When Should You Test for and Treat Hypoglycemia in Prehospital Seizure Patients?

Abstract

Objectives. Seizure is a frequent reason for activating the Emergency Medical System (EMS). Little is known about the frequency of seizure caused by hypoglycemia, yet many EMS protocols require glucose testing prior to treatment. We hypothesized that hypoglycemia is rare among EMS seizure patients and glucose testing results in delayed administration of benzodiazepines. Methods. This was a retrospective study of a national ambulance service database encompassing 140 ALS capable EMS systems spanning 40 states and Washington DC. All prehospital calls from August 1, 2010 through December 31, 2012 with a primary or secondary impression of seizure that resulted in patient treatment or transport were included. Median regression with robust and cluster (EMS agency) adjusted standard errors was used to determine if time to benzodiazepine administration was significantly related to blood glucose testing. Results. Of 2,052,534 total calls, 76,584 (3.7%) were for seizure with 53,505 (69.9%) of these having a glucose measurement recorded. Hypoglycemia (blood glucose <60 mg/dL) was present in 638 (1.2%; CI: 1.1, 1.3) patients and 478 (0.9%; CI: 0.8, 1.0) were treated with a glucose product. A benzodiazepine was administered to 73 (11.4%; CI: 9.0, 13.9) of the 638 hypoglycemic patients. Treatment of seizure patients with a benzodiazepine occurred in 6,389 (8.3%; CI: 8.1, 8.5) cases and treatment with a glucose product occurred in 975 (1.3%; CI: 1.2, 1.4) cases. Multivariable median regression showed that obtaining a blood glucose measurement prior to benzodiazepine administration compared to no glucose measurement or glucose measurement after benzodiazepine administration was independently associated with a 2.1 minute (CI: 1.5, 2.8) and 5.9 minute (CI: 5.3, 6.6) delay to benzodiazepine administration by EMS, respectively. Conclusions. Rates of hypoglycemia were very low in patients treated by EMS for seizure. Glucose testing prior to benzodiazepine administration significantly increased the median time to benzodiazepine administration. Given the importance of rapid treatment of seizure in actively seizing patients, measurement of blood glucose prior to treating a seizure with a benzodiazepine is not supported by our study. EMS seizure protocols should be revisited.     

Impact of High-Fidelity Pediatric Simulation on Paramedic Seizure Management

Background: A simulation-based course, Pediatric Simulation Training for Emergency Prehospital Providers (PediSTEPPs), was developed to optimize pediatric prehospital care. Seizures are common in Emergency Medical Services (EMS), and no studies have evaluated pediatric outcomes after EMS simulation training. Objectives: The primary objective was to determine if PediSTEPPs enhances seizure protocol adherence in blood glucose measurement and midazolam administration for seizing children. The secondary objective was to describe management of seizing patients by EMS and Emergency Departments (EDs). Methods: This is a two-year retrospective cohort study of paramedics who transported 0–18 year old seizing patients to ten urban EDs. Management was compared between EMS crews with at least one paramedic who attended PediSTEPPs and crews that had none. Blood glucose measurement, medications administered, intravenous (IV) access, seizure recurrence, and respiratory failure data were collected from databases and run reports. Data were compared using Pearson's χ² test and odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals (categorical) and the Mann-Whitney test (continuous). Results: Of 2200 pediatric transports with a complaint of seizure, 250 (11%) were actively seizing at the time of transport. Of these, 65 (26%) were treated by a PediSTEPPs-trained paramedic. Blood glucose was slightly more likely to be checked by trained than untrained paramedics (OR = 1.35, 95% CI 0.72–2.51). Overall, 58% received an indicated dose of midazolam, and this was slightly more likely in the trained than untrained paramedics (OR = 1.39, 95% CI 0.77–2.49). There were no differences in secondary outcomes between groups. The prevalence of hypoglycemia was low (2%). Peripheral IVs were attempted in 80%, and midazolam was predominantly given by IV (68%) and rectal (12%) routes, with 51% receiving a correct dose. Seizures recurred in 22%, with 34% seizing on ED arrival. Respiratory failure occurred in the prehospital setting in 25 (10%) patients in the study. Conclusion: Simulation-based training on pediatric seizure management may have utility. Data support the need to optimize the route and dose of midazolam for seizing children. Blood glucose measurement in seizure protocols may warrant reprioritization due to low hypoglycemia prevalence.     

