Efficacy of cola ingestion for oesophageal food bolus impaction: open label, multicentre, randomised controlled trial

OBJECTIVE

To determine the efficacy and safety of cola in resolving complete oesophageal food bolus impaction.

DESIGN

Open label, multicentre, randomised controlled trial.

SETTING

Emergency departments of five Dutch hospitals at the secondary and tertiary level, between 22 December 2019 and 16 June 2022.

PARTICIPANTS

51 adults presenting with complete oesophageal food bolus impaction, defined as a sudden inability to pass saliva after consumption of foods. Patients who ingested meat that contained bones, and patients with an American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status classification of IV or higher were excluded.

INTERVENTIONS

28 patients in the intervention group were instructed to consume 25 mL cups of cola at intervals up to a maximum total volume of 200 mL. 23 patients in the control group awaited spontaneous passage. In either group, if complete resolution of symptoms did not occur, endoscopic removal was performed following current guidelines: within 6 hours for patients with complete obstruction, and within 24 hours for partial obstruction. In case of complete resolution of symptoms, elective diagnostic endoscopy was required.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Improvement of oesophageal food bolus obstruction as reported by patients (ie, aggregate of complete and partial passage), and evaluation of complete passage. The secondary outcome was any intervention related adverse event.

RESULTS

Cola did not have a meaningful effect on the improvement of food bolus obstruction (17/28 (61%) intervention v 14/23 (61%) control; odds ratio 1.00, 95% confidence interval 0.33 to 3.1; relative risk reduction 0.0, 95% confidence interval -0.55 to 0.36; P>0.99). Complete passage was reported more often in the intervention group but this difference was not significant (12/28 (43%) intervention v 8/23 (35%) control; odds ratio 1.4 (0.45 to 4.4); relative risk reduction -0.23 (-1.5 to 0.39); P=0.58). No severe adverse events occurred. However, six (21%) patients in the intervention group experienced temporary discomfort after drinking cola.

CONCLUSIONS

In this study, cola consumption did not lead to a higher rate of improvement of complete oesophageal food bolus impaction. Given the lack of adverse events in the treatment group and some events of resolution after treatment, cola might be considered as a first line treatment, but should not delay any planning of endoscopic management.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Netherlands Trial Register (currently International Clinical Trial Registry Platform) NL8312.

Optimal anatomical location for needle chest decompression for tension pneumothorax: A multicenter prospective cohort study

OBJECTIVE

Tension Pneumothorax (TP) can occur as a potentially life threatening complication of chest trauma. Both the 2nd intercostal space in the midclavicular line (ICS2-MCL) and the 4th/5th intercostal space in the anterior axillary line (ICS 4/5-AAL) have been proposed as preferred locations for needle decompression (ND) of a TP. In the present study we aim to determine chest wall thickness (CWT) at ICS2-MCL and ICS4/5-AAL in normal weight-, overweight- and obese patients, and to calculate theoretical success rates of ND for these locations based on standard catheter length.

METHODS

We performed a prospective multicenter study of a convenience sample of adult patients presenting in Emergency Departments (ED) of 2 university hospitals and 6 teaching hospitals participating in the XXX consortium. CWT was measured bilaterally in ISC2-MCL and ISC4/5-AAL with point of care ultrasound (POCUS) and hypothetical success rates of ND were calculated for both locations based on standard equipment used for ND.

RESULTS

A total of 392 patients was included during a 2 week period. Mean age was 51 years (range 18-89), 52% was male and mean BMI was 25.5 (range 16.3-45.0). Median CWT was 26 [IQR 21-32] (range 9-52) mm in ISC2-MCL, and 26 [21-33] (range 10-78) mm in ICS4/5-AAL (p<0.001). CWT in ISC2-MCL was significantly thinner than ICS4/5-AAL in overweight- (BMI 25-30, p<0.001), and obese (BMI>30, p=0.016 subjects, but not in subjects with a normal BMI. Hypothetical failure rates for 45mm Venflon and 50mm Angiocatheter were 2.5% and 0.8% for ICS2-MCL and 6.2% and 2.5% for ISC4/5-AAL (p=0.016 and p=0.052 respectively).

CONCLUSION

In overweight- and obese subjects, the chest wall is thicker in ICS 4/5-AAL than in ICS2-MCL and theoretical chances of successful needle decompression of a tension pneumothorax are significantly higher in ICS2-MCL compared to ICS 4/5-AAL.

A Survey of Emergency Providers Regarding the Current Management of Anterior Shoulder Dislocations

Background:

Anterior shoulder dislocations (ASDs) are frequent painful injuries commonly treated in the emergency department. The last decade new potentially less traumatic and painful reduction techniques for ASDs have been introduced. Recent literature comparing best reduction techniques, medication use, and approaches is limited. To better guide future research including the use of these newer techniques, information about the current use of different reduction techniques and medication is needed.

Methods:

Our primary aim was to survey the techniques used by emergency practitioners to reduce ASDs. Our secondary objective was to gather data on medication usage during reduction. To these ends, we surveyed members of the Netherlands Society of Emergency Physicians.

Results:

Forty-four percent of respondents reported using a traction-based technique (Hippocrates or Stimson). Biomechanical techniques were used by 40% of respondents. Twelve percent reported using the Kocher leverage-based technique. Five percent of the techniques used could not be classified. A wide variety of procedural sedation and pain management interventions were reported, with an opioid and propofol being used most commonly. Approximately 9% of the reductions were attempted without any medications.

Conclusions:

To our knowledge, this is the first study of its kind on ASD management by emergency practitioners. Our results indicate that Dutch emergency practitioners employ all three classes of reduction techniques: traction-countertraction most commonly, closely followed by biomechanical techniques. Medication use during repositioning varied widely. Per our survey, emergency practitioners are desirous of an evidence-based guideline for ASD management.