Objective To quantify the association between early neurologic recovery, practice pattern variation, and endotracheal intubation during established status epilepticus, we performed a secondary analysis within the cohort of patients enrolled in the Established Status Epilepticus Treatment Trial (ESETT). Methods We evaluated factors associated with the endpoint of endotracheal intubation occurring within 120 minutes of ESETT study drug initiation. We defined a blocked, stepwise multivariate regression, examining 4 phases during status epilepticus management: (1) baseline characteristics, (2) acute treatment, (3) 20-minute neurologic recovery, and (4) 60-minute recovery, including seizure cessation and improving responsiveness. Results Of 478 patients, 117 (24.5%) were intubated within 120 minutes. Among high-enrolling sites, intubation rates ranged from 4% to 32% at pediatric sites and 19% to 39% at adult sites. Baseline characteristics, including seizure precipitant, benzodiazepine dosing, and admission vital signs, provided limited discrimination for predicting intubation (area under the curve [AUC] 0.63). However, treatment at sites with an intubation rate in the highest (vs lowest) quartile strongly predicted endotracheal intubation independently of other treatment variables (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 8.12, 95% confidence interval [CI] 3.08–21.4, model AUC 0.70). Site-specific variation was the factor most strongly associated with endotracheal intubation after adjustment for 20-minute (aOR 23.4, 95% CI 6.99–78.3, model AUC 0.88) and 60-minute (aOR 14.7, 95% CI 3.20–67.5, model AUC 0.98) neurologic recovery. Conclusions Endotracheal intubation after established status epilepticus is strongly associated with site-specific practice pattern variation, independently of baseline characteristics, and early neurologic recovery and should not alone serve as a clinical trial endpoint in established status epilepticus. Trial Registration Information ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01960075.

Introduction Emergency endotracheal intubation (ETI) is a common and critical procedure performed in both prehospital and in-hospital settings. Studies of prehospital providers have demonstrated that rescuer position influences ETI outcomes. However, studies of in-hospital rescuer position for ETI are limited. While we adhere to strict standards for the administration of ETI, we posited that perhaps requiring in-hospital rescuers to stand for ETI is an obstacle to effectiveness. Our objective was to compare in-hospital emergency medicine (EM) trainees’ performance on ETI delivered from both the seated and standing positions. Methods EM residents performed ETI on a difficult airway mannequin from both a seated and standing position. They were randomized to the position from which they performed ETI first. All ETIs were recorded and then scored using a modified version of the Airway Management Proficiency Checklist. Residents also rated the laryngeal view and the difficulty of the procedure. We analyzed comparisons between ETI positions with paired t-tests. Results Forty-two of our 49 residents (85.7%) participated. Fifteen (35.7%) were female, and all three levels of training were represented. The average number of prior ETI experiences among our subjects was 44 (standard deviation=34). All scores related to ETI performance were statistically equivalent across the two positions (performance score, number of attempts, time to intubation success, and ratings of difficulty and laryngeal view). We also observed no differences across levels of training. Conclusion The position of the in-hospital provider, whether seated or standing, had no effect on the provider’s ETI performance. Since environmental circumstances sometimes necessitate alternative positioning for effective ETI administration, our findings suggest that there may be value in training residents to perform ETI from both positions.

Background: The Emergency Medicine (EM) Milestone Project provides guidance for assessment of resident trainee airway management proficiency (PC10). Although milestones provide a general structure for assessment, they do not define performance standards. The objective of this project was to establish comprehensive airway management performance standards for EM trainees at both novice and mastery levels of proficiency. Methods: Comprehensive airway management standards were derived using standard-setting procedures. A panel of residency education and airway management experts was convened to determine how trainees would be expected to perform on 51 individual tasks in a standardized airway management simulation encompassing preparation, endotracheal intubation, backup airway use, and ventilation. Experts participated in facilitated exercises in which they were asked to 1) define which items were critical for patient safety, 2) predict the performance of a "novice" learner, and 3) predict the performance of a "mastery" learner nearing independent practice. Experts were given a worksheet to complete and descriptive statistics were calculated using STATA 14. Results: Experts identified 39 of 51 (76%) airway management items as critical for patient safety. Experts also noted that novice trainees do not need to complete all the items deemed to be critical prior to starting practice since they will be supervised by a board-certified EM physician. In contrast, mastery-level trainees would be expected to successfully complete not only the critical tasks, but also nearly all the items in the assessment (49/51, 96%) since they are nearing independent practice. Conclusion: In this study, we established EM resident performance standards for comprehensive airway management during a simulation scenario. Future work will focus on validating these performance standards in current resident trainees as they move from simulation to actual patient care.

