Resuscitation
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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 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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A study was designed to determine which paediatric trauma patients with no detectable vital signs are likely to benefit from cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). ⋯ The overall survival rate of paediatric patients with cardiac arrest secondary to trauma is poor. Trauma patients in whom cardiac arrest is caused by respiratory arrest or by thoracoabdominal trauma in the hospital setting may have a chance of survival if a spontaneous circulation is rapidly restored with effective resuscitative measures.