Retrospective Evaluation of Risk Factors for Pediatric Secondary Transport

Objective: Emergency medical services (EMS) typically transports patients to the nearest emergency department (ED). After initial presentation, children who require specialized care must undergo secondary transport, exposing them to additional risks and delaying definitive treatment. EMS direct transport protocols exist for major trauma and certain adult medical conditions, however the same cannot be said for pediatric medical conditions or injuries that do not meet trauma center criteria (‘minor trauma’). To explore the utility of such future protocols, we sought to first describe the pediatric secondary transport population and examine prehospital risk factors for secondary transport. Methods: Pediatric secondary transport patients aged 0–18 years were identified. Patients meeting state EMS trauma protocol criteria or who were clinically unstable were excluded. Data were abstracted by chart review of EMS, community hospital ED, and specialty hospital records. Patients were compared to control patients with similar conditions who did not require secondary transport. Results: This study identified 211 medical or minor trauma pediatric secondary transport patients between 2013 and 2014. The three most prevalent conditions were seizure (n = 52), isolated orthopedic injury (n = 49), and asthma/respiratory distress (n = 27). Increased odds of secondary transport for seizure patients were associated with administration of supplemental oxygen, glucose measurement, and online medical direction; for isolated orthopedic injuries, online medical direction; and for asthma/respiratory distress, administration of supplemental oxygen, and online medical direction. Decreased odds of secondary transport for seizure patients were associated with a higher GCS; for isolated orthopedic injuries, increased age and oxygen saturation; and for asthma/respiratory distress, administration of albuterol only. Conclusions: Children with seizures, isolated orthopedic injuries, and asthma/respiratory distress comprised the majority of the medical or minor trauma pediatric secondary transport population. Each of those conditions had specific risk factors for secondary transport. This study's results provide information to guide future prospective studies and the development of direct transport protocols for those populations.     

Hypoglycemia Emergencies: Factors Associated with Prehospital Care,Transportation Status,Emergency Department Disposition,and Cost

Objectives: The objectives of this study were to evaluate demographic/clinical characteristics and treatment/transportation decisions by emergency medical services (EMS) for patients with hypoglycemia and link EMS activations to patient disposition, outcomes, and costs to the emergency medical system. This evaluation was to identify potential areas where improvements in prehospital healthcare could be made. Methods: This was a retrospective analysis of the National Emergency Medical Services Information System (NEMSIS) registry and three national surveys: Nationwide Emergency Department Sample (NEDS), National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NHAMCS), and Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) from 2013, to examine care of hypoglycemia from the prehospital and the emergency department (ED) perspectives. Results: The study estimated 270,945 hypoglycemia EMS incidents from the NEMSIS registry. Treatments were consistent with national guidelines (i.e., oral glucose, intravenous [IV] dextrose, or glucagon), and patients were more likely to be transported to the ED if the incident was in a rural setting or they had other chief concerns related to the pulmonary or cardiovascular system. Use of IV dextrose decreased the likelihood of transportation. Approximately 43% of patients were not transported from the scene. Data from the NEDS survey estimated 258,831 ED admissions for hypoglycemia, and 41% arrived by ambulance. The median ambulance expenditure was $664?±?98. From the ED, 74% were released. The average ED charge that did not lead to hospital admission was $3106?±?86. Increased odds of overnight admission included infection and acute renal failure. Conclusions: EMS activations for hypoglycemia are sizeable and yet a considerable proportion of patients are not transported to or are discharged from the ED. Seemingly, these events resolved and were not medically complex. It is possible that implementation and appropriate use of EMS treat-and-release protocols along with utilizing programs to educate patients on hypoglycemia risk factors and emergency preparedness could partially reduce the burden of hypoglycemia to the healthcare system.     

