A comparison of ketamine versus etomidate for procedural sedation for the reduction of large joint dislocations

Pharmacological agents for procedural sedation and analgesia in the emergency department and intensive care unit: a systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomised trials

BACKGROUND

We aimed to evaluate the comparative effectiveness and safety of various i.v. pharmacologic agents used for procedural sedation and analgesia (PSA) in the emergency department (ED) and ICU. We performed a systematic review and network meta-analysis to enable direct and indirect comparisons between available medications.

METHODS

We searched Medline, EMBASE, Cochrane, and PubMed from inception to 2 March 2023 for RCTs comparing two or more procedural sedation and analgesia medications in all patients (adults and children >30 days of age) requiring emergent procedures in the ED or ICU. We focused on the outcomes of sedation recovery time, patient satisfaction, and adverse events (AEs). We performed frequentist random-effects model network meta-analysis and used the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) approach to rate certainty in estimates.

RESULTS

We included 82 RCTs (8105 patients, 78 conducted in the ED and four in the ICU) of which 52 studies included adults, 23 included children, and seven included both. Compared with midazolam-opioids, recovery time was shorter with propofol (mean difference 16.3 min, 95% confidence interval [CI] 8.4-24.3 fewer minutes; high certainty), and patient satisfaction was better with ketamine-propofol (mean difference 1.5 points, 95% CI 0.3-2.6 points, high certainty). Regarding AEs, compared with midazolam-opioids, respiratory AEs were less frequent with ketamine (relative risk [RR] 0.55, 95% CI 0.32-0.96; high certainty), gastrointestinal AEs were more common with ketamine-midazolam (RR 3.08, 95% CI 1.15-8.27; high certainty), and neurological AEs were more common with ketamine-propofol (RR 3.68, 95% CI 1.08-12.53; high certainty).

CONCLUSION

When considering procedural sedation and analgesia in the ED and ICU, compared with midazolam-opioids, sedation recovery time is shorter with propofol, patient satisfaction is better with ketamine-propofol, and respiratory adverse events are less common with ketamine.

Incidence and Risk Factors for Hypoxia in Deep Sedation of Propofol for Artificial Abortion Patients

Background

Respiratory depression is a life-threatening adverse effect of deep sedation. This study aimed to investigate the factors related to hypoxia caused by propofol during intravenous anesthesia.

Methods

Three hundred and eight patients who underwent painless artificial abortion in the outpatient department of Shanghai Tenth People’s Hospital between November 1, 2019 and June 30, 2020 were divided into two groups according to whether the patients experienced hypoxia (SpO₂ < 95%). Preoperative anxiety assessments, anesthesia process, and operation-related information of the two groups were analyzed. The univariate analysis results were further incorporated into logistic regression analysis for multivariate analysis to determine the independent risk factors affecting hypoxia.

Results

Univariate analysis revealed that body mass index (BMI) (21.80 ± 2.94 vs. 21.01 ± 2.39; P = 0.038, 95% confidence interval (CI) = [−1.54, −0.04]), propofol dose (15.83 ± 3.21 vs. 14.39 ± 3.01; P = 0.002, CI = [−2.34, −0.53]), menopausal days (49.64 ± 6.03 vs. 52.14 ± 5.73; P = 0.004, CI = [0.79, 4.21]), State Anxiety Inventory score (51.19 ± 7.55 vs. 44.49 ± 8.96; P < 0.001, CI = [−9.26, −4.15]), and Self-rating Anxiety Scale score (45.86 ± 9.48 vs. 42.45 ± 9.88; P = 0.021, CI = [−6.30, −0.53]) were statistically significant risk factors for hypoxia during the operation. Logistic regression analysis showed that propofol dosage, menopausal days, and State Anxiety Inventory score were independent risk factors for hypoxia.

Conclusion

Patient anxiety affects the incidence of hypoxia when undergoing deep intravenous anesthesia with propofol. We can further speculate that alleviating patient anxiety can reduce the incidence of hypoxia.

Clinical Trial Registration

[http://www.chictr.org.cn], identifier [ChiCTR2000032167].

Results of Reduction of Dislocated Prosthetic Hips in the Emergency Department

BACKGROUND

Dislocation of total hip arthroplasty (dTHA) is a commonly encountered complication in the emergency department (ED). Several studies have been conducted that describe the overall success rate after reduction in the ED, however, all were small in sample size.

OBJECTIVES

The aim of the study was to assess the success rate of reduction of dTHA by emergency physicians in the ED under procedural sedation (PSA).

METHODS

Patients who presented to the ED with a dislocated prosthetic hip were eligible for inclusion. We performed a retrospective cohort study assessing success rate. Secondary parameters included time to reduction, discharge rate from the ED, and complication rate.

RESULTS

There were 305 patients analyzed. Of these, 31 were excluded due to hemi-arthroplasty and 25 because they went primarily for reduction in the operating room. In total, 249 patients were included. Of 249 attempted reductions in the ED, 230 (92%, 95% confidence interval [CI] 89-96%) were successful. Seventy-one cases (28.5%, 95% CI 22.9-34.2%) were discharged from the ED after successful reduction. Six cases (2.4%, 95% CI 0.2-2.6%) experienced complications related to PSA and three cases (1.2%, 95% CI 0.5-4.3%) experienced complications related to reduction.

