Procedural sedation and analgesia in a Canadian ED: a time-in-motion study.
BACKGROUND
Some patients presenting to emergency departments (EDs) suffer from conditions requiring potentially painful treatment; procedural sedation and analgesia (PSA) are important components of their management. The purpose of this study was to determine the resources used during the administration of PSA.


METHODS
This prospective observational study was conducted in a Canadian urban teaching center. Detailed data concerning the dosage of PSA medications, adverse events, and ED times for patients requiring PSA for treatment of fractures, reductions of joint dislocations, and cardioversion for atrial fibrillation were collected. Descriptive analyses included proportions, means with standard deviations, and medians with interquartile ranges.


RESULTS
Of the 177 PSA cases considered for analysis, 69.5% were orthopedic manipulations and 30.5% were cardioversions. Propofol alone or combined with fentanyl was the commonest medication, and 27 minor adverse events were documented. The median number of staff used in each PSA was 4 (4, 4). The median time from triage to the start of the procedure was 175 minutes (98, 259). The median time from the end of monitoring to discharge was 186 minutes (104, 316). The median time from the start of PSA administration to the end of patient monitoring was 12 minutes for fractures/dislocations and 7 minutes for cardioversion. The total ED length of stay was 6.6 hours.


CONCLUSIONS
Procedural sedation and analgesia are potentially time-consuming interventions requiring the coordination of ED staff; delays in procedures represent opportunities to reduce ED overcrowding. Procedural sedation and analgesia guidelines may assist with standardization.
National University of Ireland Galway, Ireland.
Jaime
J
Bawden
Cristina
C
Villa-Roel
Mira
M
Singh
Gregg
G
Fabris
Ken
K
Bond
Debbie
D
Boyko
Danielle
D
Anstett
Konrad
K
Fassbender
Brian H
BH
Rowe
D000416:Alberta; D000698:Analgesia / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000628:therapy*; D016292:Procedural Sedation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004554:Electric Countershock / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005283:Fentanyl / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004204:Joint Dislocations / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008349:Manipulation, Orthopedic / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008875:Middle Aged; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D015742:Propofol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D013996:Time and Motion Studies
D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D005283:Fentanyl; D015742:Propofol