D10 in the Treatment of Prehospital Hypoglycemia: A 24 Month Observational Cohort Study

Introduction: Prehospital first responders historically have used an IV bolus of 50 mL of 50% dextrose solution (D50) for the treatment of hypoglycemia in the field. A local Emergency Medical Services (EMS) system recently approved a hypoglycemia treatment protocol of IV 10% dextrose solution (D10) due to occasional shortages and higher cost of D50. We use the experience of this EMS system to report the feasibility, safety, and efficacy of this approach. Methods: Over the course of 104 weeks, paramedics treated 1,323 hypoglycemic patients with D10 and recorded patient demographics and clinical outcomes. Of these, 1,157 (87.5%) patients were treated with 100 mL of D10 initially upon EMS arrival, and full data on response to treatment was available on 871 (75%) of these 1,157. We captured the 871 patients’ capillary glucose response to initial infusion of 100 mL of D10 and fit a linear regression line between elapsed time and difference between initial and repeat glucose values. We also explored the need for repeat glucose infusions as well as feasibility, and safety. Results: The study cohort included 469 men and 402 women with a median age of 66. The median initial field blood glucose was 37 mg/dL, while the subsequent blood glucose had a median of 91 mg/dL. The median time to second glucose testing was eight minutes after beginning the 100mL D10 infusion. Of 871 patients, 200 (23.0%) required an additional dose of IV D10 solution due to persistent or recurrent hypoglycemia and seven (0.8%) patients required a third dose. There were no reported deaths or other adverse events related to D10 administration for hypoglycemia. Linear regression analysis of elapsed time and difference between initial and repeat glucose values showed near-zero correlation. Conclusions: The results of one local EMS system over a 104-week period demonstrate the feasibility, safety, and efficacy of using 100 mL of D10 as an alternative to D50. D50 may also have theoretical risks including extravasation injury, direct toxic effects of hypertonic dextrose, and potential neurotoxic effects of hyperglycemia. Additionally, our data suggest that there may be little or no short-term decrease in blood glucose results after D10 administration.     

Utilization of Intravenous Catheters by Prehospital Providers during Pediatric Transports

Introduction: Prehospital intravenous (IV) access in children may be difficult and time-consuming. Emergency Medical Service (EMS) protocols often dictate IV placement; however, some IV catheters may not be needed. The scene and transport time associated with attempting IV access in children is unknown. The objective of this study is to examine differences in scene and transport times associated with prehospital IV catheter attempt and utilization patterns of these catheters during pediatric prehospital encounters. Methods: Three non-blinded investigators abstracted EMS and hospital records of children 0–18 years of age transported by EMS to a pediatric emergency department (ED). We compared patients in which prehospital IV access was attempted to those with no documented attempt. Our primary outcome was scene time. Secondary outcomes include utilization of the IV catheter in the prehospital and ED settings and a determination of whether the catheter was indicated based on a priori established criteria (prehospital IV medication administration, hypotension, GCS < 13, and ICU admission). Results: We reviewed 1,138 records, 545 meeting inclusion criteria. IV catheter placement was attempted in 27% (n = 149) with success in 77% (n = 111). There was no difference in the presence of hypotension or median GCS between groups. Mean scene time (12.5 vs. 11.8 minutes) and transport time (16.9 vs. 14.6 minutes) were similar. Prehospital IV medications were given in 38.7% (43/111). One patient received a prehospital IV medication with no alternative route of administration. Among patients with a prehospital IV attempt, 31% (46/149) received IV medications in the ED and 23% (34/396) received IV fluids in the ED. Mean time to use of the IV in the ED was 70 minutes after arrival. Patients with prehospital IV attempt were more likely to receive IV medication within 30 minutes of ED arrival (39.1% vs. 19.0%, p = 0.04). Overall, 34.2% of IV attempts were indicated. Conclusions: Prehospital IV catheter placement in children is not associated with an increase in scene or transport time. Prehospital IV catheters were used in approximately one-third of patients. Further study is needed to determine which children may benefit most from IV access in the prehospital setting.     

