Glucagon no help for food impaction
July 29, 2016
Short Attention Span Summary
Glucagon doesn’t work for esophageal foreign body impaction (14% resolution vs 10% with no glucagon) and it made 13% of patients vomit. Skip glucagon and just call GI for endoscopy. This was first released electronically in April and officially published in June. A host of great FOAM sources covered this: Journal Watch, LITFL, and First10EM.
Abstract
Am J Emerg Med. 2016 Jun;34(6):1049-52. doi: 10.1016/j.ajem.2016.03.016. Epub 2016 Mar 9.
Effectiveness of glucagon in relieving esophageal foreign body impaction: a multicenter study.
Bodkin RP1, Weant KA2, Baker Justice S3, Spencer MT1, Acquisto NM4.
Author information:
1Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Rochester Medical Center, 601 Elmwood Ave, Box 655, Rochester, NY 14642.
2Medical University of South Carolina, 150 Ashley Ave, PO Box 25084, Charleston, SC 29425.
3Clinical Pharmacy Services, St Claire Regional Medical Center, 222 Medical Cir, Morehead, KY 40351.
4Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Rochester Medical Center, 601 Elmwood Ave, Box 655, Rochester, NY 14642; Department of Pharmacy, University of Rochester Medical Center, 601 Elmwood Ave, Box 638, Rochester, NY 14642. Electronic address: nicole_acquisto@urmc.rochester.edu.
Abstract
PURPOSE:
Glucagon is thought to decrease lower esophageal sphincter tone and is used as an alternative to invasive endoscopy for esophageal foreign body impaction (EFBI). The purpose of this study was to evaluate efficacy and safety of glucagon and identify characteristics associated with success.
METHODS:
A multicenter, retrospective study of patients receiving glucagon for EFBI at 2 academic emergency departments was conducted between 2006 and 2010. A control group of patients that did not receive glucagon was evaluated. Data collection included demographics, type of foreign body, glucagon dose, resolution of impaction, incidence of vomiting, additional medication, and endoscopy required. Descriptive and univariate analysis was performed as appropriate.
RESULTS:
A total of 133 doses of glucagon were administered in 127 patients. Glucagon-related resolution of EFBI occurred in 18 patients (14.2%) and vomiting in 16 patients (12.6%). No statistical differences between successful and unsuccessful groups were seen with the exception of concomitant medication administration (benzodiazepine or nitroglycerin) being associated with less glucagon success, 33.3% vs 59.6%, respectively (P = .04). Eighty-four percent of patients in the unsuccessful group underwent endoscopy. Comparing those that received glucagon (n = 127) and the control group (n = 29), there was no significant difference in resolution of EFBI, 14.2% vs 10.3%, respectively (P = .586).
CONCLUSIONS:
Glucagon-related resolution occurred in 14.2% of patients and was not significantly different compared with those that did not receive glucagon (10.3%). Concomitant medication administration was associated with lower success. Overall, glucagon had a low success rate, was related to adverse effects, and does not offer advantages for treatment.
Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
PMID: 27038694 [PubMed – in process]