CONCLUSION

Reduction of a dTHA can be performed safely in the ED under PSA by emergency physicians with a high rate of success.

Comparing Diazepam Plus Fentanyl With Midazolam Plus Fentanyl in the Moderate Procedural Sedation of Anterior Shoulder Dislocations: A Randomized Clinical Trial

BACKGROUND

The reduction of shoulder dislocation requires adequate procedural sedation and analgesia. The mixture of midazolam and fentanyl is reported in the literature, but long-acting benzodiazepines in conjunction with fentanyl are lacking.

STUDY OBJECTIVE

Our aim was to compar e IV diazepam with IV midazolam in moderate procedural sedation (based on the classification of the American Society of Anesthesiologists) for the reduction of shoulder dislocation.

METHODS

This was a randomized controlled clinical trial conducted from April 2019 to December 2019 in the emergency department of a university-affiliated hospital in Tehran, Iran. Participants were adult patients (aged 18-65 years) with anterior shoulder dislocation. Group A (n = 42) received diazepam 0.1 mg/kg plus fentanyl 1 μg/kg IV and group B received midazolam 0.1 mg/kg plus fentanyl 1 μg g/kg IV. Main outcomes measured were onset of muscle relaxation, time taken to reduction, total procedure time, number of the reduction attempts, patient recovery time, the occurrence of the adverse effects, amount of the pain reported by the patients using visual analog scale, and patients and physicians overall satisfaction with the procedure using a Likert scale question.

RESULTS

Eighty-one patients were included. The mean ± standard deviation time of the onset of the muscle relaxation and time taken to reduction was shorter in the diazepam plus fentanyl group (p = 0.016 and p = 0.001, respectively). Adverse effects and pain relief were not statistically different between the two groups. Patient recovery time and total procedure time was shorter in the midazolam plus fentanyl group (p = 0.008 and p = 0.02, respectively). The overall satisfaction of patients and physicians was higher in the diazepam plus fentanyl group.

CONCLUSIONS

As compared with midazolam plus fentanyl, diazepam plus fentanyl was superior in terms of the onset of the muscle relaxation, patient and physician satisfaction, and time taken to reduction.

Difficult Intubation due to Penetrating Trauma from a Crossbow Bolt

We present the case of a patient with penetrating neck and craniofacial trauma from a self-inflicted crossbow bolt injury. This case highlights the challenges involved in prehospital airway management related to an in situ foreign object penetrating the oral cavity. We review the complications associated with such injuries and considerations for effective prehospital airway management.

Alternatives to Rapid Sequence Intubation: Contemporary Airway Management with Ketamine

Endotracheal intubation (ETI) is a high-risk procedure commonly performed in emergency medicine, critical care, and the prehospital setting. Traditional rapid sequence intubation (RSI), the simultaneous administration of an induction agent and muscle relaxant, is more likely to harm patients who do not allow appropriate preparation and preoxygenation, have concerning airway anatomy, or severe hypoxia, acidemia, or hypotension. Ketamine, a dissociative anesthetic, can be used to facilitate two alternatives to RSI to augment airway safety in these scenarios: delayed sequence intubation – the use of ketamine to allow airway preparation and preoxygenation in the agitated patient; and ketamine-only breathing intubation, in which ketamine is used without a paralytic to facilitate ETI as the patient continues to breathe spontaneously. Ketamine may also provide hemodynamic benefits during standard RSI and is a valuable agent for post-intubation analgesia and sedation. When RSI is not an optimal airway management strategy, ketamine’s unique pharmacology can be harnessed to facilitate alternative approaches that may increase patient safety.

Using Ketamine and Propofol for Procedural Sedation of Adults in the Emergency Department: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Purpose: Ketamine-propofol combination (ketofol) is being used to provide a safe and effective procedural sedation (PS) in emergency department (ED) and may theoretically have beneficial effects since using lower doses of each drug may result in a reduction of the adverse events of both agents while maintaining optimal conditions for performing procedures. This systematic review was conducted to evaluate the efficacy, advantages and disadvantages of these two drugs for PS.

Methods: The PRISMA statement was used for this systematic review. We searched the databases of PubMed, Scopus, ProQuest, Medline (Ovid) from 1990 to August 2017 for randomized clinical trials (RCTs) in which the study population aged ≥18 and was referred to ED. Full-texts of the studies performed in adults that were published in English were reviewed for inclusion. Both authors independently evaluated all studies. Five articles were eligible for the meta-analysis based on their common outcomes.

Results: The total number of subjects was 1250, of which 635 were treated with propofol and 615 were treated with ketofol. Although two of the five studies showed a better quality of sedation with ketofol, the other three did not find any significant difference between propofol and ketofol. This systematic review found a lower incidence of respiratory adverse effects in ketofol group than propofol group.

Conclusion:Ketamine/propofol mixture (ketofol) has less respiratory adverse effects than propofol alone in ED procedural sedation.