Resuscitation
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Recent data have demonstrated potent cardioprotective and neuroprotective effects of the application of growth hormones like erythropoietin (EPO) after focal cardiac or cerebral ischemia. In order to assess possible benefits regarding survival and resuscitation conditions, EPO was tested against placebo in a model of cardiac arrest in the rat. ⋯ EPO, when administrated before cardiac arrest, improved initial resuscitation and increased the duration of post-resuscitation survival.
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Editorial Comment
Are we closer to a new strategy in the treatment of cardiac arrest?
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The post-cardiac arrest syndrome (period of critical illness following return of spontaneous circulation [ROSC]) is a promising window of opportunity for clinical trials of therapeutic interventions to improve outcome from cardiac arrest. However, the methodological rigor of post-ROSC trials and the ability to compare or pool data on treatment effects across studies requires consistent and appropriate outcome measures. We aimed to determine the current degree of uniformity of outcome measures in clinical trials of post-ROSC interventions. ⋯ Currently there is a lack of uniformity in selection and reporting of outcome measures among trials of post-ROSC interventions. Achieving consensus would be an important advance for resuscitation science.
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The optimal depth of sternal compressions during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) in infants is unknown; current guidelines recommend compressing to a depth of 1/3rd to 1/2 the anterior-posterior (AP) diameter of the chest. Our experience to compress the chest at 1/3rd the AP diameter often fails to provide an adequate blood pressure response. We reviewed our experience with CPR, depth of compressions, and arterial blood pressure response in a cohort of 6 infants having cardiac surgery and subsequent cardiac arrest. ⋯ The mean diastolic pressure was similar with both strategies (30.5 vs. 30.6mm Hg, p=0.99). In this cohort of 6 infants having cardiac surgery and subsequent cardiac arrest, attempting to compress the chest at 1/2 the AP diameter increased systolic blood pressure by 62% compared to attempting to compress 1/3rd the AP diameter. Perhaps resuscitators should attempt to compress infants' chests 1/2 rather than 1/3rd the AP diameter of the chest.