EM Quick Hits 62 Optimizing RSI Medication Timing, ED Boarding of Older Patients, Prolonged Tourniquet Use, Rural Peer Support Programs, ECG Reciprocal Changes, Nutrition Tips for Shift Workers

Topics in this EM Quick Hits podcast

Anand Swaminathan on optimizing RSI medication timing (1:08)

Brittany Ellis on ED boarding challenges in older patients and improving ED overcrowding and ED flow (7:30)

Dave Jerome on managing prolonged tourniquet application (30:21)

Nour Khatib and Phil Gillick on a rural peer support program case (39:20)

Jesse McLaren on ECG reciprocal changes in acute occlusion myocardial infarction: the mirror image (54:43)

Melody Ng on practical nutrition tips for shift workers (best of University of Toronto EM) (1:01:23)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:26:10 — 78.9MB)

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Podcast production, editing and sound design by Anton Helman

Podcast content, written summary & blog post by Brandon Ng, edited by Anton Helman, January, 2025

Cite this podcast as: Helman, A. Swaminathan, A. Ellis, B. Jerome, D. Khatib, N. Gillick, P. McLaren, J. Ng. M. EM Quick Hits 62 – Optimizing RSI Medication Timing, ED Boarding of Older Patients, Prolonged Tourniquet Use, Rural Peer Support Programs, ECG Reciprocal Changes, Nutrition for Shift Workers. Emergency Medicine Cases. January, 2025. https://emergencymedicinecases.com/em-quick-hits-january-2025/. Accessed February 12, 2025.

Optimizing RSI Medication Timing

• Much of recent airway research relates to RSI preparation and tube delivery: Resuscitate prior to intubation, improve hemodynamics to decrease risk of peri-intubation hemodynamic collapse, improve oxygenation to increase safe apneic time, positioning, ramping, airway alignment, bed up, head elevated, and bougie first approach etc.
• Typical approach to RSI involves near simultaneous administration of induction and paralytic agents to rapidly result in ideal intubating condition. However, this approach often results in an induced but not paralyzed patient, causing difficulties with tube delivery as medication onset times differ:
  • Succinylcholine: 45-60 seconds
  • Rocuronium (1.2 mg/kg): ~60 seconds
  • Etomidate: 30-40 seconds
  • Ketamine: 30-45 seconds
  • Propofol: 20-25 seconds
• As such, consider aiming for simultaneous onset rather than simultataneous administration of induction and paralytic agent.
• In studies by Driver et al. 2019 and Catoire et al. 2024, administering paralytic prior to induction agent is associated with lower first attempt intubation failure.

Bottom line => Consider administering paralytic first, then induction agent ~20-30 seconds later, ensuring simultaneous onset for optimal RSI while averting awake paralysis.

ED Boarding for Older Patients

This segment is the first part of our series on The Best of The International Conference of Emergency Medicine (ICEM) in anticipation of the ICEM Conference in Montreal May 2025

Strategies to Relieve ED Crowding, Improve Flow & Decrease Morbidity/Mortality Related to Boarding of Older Patients

ED boarding is often associated with delayed care, prolonged wait times, and physical and psychological stress

Older patients suffer from ED crowding and access block, and boarding older patients prolongs their hospital stay by exacerbating risks and underlying conditions such as delirium, functional decline, and pressure ulcers:

• Delirium is often exacerbated in the ED environment, thereby increasing mortality, length of stay, and risk of dementia
• Pressure ulcers can start within hours of immobility, and often have protracted courses leading to longer hospital stay and recurrent ED visits
• The increased comorbidities and length of stay, further contributes to ED and systemic over capacity as well as access block

Systems solutions to minimize complications of boarding older patients and improve ED flow

• Use of electronic health records and AI to better prioritize admissions and bed assignments
• Geriatric-focused hospital teams and units, or involvement of interprofessional teams
• Improved communication and care tools between hospital and community settings to have quick access to accurate past medical history, medications
• Start discharge planning early and better coordination with community resources
• Improved access to home care services, availability of alternative models of care (e.g. home hospital programs, transitional care spaces), PT/OT, and timely access to primary or specialist care to help prevent patients from needing to visit the ED

Local ED solutions to minimize complications of boarding older patients and improve ED flow

• Consider routinely implementing tools and scoring systems that identify the needs of older patients in the ED (e.g. frailty modifier for the CTAS system, inter IED screener, frailty scoring, delirium screeners)
• Utilizing tools to identify delirium in the ED (e.g. Delirium Triage Screen, Brief Confusion Assessment method)
• Implementing multi-component delirium preventions such as attention to mobilization, nutrition, sleep, and reorientation
• Early mobilization with physiotherapy to decrease hospital acquired disability and falls
• Prioritizing quiet spaces with beds, doors, windows, and lights for older patients
• Prioritizing the need for older patients to stay in a single treatment space
• Timely access to specialist care and services for older patients in the ED

Bottom line => Early identification and simple coordinated interventions for at-risk elderly patients can reduce boarding-related complications, improve ED flow and help curb ED crowding.