OBJECTIVE:To develop and derive an instrument for assessing airway management proficiency for paramedics.METHODS:Using a validated difficult airway model simulation, we recorded responses to a standard traumatic brain injury scenario requiring airway management in 197 certified paramedics. Discrete items (N = 131) were developed by an expert panel, and referenced to three performance standard subscales (i.e., intubation, ventilation, and backup airway). Responses were scored and subjected to an iterative process to create a more practical number of items for the final Airway Management Proficiency Checklist (AMPC). Tetrachoric correlations were used to evaluate items for relevance. Kuder-Richardson Formula 20 reliabilities were used to assess internal consistency among checklist items. Finally, a Rasch analysis on each subscale was performed to evaluate items for measurement quality. Items were retained if they were determined to fit the Rasch Model.RESULTS:Items were deleted from the final AMPC for lack of simulation fidelity (26 items), duplicity (15 items), and poor psychometric quality (39 items). In four additional iterations, items were dropped for lack of equipment options (e.g., single mask), lack of instructional clarity (e.g., calculation of GCS score), high inference on the part of the evaluator (6 items), or inadequate measurement of behavioral performance (e.g., passes blade through lips without contacting mouth or teeth). Thirty seven items and three outcome standards (first pass success of the endotracheal tube; assisted ventilation with no interruption of 30 seconds or greater; successful placement of a backup airway device within one attempt) were retained to form three hypothesized subscales.CONCLUSIONS:The AMPC represents a psychometrically derived instrument that identified important tasks required for comprehensive airway management. The 37-item instrument will contribute to improving training and measuring the performance of paramedic's airway management skills.

AbstractIntroductionEndotracheal intubation (ETI) is a complex clinical skill complicated by the inherent challenge of providing care in the prehospital setting. Literature reports a low success rate of prehospital ETI attempts, partly due to the care environment and partly to the lack of consistent standardized training opportunities of prehospital providers in ETI.Hypothesis/ProblemThe availability of a mobile simulation laboratory (MSL) to study clinically critical interventions is needed in the prehospital setting to enhance instruction and maintain proficiency. This report is on the development and validation of a prehospital airway simulator and MSL that mimics in situ care provided in an ambulance.MethodsThe MSL was a Type 3 ambulance with four cameras allowing audio-video recordings of observable behaviors. The prehospital airway simulator is a modified airway mannequin with increased static tongue pressure and a rigid cervical collar. Airway experts validated the model in a static setting through ETI at varying tongue pressures with a goal of a Grade 3 Cormack-Lehane (CL) laryngeal view. Following completion of this development, the MSL was launched with the prehospital airway simulator to distant communities utilizing a single facilitator/driver. Paramedics were recruited to perform ETI in the MSL, and the detailed airway management observations were stored for further analysis.ResultsNineteen airway experts performed 57 ETI attempts at varying tongue pressures demonstrating increased CL views at higher tongue pressures. Tongue pressure of 60 mm Hg generated 31% Grade 3/4 CL view and was chosen for the prehospital trials. The MSL was launched and tested by 18 paramedics. First pass success was 33% with another 33% failing to intubate within three attempts.ConclusionsThe MSL created was configured to deliver, record, and assess intubator behaviors with a difficult airway simulation. The MSL created a reproducible, high fidelity, mobile learning environment for assessment of simulated ETI performance by prehospital providers.BischofJJ, PanchalAR, FinneganGI, TerndrupTE. Creation and validation of a novel mobile simulation laboratory for high fidelity, prehospital, difficult airway simulation. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2016;31(5):465–470.

On a backdrop of increasingly distressing opioid misuse in our communities, and safety concerns expressed by The Joint Commission and others, emergency physicians are further increasing their utilization of these important agents in our patients.1,2 Are we selecting the best opioid for our patients? Are we providing the relief they need? And are we doing this safely? We all hope these questions can effectively be answered yes, now and into our futures.

