Contemporary Application of Point-of-Care Echocardiography in the Emergency Department

Point-of-care echocardiography is revolutionizing the management of patients presenting with undifferentiated shock and cardiac arrest in the emergency department (ED). Its primary purpose is to aid the clinician in rapidly ruling in and ruling out life-threatening diagnoses at the bedside. In addition, it has become an important component of the clinical examination for stable patients seen in the ED with nonspecific signs and symptoms such as shortness of breath or syncope. Although first described to facilitate the diagnosis of pericardial effusions and cardiac standstill, ED echocardiography has since evolved and is now widely used by emergency physicians to help diagnose other important cardiovascular pathologic conditions that may be contributing to undifferentiated shock, such as left ventricular failure and right ventricular dilatation resulting from pulmonary embolism. The use of echocardiography in the ED continues to expand, with advanced applications that include valvular assessment, diastolic dysfunction, and regional wall motion abnormalities, as well as the use of point-of-care transesophageal echocardiography. As the diffusion of these new skills continues and becomes routine, it will alter the practice of emergency medicine and the interaction with consulting cardiologists.     

Bedside echocardiography by emergency physicians

STUDY OBJECTIVE: Timely diagnosis of a pericardial effusion is often critical in the emergency medicine setting, and echocardiography provides the only reliable method of diagnosis at the bedside. We attempt to determine the accuracy of bedside echocardiography as performed by emergency physicians to detect pericardial effusions in a variety of high-risk populations. METHODS: Emergency patients presenting with high-risk criteria for the diagnosis of pericardial effusion underwent emergency bedside 2-dimensional echocardiography by emergency physicians who were trained in ultrasonography. The presence or absence of a pericardial effusion was determined, and all images were captured on video or as thermal images. All emergency echocardiograms were subsequently reviewed by the Department of Cardiology for the presence of a pericardial effusion. RESULTS: During the study period, a total of 515 patients at high risk were enrolled. Of these, 103 patients were ultimately deemed to have a pericardial effusion according to the comparative standard. Emergency physicians detected pericardial effusion with a sensitivity of 96% (95% confidence interval [CI] 90.4% to 98.9%), specificity of 98% (95% CI 95.8% to 99.1%), and overall accuracy of 97.5% (95% CI 95.7% to 98.7%). CONCLUSION: Echocardiography performed by emergency physicians is reliable in evaluating for pericardial effusions; this bedside diagnostic tool may be used to examine specific patients at high risk. Emergency departments incorporating bedside ultrasonography should teach focused echocardiography to evaluate the pericardium.     

Clinical Use of Ischemic Markers and Echocardiography in the Emergency Department

We searched the medical literature for articles containing markers of cardiac ischemia and echocardiography in the evaluation of patients presenting to the emergency department to determine their combined clinical use. Several published articles indicate two-dimensional echocardiography is a useful and cost-effective imaging technique for the evaluation of patients with chest pain in the emergency department. New studies are emerging that evaluate ischemic markers in combination with echocardiography to assess patients presenting to the emergency department with chest pain. We searched the MEDLINE Database for English-language articles published from December 1980 to August 1998 using the key words troponin, echocardiography, myocardial infarction, and emergency. These key words were crossed referenced to determine publications in this area. Pertinent trials and reviews were selected from the database. There were six articles evaluating biochemical markers of ischemia and echocardiography to assess patients presenting with acute coronary syndromes in the emergency department. Very few studies combined the information obtained from novel ischemic markers and echocardiogram analysis to help delineate potential cardiac etiologies of acute coronary syndromes. However, the limited studies available indicate that echocardiography is both sensitive and specific for detecting acute myocardial infarction. The presence of regional wall motion abnormalities increases the chance of in-hospital complications and likelihood of developing congestive heart failure after admission for unstable angina. The combined use of troponin T levels and echocardiographic imaging was a more powerful predictor of adverse events than were isolated results. Myocardial scarring with ventricular wall thinning or aneurysm may allow for rapid diagnosis of 'occult' coronary artery disease in a patient presenting with chest pain who does not have a previous history of a cardiovascular event. Echocardiography may also help identify other cardiovascular causes of chest pain, such as aortic dissection, aortic stenosis, cardiac tamponade, pericarditis, and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. The clinical use of combining ischemic markers of disease with echocardiographic imaging seems justified given their unique clinical advantages. Future clinical trials are needed to determine whether the combination of novel ischemic markers and echocardiography can provide for a more expedient and accurate diagnosis, resulting in improved patient care and a safe reduction in unnecessary hospitalization.     

