Resuscitation
-
To describe the outcome of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) with a focus on why physicians withhold resuscitation attempts. ⋯ Survival to discharge from hospital in all cases of OHCA was 6.2% but 20.5% in witnessed, presumed cardiac aetiology in VF. The decision to withhold resuscitation was based upon presumed prolonged anoxia in the majority of cases.
-
The forensic records were reviewed of 1823 deaths referred to Edinburgh City Mortuary for autopsy over a 15-month period, 2000-2001; 499 cases (343 males, 156 females) that received CPR prior to death were studied. Rib fractures were found in 29%, sternal fracture in 14%, and 11% of cases showed external chest wall bruising or abrasion. More females sustained rib fractures than males (37% versus 26%; P <0.05). ⋯ The incidence of rib fractures increased with age (P <0.001). There was no significant difference in the number of left or right ribs fractured (P=0.631). This study incorporates all cases of in and out-of-hospital CPR and does not discriminate for the CPR provider or technique employed, therefore, providing a current and representative overview of the incidence of rib and sternal fractures in non-survivors of CPR.
-
Letter Case Reports
Thyroid storm concealing diabetic ketoacidosis leading to cardiac arrest.
-
Multicenter Study
Characteristics and outcome of cardiorespiratory arrest in children.
To analyse the present day characteristics and outcome of cardio-respiratory arrest in children in Spain. ⋯ In Spain, the present mortality from cardio-respiratory arrest in children remains high. Survival after respiratory arrest is significantly higher than after cardiac arrest. The duration of cardiopulmonary resuscitation attempt is the best indicator of mortality of cardio-respiratory arrest in children.
-
We report an improved method for the estimation of shock outcome prediction based on novel wavelet transform-based time-frequency methods. Wavelet-based peak frequency, energy, mean frequency, spectral flatness and a new entropy measure were studied to predict shock outcome. Of these, the entropy measure provided optimal results with 60 +/- 6% specificity at 91 +/- 2% sensitivity achieved for the prediction of return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC). These results represent a major improvement in shock prediction in human ventricular fibrillation.