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Wolfe C, McCoin N. Management of the Agitated Patient. Emerg Med Clin North Am 2024; 42:13-29. [PMID: 37977745 DOI: 10.1016/j.emc.2023.06.010] [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] [Indexed: 11/19/2023]
Abstract
The acutely agitated patient should be managed in a step-wise fashion, beginning with non-coercive de-escalation strategies and moving on to pharmacologic interventions and physical restraints as necessary. Face-to-face examination, monitoring, and documentation by the physician are essential. The emergency physician should be familiar with multiple pharmaceutical options, tailored to the individual patient. Use of ketamine, benzodiazepines and antipsychotics should be considered. Patient autonomy, safety, and medical well-being are paramount.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carmen Wolfe
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Tristar Skyline Medical Center, 3443 Dickerson Pike, Suite 230, Nashville, TN 37207, USA.
| | - Nicole McCoin
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Ochsner Medical Center, 1514 Jefferson Highway, New Orleans, LA 70121, USA
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Allen PJ, Johanson KE, Reveles KR, Neff LA, Lock AE. Comparison of Droperidol and Midazolam Versus Haloperidol and Lorazepam for Acute Agitation Management in the Emergency Department. Ann Pharmacother 2023; 57:1367-1374. [PMID: 36999520 DOI: 10.1177/10600280231163192] [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] [Indexed: 04/01/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Acute agitation accounts for up to 2.6% of visits to the emergency department (ED). To date, a standard of care for the management of acute agitation has not been established. Few studies have evaluated antipsychotic and benzodiazepine combinations. OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to evaluate effectiveness and safety of combination therapy for acute agitation with intramuscular (IM) droperidol and midazolam (D+M) compared with IM haloperidol and lorazepam (H+L) in patients in the ED. METHODS This was a single-center, retrospective medical record review of patients presenting to a large, academic ED with acute agitation from July 2020 through October 2021. The primary outcome was percentage of patients requiring additional agitation medication within 60 minutes of combination administration. Secondary outcomes included average time to repeat dose administration and average number of repeat doses required before ED discharge. RESULTS A total of 306 patients were included for analysis: 102 in the D+M group and 204 in the H+L group. Repeat dose within 60 minutes occurred in 7 (6.9%) and 28 (13.8%) patients in the D+M and H+L groups, respectively (P = 0.065). A total of 28.4% of D+M patients and 30.9% of H+L patients required any repeat dose during their ED visit. Time to repeat dose was 12 and 24 minutes in the D+M and H+L, respectively (P = 0.22). The adverse event rate was 2.9% in each group. CONCLUSION AND RELEVANCE IM D+M resulted in a lower rate of repeat doses of acute agitation medication compared with IM H+L, though this was not statistically significant. Both therapies were safe, and the adverse event rate was low.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick J Allen
- Department of Pharmacotherapy and Pharmacy Services, University Health, Antonio, TX, USA
- Pharmacotherapy Division, College of Pharmacy, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
- Pharmacotherapy Education & Research Center, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Kendra E Johanson
- Department of Pharmacotherapy and Pharmacy Services, University Health, Antonio, TX, USA
- Pharmacotherapy Division, College of Pharmacy, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
- Pharmacotherapy Education & Research Center, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Kelly R Reveles
- Pharmacotherapy Division, College of Pharmacy, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
- Pharmacotherapy Education & Research Center, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Luke A Neff
- Department of Pharmacotherapy and Pharmacy Services, University Health, Antonio, TX, USA
- Pharmacotherapy Division, College of Pharmacy, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
- Pharmacotherapy Education & Research Center, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Ashley E Lock
- Department of Pharmacotherapy and Pharmacy Services, University Health, Antonio, TX, USA
- Pharmacotherapy Division, College of Pharmacy, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
- Pharmacotherapy Education & Research Center, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
- Department of Emergency Medicine, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
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Curry A, Malas N, Mroczkowski M, Hong V, Nordstrom K, Terrell C. Updates in the Assessment and Management of Agitation. FOCUS (AMERICAN PSYCHIATRIC PUBLISHING) 2023; 21:35-45. [PMID: 37205032 PMCID: PMC10172538 DOI: 10.1176/appi.focus.20220064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Agitated patients can be dangerous to themselves and others. In fact, severe medical complications and death can occur with severe agitation. Because of this, agitation is considered a medical and psychiatric emergency. Regardless of the treatment setting, identifying the agitated patient early is a necessary skill. The authors review relevant literature regarding the identification and management of agitation and summarize current recommendations for adults, as well as children and adolescents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashley Curry
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora (Curry, Nordstrom); Department of Psychiatry (Malas, Hong) and Department of Pediatrics (Malas), University of Michigan, Ann Arbor; Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York City (Mroczkowski); Department of Psychiatry, University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky (Terrell)
| | - Nasuh Malas
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora (Curry, Nordstrom); Department of Psychiatry (Malas, Hong) and Department of Pediatrics (Malas), University of Michigan, Ann Arbor; Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York City (Mroczkowski); Department of Psychiatry, University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky (Terrell)
| | - Megan Mroczkowski
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora (Curry, Nordstrom); Department of Psychiatry (Malas, Hong) and Department of Pediatrics (Malas), University of Michigan, Ann Arbor; Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York City (Mroczkowski); Department of Psychiatry, University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky (Terrell)
| | - Victor Hong
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora (Curry, Nordstrom); Department of Psychiatry (Malas, Hong) and Department of Pediatrics (Malas), University of Michigan, Ann Arbor; Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York City (Mroczkowski); Department of Psychiatry, University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky (Terrell)
| | - Kimberly Nordstrom
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora (Curry, Nordstrom); Department of Psychiatry (Malas, Hong) and Department of Pediatrics (Malas), University of Michigan, Ann Arbor; Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York City (Mroczkowski); Department of Psychiatry, University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky (Terrell)
| | - Christina Terrell
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora (Curry, Nordstrom); Department of Psychiatry (Malas, Hong) and Department of Pediatrics (Malas), University of Michigan, Ann Arbor; Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York City (Mroczkowski); Department of Psychiatry, University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky (Terrell)
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