Availability and quality of procedural sedation and analgesia in emergency departments without emergency physicians: A national survey in the Netherlands

Emergency physicians have been successful in implementing procedural sedation and analgesia (PSA) to treat emergency department (ED) patients who need to undergo painful procedures. However, 25% of the EDs in the Netherlands are not staffed by emergency physicians. The aim of this study was to investigate PSA availability and quality in EDs without emergency physicians. METHODS: We performed an exploratory cross-sectional study amongst ED nurses and physicians in all 13 EDs without emergency physicians in the Netherlands. Data were gathered using a standardized questionnaire. RESULTS: The response rate was 34.3% (148/432). Of the respondents, 84/148 (56.8%) provided adult PSA and 30/148 (20.3%) provided paediatric PSA. Main reasons for not providing PSA were insuf cient numbers of trained staff to support PSA in the ED and insuf cient training and exposure. The providers agreed significantly stronger when reflecting their PSA competencies in adults compared to paediatric patients. CONCLUSION: The key to improve pain management in the ED-setting may lay in investing in continuous training of ED health care professionals and/or acquiring professionals who are both quali ed in PSA and available in the ED.

End-tidal capnometry during emergency department procedural sedation and analgesia： a randomized, controlled study

BACKGROUND:This prospective,randomized trial was undertaken to evaluate the utility of adding end-tidal capnometry(ETC)to pulse oximetry(PO)in patients undergoing procedural sedation and analgesia(PSA)in the emergency department(ED).METHODS:The patients were randomized to monitoring with or without ETC in addition to the current standard of care.Primary endpoints included respiratory adverse events,with secondary endpoints of level of sedation,hypotension,other PSA-related adverse events and patient satisfaction.RESULTS:Of 986 patients,501 were randomized to usual care and 485 to additional ETC monitoring.In this series,48%of the patients were female,with a mean age of 46 years.Orthopedic manipulations(71%),cardioversion(12%)and abscess incision and drainage(12%)were the most common procedures,and propofol and fentanyl were the sedative/analgesic combination used for most patients.There was no difference in patients experiencing de-saturation(Sa O2<90%)between the two groups;however,patients in the ETC group were more likely to require airway repositioning(12.9%vs.9.3%,P=0.003).Hypotension(SBP<100 mm Hg or<85 mm Hg if baseline<100 mm Hg)was observed in 16(3.3%)patients in the ETC group and 7(1.4%)in the control group(P=0.048).CONCLUSIONS:The addition of ETC does not appear to change any clinically significant outcomes.We found an increased incidence of the use of airway repositioning maneuvers and hypotension in cases where ETC was used.We do not believe that ETC should be recommended as a standard of care for the monitoring of patients undergoing PSA.

Effects of DEX on sedation, neurological function and cerebral oxygen metabolism in elderly patients with prostate cancer undergoing LRP

Objective:To study the sedative effect of dexmedetomidine in elderly patients with prostate cancer undergoing three hole LRP,and its effect on nerve function and brain oxygen metabolism.Methods:From August 2016 to December 2019,78 patients with LRP under general anesthesia in our hospital were randomly selected and divided into control group and observation group according to the random number table method,39 cases in each group.During the operation,the observation group was given dextromethoridine,while the control group was given the same amount of normal saline.The changes of cognitive function index(MoCA score,POCD incidence rate),neurological function index(TGF-β1,NSE,IGF-1),brain oxygen metabolism index(PaO2,map,PaCO2,rSO2)before and after operation were compared between the two groups.The visual analogue score(VAS),the amount of analgesic drugs and the times of pressing the analgesic pump were compared between the two groups.The incidence of adverse reactions was compared between the two groups.Results:Before operation,there was no significant difference in cognitive function index,neurological function index and brain oxygen metabolism index between the two groups(P>0.05).On the first and third days after operation,MOCA score of the two groups was significantly lower,MOCA score of the observation group was significantly higher than that of the control group,POCD incidence of the observation group was significantly lower than that of the control group;on the third day after operation,TGF-β1 and IGF-1 of the two groups were significantly lower,TGF-β1 and IGF-1 of the observation group were significantly lower-The NSE in the observation group was significantly lower than that in the control group(P<0.05).In this study,1 hour after the establishment of pneumoperitoneum,PaCO2 and rSO2 in the two groups were significantly increased,6 hours and 12 hours after the operation,the VAS score of the observation group was lower than that of the control group,and the dosage of analgesic pump and the number of times of compression of the analgesic pump were significantly lower than that of the control group(P<0.05).There was no difference in the incidence of adverse reactions between the two groups(P>0.05).Conclusion:DEX has a good sedative effect on the elderly prostate cancer patients undergoing LRP with three hole method.It has little effect on nerve function and brain oxygen metabolism,and has a good safety.

Median effective dose of remifentanil for awake laryngoscopy and intubation

Background Awake intubation requires an anesthetic management that provides sufficient patient safety and comfort, adequate intubating conditions, and stable hemodynamics. In this prospective clinical study, our aim was to determine the median effective dose （ED50） of remifentanil in combination with midazolam and airway topical anesthesia for awake laryngoscopy and intubation. Methods Thirty-six female adult patients, scheduled for elective plastic surgery under general anesthesia requiring orotracheal intubation were included in this study. Ten minutes after intravenous administration of midazolam 0.1 mg/kg, patients were assigned to receive remifentanil in bolus, followed by a continuous infusion. The bolus dose and infusion rate of remifentanil were adjusted by a modified Dixon＇s up-and-down method. Patient＇s reaction score at laryngoscopy and an Observer＇s Assessment of Alertness/Sedation Scale （OAA/S） were used to determine whether the remifentanil dosage regimen was accepted. During laryngoscopy, 2% lidocaine was sprayed into the airway to provide the topical anesthesia. ED50 of remifentanil was calculated by the modified Dixon up-and-down method, and the probit analysis was then used to confirm the results obtained from the modified Dixon＇s up-and-down method. In the patients who were scored as ＂accept＂, patient＇s OAA/S and reactJon scores at dJfferent observed points, JntubatJng conditJon score and patient＇s tolerance to the endotracheal tube after intubation were evaluated and recorded. Blood pressure and heart rate at different measuring points were also noted. Results ED50 of remifentanil for awake laryngoscopy and intubation obtained by the modified Dixon＇s up-and-down method was （0.62±0.02） μg/kg. Using probit analysis, ED50 and ED95 of remifentanil were 0.63 μg/kg （95% CI, 0.54-0.70） and 0.83 μg/kg （95% CI, 0.73-2.59）, respectively. Nineteen patients who were scored as ＂accept＂ had an OAA/S of 〉15 and tolerated well laryngoscopy without significant discomfort or gagging. The mean intubating condition score was 1.8±0.8. The endotracheal tube was well tolerated. During awake laryngoscopy and intubation, blood pressure and heart rate were also kept stable. The postoperative follow up showed that no patient recalled discomfort and pain for airway manipulation. Conclusions When combined with midazolam 0.1 mg/kg and airway topical anesthesia, ED50 of remifentanil for successful awake laryngoscopy and Jntubation is 0.62 μg/kg in bolus followed by continuous infusJon of 0.062 μg·kg·min^-1. This sedation and analgesia regimen can provide patient safety and comfort, ensure adequate intubating conditions, maintain hemodynamic stability, and prevent negative recall of the airway procedure.