can be improved. Investments in technologies to reduce provider errors may not significantly reduce the numbers of ADE patients presenting to EDs.
LO94: Prognostic value of neuron-specific enolase (NSE) for prediction of post-concussion symptoms following a mild traumatic brain injury: a systematic review
Authors: Mercier E. , Tardif P. , Cameron P. , Émond M. , Moore L. , Mitra B. , Ouellet M. , Frenette J. , De Guise É. , Le Sage N.
Published: May 2017

Introduction: Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) is an understudied worldwide health problem and a socio-economic burden that remains a major cause of morbidity. However, there is no prognostication tool to help clinicians predict the occurrence of post-concussion symptoms. This systematic review aimed to determine the prognostic value of neuron-specific enolase (NSE) to predict post-concussion symptoms following a mTBI in adults. Methods: The protocol of this systematic review was registered with the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) database (registration number CRD42016033683). Seven databases (CINAHL, Cochrane CENTRAL, EMBASE, MEDLINE, PsycBITE, PsycINFO, Web of Knowledge/Biosis) were searched for cohort studies evaluating the association between NSE levels and post-concussion symptoms assessed at least seven days after the mild TBI. Grey literature was also screened using databases on dissertations and theses as well as abstracts from relevant congresses. Two researchers independently screened studies for inclusion, extracted data, and appraised their quality using the Quality in Prognostic Studies (QUIPS) tool from the Cochrane Collaboration Group. Results: Our search strategy yielded a total of 23,298 citations from which eight cohorts presented in 10 studies were included. Studies included between 45 and 141 patients (total=608 patients). The most frequently assessed outcomes were post-concussion syndrome (PCS) (13 assessments), neuropsychological disorders (10 assessments), return to work or sick leave (2 assessments) and Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) (2 assessments). No association was found between an elevated NSE serum level and the occurrence of PCS. Of the 33 outcomes assessments performed, only three showed an association between a higher level of serum NSE and a post-concussion symptom (alteration of at least three cognitive domains at 2 weeks, standardised physician assessment at 6 weeks and headache at 6 months following a mild TBI). Included studies’ overall risk of bias was considered moderate. Conclusion: Results of this systematic review conclude that based on current levels of evidence, serum NSE levels alone do not provide prognostic information on persistent or early post-concussion symptoms after a mTBI.
LO95: A prospective evaluation of mild traumatic brain injuries in a working population in Edmonton, AB
Authors: Gaudet L. , Eliyahu L. , Lowes J. , Beach J. , Mrazik M. , Cummings G. , Latoszek K. , Carroll L. , Holroyd B.R. , Rowe B.H.
Published: May 2017

Introduction: Patients with mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) frequently present to the emergency department (ED); however, wide variation in diagnosis and management has been demonstrated in this setting. Sub-optimal mTBI management can contribute to post-concussion syndrome (PCS), affecting vocational outcomes like return to work. This study documented the work-related events, ED management, discharge advice, and outcomes for employed patients presenting to the ED with mTBI. Methods: Adult (>17 years) patients presenting to one of three urban EDs in Edmonton, Alberta with Glasgow coma scale score ≥13 within 72 hours of a concussive event were recruited by on-site research assistants. Follow-up calls ascertained outcomes, including symptoms and their severity, advice received in the ED, and adherence to discharge instructions, at 30 and 90 days after ED discharge. Dichotomous variables were analyzed using chi-square testing; continuous variables were compared using t-tests or Mann-Whitney tests, as appropriate. Work-related injury and return to work outcomes were modelled using logistic or linear regression, as appropriate. Results: Overall, 250 patents were enrolled; 172 (69%) were employed at the time of their injury and completed at least one follow-up. The median age was 37 years (interquartile range [IQR]: 24, 49.5), both sexes were equally represented (48% male), and work-related concussions were uncommon (16%). Work-related concussion was related to manual labor jobs and self-reported history of attention deficit disorder. Patients often received advice to avoid sports (81%) and/or work (71%); however, the duration of recommended time off varied. Most employed patients (80%) missed at least one day of work (median=7 days; IQR: 3, 14); 91% of employees returned to work by 90 days, despite 41% reporting persistent symptoms. Increased days of missed work were linked to divorce, history of sleep disorder, and physician’s advice to avoid work. Conclusion: While work-related concussions are uncommon, most employees who sustain a mTBI at any time miss some work. Many patients experience mTBI symptoms past 90 days, which has serious implications for workers’ abilities to fulfill their work duties and risk of subsequent injury. Workers, employers, and the workers compensation system should take the necessary precautions to ensure that workers return to work safely and successfully following a concussion.
LO98: Optimal length of observation for emergency department patients with syncope: a time to event analysis
Authors: Thiruganasambandamoorthy V. , Sivilotti M. , Mukarram M.A. , Leafloor C. , Arcot K. , Wells G.A. , Rowe B.H. , Krahn A. , Huang L. , Taljaard M.
Published: May 2017

