Resuscitation
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The aim of the study was to develop a scoring system for outcome classification at the start of prehospital first tier resuscitation for patients with cardiac arrest from ventricular fibrillation (VF). We studied a consecutive sample of 100 out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients, presenting with VF of presumed cardiac etiology on arrival of the first tier (in a two-tiered urban Emergency Medical Services system). The number of patients discharged was 29 ('survivors') and 71 died ('non-survivors'). ⋯ Using this index 79% of the survivors and 70% of the non-survivors could be classified correctly. Adding age to the formula increased the correct classification of survivors to 86 and 73% for the non-survivors. The survival index provides a research tool for the discrimination between potential survivors and non-survivors, which opens the possibility for the development of alternative treatment protocols in cardiac arrest.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Effectiveness of mask ventilation in a training mannikin. A comparison between the Oxylator EM100 and the bag-valve device.
The demands for an optimal ventilation apparatus are that it can be easily handled, achieves a sufficiently high ventilation volume, and minimizes gastric inflation. Our aim was therefore to carry out a study in a training mannikin to find out whether the Oxylator EM100, compared with the bag, obtains improved ventilation and a decrease in gastric inflation. In a randomized crossover study, 72 subjects were selected (24 physicians, 44 nurses and 4 auxiliary nurses), chosen from the operating theatre, emergency department and intensive care unit of two hospitals. ⋯ Of most importance is a significant lowering of gastric inflation and less so a marked increase in ventilatory volume. Our trial procedure with a relatively high lung compliance and a high oesophageal sphincter opening simulated favorable conditions. Owing to a large in vivo variability of these magnitudes, a direct testing in real patients with circulatory arrest is indicated.
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Brainstem auditory evoked responses (BAER) are routinely used to monitor brainstem function in hospitalized comatose patients. We used a rat model of cardiac arrest and resuscitation to explore the possibility that the BAER, monitored during and immediately after cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), could be used to determine whether the CPR was effective in restoring brainstem blood flow. Long-Evans rats were subjected to 7 min of cardiac arrest, induced by chest compression under Ketamine anesthesia sufficient to mechanically prevent the heart from pumping blood and were then resuscitated using a standard CPR protocol. ⋯ If it was greater than 0.35 ms the rat died. This signal was used as a cue for intervention in three rats; two survived. Thus, in this preparation, the BAER provided a useful measure of CPR effectiveness, in time to permit successful intervention.
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Possible correlations between the circulatory and neurological responses to cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and the influence of pre-arrest factors (demographic data, medical history and aetiology of circulatory arrest) and arrest factors (location of arrest, ECG configurations, and duration of resuscitation) on the course of circulatory and neurological recovery were investigated in 111 victims of circulatory arrest. At the start of resuscitation 57 patients (Group I) had some brain function and 54 (Group II) had no brain function. Sixty nine patients (62%) had circulation restored but 54 (78%) were left with heart failure. ⋯ Survival and post-resuscitation heart failure was alike in the groups. The pre-arrest factors explored did not modify the circulatory or neurological outcome whereas initial ventricular fibrillation was significantly related to recovery of consciousness. The revivability of spontaneous circulation and of neurological functions was found thus mainly to be determined by global ischaemia sustained prior to and during CPR.
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The aim of the study was to evaluate whether mass-mailing of a 12-month wall calendar which focused on child and infant safety and first aid treatment had any educational effect on lay people. The calendar included algorithms for removal of a foreign body from the airways and infant and child CPR. The knowledge and skills in these procedures were tested in two groups using a previously validated check-list before and after the introduction of the calendar. ⋯ Whether the test persons had children 0-8 years old or not, did not affect the results. In conclusion the calendar had no educational effect when distributed by mail, but a safety campaign which included distribution of the calendar and a possibility to borrow a manikin had a positive influence on the first aid skills and knowledge of lay people. Mass mailing of CPR or other first aid material free-of-charge does not seem to further the goal of increasing the rate and proficiency of bystander interventions to save lives.