| Even though evidence-based treatment for opioid use disorders (OUD) is eff ective, almost four in fi ve Americans with OUD do not receive any form of treatment. The gap in access to evidencebased care, including treatment with medications for OUD, stems in part from barriers to change within the health care system. This paper includes nine key barriers that prevent access to evidence-based care, including stigma; inadequate clinical training; a dearth of addiction specialists; lack of integration of MOUD provision in practice; regulatory, statutory, and data sharing restrictions; and fi nancial barriers. Action from a number of actors is urgently needed to address this crisis.

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Improving Access to Evidence-Based Medical Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder: Strategies to Address Key Barriers Within the Treatment System

Refusal to accept emergency medical transport following opioid overdose, and conditions that may promote connections to care.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES Prothrombin complex concentrates (PCC) are increasingly administered off-label in the United States to treat bleeding in cardiovascular surgical patients and carry the potential risk for acquired thromboembolic side-effects after surgery. Therefore, we hypothesized that the use of low-dose 3-factor (3F) PCC (20-30 IU/kg), as part of a transfusion algorithm, reduces bleeding without increasing postoperative thrombotic/thromboembolic complications. MATERIALS/METHODS After IRB approval, we retrospectively analysed 114 consecutive, complex cardiovascular surgical patients (age > 18 years), between February 2014 and June 2015, that received low-dose 3F-PCC (Profilnine® ), of which seven patients met established exclusion criteria. PCC was dosed according to an institutional perioperative algorithm. Allogeneic transfusions were recorded before and after PCC administration (n = 107). The incidence of postoperative thromboembolic events was determined within 30 days of surgery, and Factor II levels were measured in a subset of patients (n = 20) as a quality control measure to avoid excessive PCC dosing. RESULTS Total allogeneic blood product transfusion reached a mean of 12·4 ± 9·9 units before PCC and 5·0 ± 6·3 units after PCC administration (P < 0·001). The mean PCC dose was 15·8 ± 7·1 IU/kg. Four patients (3·8%) each experienced an ischaemic stroke on postoperative day 1, 2, 4 and 27. Seven patients (6·5%) had acquired venous thromboembolic disease within 10 days of surgery. Median factor II level after transfusion algorithm adherence and PCC administration was 87%. CONCLUSIONS 3F-PCC use for refractory bleeding after cardiovascular surgery resulted in reduced transfusion of allogeneic blood and blood products. Adherence to this algorithmic approach was associated with an acceptable incidence of postoperative thrombotic/thromboembolic complications.

Three‐factor prothrombin complex concentrates for refractory bleeding after cardiovascular surgery within an algorithmic approach to haemostasis

Non-transport after Prehospital Naloxone Administration Is Associated with Higher Risk of Subsequent Non-fatal Overdose.

ED-initiated addiction treatment holds promise for enhancing access to treatment for those with opioid use disorder (OUD). We present a literature review summarizing the evidence for buprenorphine induction in the ED including best practices for dosing, follow-up care, and reducing implementation barriers. A literature search of Pubmed, PsychInfo, and Embase identified articles studying OUD treatment in the ED published after 1980. Twenty-five studies were identified including eleven scientific abstracts. Multiple studies suggest that buprenorphine induction improves engagement in substance treatment up to 30 days after ED treatment. Many different induction protocols were presented, but no particular approach was best supported as criteria for induction and initial dosing vary widely. Similarly, transition of care models focused on either a "hub and spoke" model or "warm hand-offs" model, but no studies compared these approaches. Common barriers to implementing induction programs were provider inexperience, discomfort with addiction treatment, and limited time during the ED visit. No studies described the number of EDs offering induction. While ED buprenorphine induction is safe and enhances adherence to addiction treatment, uncertainty persists in how to best identify patients needing treatment, how to initiate buprenorphine, and how to enhance follow-up after ED-initiated treatment.

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Prescribing Buprenorphine for Opioid Use Disorders in the ED: A Review of Best Practices, Barriers, and Future Directions.

Buprenorphine Field Initiation of ReScue Treatment by Emergency Medical Services (Bupe FIRST EMS): A Case Series.

Background Three- and four-factor prothrombin complex concentrates (PCC) are gaining popularity for acute reversal of vitamin K antagonist-associated bleeding. Although acute thrombosis after PCC administration has been described, it seems to be rare. Case Report An 83-year-old woman on warfarin for history of deep venous thrombosis (DVT) presented to the Emergency Department with life-threatening gastrointestinal bleeding, requiring urgent PCC administration. After stabilization, she subsequently developed a new limb-threatening upper-extremity DVT. Why Should an Emergency Physician Be Aware of This? As PCC therapy gains popularity for reversal of anticoagulant-induced bleeding in urgent bleeding scenarios, the emergency physician must be aware of the complications of PCC administration, including new limb-threatening DVT.

Limb-threatening Deep Venous Thrombosis Complicating Warfarin Reversal with Three-factor Prothrombin Complex Concentrate: A Case Report.

A 25-year-old male patient presented to the emergency department with the chief complaint of sudden blindness and was found to have suffered bilateral central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO). This process is most commonly the result of a thrombus or embolus that occludes the retinal artery, and normally presents in a single eye in patients older than 65 who are predisposed to vascular disease. Diagnosis relies most heavily upon funduscopic exam. Potential treatments involve ocular massage, acetazolamide, anterior chamber paracentesis and systemic or local fibrinolysis. Despite these interventions vision is often significantly and permanently impaired. This case underscores the importance of the emergency physician's ability to promptly perform and interpret the funduscopic exam in order to diagnose and evaluate CRAO.

Gerard G. Carroll

Papers

Buprenorphine Field Initiation of ReScue Treatment by Emergency Medical Services (Bupe FIRST EMS): A Case Series.

Limb-threatening Deep Venous Thrombosis Complicating Warfarin Reversal with Three-factor Prothrombin Complex Concentrate: A Case Report.

Acute bilateral retinal artery occlusion causing sudden blindness in 25-year-old patient