The New England journal of medicine
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Passengers who have ventricular fibrillation aboard commercial aircraft rarely survive, owing to the delay in obtaining emergency care and defibrillation. ⋯ The use of the automated external defibrillator aboard commercial aircraft is effective, with an excellent rate of survival to discharge from the hospital after conversion of ventricular fibrillation. There are not likely to be complications when the device is used as a monitor in the absence of ventricular fibrillation.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Effects of intrathecal morphine on the ventilatory response to hypoxia.
Intrathecal administration of morphine produces intense analgesia, but it depresses respiration, an effect that can be life-threatening. Whether intrathecal morphine affects the ventilatory response to hypoxia, however, is not known. ⋯ Depression of the ventilatory response to hypoxia after the administration of intrathecal morphine is similar in magnitude to, but longer-lasting than, that after the administration of an equianalgesic dose of intravenous morphine.
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The use of automated external defibrillators by persons other than paramedics and emergency medical technicians is advocated by the American Heart Association and other organizations. However, there are few data on the outcomes when the devices are used by nonmedical personnel for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. ⋯ Rapid defibrillation by nonmedical personnel using an automated external defibrillator can improve survival after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest due to ventricular fibrillation. Intervals of no more than three minutes from collapse to defibrillation are necessary to achieve the highest survival rates.