What Researchers Did
Researchers reviewed recent literature on the emergent management of acute headache patients in the acute care setting.
What They Found
Intravenous fluid hydration and ketamine were found to be ineffective for acute migraine relief, with IV fluids also prolonging emergency department stays. A new study demonstrated that patients receiving intravenous hydromorphone in the ED were much less likely to attain acute headache relief, despite opioids remaining prevalent. Standardized headache protocols may decrease opioid use and provide significant pain relief, while other treatments like high-flow oxygen showed conflicting results.
What This Means for Canadian Patients
Canadian patients experiencing acute headaches in the emergency department should be aware that intravenous fluids and ketamine are generally not effective for pain relief. They should discuss with their healthcare providers the use of standardized protocols and non-opioid options, as opioids like hydromorphone have shown poor outcomes for headache relief.
Canadian Relevance
This review article does not have a specific Canadian connection.
Study Limitations
As a review of existing literature, this study's findings are limited by the quality, methodology, and specific patient populations of the included primary research.