Pediatric Use of Emergency Medical Services: The Role of Chronic Illnesses and Behavioral Health Problems

Objective: The increasing use of prehospital emergency medical services (EMS) and its contribution to rising emergency department use and healthcare costs point to the need for better understanding factors associated with EMS use to inform preventive interventions. Understanding patient factors associated with pediatric use of EMS will inform pediatric-specific intervention. We examined pediatric patient demographic and health factors associated with one-time and repeat use of EMS. Methods: We reviewed data from Baltimore City Fire Department EMS patient records over a 23-month period (2008–10) for patients under 21 years of age (n = 24,760). Repeat use was defined as involvement in more than one EMS incident during the observation period. Analyses compared demographics of EMS users to the city population and demographics and health problems of repeat and one-time EMS users. Health comparisons were conducted at the patient and incident levels of analysis. Results: Repeat users (n = 1,931) accounted for 9.0% of pediatric users and 20.8% of pediatric incidents, and were over-represented among the 18–20 year age group and among females. While trauma accounted for approximately one-quarter of incidents, repeat versus one-time users had a lower proportion of trauma-related incidents (7.2% vs. 26.7%) and higher proportion of medical-related incidents (92.6% vs. 71.4%), including higher proportions of incidents related to asthma, seizures, and obstetric/gynecologic issues. In patient-level analysis, based on provider or patient reports, greater proportions of repeat compared to one-time users had asthma, behavioral health problems (mental, conduct and substance use problems), seizures, and diabetes. Conclusions: Chronic somatic conditions and behavioral health problems appear to contribute to a large proportion of the repeat pediatric use of this EMS system. Interventions may be needed to engage repeat users in primary care and behavioral health services, to train EMS providers on the recognition and management of behavioral health emergencies, and to improve family care and self-management of pediatric asthma and other chronic conditions.     

Ethanol-associated Hypoglycemia Is Uncommon

Objective: To determine the association of ethanol intoxication with hypoglycemia in ED patients. Methods: Retrospective, laboratory log review of 953 consecutive patients who were evaluated for ethanol intoxication in an urban university hospital ED over a three-month period. Simultaneous serum glucose determination was carried out for each patient and associations between ethanol level and glucose were sought. Results: Glucose concentrations were unavailable for 16 patients (1.7%). Of the remaining patients, 584 patients had detectable ethanol concentrations (ethanol-positive), and 353 had no detectable ethanol (ethanol-negative). Ethanol concentrations (mean ± SD) in the ethanol-positive group were 50.11 ± 24.08 mmol/L (231 ± 111 mg/dL), and glucose concentrations were 5.83 ± 1.94 mmol/L (105 ± 35 mg/dL). Hypoglycemia [glucose <3.72 mmol/L (67 mg/dL)] was observed for five (0.9%) ethanol-positive patients. It was classified as mild-moderate [2.78–3.66 mmol/L (50–66 mg/dL)] for four patients (0.7%) and severe [<2.78 mmol/L (50 mg/dL)] for one (0.2%). Ethanol concentrations ranged from 25.60 to 68.33 mmol/L (118 to 315 mg/ dL). There was no correlation between ethanol and glucose concentrations in any subset of the ethanol-positive patient population. In the ethanol-positive group, patients who had several ethanol-positive visits (56 patients, mean 3.6 visits/patient) accounted for four of the five episodes of hypoglycemia, including the one episode of severe hypoglycemia. The frequency of hypoglycemia in repeat visitors (2.0%) was higher than that in the group of patients without repeat visits (0.2%). In the ethanol-negative group, there were four (1.1%) episodes of mild-moderate hypoglycemia and no severely hypoglycemic patient. Hypoglycemia was not more likely to occur among ethanol-positive patients than it was among ethanol-negative patients. Conclusion: Hypoglycemia was uncommonly associated with ethanol intoxication, and was found almost exclusively among patients with several ethanol-positive visits. Glucose and ethanol concentrations do not show any linear correlation; patients with higher ethanol concentrations are not at higher risk of hypoglycemia. Hypoglycemia is not more likely to occur in ethanol-positive than in ethanol-negative patients. Initial glucose screening does not appear to be necessary for all patients suspected of intoxication; selective screening may be more appropriate.     