Several studies have demonstrated subpar chest compression (CC) performance by trained health care professionals. The objective of this study was to determine the immediate and sustained effect of instantaneous audiovisual feedback on CC quality.A prospective, randomized, crossover study measuring the effect of audiovisual feedback training on the performance of CCs by health care providers and medical students in a simulated cardiopulmonary arrest scenario was performed. Compression rate, hand placement, depth, and recoil were collected using 60-second epochs of CC on a simulation mannequin.Data from 200 initial enrollments and 100 tested 1 year later were analyzed by evaluators using standard criterion. At initial testing, feedback trainees demonstrated significantly improved depth compliance, recoil compliance, and accuracy of hand placement. One year later, the previous year's control group now receiving feedback demonstrated immediate improvement in depth, hand placement, and rate. In the feedback group, the only statistically significant improvement from initial baseline to the baseline 1 year later was an 18% improvement in depth compliance. However, the same improvement rate was seen in the control group. Improved depth compliance performance was correlated to the number of cardiopulmonary resuscitation training sessions received external to the study.Instantaneous audiovisual feedback training on CC quality produces immediate improvements in compression rate, hand placement, as well as depth and recoil compliance. These improvements, however, are not retained 1 year later. Improved depth performance may be correlated to an increased training frequency.

Introduction The purpose of this study was to determine cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) knowledge of hospital providers and whether knowledge affects performance of effective compressions during a simulated cardiac arrest. Methods This cross-sectional study evaluated the CPR knowledge and performance of medical students and ED personnel with current CPR certification. We collected data regarding compression rate, hand placement, depth, and recoil via a questionnaire to determine knowledge, and then we assessed performance using 60 seconds of compressions on a simulation mannequin. Results Data from 200 enrollments were analyzed by evaluators blinded to subject knowledge. Regarding knowledge, 94% of participants correctly identified parameters for rate, 58% for hand placement, 74% for depth, and 94% for recoil. Participants identifying an effective rate of ≥100 performed compressions at a significantly higher rate than participants identifying <100 (μ=117 vs. 94, p<0.001). Participants identifying correct hand placement performed significantly more compressions adherent to guidelines than those identifying incorrect placement (μ=86% vs. 72%, p<0.01). No significant differences were found in depth or recoil performance based on knowledge of guidelines. Conclusion Knowledge of guidelines was variable; however, CPR knowledge significantly impacted certain aspects of performance, namely rate and hand placement, whereas depth and recoil were not affected. Depth of compressions was poor regardless of prior knowledge, and knowledge did not correlate with recoil performance. Overall performance was suboptimal and additional training may be needed to ensure consistent, effective performance and therefore better outcomes after cardiopulmonary arrest.

INTRODUCTION:Several studies have demonstrated subpar chest compression (CC) performance by trained health care professionals. The objective of this study was to determine the immediate and sustained effect of instantaneous audiovisual feedback on CC quality.METHODS:A prospective, randomized, crossover study measuring the effect of audiovisual feedback training on the performance of CCs by health care providers and medical students in a simulated cardiopulmonary arrest scenario was performed. Compression rate, hand placement, depth, and recoil were collected using 60-second epochs of CC on a simulation mannequin.RESULTS:Data from 200 initial enrollments and 100 tested 1 year later were analyzed by evaluators using standard criterion. At initial testing, feedback trainees demonstrated significantly improved depth compliance, recoil compliance, and accuracy of hand placement. One year later, the previous year's control group now receiving feedback demonstrated immediate improvement in depth, hand placement, and rate. In the feedback group, the only statistically significant improvement from initial baseline to the baseline 1 year later was an 18% improvement in depth compliance. However, the same improvement rate was seen in the control group. Improved depth compliance performance was correlated to the number of cardiopulmonary resuscitation training sessions received external to the study.CONCLUSIONS:Instantaneous audiovisual feedback training on CC quality produces immediate improvements in compression rate, hand placement, as well as depth and recoil compliance. These improvements, however, are not retained 1 year later. Improved depth performance may be correlated to an increased training frequency.

Study objective: Survival after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest depends on the links in the chain of survival. The Utstein elements are designed to assess these links and provide the basis for comparing outcomes within and across communities. We assess whether these measures sufficiently predict survival and explain outcome differences. Methods: We used an observational, prospective data collection, case-series of adult persons with nontraumatic out-of-hospital cardiac arrest from December 1, 2005, through March 1, 2007, from the multisite, population-based Resuscitation Outcomes Consortium Epistry-Cardiac Arrest. We used logistic regression, receiver operating curves, and measures of variance to estimate the extent to which the Utstein elements predicted survival to hospital discharge and explained outcome variability overall and between 7 Resuscitation Outcomes Consortium sites. Analyses were conducted for all emergency medical services-treated cardiac arrests and for the subset of bystander-witnessed patient arrests because of presumed cardiac cause presenting with ventricular fibrillation or ventricular tachycardia. Results: Survival was 7.8% overall (n=833/10,681) and varied from 4.6% to 14.7% across Resuscitation Outcomes Consortium sites. Among bystander-witnessed ventricular fibrillation or ventricular tachycardia, survival was 22.1% overall (n=323/1459) and varied from 12.5% to 41.0% across sites. The Utstein elements collectively predicted 72% of survival variability among all arrests and 40% of survival variability among bystander-witnessed ventricular fibrillation. The Utstein elements accounted for 43.6% of the between-site survival difference among all arrests and 22.3% of the between-site difference among the bystander-witnessed ventricular fibrillation subset. Conclusion: The Utstein elements predict survival but account for only a modest portion of outcome variability overall and between Resuscitation Outcomes Consortium sites. The results underscore the need for ongoing investigation to better understand characteristics that influence cardiac arrest survival. [Ann Emerg Med. 2010;55:249-257.]

