Resuscitation
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Multicenter Study Clinical Trial Controlled Clinical Trial
A prospective, multicenter pilot study to evaluate the feasibility and safety of using the CoolGard System and Icy catheter following cardiac arrest.
Cardiac arrest causes devastating neurological morbidity and mortality. Mild/moderate hypothermia is neuroprotective after global cerebral ischemia. More rapid controlled attainment of the target temperature may increase efficacy. ⋯ In comatose survivors of cardiac arrest, hypothermia via endovascular methods is safe and feasible, and target temperatures can be achieved and controlled rapidly and precisely. More studies are needed to assess the efficacy of rapid endovascular hypothermia after cardiac arrest.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Learning effect of a novel interactive basic life support CD: the JUST system.
Electronic interactive learning environments can enhance the learning experience and may prove beneficial in basic life support (BLS) training. As part of the European Union funded project "JUST-in-time health emergency interventions-training of non-professionals by virtual reality and advanced IT tools", an innovative interactive CD-ROM on BLS and other emergency medicine topics was developed. We hypothesised that individuals without previous BLS training could learn CPR techniques from this CD. ⋯ Individuals without prior BLS training showed improved behaviour and assessment skills after exposure to the CD, but motor skill acquisition requires alternative learning strategies.
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Patients with unexpected in-hospital cardiac arrest often have an abnormal clinical observation prior to the arrest. Previous studies have suggested that a medical emergency team responding to such patients may decrease in-hospital mortality from cardiac arrest, but the association between any abnormal clinical observation and subsequent increased mortality has not been studied prospectively. The aim of this study was to determine the predictive value of selected abnormal clinical observations in a ward population for subsequent in-hospital mortality. ⋯ Six abnormal clinical observations are associated with a high risk of mortality for in-hospital patients. These observations should be included as criteria for the early identification of patients at higher risk of unexpected in-hospital cardiac arrest.
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To evaluate the impact of the laryngeal mask airway (LMA) on neonatal resuscitation policy. ⋯ The LMA is changing neonatal resuscitation practice in our Institution. Our data suggest that it is a safe and useful alternative method for respiratory support in neonates requiring PPV at birth, which merits further study.
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Optimum cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) for both basic and advanced cardiac life support depends on a compromise between the number of chest compressions delivered and the amount of ventilation provided. This study used theoretical models of blood flow and both arterial and venous blood gas values to investigate the influence of different compression to ventilation ratios on CPR efficiency, as well as the effects of different inspired oxygen concentrations. With mouth-to-mouth ventilation, greater numbers of compressions between each ventilation provided progressively greater blood flow. ⋯ The best results were provided by continuous chest compressions and simultaneous, asynchronous ventilation in an intubated patient. Arterial and venous oxygen and carbon dioxide levels were well maintained, with very good oxygen delivery (0.32 L/min). Intubation with continuous chest compressions and asynchronous ventilation can therefore significantly improve the quality of CPR as a whole, and not just ventilation.