A prospective evaluation of glucose reagent teststrips in the prehospital setting

Reagent teststrip determination of blood glucose has been shown to be accurate for hospital and home testing and is commonly used in prehospital care despite the lack of studies in this arena. This prospective, multicenter study examines the ability of glucose reagent teststrips to detect hypoglycemia when used under field conditions compared with simultaneously drawn control samples for laboratory glucose determination. Also examined was the accuracy of the teststrips in the laboratory glucose range less than or equal to 200 mg/dL. One hundred eighty-one pairs of data were analyzed. Hypoglycemia was defined as laboratory glucose less than or equal to 60 mg/dL. The teststrips correctly identified 31 of 33 patients in this range (sensitivity = 94%), and 125 of 148 patients without hypoglycemia (specificity = 85%). The two false negative readings were 70 and 90 mg/dL. Reagent teststrips were within +/- 40 mg/dL of the laboratory value in 70% of cases. The correlation coefficient (Spearman r) between teststrip and laboratory glucose in the range less than or equal to 200 mg/dL was .80. Using teststrip readings of 90 mg/dL or less as a measure of hypoglycemia yields 100% sensitivity with a specificity of 57%. We conclude glucose reagent teststrips are a useful adjunct for use in the prehospital setting and may be valuable for the detection of hypoglycemia.     

Hypoglycemia Patients and Transport by EMS in Alameda County, 2013–15

Objective: To estimate the rate, characteristics, and dispositions of hypoglycemia events among persons who received care from Alameda County, California, Emergency Medical Services (EMS). Methods: This study was based on data for 601,077 Alameda County EMS encounters during 2013–15. Subjects were defined as having hypoglycemia if EMS personnel recorded a primary impression of hypoglycemia or low blood glucose (<60 mg/dl or “unspecified low”). The outcome of interest was patient transport or non-transport to an emergency department or other care setting; we excluded 33,177 (6%) encounters which lacked clear disposition outcomes. Results: Among 567,900 eligible encounters, 8,332 (1.47%) were attributed to hypoglycemia, of which 1,125 (13.5%) were not transported. Non-transport was more likely among males, adult patients age <60, initial blood glucose >60 mg/dl or EMS arrival time 18:00–6:00. Conclusions: Without an understanding of EMS encounters and non-transport rates, surveillance based solely on emergency department and hospital data will significantly underestimate rates of severe hypoglycemia. Additionally, given that hypoglycemia is often safely and effectively treated by non-physicians, EMS protocols should provide guidance for non-transport of hypoglycemic patients whose blood glucose levels have normalized.     

An Evidence-based Guideline for Pediatric Prehospital Seizure Management Using GRADE Methodology

