Research Critique on Pre-Hospital Treatment of Opioid Overdose in Copenhagen

Introduction

The addiction of opioid overdose is very common these days all around the world. This intake behavior of narcotics has led human life to dreadful circumstances and death rate increase is also due to this immense intake. Copenhagen, the capital of Denmark has a majority of opioid overdose users. To examine the opioid overdose situation prevalent and its treatment procedure in Copenhagen; chose and critically reviewed the article "Pre hospital treatment of opioid overdose in Copenhagen--Is it safe to discharge on scene?" written by S.S Rudolph, G.Jehu, K.Nielsen & L.S. Rasmussen. The article precisely discusses the cases occurred due the time spam of 1994-2003.

Opiod overdose effects are outrageous and it may escort to horrible circumstances. Naloxone is the most efficient and effective treatment dose for the patients suffering from these conditions. The Medical Emergency Care Unit (MECU) is the primary source for the treatment of opiod overdose. The team is available 24hours and provides medication facilities to the needy ones. The intention of this medication service is to cure the patients on spot and release them on scene after prior treatment (Rudolph, Nielsen & Rasmussen, 2011, p.1414).

The purpose of this study is to find out what are affects of MECU treatment to the patients, what is the patient's cure rate and what essential steps can be taken for betterment. It also exemplifies that which sort of treatment is given instantly and which kind of results are obtained in the ten years. Present a hawk eye review that what are the strengths and weaknesses of this whole treatment process, what essential benefits can be obtained from this study and how much ethical principles play their role in this whole dilemma. One of the most important things about this study is that it portrays that whether this system of treatment should continue or not and what kind of improvements can be brought into the system.

Research Methodology

The study of eradicating the curse of opiod overdose with naxolone treatment contains sheer importance and significance. The research methodology utilized primarily is the usage of CASP tool. This tool enables a deep inside examination of the process and elaborates its advantages and shortcomings on a wider spectrum. The whole treatment procedure till its outcomes is pretty much assessed in this phase so that a clear cut understanding would be the fruitfulness of this process (Wichmann, Siersma & Rasmussen, 2012, p. 142).

CASP Tool

The critical appraisal tool is a qualitative measure to check out the process strengths and weaknesses. It enables a good understanding for the reader to determine that where this whole case outcomes would lead to. Critically examining the whole opioid process with naxolone treatment is the name of the game in CASP tool determination. This tool exemplifies that which areas of the process were strong enough and made this treatment appropriate and also discusses that which areas of concerned are there and needs to be done properly (Kelly & Koutsogiannis, 2005, p. 18).

The opiod overdose cases in Copenhagen as per MECU were 4762 during the tenure of 1994-2003. In these 4762 cases identified individuals whose profiling was done accurate were 3245. The unidentified cases were 1517 in which 1427 were released on scene. The main concern thus prevails that out of identified cases how many individuals were released on scene. The statistical figure from the MECU portal portrays that 2241 had to be released on scene after prior treatment and diagnosis. However 18 people died within 48 hours after the on scene release. The figure of potential rebound overdose was 14 in total of which one died from natural death, 10 died due to the new overdose and 3 were likely rebound overdose cases (Rudolph, Nielsen & Rasmussen, 2011, p.1416).

The research framework is hence scrutinized to these 3 individuals that what were the main causes of their death. The treatment process as demonstrated by MECU authorities is pretty much clear that MECU doctors reach on spot and medicate patient according to their previous health history. Mostly the typical clinical presentation interface takes place which is the main reliever. Supplemental oxygen along with ventilation by bag value mask and intravenous injection of 0.8mg naloxone is given to the patient so that recovery could be done as soon as possible. Meanwhile intravenous (IV) naloxone is given with intramuscular (IM), or subcutaneous injection of 0.4mg of naloxone; in this whole interface if the patient is obtunded, naxolone is titrated to affect the body (Rudolph, Nielsen & Rasmussen, 2011, p.1415).

The patient is released after prior examination and if results obtained are promising. Severe cases are admitted to hospitals but a patient can refuse to get admitted in hospital as per Danish laws. Hence the risk element of patient's life prevails as some of the patients gain recovery at the spot but later on severe symptoms affect the health of the patient which may lead to death of a person. The CASP tool examines this whole scenario closely and depicts that the process prevailed is quite effective for the treatment of patients and the results of 10 years portray that very few cases were mishandled and that was purely because of patient's negligence (Sporer & Firestone, 2008, p. 662).

(Rudolph, Nielsen & Rasmussen, 2011, p.1417) illustrates the three deaths which took place in this whole time frame due to likely rebound overdose were quite different from each other. In the first case the person went to a friend's place and slept. Patient was found dead after nine hours and the auto spy reports confirm that no drugs were taken after the treatment. The results obtained after prior investigations were that morphine overdose was most likely the cause of death. In second case patient came home and went to bed immediately. The partner of the patient also slept with him. The partner reported that he found the patient vomiting and respiratory depression was also found in him. The reports confirmed that morphine overdose was the cause of death of this patient too.

The third case depicts a similar scenario too as the patient was sent to the hospital but she never entered the hospital and went to her home instead. Also slept with her partner and was found dead after 11 hours. The auto spy authorities again illustrated that morphine overdose was the cause of death (Rudolph, Nielsen & Rasmussen,