Digging up droperidol

Targeting mental health emergencies with a true anti-psychotic

March 30, 2022 11:28 AM •

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We’ve recently rolled out a new medication protocol here at MCHD. We’re progressive for the patient’s sake. It starts with a clinical gap or area for improvement. The implementation of droperidol is multifaceted. First off, availability plays a role. Also, the recent ketamine issues in Colorado, South Carolina and Minnesota have led to significant introspection about better targeted pharmacology in our undifferentiated patients with agitation.

On this episode of the MCHD Paramedic Podcast, join the medical directors to discuss the why, when and how behind MCHD’s droperidol protocol. Like many pharmacologic treatments in emergency medicine, old becomes new again!

They answer:

What is droperidol?
Why not haldol?
Why not ketamine?
How do we pick the right patients for droperidol?
What are MCHDs indications and dosing?
What about the FDA black box warning?
Is there EMS evidence for droperidol?
What is the future hold for droperidol at MCHD?
What if it doesn’t work?

MCHD Paramedic Podcast · Episode 115 - Digging Up Droperidol

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MCHD Paramedic Podcast

The MCHD Paramedic Podcast was launched in early 2018 in an effort to provide easily consumable core-content EMS education and insights from prehospital care thought leaders. The Clinical Services Department of The Montgomery County Hospital District EMS service developed the podcast as a tool to better engage and disseminate continuing education to our MCHD medics as well as first responders and EMS professionals nationwide.

Dr. Casey Patrick is the assistant medical director for Montgomery County Hospital District EMS and is a practicing emergency physician in multiple community emergency departments across Greater Houston. His EMS educational focus is on innovative paramedic teaching via the MCHD Paramedic Podcast. Dr. Patrick’s prehospital clinical research involves the investigation of paramedic use of bolus dose intravenous nitroglycerin for acute pulmonary edema and the implementation of lung protective ventilation strategies for intubated EMS patients. Casey and his wife, Alyssa, work and live in Conroe, Texas, and Spokane, Washington. Together they have five children: Mia, Ainsley, Brock, Dean and Will.

Dr. Dickson graduated with honors from the University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio in 2001 and completed emergency medicine training at Indiana University in 2004. He serves as the EMS medical director at Montgomery County Hospital District EMS and an assistant professor of emergency medicine at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas. His academic interests include systems of care in stroke and other time-sensitive emergencies, neurologic emergencies and education. He is board certified in emergency medicine in both the U.S. and Australasia, and has subspecialty board certification in EMS medicine. He has authored multiple professional articles and presented at regional, national and international conferences on emergency medicine and EMS topics.