Emergency department presentations of transverse myelitis: two case reports

Transverse myelitis, a diagnosis that may be made in the emergency department (ED) by emergency physicians, can be difficult to diagnose because of its variable signs and symptoms and its poorly understood pathogenesis. In this article, we recount 2 cases of transverse myelitis to demonstrate its presentation, diagnosis, and management in the ED.     

Echocardiography in the Emergency Room

Echocardiography in the emergency room presents exciting practice possibilities that can facilitate prompt and reliable diagnostic evaluations in patients with suspected cardiovascular emergencies. Echocardiography has the diagnostic potentials to evaluate the entire spectrum of cardiovascular abnormalities short of delineating coronary anatomy and evaluation of the conduction system. By reliably assessing the global and regional function, visualizing the cardiovascular structures from multiple tomographic planes, and quantitating hemodynamic abnormalities, echocardiography should be able to assist emergency room physician's evaluation and triage of the patients with chest pain syndrome, unexplained dyspnea, hypotension, shock, chest trauma, and cardiac arrest, whereby hopefully minimizing the unnecessary admission to the hospital and facilitating inhospital evaluation of the admitted patients with echocardiographic information. However, the optimal echocardiography practice in the emergency room requires well trained sonographers and echocardiographers who can respond to the clinical needs at anytime. Whether an emergency room physician can perform and interpret echocardiographic examinations satisfactorily will depend on his/her level of training and continuing education in this area. Currently, there is no established guideline for performing echocardiography in the emergency room. Further clinical investigations are necessary to define the most optimal and economical utilization of this versatile imaging and hemodynamic diagnostic modality in the emergency room.     

Emergency transvenous cardiac pacing placement using ultrasound guidance

STUDY OBJECTIVE: We describe 9 patients who underwent ultrasound-guided transvenous cardiac pacing in which ultrasonographic imaging was used to assist and confirm the placement of electrode catheters within the right ventricle. METHODS: We prospectively enrolled consecutive patients with complete heart block who received emergency ultrasound-assisted transvenous cardiac pacing (TVCP). Emergency physicians performed both ultrasound scanning and placement of the TVCP electrodes at a busy urban teaching medical center. RESULTS: Real-time ultrasound-guided TVCP was successful in 8 (88.9%) of the 9 patients studied. The pacing catheter was not adequately visualized in 1 patient who ultimately required placement by a cardiologist. Echocardiography was useful in identifying pacing catheter misplacement and subsequent successful repositioning in 3 patients. CONCLUSION: Emergency physicians should be aware that ultrasound technology could be useful in assisting TVCP in the emergency department setting. Further investigation is required to adequately evaluate this modality as a new indication for ED echocardiography.     

The emerging role of echocardiography in the emergency department

Cardiac ultrasound quickly provides both anatomic and physiologic assessment of the heart at the bedside, permitting rapid diagnosis and triage of patients presenting to the emergency department with chest pain, hypotension, or dyspnea. The identification and quantification of left ventricular dysfunction by ultrasound allows effective determination of prognosis and, thus, may supplant the ECG in patient triage. Transesophageal echocardiography definitively identifies the presence of thoracic aortic dissections, and this information may be obtained more immediately than by other imaging methods. Emergency physicians should have, at a minimum, sufficient knowledge of echocardiography to know when it is applicable to a patient problem. It may be feasible for noncardiologists to gain sufficient proficiency in echocardiography to use the technique as a screening procedure in the emergency department setting.     

Emergency bedside echocardiography as a tool for early detection and clinical decision making in cases of suspected pulmonary embolism--a case report

Massive pulmonary embolism (PE) constitutes the most unexpected cause of death in necropsy. Consequently, prompt diagnosis and treatment is considered imperative. This article reports the case of a 37-year-old man who presented with cardiogenic shock due to PE as detected with bedside echocardiography in the emergency department. The authors wish to emphasize the usefulness of emergency bedside echo-Doppler for a prompt diagnosis and treatment of this life threatening condition.     

Do Internists and Emergency Physicians Agree on the Appropriateness of Emergency Department Visits?

The purpose of this study was to determine the levels of agreement between three methods of assessing appropriateness of emergency department (ED) visits. In particular, we tested the agreement between internists and emergency physicians reviewing the ED nurses' triage notes, containing information that might be available by telephone to an internist. For 892 adult patient ED visits reviewed, we found only moderate agreement ( κ = 0.47) between these groups. In cases of disagreement, emergency physicians were 10.3 times more likely than internists to classify those with minor discharge diagnoses as appropriate for ED care. As managed care grows, the determination of ED appropriateness may depend on open discussions between physician groups, as well as on access to timely care in office settings.     