Deep dive main episode EM Cases podcast and post on ED Overcrowding and Access Block

Managing Prolonged Tourniquet Application

Tourniquets are generally safe for up to 2 hours; risks of prolonged tourniquet application include ischemic damage and reperfusion syndrome.

Reperfusion syndrome 4 key prevention treatment strategies

Reperfusion syndrome involves 4 key elements which can be managed with various strategies before removing the tourniquet:

1. Sodium bicarbonate (1 amp, 5-10 min prior tourniquet release) for metabolic acidosis from lactic acid washout
2. Insulin and dextrose (target low normal K+ at ~3.5mmol/L) for cardiac dysrhythmia from hyperkalemia and metabolic acidosis
   • Calcium gluconate (1g, 2-3 min prior tourniquet release) to stabilize myocardium
   • Having cardiac monitoring and defibrillation pads on
3. Warming of tourniqueted limb and core body for hypothermia from cold limb acting as a heat sink and the return of cold blood
4. Resuscitate to accommodate hypotension from sudden increase in circulating volume

Contraindications to tourniquet removal

Absolute contraindications for tourniquet removal include active shock, amputated tourniqueted extremity, and inability to monitor the patient after removal of tourniquet (TCCC Guidelines)

Tourniquet time may help risk stratify patients:

• < 2 hours: limb likely salvageable with minimal reperfusion syndrome risk
• 2-6 hours: likely permanent ischemic damage, pre-treat as above and remove tourniquet as soon as possible
• >6 hours: significant ischemic damage, significant reperfusion syndrome. Risk > benefit of releasing tourniquet. Remove tourniquet in a critical care environment

Bottom line => Proper treatment and monitoring are critical for safe tourniquet removal after prolonged application. Consider tourniquet time in making decisions on when it is appropriate to remove a tourniquet.

Rural EM Quick Hits Case

An otherwise healthy 65-year-old female presents to a rural ED with diarrhea, shortness of breath and a significantly elevated lactate. With the support of a peer physician support program a diagnosis of pulmonary embolism was clinched. Based on an elevated D-dimer and initial ECG findings of right heart strain an intermediate risk pulmonary embolism (PE) was the working diagnosis.

The classic ECG findings in acute pulmonary embolism are seen in a minority of patients, and are nonspecific as they can be seen in patients with chronic right heart strain as a result of pulmonary hypertension. The classic S1Q3T3 has an especially poor accuracy for the diagnosis of PE. Conversely, new flipped T waves in both the inferior and anterior leads are highly suggestive of acute PE.

• Sinus tachycardia (44%)
• Complete or incomplete right bundle branch block (18%)
• Right axis deviation (16%)
• Flipped T waves in both the inferior and right precordial leads is the most specific finding in favour of PE, with reported specificities of up to 99% in one study.
• S1Q3T3 pattern (low sensitivity and specificity for PE)
  

  ECG of patient with acute pulmonary embolism with right axis deviation and flipped Ts in both inferior and anterior leads which is highly suggestive of acute PE

ECG Reciprocal Changes in OMI: Mirror Image

Reciprocal ECG changes, like a mirror, can help identify subtle occlusion myocardial infarctions (OMI). Steps to help identify OMI using the concept of mirror image include:

1. Determine the ECG change, and where its mirror image is

• ST elevation may just be the mirror image of a secondary ST depression. For example:
  • Abnormal depolarization in LVH, LBBB produces secondary ST depression and T wave inversion in V5-6, resulting in mirror image ST elevation in V1-2.
  • Non-specific primary ST depression may lead to mirroring ST elevation, such as when ST elevation in AVR is the mirror image of global subendocardial ischemia (a high risk but non-specific pattern)
• Look for primary ischemic ST elevation or hyperacute T waves from acute coronary occlusion and its mirror ST depression and T wave inversion (which can be more obvious)

2. Remember where the mirrors are

• “PAILS” is a confusing mnemonic that does not account for mid or distal LAD occlusions (anterior ST elevation without reciprocal inferior ST depression)
• Instead, recall how the leads related to the heart and which leads mirror each other:
  • Limb leads (frontal plane) mirrors:
    • right inferior (III) and high lateral (aVL)
    • aVR and apex (II)
  • Chest leads (horizontal plane) mirrors:
    • Anterior (V2-4) and posterior (V8-9)
    • Right anterior/septal (V1) and left lateral (V6)

