Staying InformED: Top emergency Medicine pharmacotherapy articles of 2020

This article is made available for unrestricted research re-use and secondary analysis in any form or by any means with acknowledgement of the original source. These permissions are granted for the duration of the World Health Organization (WHO) declaration of COVID-19 as a global pandemic.The year 2020 was not easy for Emergency Medicine (EM) clinicians with the burden of tackling a pandemic. A large focus, rightfully so, was placed on the evolving diagnosis and management of patients with COVID-19 and, as such, the ability of clinicians to remain up to date on key EM pharmacotherapy literature may have been compromised. This article reviews the most important EM pharmacotherapy publications indexed in 2020. A modified Delphi approach was utilized for selected journals to identify the most impactful EM pharmacotherapy studies. A total of fifteen articles, eleven trials and four meta-analyses, were identified. This review provides a summary of each study, along with a commentary on the impact to the EM literature and EM clinician

Droperidol in the Management of Phantom Limb Pain: Case Report

Introduction: Phantom limb pain (PLP) is a poorly understood phenomenon experienced by amputees. The pain is typically classified as neuropathic, and there is no established first-line therapy. Droperidol is an antipsychotic with a wide array of pharmacologic activity including gamma-aminobutyric acid-A channel modulation, μ opiate receptor potentiation, dopamine-2-receptor blockade, and alpha-2-receptor agonism. Due to this broad therapeutic activity, droperidol is used for many off-label indications. Case Report: Our patient was a 25-year-old male with a history of lower limb amputation who presented for evaluation and management of an acute exacerbation of PLP. On arrival, the patient was in 10/10 pain (numeric pain rating scale) described as cramping and burning. He had been previously successfully managed with subdissociative ketamine. However, during a recent exacerbation he experienced an emergence reaction to ketamine. Literature guiding pharmacotherapy in the management of PLP is sparse and of low quality. Based on the prior emergence reaction to subdissociative ketamine we explored other pharmacotherapy options. Droperidol has a wide array of pharmacologic activity and is used off label for the management of some pain syndromes. Therefore, we administered an intravenous dose of droperidol 5 milligrams. Approximately 15 minutes after receiving droperidol the patient’s pain was visibly improved, and 30 minutes later he rated his pain at 3/10. Conclusion: The success in treating this patient provides encouragement for future research and bolsters confidence that droperidol could be another tool in the management of complex pain syndromes

Inhaled Tranexamic Acid for Massive Hemoptysis in the Setting of Oral Anticoagulation: A Case Report

Introduction: We discuss a case of massive hemoptysis in the setting of a direct-acting oral anticoagulant (DOAC) successfully managed with nebulized tranexamic acid (TXA). Case Report: Per the American College of Cardiology and the American Society of Hematology, it is recommended that significant bleeding associated with a DOAC be treated with either 4-factor prothrombin complex concentrate or andexanet alfa. However, our patient was at high risk for thrombotic complications given a recent pulmonary embolism. Conclusion: We demonstrate that it is reasonable to trial nebulized TXA given its low cost, ease of administration, and safety profile. Additionally, this report discusses a unique dosing strategy and a previously unreported complication associated with nebulization of undiluted TXA.</jats:p

Color vision disturbances secondary to oral tranexamic acid

Abstract Tranexamic acid (TXA) is an antifibrinolytic commonly used to reduce blood loss due to surgical procedures, heavy menstruation, trauma, bleeding disorders, among other uses. Possible adverse reactions associated with TXA include abdominal pain, headache, fatigue, cerebral thrombosis, dizziness, retinal artery occlusion, chromatopsia, and more. We present a case of acute color vision disturbance developed soon after initiation of oral TXA for epistaxis prophylaxis in the setting of factor VII deficiency. To our knowledge we report the only case of color vision disturbance in a pediatric patient and the only case after receiving oral TXA. Soon after discontinuing oral TXA the patient's altered perception of color vision resolved. The patient was subsequently discharged home with a prescription for an alternative antifibrinolytic (aminocaproic acid) and follow‐up with neuro‐ophthalmology

Inhaled Tranexamic Acid for Massive Hemoptysis in the Setting of Oral Anticoagulation: A Case Report

Introduction: We discuss a case of massive hemoptysis in the setting of a direct-acting oral anticoagulant (DOAC) successfully managed with nebulized tranexamic acid (TXA).Case Report: Per the American College of Cardiology and the American Society of Hematology, it is recommended that significant bleeding associated with a DOAC be treated with either 4-factor prothrombin complex concentrate or andexanet alfa. However, our patient was at high risk for thrombotic complications given a recent pulmonary embolism.Conclusion: We demonstrate that it is reasonable to trial nebulized TXA given its low cost, ease of administration, and safety profile. Additionally, this report discusses a unique dosing strategy and a previously unreported complication associated with nebulization of undiluted TXA

Advancements in the management of acute ischemic stroke: A narrative review

Abstract Primary literature detailing updated management principles of acute ischemic stroke outpaces current guidelines, resulting in heterogenous practices. Recent advancements in neuroimaging have shifted treatment from a time‐based approach to an individualized, image‐guided appraisal directed by the presence or absence of salvageable brain tissue. In addition, tenecteplase appears to be a safe and effective for the treatment of acute ischemic stroke and is becoming an attractive agent due to its practical administration. Several factors must be accounted for when implementing tenecteplase into the health‐system including cost, education, and changes in clinician workflows. Larger studies with broad patient populations are needed to more definitively evaluate whether intravenous thrombolytics should be used in combination with endovascular thrombectomy in patients with anterior large‐vessel occlusions. Although debate regarding the safety and efficacy of various endovascular therapies, delays encountered in the identification, triage, and care of acute ischemic stroke patients increase the likelihood of necrotic core lesion development and loss of salvageable penumbra

Occurrence of Hyperbilirubinemia in Neonates Given a Short-term Course of Ceftriaxone versus Cefotaxime for Sepsis

OBJECTIVE Ceftriaxone and cefotaxime are appealing options for the treatment of neonatal infections. Guidelines recommend cefotaxime as the cephalosporin of choice in neonates because of ceftriaxone's potential to cause hyperbilirubinemia. Unfortunately, due to cefotaxime discontinuation, providers must choose between alternative antibiotics. Clinicians at our institution adopted a protocol allowing for the utilization of cefepime and ceftriaxone for the management of neonatal sepsis. The objective of this study was to compare the incidence of hyperbilirubinemia between ceftriaxone and cefotaxime in the treatment of neonatal infections beyond the first 14 days of life. METHODS This was a retrospective chart review of patients receiving ceftriaxone or cefotaxime for the treatment of neonatal infections. Patients were 15 to 30 days old at the time of antimicrobial administration and received at least 1 dose of ceftriaxone or cefotaxime during hospital admission. Patient characteristics and bilirubin levels were compared between ceftriaxone and cefotaxime. RESULTS The analysis included 88 patients. There was no statistically significant difference between groups in age, gestational age, weight, and baseline total calcium and bilirubin levels. Normal baseline bilirubin levels increased to an abnormal level after antibiotic administration in 2 patients in the cefotaxime group and 1 patient in the ceftriaxone group. The median number of doses of cefotaxime and ceftriaxone were 3 and 2, respectively. CONCLUSION Patients who received a short-term course of ceftriaxone did not have a higher likelihood of developing hyperbilirubinemia compared with those who received a short-term course of cefotaxime during their hospital stay. </jats:sec