The Role of the Emergency Department in the Patient with Acute Heart Failure

The diagnosis and management of the patient with acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) presents a unique challenge to the emergency medicine (EM) physician. ADHF is one of the most common cardiac emergencies managed in the emergency department (ED). ED presentations for ADHF will grow as survival rates after myocardial infarction continue to increase and thus, the incidence and prevalence of heart failure (HF) increases. There are very little data to aid EM physicians when trying to identify low-risk patients who are safe for ED discharge and observation units are not yet universally utilized. This results in 80 % of patients with ADHF getting admitted to the hospital. The aim of this review is to evaluate current strategies for diagnosis, treatment, and disposition of the ADHF patient in the ED while highlighting new approaches for treatment and disposition, and areas in need of additional research.     

Emergency physicians' responses to families following patient death

Responses of emergency physicians when they interact with families after a death and their subsequent contact with survivors were examined. Questionnaires were sent to 138 Oregon emergency physicians and completed by 114 (83%). The number of deaths (mean +/- SD) encountered by emergency physicians was 17 +/- 15 per year. The majority of physicians (76%) usually notified the family in person and spent an average of 15 +/- 11 minutes with the family. Subsequent contact with survivors, such as sending sympathy cards, making follow-up calls, or reporting autopsy results, was relatively infrequent. While 94% of our sample group reported a need for training in this area, less than one half received any training during medical school or residency. We suggest implementation of educational programs for physicians and development of outreach programs for survivors.     

Empfehlungen zur Notfallechokardiographie

The German recommendations on emergency echocardiography set up and propose standards for ultrasound equipment, execution, documentation, data storage, interpretation of the results as well as education and training of physicians performing echocardiography in the emergency setting. Emergency echocardiography is defined as a comprehensive diagnostic procedure performed by cardiologists or physicians who are able to independently perform echocardiography and its documentation and to interpret the results unaided. In contrast, focused sonography of the heart is an informative, focused diagnostic measure in emergencies which does not adequately conform to the quality standards of emergency echocardiography. The recommendations describe the echocardiographic approach and procedure in cardiovascular diseases, such as acute myocardial infarction, pulmonary embolism, pericardial tamponade, acute heart valve diseases, endocarditis, aortic dissection, thoracic trauma, shock and heart failure considering the most important cardiac structures.     

The Tuscan Emergency Medicine Initiative

Italy lacks standardized specialty training in emergency medicine. There is no system of national or regional accreditation of the knowledge base or skill set of physicians working in regional emergency departments (ED), which results in variability of emergency medical care delivery not only between hospital EDs but also within individual EDs. To address this need, the Tuscan Minister of Health chose to develop a partnership with emergency medicine specialists from the United States to help expedite the growth of the specialty in Tuscany. The collaboration called the Tuscan Emergency Medicine Initiative consists of the regional health care service, the Tuscan university system, Harvard Medical International, and the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center Department of Emergency Medicine. We describe that effort and process, with an expectation of more than 625 physicians completing the program by June 2008.     

Emergency room intubations--complications and survival.

Forty-three consecutive patients requiring endotracheal intubation in an emergency room were studied prospectively to define the complications associated with intubation and the survival of these patients, and to evaluate emergency room policies. The indications for intubation were acute respiratory failure (ARF) in 22 patients and cardiopulmonary arrest (CPA) in 21 patients. Thirty-eight complications occurred in 24 of the 43 patients. The department or level of training of the intubator did not affect the rate of complications. Furthermore, specific complications did not influence survival. Seventeen patients survived, all in the ARF group. Age less than 40 years and admission PaO2 greater than 40 mm Hg also were associated with increased survival. We conclude that the complication rate of emergency room intubations is high and would not appear to be lowered by limiting intubations to physicians from specific departments or with certain levels of training. The underlying diagnosis and condition on admission to the emergency room appear to be more important factors relating to survival than complications during intubation.     

Death in the Emergency Department

Issues regarding the deaths of patients in the ED arise on a regular basis for emergency physicians. These issues include physician discomfort with death notification, the approach to families after ED deaths, autopsies, donation of organs and tissues, and procedures on the newly dead. If physicians were more comfortable with death notification, not only would families be better served but benefits to society could be realized through the increased use of autopsy and organ/tissue donation. The controversial topic of physician education through practice of medical procedures on the newly dead weighs the benefits to society against the rights of the individual. Improved physician education, including the need for a death notification plan and enlistment of the support of nursing personnel, social workers, and clergy, may improve the experience of events surrounding ED deaths for physicians, families, and society. We review the literature and give recommendations on approaches to deal with these issues. [Olsen JC, Buenefe ML, Falco WE: Death in the emergency department. Ann Emerg Med June 1998;31:758-765.]     