3. Identify subtle occlusion MI using ECG changes or its mirror images

• Inferior OMI: Minimal ST elevation & hyperacute T wave ↔ mirror ST depression and T wave inversion in AVL
• High lateral OMI: subtle aVL changes ↔ mirror changes in lead III
• Posterior OMI: mirror ST depression in V2-4 (12 lead ECG only shows mirror image)
• Anterior OMI:
  • Mid LAD: mirror images in posterior leads with ST depression (no changes on 12-lead ECG)
  • Distal LAD: anterior & inferior ST elevation (easily mistaken for diffuse ST elevation of pericarditis)
  • Proximal LAD: subtle ischemic changes in high lateral (aVL) or right anterior (V1) ↔ mirror inferior (III) ST depression or left lateral (V6)

Bottom line => Look beyond STEMI criteria to identify acute coronary occlusion; reciprocal changes and mirror-image interpretation are key in identifying OMIs.

For case examples and discussion on reciprocal changes and mirror image: ECG Cases 52 – The Art of Occlusion MI, part 1: Mirror Image

Register for Dr. McLaren’s HEARTS ECG Course to master your ECG interpretation skills.

Nutrition Tips for Shift Workers (ie EM Providers!)

As part of our best of University of Toronto EM series Anton interviews Dr. Melody Ng, an EM physician at North York General Hospital with a degree in nutrition who gives talks to EM providers on nutrition for shift workers…

What do we need to understand about how we metabolize food and drink as shift workers to inform what we ingest before shift, on shift and after shifts?

• Like how sunlight acts as a signal of daytime to the central nervous system, food also acts as a signal to the enteric nervous system. Shift work can lead to meals late night (or early morning) which can lead to misalignment of the central and peripheral circadian rhythm, resulting in metabolic derangements and chronic disease.
• Leptin (appetite suppressant) decreases and ghrelin (signals hunger) increases when sleep deprived even if it is not an accurate reflection of the calories you need.
• Each night of shift work increases insulin resistance, which in the long term can result in diabetes.
• Timing of meals are important: shift workers who only ate during the day had better health outcomes than those that ate during all their shifts.
• Insulin resistance also naturally varies throughout the day:
  • No history of diabetes: less insulin resistant in the morning, more insulin resistant as the day goes on
  • Diabetes: more insulin resistant in the morning, less as the day goes on

Why should I care about glycemic index?

• Glycemic index indicates how quickly and how high a food will spike your blood glucose, and glycemic load incorporates the glycemic index with the amount of carbohydrates. These can be used to estimate the stress of a meal on the pancreas to secrete insulin to regulate blood glucose.
• Information on glycemic index is available on the Diabetes Canada website.
• The glycemic index does not necessarily correlate with its healthiness, although processed foods generally have a higher glycemic index.
• Incorporating fiber in your diet helps with slowing the absorption and subsequent spike of carbohydrates.

What do you suggest we eat when we get home after a shift in the middle of the night or early morning? What are some healthy choices?

• Consider hydrating before reaching for food, as shift work often leads to thirst which can feel similar to hunger
• Example foods that may be considered include nuts (contains fibers and healthy fats), boiled egg (contains amino acids, vitamin D, choline), cheese, or avocado.

How do you prep your food around shifts so that it’s easy, efficient and healthy?

Some strategies used by Dr. Ng:

• Prepare food ahead of time
• Instant Pot/slow cookers for low glycemic index meals, such as meals with lentils and beans
• Easy and healthy snacks (such as nuts, cheese, avocado etc.); avoid protein or granola bars as they are high in sugar
• Bring a portable blender to make smoothies during a shift, incorporating elements such as yoghurt, fruits, and seeds

Matcha as an alternative to coffee?

• Matcha is a potential alternative to coffee before and during shifts; while they both contain antioxidants and caffeine, matcha contains L-theanine , which helps enhance calm alertness and cognitive enhancement without the caffeine crash that some coffee drinkers experience.
• Importantly, dairy may inhibit the antioxidant effect of matcha, so avoid drowning your matcha in milk.

What’s your take on restrained use of alcohol after a shift to wind down – good, bad or neutral?

• Alcohol has been shown to disrupt and fragment sleep, especially when used within a few hours of sleep onset; avoid alcohol after a shift as a ‘night cap’ before sleep
• The evidence for red wine in reducing cardiovascular risk is weak and the WHO recommends that no amount of alcohol is safe.
• Alcohol is classified as a group 1 carcinogen (on par with asbestos, tobacco, radiaton) by the International Agency for Research on Cancer.

Bottom line => Nutrition strategies for shift workers include avoiding eating large meals at night to prevent metabolic disruption, focus on low-glycemic foods to prevent insulin spikes and/or pair high glycemic index foods with fiber, fat, or protein. Consider switching from coffee to matcha to enhance calm alertness on shift, and minimize/eliminate alcohol use after shift.

None of the authors have any conflicts of interest to declare