1
|
McRae AD, Chartier LB, Atzema CL. Measuring and improving atrial fibrillation and flutter care in Canadian emergency departments. CAN J EMERG MED 2024; 26:293-294. [PMID: 38713359 DOI: 10.1007/s43678-024-00701-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/08/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Andrew D McRae
- Departments of Emergency Medicine and Community Health Sciences, Cumming School of Medicine, Rm C231 Foothills Medical Centre, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.
| | - Lucas B Chartier
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Division of Emergency Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Clare L Atzema
- Division of Emergency Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Sunnybrook Research Institute, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Mattice AMS, Adler S, Eagles D, Yadav K, Hui S, Azward A, Pandey N, Stiell IG. Assessment of physician compliance to the CAEP 2021 Atrial Fibrillation Best Practices Checklist for rate and rhythm control in the emergency department. CAN J EMERG MED 2024; 26:333-338. [PMID: 38519830 DOI: 10.1007/s43678-024-00669-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2023] [Accepted: 02/25/2024] [Indexed: 03/25/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Acute atrial fibrillation and flutter (AF/AFL) are common arrhythmias treated in the emergency department (ED). The 2021 CAEP Best Practices Checklist provides clear recommendations for management of patients with acute AF/AFL. This study aimed to evaluate physician compliance to Checklist recommendations for risk assessment and ED management of AF/AFL. METHODS This health records review assessed the management of adult patients presenting to two tertiary care EDs for management of acute AF/AFL from January to August, 2022. All ECGs demonstrating AF/AFL with a heart rate greater than 100 were compiled to capture primary and secondary causes. All visits were assessed for rate and rhythm control management, adverse events, return to ED, and safety criteria. Study physicians classified safety criteria from the Checklist into high and moderate concerns. The primary outcome was the proportion of cases with safety concerns and adverse events occurring during management in the ED. Data were analyzed using simple descriptive statistics. RESULTS We included 429 patients with a mean age of 67.7 years and 57.1% male. ED management included rate control (20.4%), electrical (40.1%), and pharmacological (20.1%) cardioversion. Adverse events occurred in 9.5% of cases: 12.5% in rate control, 13.4% in electrical cardioversion, and 6.9% in pharmacologic cardioversion. Overall, 7.9% of cases had management safety concerns. Moderate safety concerns occurred in 4.9% of cases including failure to attain recommended heart rate at time of discharge (3.9%). Severe concerns were identified in 3.0% of cases including failure to cardiovert unstable patients (1.2%). The 30-day return-to-ED rate was 16.5% secondary to AF/AFL. CONCLUSION ED management of AF/AFL was consistent with the CAEP Checklist and was safe overall. Opportunities for optimizing care include attaining recommended targets during rate control, avoidance of calcium channel and beta blockers in patients with systolic dysfunction, and earlier cardioversion for clinically unstable patients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Amanda M S Mattice
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
| | - Samara Adler
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Debra Eagles
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Clinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Canada
| | - Krishan Yadav
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Clinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Canada
| | - Sean Hui
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Althaf Azward
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Nikesh Pandey
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Ian G Stiell
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Clinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Canada
| |
Collapse
|