There was no difference in cosmetic outcome with use of absorbable vs. nonabsorbable suture for pediatric lacerations, though there was a nonsignificant trend to absorbable being superior.  There was also no difference in dehiscence or infection rate between the two.

For better success at subclavian central venous catheter placement, have the patient turn their head 30 degrees toward the side of insertion to increase the cross sectional area of the vein.

This large multi-center prospective study of pediatric sedation found adverse events occurred in 12%, most mild desaturation or vomiting.  Severe adverse events occurred in 1%.  Ketamine given alone was the safest drug.  Propofol alone, ketamine + fentanyl, or ketamine + propofol were associated with greater risk for severe adverse events.

Numerous observational studies have suggested that prehospital intubation (PHI) (in this case of trauma patients) was associated with greater mortality than when it was done in the ED, and this systematic review indicated the same thing.

A slow infusion of ketamine for pain control was as effective as IV push, with less sedation and far fewer patients having a feeling of unreality.

Patients intubated in the Emergency Department with usual care (no apneic oxygenation) vs apneic oxygenation (≥15L/min via nasal cannula) did not have significant differences in lowest mean oxygen saturation.

Excessive sedation of intubated adult patients in the ED was associated with increased in-hospital mortality.  Aim for a RASS > -3.

Haloperidol markedly reduced pain and nausea in ED patients with gastroparesis compared to usual care.  But be careful.  Haloperidol is not without side effects.

A 5 sentence letter to the NEJM editor in 1980 has been cited over 600 times to support opiate prescribing, which was not even the point of the original letter.  We bought the line that opiates for legitimate pain were not addictive and didn't consider the source.

Intranasal fentanyl and N2O was a rapid way to perform pediatric sedation with no IV, but more patients cried, grimaced, and kicked during the procedure; and 12% vomited.