This research study is being done to figure out the best approach to treatment of pre-hospital agitation. It will compare two tiered dosing treatment protocols, one ketamine-based and one midazolam-based. Agitation is a state of extreme emotional disturbance where patients can become physically aggressive or violent, endangering themselves and those who are caring for them. Often chemical substances or severe mental illness are involved in this level of agitation. Specifically, the investigators are interested in studying agitation that is treated in the prehospital setting by paramedics. This study's hypothesis is a ketamine-based protocol will achieve a faster time to adequate sedation than a midazolam-based protocol for treatment of agitation in the prehospital environment. This study will observe the natural history of an emergency medical services standard operating procedure change from a ketamine-based protocol to a midazolam-based protocol.
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment
314
For profoundly agitated (physically violent) patients, intramuscular ketamine 5 mg/kg will be administered first line. For severely agitated patients, intramuscular ketamine 3 mg/kg will be administered first line.
For profoundly agitated patients, intramuscular midazolam 15 mg will be administered. For severely agitated patients, intramuscular midazolam 5 mg will be administered.
Hennepin County Medical Center
Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States
Time from injection of drug to adequate sedation, defined as a score of +1 or less on the AMSS
The Altered Mental Status Scale (AMSS) is an integral ordinal scale evaluating both agitation and sedation with scores from -4 to +4. It was developed at our institution and has been internally and externally validated. This scale is a modified version of the Behavioral Activity Rating Scale with additional data points from the Observer's Assessment of Alertness Scale. Effectiveness of sedation will be defined as an AMSS score less than or equal to +1. AMSS will be determined by the treating paramedic, who will undergo training as a research associate prior to commencement of the study. Participants will be followed for the duration of agitation, an expected average of 2 hours.
Time frame: 2 hours
Number of participants intubated
Participants will be followed for the duration of agitation, an expected average of 2 hours. Enrolling paramedics or research associates in the Emergency Department will record if the patient is intubated.
Time frame: 2 hours
Number of participants experiencing hypersalivation
Participants will be followed for the duration of agitation, an expected average of 2 hours. Enrolling paramedics or research associates in the Emergency Department will record if the patient experiences hypersalivation.
Time frame: 2 hours
Number of participants experiencing apnea
Participants will be followed for the duration of agitation, an expected average of 2 hours. Enrolling paramedics or research associates in the Emergency Department will record if the patient experiences apnea, defined as 6 seconds of absent EtCO2 waveform.
Time frame: 2 hours
Number of participants experiencing nausea/vomiting
Participants will be followed for the duration of agitation, an expected average of 2 hours. Enrolling paramedics or research associates in the Emergency Department will record if the patient experiences nausea/vomiting
Time frame: 2 hours
Number of participants experiencing laryngospasm
Participants will be followed for the duration of agitation, an expected average of 2 hours. Enrolling paramedics or research associates in the Emergency Department will record if laryngospasm occurs.
Time frame: 2 hours
Number of participants needing rescue sedation
Participants will be followed for the duration of agitation, an expected average of 2 hours. Enrolling paramedics or research associates in the Emergency Department will record if additional sedatives are needed in the prehospital or ED environment.
Time frame: 2 hours
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