Abstract

Objective. The objective of this guideline is to recommend evidence-based practices for timely prehospital pediatric seizure cessation while avoiding respiratory depression and seizure recurrence. Methods. A multidisciplinary panel was chosen based on expertise in pediatric emergency medicine, prehospital medicine, and/or evidence-based guideline development. The panel followed the National Prehospital EBG Model using the GRADE methodology to formulate questions, retrieve evidence, appraise the evidence, and formulate recommendations. The panel members initially searched the literature in 2009 and updated their searches in 2012. The panel finalized a draft of a patient care algorithm in 2012 that was presented to stakeholder organizations to gather feedback for necessary revisions. Results. Five strong and ten weak recommendations emerged from the process; all but one was supported by low or very low quality evidence. The panel sought to ensure that the recommendations promoted timely seizure cessation while avoiding respiratory depression and seizure recurrence. The panel recommended that all patients in an active seizure have capillary blood glucose checked and be treated with intravenous (IV) dextrose or intramuscular (IM) glucagon if <60 mg/dL (3 mmol/L). The panel also recommended that non-IV routes (buccal, IM, or intranasal) of benzodiazepines (0.2 mg/kg) be used as first-line therapy for status epilepticus, rather than the rectal route. Conclusions. Using GRADE methodology, we have developed a pediatric seizure guideline that emphasizes the role of capillary blood glucometry and the use of buccal, IM, or intranasal benzodiazepines over IV or rectal routes. Future research is needed to compare the effectiveness and safety of these medication routes.     

Hypoglycemia in multiple trauma victims

The typical presentation of hypoglycemia involves a diaphoretic patient with a history of diabetes mellitus who is found with an altered mental status. The hypoglycemic patient's presentation may lead the physician to believe that the altered mentation may have been caused by some other condition. Hypoglycemia occurs rarely in the traumatic setting, yet is easily and rapidly diagnosed with bedside testing. A retrospective review was conducted in a university hospital emergency department (ED) (level 1 trauma center) of adult trauma patients with a Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score of <15 who had presented from July 1995 through August 1996. Hypoglycemia was defined as a serum glucose level of <60 mg/dL. A total of 926 patients (49% of all trauma cases encountered in the period) met entry criteria. Four (0.4%) cases of hypoglycemia were encountered in 1 nondiabetic and 3 diabetic patients; no patient had medical alert warnings. Rapid bedside screening identified 2 cases within a mean of 7 minutes after arrival; 1 patient had an improvement in mental status after dextrose therapy. Two cases were identified by formal laboratory analysis a mean of 35 minutes after ED arrival; dextrose therapy improved the mental status in 1 patient. These results show that hypoglycemia, rare in trauma patients with abnormal GCS scores, may mimic significant traumatic injury with mental status alterations. Physicians should consider such a diagnosis in patients with an abnormal GCS score and known risk situations for hypoglycemia, including diabetes mellitus and chronic alcohol use; in such cases, appropriate bedside screening should be performed after initial stabilization.     

Predictors of seizure recurrence in emergency department pediatric patients with first-onset afebrile seizure: A retrospective observational study

IntroductionThe primary goals of emergency department (ED) clinicians when dealing with a pediatric patient experiencing a seizure are to control the seizure and prevent seizure-related complications. After stabilizing the patient, the clinician should determine whether the patient is likely to have recurrent seizures that may need treatment such as antiepileptic drugs (AEDs). The early identification of pediatric seizure patients at high risk for recurrence can be of great help in consulting with their parents. This study aimed to identify predictors of seizure recurrence in pediatric patients who visited the ED for first-onset afebrile seizure.MethodsThis retrospective study was conducted with pediatric patients aged 1 month to 18 years who visited our ED for afebrile seizure from January 2016 to March 2020. Children with a known seizure disorder, known underlying genetic or metabolic disorder, or acute trauma history, and those lost to follow-up were excluded. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to identify factors associated with seizure recurrence.ResultsA total of 253 pediatric patients were included in the study. Seizure recurrence was observed in 117 patients (46.3%). From the multivariable logistic regression analysis, older age at onset (11–15 years, odds ratio [OR] 5.781, p = 0.001; 16–18 years, OR 6.223, p = 0.002), a longer seizure duration (1–5 min, OR 3.043, p = 0.002; 6–10 min, OR 5.629, p = 0.002; >10 min, OR 8.882, p = 0.002), blood pH under 7.2 (OR 8.308, p = 0.015), and a glucose level over 144 mg/dL (OR 6.408, p = 0.030) were significantly associated with seizure recurrence. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for the multivariable logistic regression analysis was 0.774.ConclusionAge at onset ≥11 years, a longer seizure duration, acidosis, and hyperglycemia were predictors of seizure recurrence in children who had experienced first-onset afebrile seizure.     

