Overdoses of tricyclic antidepressants are among the commonest causes of drug poisoning seen in accident and emergency departments. This review discusses the pharmacokinetics, clinical presentation and treatment of tricyclic overdose. (Emerg Med J 2001;18:236-241)

Streamlining the admission process for unscheduled patients leads to improvement in care, decreases prescribing errors and reduces either potential or actual harm. Moving pharmacists' work to the ED better aligns their input to the patient journey and utilises their knowledge and skills to the patient's benefit.

Background: Tracheal intubation is the accepted gold standard for emergency department (ED) airway management. It may be performed by both anaesthetists and emergency physicians (EPs), with or without drugs. Objective: To characterise intubation practice in a busy district general hospital ED in Scotland over 40 months between 2003 and 2006. Setting: Crosshouse Hospital, a 450-bed district general hospital serving a mixed urban and rural population; annual ED census 58 000 patients. Methods: Prospective observational study using data collection sheets prepared by the Scottish Trauma Audit Group. Proformas were completed at the time of intubation and checked by investigators. Rapid-sequence induction (RSI) was defined as the co-administration of an induction agent and suxamethonium. Results: 234 intubations over 40 months, with a mean of 6 per month. EPs attempted 108 intubations (46%). Six patients in cardiac arrest on arrival were intubated without drugs. 29 patients were intubated after a gas induction or non-RSI drug administration. RSI was performed on 199 patients. Patients with trauma constituted 75 (38%) of the RSI group. 29 RSIs (15%) were immediate (required on arrival at the ED) and 154 (77%) were urgent (required within 30 min of arrival at the ED). EPs attempted RSI in 88 (44%) patients and successfully intubated 85 (97%). Anaesthetists attempted RSI in 111 (56%) patients and successfully intubated 108 (97%). Anaesthetists had a higher proportion of good views at first laryngoscopy and there was a trend to a higher rate of successful intubation at the first attempt for anaesthetists. Complication rates were comparable for the two specialties. Conclusions: Tracheal intubations using RSI in the ED are performed by EPs almost as often as by anaesthetists in this district hospital. Overall success and complication rates are comparable for the two specialties. Laryngoscopy training and the need to achieve intubation at the first (optimum) attempt needs to be emphasised in EP airway training.

Objective: To identify the effect on door to needle (DTN) time of moving the site of thrombolysis delivery from the coronary care unit (CCU) to the emergency department (ED). To ascertain if moving the site of thrombolysis enables appropriate use of thrombolysis. Design: Prospective cohort study. Setting: CCU and ED of a 450 bed Scottish district general hospital without on-site primary angioplasty. Participants: Primary site for thrombolysis of patients presenting to the hospital with ST elevation MI (STEMI) moved from CCU to ED on 1 April 2000. Study patients who had a confirmed STEMI and/or received thrombolytic therapy before this date were defined as the pre-change group; those who were diagnosed as STEMI and/or received thrombolytic therapy after this date were defined as the post-change group. Statistical analysis: Mann-Whitney test was used to compare medians and x 2 test for categorical data. Results: 1349 patients were discharged from CCU with a diagnosis of STEMI or received thrombolysis in the ED or CCU between April 1998 and April 2002. There were 632 patients in the pre-change group and 654 patients in the post-change group. Sixty three patients were excluded. Median DTN time for the prechange group (321 thrombolysed patients) was 64 minutes and median DTN time for the post-change group (324 thrombolysed patients) was 35 minutes, a median difference of 25 minutes (95% CI for difference 20 to 29 minutes, p,0.0001, Mann-Whitney U test). A total of 37 patients were thrombolysed but did not have a final diagnosis of STEMI. Conclusion: A significant reduction in DTN times accompanied this change in practice in this hospital.

To determine emergency management of overdose relating to gastrointestinal decontamination procedures in Scottish Accident & Emergency (A & E) Departments. A postal questionnaire was sent to the 28 main A & E Departments in Scotland. There was a 75% response rate. Nineteen departments(90%) continue to perform gastric lavage, with the majority carrying out this procedure more than one hour post-ingestion of commonly presenting overdoses. Sixteen departments (76%) regularly administer activated charcoal and four (19%) use syrup of ipecacuanha. Twenty departments (95%) had access to Toxbase. The majority of respondents (86%) feel there is a need for standardisation of treatment in acute overdose. Despite the availability of guidelines provided by the UK National Poisons Information Service and the Position Statements, there is no consensus in the actual management of acute overdose among Scottish A&E departments.