OBJECTIVES:To investigate the clinical accuracy of infrared ear thermometer derived and equilibrated rectal temperatures in estimating core body temperature. The clinical bias (i.e., mean difference between body sites), and variability (SD of the differences) of simultaneous temperatures were compared with pulmonary artery temperatures. Clinical repeatability (pooled SD of triplicate reading differences) was also examined for three ear infrared thermometers. DESIGN:Prospective clinical study. SETTING:A multidisciplinary, adult intensive care unit. PATIENTS:Twenty patients with an existing pulmonary artery catheter were studied in a multidisciplinary, adult intensive care unit. INTERVENTIONS:A single operator using optimum ear infrared technique and masked to ear and rectal temperatures recorded triplicate measurements with each of three infrared ear thermometers, each over a 4-min period with each infrared thermometer, while an assistant recorded temperatures. Infrared and rectal temperatures were compared with a simultaneous pulmonary artery temperature. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS:Infrared ear thermometers and rectal thermometers were calibrated daily, and pulmonary artery catheters were calibrated on removal from the patient. Patients were grouped into afebrile and febrile groups, based on initial pulmonary artery temperature. Bias and variability were compared between thermometers using analysis of variance. Clinical bias, but not variability, was significantly different between three ear infrared thermometers (0.16 +/- 0.46 degrees C, 0.07 +/- 0.38 degrees C, and -0.22 +/- 0.47 degrees C). The repeatability was not different between ear infrared thermometers (range 0.13 degrees C to 0.14 degrees C). Rectal temperature had a significantly greater bias (average 0.3 degrees C), but less variability (average 0.2 degrees C). Bias was increased, and variability decreased for both rectal and infrared ear temperatures when pulmonary artery temperature was increased. CONCLUSIONS:The three infrared ear thermometers studied provided a closer estimate of core body temperature than equilibrated rectal temperature. Clinical bias was greatest in febrile vs. afebrile intensive care unit patients.

Preliminary data on the use of infrared emission detection (IRED) tympanic thermometers suggest that operator technique may be important in IRED readings. No systematic investigation of specific technique and available IRED devices has previously been performed. In a prospective, blinded trial, 40 healthy adult subjects using six IRED thermometers with two techniques were examined in random sequence. Differences between IRED tympanic, oral, and rectal temperatures were compared using ANOVA. Significant differences were observed between all temperatures, the IRED devices, and the method of probe insertion. Differences between oral or rectal temperatures and IRED tympanic readings were reduced by an ear tug (as for routine otoscopy) for all but one device. An "ear tug" results in increased IRED readings that may improve accuracy of tympanic thermometers using IRED.

Anticonvulsant management of status epilepticus (SE) may result in respiratory depression, often requiring endotracheal intubation (ETI). By examining rates of ETI in childhood SE after intravenous diazepam or lorazepam, when administered alone or in combination with phenytoin, the influence of anticonvulsants on the frequency of ETI during SE was determined. The medical records of 142 consecutive children younger than 16 years of age admitted from a university hospital ED with seizures during a 28-month period were retrospectively reviewed. SE was identified in 38 (27%) of cases. Records of children with SE were reviewed for demographic, seizure severity, and management variables. Twelve patients were excluded, ten of whom received concomitant phenobarbital. Patients receiving lorazepam had ETI rate of 27% (4/15), compared to 73% (8/11) in the diazepam group (P = 0.026, Fisher's exact). The groups were not significantly different in age, weight, sex, seizure type, seizure duration, and appropriate anticonvulsant dosage. A prospective, randomized trial comparing lorazepam and diazepam is warranted to confirm the apparent advantage of lorazepam in reducing respiratory depression.