P REHOSPITAL R APID-SEQUENCE I NTUBATION

Prehospital pain management has become an important emergency medical services (EMS) patient care issue. Objectives. To describe the frequency of EMS andemergency department (ED) analgesic administration to injured children; to describe factors associated with the administration of analgesia by EMS; andto assess whether children with lower-extremity fractures receive analgesia as frequently as do adults with similar injuries. Methods. This was a retrospective study of children (age < 21 years) who were transported by EMS between January 2000 andJune 2002 andhad a final hospital diagnosis of extremity fractures or burns. Secondarily, children with lower-extremity fractures were compared with a cohort of EMS-transported adults with similar injuries andtransported during the same study period. Receipt of andtime of parenteral analgesia were recorded. Results. Seventy-three children met the inclusion criteria. The mean (range) age of this sample was 12.4 (0.9–21) years, with only four patients aged < 5 years. A majority of the patients were male (49/73, 67.1%) andsustained femur (20/73, 27.4%) or tibia/fibula (26/73, 35.6%) fractures. Few pediatric patients received prehospital analgesia (16/73, 21.9%), while a majority received analgesia in the ED (58/73, 79.4%). Prehospital analgesia was associated with earlier patient treatment than that administered in the ED (22.3 ± 5.9 min vs. 88.3 ± 38.2 min). Comparing children (n = 33) with adults (n = 76) with similar lower-extremity fractures, a small insignificant difference was found in the rate of prehospital analgesia between children andadults (7/33, 21.2%, vs. 20/56, 26.3%). Conclusion. Few pediatric patients receive prehospital analgesia, although most ultimately received ED analgesia. Few factors were identified that could be associated with EMS oligoanalgesia. No difference was found between children andadults in the rates of EMS analgesia.     

Determination of prehospital blood glucose: A prospective, controlled study

Study Objective: To determine if emergency medical personnel can effectively rule out hypoglycemia in the prehospital setting. Design: During a 10-week period, emergency medical personnel determined the fingerstick glucose on all prehospital patients with altered mental status using the Chemstrip bG®. Statistical comparisons were made to serum glucose levels performed by hospital laboratory personnel on blood samples obtained prior to glucose administration. A serum glucose level less than 60 mg/dL was considered a positive test for hypoglycemia. Participants: 170 consecutive patients with altered mental status (AMS) ranging in age from 13 to 90 years were enrolled. Measurements and Main Results: Of these patients, 158 were normal or hyperglycemic, 12 were hypoglycemic, and one patient was hypoglycemic but had only a borderline negative fingerstick test. Thus, a sensitivity of 91.7% and a negative predictive value of 99.3% were obtained. The specificity was 92.4%, and positive predictive value was 47.8%. Conclusion: The Chemstrip bG may be used safely in the prehospital setting to rule out hypoglycemia.     

Characterization of Children with Septic Shock Cared for by Emergency Medical Services

