Annals of emergency medicine
-
Comparative Study
Abdominal compressions increase vital organ perfusion during CPR in dogs: relation with efficacy of thoracic compressions.
Abdominal compressions can be interposed between the thoracic compressions of standard CPR (SCPR). The resulting interposed abdominal compression CPR (IAC-CPR) may increase blood pressures and patient survival, particularly if applied as a primary technique after in-hospital cardiac arrest. We used a predominant cardiac compression canine model to study the effects of IAC-CPR on blood pressures and total and vital organ perfusion as a function of time after cardiac arrest and efficacy of SCPR. ⋯ Compared with predominant cardiac compressions alone (SCPR), the addition of interposed abdominal compressions (IAC-CPR) improves total and vital organ oxygen delivery through enhanced venous return and perfusion pressures.
-
To identify patients with croup who after treatment with nebulized racemic epinephrine, oral dexamethasone, and mist may be safely discharged home after a period of observation. ⋯ Patients with croup who are treated with racemic epinephrine, oral dexamethasone, and mist may be safely discharged home if the patient is assessed as ready for discharge after 3 hours of observation.
-
Rupture of an abdominal aortic aneurysm into the inferior vena cava is uncommon. A classic syndrome of high-output heart failure, continuous abdominal bruit, and renal insufficiency has been described and permits a clinical diagnosis if an aortocaval fistula is considered in the differential diagnosis. ⋯ Physicians should consider abdominal ultrasonography and aortography in stable patients, followed by prompt surgical intervention. We report the case of a patient with an aortocaval fistula.