Resuscitation
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An intention in 2003 to undertake a multicentre trial in the United Kingdom of compressions before and after defibrillation could not be realized because of concerns at the time in relation to informed consent. Instead, the new protocol was introduced in one ambulance service, ahead of the 2005 Guidelines, with greater emphasis on compressions. ⋯ The introduction of metronomes and the provision of feedback to crews led to major improvements in performance. Our experience has implications for the emergency pre-hospital care of cardiac arrest.
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Case Reports
Transesophageal echocardiography during cardiopulmonary arrest in the emergency department.
Management of patients in cardiopulmonary arrest is challenging and can be resource consuming. Outcomes continue to be poor and physicians may feel a sense of futility when running a resuscitation. Bedside ultrasound has been utilized to guide resuscitations, diagnose correctable cardiac pathology leading to an arrest and has proved to have a prognostic value when utilized in the initial stages of resuscitation. ⋯ It allows for constant visualization of the heart, even during chest compressions, cardioversion and other procedures. This case series describes the use of transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) during cardiac arrest by emergency physicians. The cases illustrate some of the potential benefits of TEE during cardiopulmonary arrest.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study
Resuscitation Outcomes Consortium (ROC) PRIMED cardiac arrest trial methods part 1: rationale and methodology for the impedance threshold device (ITD) protocol.
The primary aim of this study is to compare survival to hospital discharge with a modified Rankin score (MRS)< or =3 between standard cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) plus an active impedance threshold device (ITD) versus standard CPR plus a sham ITD in patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. Secondary aims are to compare functional status and depression at discharge and at 3 and 6 months post-discharge in survivors. ⋯ If the ITD demonstrates the hypothesized improvement in survival, it is estimated that 2700 deaths from cardiac arrest per year would be averted in North America alone.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Comparative Study
Resuscitation Outcomes Consortium (ROC) PRIMED cardiac arrest trial methods part 2: rationale and methodology for "Analyze Later vs. Analyze Early" protocol.
The primary objective of the trial is to compare survival to hospital discharge with modified Rankin score (MRS) < or =3 between a strategy that prioritizes a specified period of CPR before rhythm analysis (Analyze Later) versus a strategy of minimal CPR followed by early rhythm analysis (Analyze Early) in patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. ⋯ If this trial demonstrates a significant improvement in survival with a strategy of Analyze Later, it is estimated that 4000 premature deaths from cardiac arrest would be averted annually in North America alone.
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Multicenter Study
The Resuscitation Outcomes Consortium Epistry-Trauma: design, development, and implementation of a North American epidemiologic prehospital trauma registry.
Injury is a major public health problem generating substantial morbidity, mortality, and economic burden on society. The majority of seriously injured persons are initially evaluated and cared for by prehospital providers, however the effect of emergency medical services (EMS) systems, EMS clinical care, and EMS interventions on trauma patient outcomes is largely unknown. ⋯ In this paper, we describe the background, design, development, implementation, content, and potential uses of the first North American comprehensive epidemiologic prehospital data registry for injured persons. This data registry samples patients from 264 EMS agencies transporting to 287 acute care hospitals in both the United States and Canada.