Objective: To inform the future development of a pediatric prehospital sepsis tool, we sought to 1) describe the characteristics, emergent care, and outcomes for children with septic shock who are transported by emergency medicine services (EMS) and compare them to those self-transported; and 2) determine the EMS capture rate of common sepsis screening parameters and the concordance between the parameters documented in the EMS record and in the emergency department (ED) record. Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study of children ages 0 through 21 years who presented to a pediatric ED with septic shock between 11/2013 and 06/2016. Data, collected by electronic and manual chart review of EMS and ED records, included demographics, initial vital signs in both EMS and ED records, ED triage level, site of initial ED care, ED disposition, ED therapeutic interventions, outcomes, and times associated with processes. Potential screening parameters were dichotomized as normal vs. abnormal based on age-dependent normative data. Results: Of the children with septic shock treated in our ED, 19.3% arrived via EMS. These children as compared to those self-transported were more likely (i.e., p?<?0.05) to be male, have public insurance, receive initial care in the ED resuscitation suite, be hypotensive on arrival, receive their first ED fluid bolus sooner (33 vs. 58?minutes), receive vasoactive agents, be mechanically ventilated in the first 24?hours, and have slightly longer length of hospital stays. Both groups had similar times to antibiotics. While poor outcomes were rare, the 3- and 30-day mortalities were similar for both groups. EMS capture rates were highest for heart rate and respiratory rate and lowest for temperature, glucose, and blood pressure. Interrater reliability was highest for heart rate. Conclusions: Children presenting to the ED with septic shock transported by EMS represent a critically ill subset of modest proportions. Realization of a sepsis screening tool for this vulnerable population will require both creation of a tool containing a limited subset of objective parameters along with processes to ensure capture.     

Hypoglycemia presenting as acute respiratory failure in an infant

Hypoglycemia, a common metabolic abnormality seen in the pediatric population, is most often easily diagnosed and rapidly treated with satisfactory outcome. If not recognized and treated in prompt fashion, however, hypoglycemia may cause irreversible central nervous system injury or expose the patient to unnecessary procedures; it rarely results in death. The classic emergency department (ED) presentation of hypoglycemia, the diabetes mellitus patient using hypoglycemia therapy, is frequently encountered and adequately managed with excellent outcome. Alternatively, the patient may present to the ED in a fashion suggestive of a situation other than hypoglycemia. For example, the patient with an altered sensorium following a traumatic event, with a focal neurologic finding, or with bradycardia—all situations in which hypoglycemia is the causative issue—may not be immediately recognized as such a metabolic problem. This report presents a case of a 9-month-old boy who presented with acute respiratory failure and mental status change; the initial ED impression was one of pneumonia with sepsis. Further evaluation uncovered the actual reason for the mental status change and respiratory insufficiency: hypoglycemia was noted on laboratory analysis; no clinical evidence of pneumonia was found after thorough ED evaluation and a prolonged hospital stay. His mental status improved and his respiratory insufficiency resolved after glucose therapy. No other explanation for the respiratory failure was found during the hospital admission. It is imperative that the emergency physician consider hypoglycemia in all patients with any degree of mental status abnormality, even when the findings seem to be explained initially by other etiologies.     

Ethanol Ingestion and Related Hypoglycemia in a Pediatric and Adolescent Emergency Department Population

Objective: To estimate the frequency of associated hypoglycemia in an ethanol-ingesting pediatric and adolescent population.
Methods: The study was a retrospective review of nondiabetic pediatric and adolescent patients with measurable ethanol levels (i.e., >2 mmol/L) who had an ED serum glucose level determined.
Results: Over the four-and-a-half-year study period, there were 254,234 pediatric visits. One hundred eleven had ethanol levels determined (0.044% of patients) due to suspected ingestion. Of these 111, 88 had glucose levels determined. The mean age of the 88 patients was 14 years, with a mean glucose level of 5.6 mmol/ L [101 mg/dL; interquartile range (IQR) 4.7-6.3 mmol/L] and a mean ethanol level of 30 mmol/L (IQR 15–43 mmol/L). Glucose levels were < 67 mg/dL (hypoglycemia) in three of the 88 (3.4%) ethanol-positive patients; all the hypoglycemic patients had significant behavioral changes.
Conclusion: In this large retrospective series, the number of patients for whom the clinical suspicion of ethanol ingestion was confirmed was quite small. Hypoglycemia occurred in only 3.4% of these selected patients; all had altered behavior. Pediatric patients with presentations suggesting ethanol intoxication with altered behavior should be assessed for concurrent hypoglycemia.