老年多器官功能障碍综合征的急诊救治

老年多器官功能障碍综合征（MODSE）与非老年多器官功能障碍综合征（MODS）有所不同。我国正面临人口老龄化,而且今后将日益严重。急诊科作为医院的前沿,越来越多的老年患者被送来救治,急诊医师必须充分了解并掌握MODSE的发病机制、临床特点、诊治原则,同时更加深刻、积极地理解老年人群是真正的弱者,对待可能及确诊的MODSE患者必须提供较青壮患者年更及时、更严密、更审慎的诊治,才可以为成功救治MODSE,提供后续治疗时间及救治保障。     

Emergency medicine and hospital medicine: a call for collaboration

BackgroundIn the United States, emergency physicians and hospitalists are increasingly responsible for managing hospitalized patients. These specialists share a common practice space and similar shift work schedules. Together they govern decisions about use of the most expensive care setting in medicine—the hospital.DiscussionUnfortunately, in most institutions there is little collaboration between emergency physicians and hospitalists, resulting in missed opportunities to improve the quality of care and reduce its cost. In this call to action, we challenge emergency physicians and hospitalists to work together to develop protocols for consistent, evidence-based, and expeditious care of patients admitted from the ED; to collaborate in the care of ED patients who can safely be discharged home; to pursue joint quality, hospital leadership, and cost-effectiveness projects; to work in partnership to assure adequate staffing of hospital-based specialists; and to cooperate in the professional, front-line assessment of clinically and fiscally driven policies aimed at assessing the appropriateness of hospital admissions and readmissions.SummaryHospital care is increasingly driven by emergency physicians and hospitalists. We envision a vital role for ongoing collaboration between them in achieving the goals of patient care, education, and quality and safety outcomes.     

Survey of British Columbia cardiologists' and emergency physicians' practice of using nonstandard ECG leads (V4R to V6R and V7 to V9) in the diagnosis and treatment of acute myocardial infarction.

BACKGROUND: There is evidence that the addition of nonstandard electrocardiographic (ECG) leads results in significant increases in sensitivity for the diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction compared with the standard 12-lead ECG. OBJECTIVE: To examine how cardiologists and emergency physicians in British Columbia use nonstandard ECG leads (V4R to V6R and V7 to V9) in the diagnosis and treatment of acute myocardial infarction. DESIGN: A list of fax numbers of all cardiologists and emergency physicians in British Columbia was obtained and questionnaires were then transmitted. MAIN RESULTS: More than 75% of cardiologists and emergency physicians correctly identified the diagnostic criteria for acute right ventricular and posterior myocardial infarction. More than 70% of surveyed physicians reported that they would use the 18-lead ECG regularly if they could gain an increased sensitivity for the diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction. However, fewer than 20% of all surveyed physicians reported regular use of the 18-lead ECG. Furthermore, the survey determined that the majority of physicians would alter their choice of thrombolytic if they could diagnose right ventricular infarction complicating an inferior infarction. Finally, most physicians reported that they would treat an isolated posterior wall myocardial infarction with a thrombolytic. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests most cardiologists and emergency physicians in British Columbia are aware of 18-lead ECG diagnostic criteria for acute right ventricular and posterior wall myocardial infarction. Furthermore, these physicians would be willing to use this tool if it were to increase diagnostic sensitivity for acute myocardial infarction. Despite these findings, only the minority of surveyed physicians use this tool regularly.     

Emergency medicine's role in the education of medical students: directions for change

Emergency medicine, as a young field emphasizing basic clinical skills, should be in the forefront of the changes in undergraduate medical education. Change needs to occur in our own courses and in our role in the general education of medical students. By graduation, students completing our courses should be able to provide immediate aid, create a problem list, discuss a differential diagnosis for key problems, present a treatment plan for key diagnoses, understand issues pertaining to societal interface with emergency care, and perform essential monitor skills. The general goals of medical education that pertain to strengths of emergency physicians are the ability to use the essential tools of clinical medicine, use data base resources, select the appropriate specialties for consultation, work as a member of a health care team, and use time- and cost-efficient diagnostic adjuncts. Methods for achieving these goals are suggested.     

Caring for the patient with mental retardation in the emergency department

There are approximately 6 million individuals with a diagnosis of mental retardation in the United States. Because of deinstitutionalization of patients with mental retardation, coupled with an increase in their life expectancy, emergency physicians are increasingly encountering and managing patients with mental retardation in the emergency department. Many emergency physicians are uncomfortable when interacting with individuals with mental retardation, which often carries over to the assessment and management of these patients in the ED. The purpose of this review is to aid the emergency physician in understanding the patient with mental retardation, their comorbid conditions, and the approach to evaluating and managing these patients in the ED.