Introduction: Concern for occult serious conditions leads to variations in ED syncope management [hospitalization, duration of ED/inpatient monitoring including Syncope Observation Units (SOU) for prolonged monitoring]. We sought to develop evidence-based recommendations for duration of ED/post-ED ECG monitoring using the Canadian Syncope Risk Score (CSRS) by assessing the time to serious adverse event (SAE) occurrence. Methods: We enrolled adults with syncope at 6 EDs and collected demographics, time of syncope and ED arrival, CSRS predictors and time of SAE. We stratified patients as per the CSRS (low, medium and high risk as ≤0, 1-3 and ≥4 respectively). 30-day adjudicated SAEs included death, myocardial infarction, arrhythmia, structural heart disease, pulmonary embolism or serious hemorrhage. We categorized arrhythmias, interventions for arrhythmias and death from unknown cause as arrhythmic SAE and the rest as non-arrhythmic SAE. We performed Kaplan-Meier analysis using time of ED registration for primary and time of syncope for secondary analyses. Results: 5,372 patients (mean age 54.3 years, 54% females, and 13.7% hospitalized) were enrolled with 538 (10%) patients suffering SAE (0.3% died due to an unknown cause and 0.5% suffered ventricular arrhythmia). 64.8% of SAEs occurred within 6 hours of ED arrival. The probability for any SAE or arrhythmia was highest within 2-hours of ED arrival for low-risk patients (0.65% and 0.31%; dropped to 0.54% and 0.06% after 2-hours) and within 6-hours for the medium and high-risk patients (any SAE 6.9% and 17.4%; arrhythmia 6.5% and 18.9% respectively) which also dropped after 6-hours (any SAE 0.99% and 2.92%; arrhythmia 0.78% and 3.07% respectively). For any CSRS threshold, the risk of arrhythmia was highest within the first 15-days (for CSRS ≥2 patients 15.6% vs. 0.006%). ED monitoring for 2-hours (low-risk) and 6-hours (medium and high-risk) and using a CSRS ≥2 cut-off for outpatient 15-day ECG monitoring will lead to 52% increase in arrhythmia detection. The majority (82.2%) arrived to the ED within 2-hours (median time 1.1 hours) and secondary analysis yielded similar results. Conclusion: Our study found 2 and 6 hours of ED monitoring for low-risk and medium/high-risk CSRS patients respectively, with 15-day outpatient ECG monitoring for CSRS ≥2 patients will improve arrhythmia detection without the need for hospitalization or observation units.
MP05: Do emergency department staff use a current domestic violence documentation tool or other forms of intimate partner violence documentation in patient records?
Authors: Vonkeman J. , Atkinson P.R. , Fraser J. , McCloskey R.
Published: May 2017

Introduction: Domestic violence (DV) rates in smaller cities been reported to be some of the highest in Canada. It is highly likely that emergency department staff will come across victims of intimate partner violence (IPV) in their daily practice. The purpose of this study is to better understand current practices for detecting IPV as we are currently uncertain whether patients are assessed for IPV and what the current documentation practices are. Methods: A standardized retrospective chart review, following principles outlined by Gilbert et al. 1996, was completed by two researchers to capture domestic violence documentation rates in patients presenting to the ED between January and April 2015 with injuries that may have been caused by IPV. To assess self-reported documentation/questioning practices, a cross-sectional online survey was distributed to ED staff via staff email lists three times between July and October 2016, with a response rate of 45.9% (n=55). The primary outcome was DV field usage. Secondary outcomes included documentation in patient charts and current questioning habits. Results: Overall, we found documentation in 4.64% of all included patient charts (n=366). No documentation was noted in the DV field. 52.4% patients with deliberate injuries had no documentation of assailant identity. With regards to self reported documentation practices, 16.4% of ED staff never questioned female patients about intimate partner violence, 83.6% asked when thought appropriate, and none asked routinely. None of the staff used a structured screening tool. 60% of ED staff documented their questioning but 92.7% did not use the DV-field for documentation. 58.2% of ED staff could not identify the DV field and 45.5% of respondents did not know how to interpret the DV field if positive. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that the current documentation tool (DV-field) is not being utilized. Furthermore, low rates of IPV documentation, and potentially questioning, in high risk patients indicates that there is need to improve current practises.
MP08: What’s the plan?: Improving ED patient discharge communication through patient-centred discharge handouts
Authors: Hall J.N. , Graham J.P. , McGowan M. , Cheng A.H.
Published: May 2017

Introduction: Discharge from the Emergency Department (ED) is a high-risk period for communication failures. Clear verbal and written discharge instructions at patient-level health literacy are fundamental to a safe discharge process. As part of a hospital-wide quality initiative to measure and improve discharge processes, and in response to patient feedback, the St. Michael’s Hospital ED and patient advisors co-designed and implemented patient-centred discharge handouts. Methods: The design and implementation of discharge handouts was based on a collaborative and iterative approach, including stakeholder engagement and patient co-design. Discharge topics were based on the 10 most common historical ED diagnoses. ED patient advisors and the hospital’s plain language review team co-designed and edited materials for readability and comprehension. Process mapping of ED workflow identified opportunities for interventions. Multidisciplinary ED stakeholders co-led implementation, including staff education, training and huddles for feedback. Patient telephone surveys to every 25th patient presenting to the ED meeting the study inclusion criteria (16 years of age or older, directly discharged from the ED, speaks English, has a valid telephone number, and has capacity to consent) were conducted both pre- (June-Sept 2016) and post- (Oct-Dec 2016) implementation. Results: Stakeholder engagement and co-design took place over 10 months. Education was provided across one MD staff meeting, four RN inservices, and at monthly learner orientation. 44846 patients presented to the ED and 25600 met the study inclusion criteria. 935 surveys (response rate=97%; declined n=30) were completed to date. Pre-implementation (n=467), 9.2% (n=43) of patients received printed discharge materials and 71% (n=330) understood symptoms to look for after leaving the ED. Post-implementation (n=468), 44% (n=207) of patients received printed discharge materials with 97% (n=200) finding the handouts helpful and 82% (n=385) understanding symptoms to look for after leaving the ED. Conclusion: Through the introduction of patient co-designed and patient-centred discharge handouts, we have found a marked improvement in patient understanding, and consequently safer discharge practices. Future efforts will focus on optimizing discharge communication, both verbal and written, tailored to individual patient preferences.