EM Ottawa - By Jessica Tat - February 16, 2023
The Emergency Department is no stranger to the acutely agitated patient. Agitation remains a broad and multifactorial syndrome with a high potential for significant morbidity or mortality if not recognized and managed appropriately. This can be tricky at times when there is a lack of agreement among practitioners as what is considered first line treatment.This post aims to provide a four-step approach to managing the acutely agitated patient in the Emergency Department based on expert consensus with the goal of ensuring safety of the patient, staff, and others, minimizing use of coercive interventions, and encouraging patients to regain control to manage their emotions.
