Resuscitation
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Identifying early changes in hemostatic clot function as a result of tissue injury and hypoperfusion may provide important information regarding the mechanisms of traumatic coagulopathy. A combat-relevant swine model was used to investigate the development of coagulopathy during trauma by monitoring hemostatic function during increasing severity of shock. ⋯ In this swine model of traumatic shock, fibrinogen was significantly reduced and an isolated reduction in clot strength (MA) was found with increasing OD. Fibrinogen consumption and altered platelet function may account for the earliest changes in hemostatic function during traumatic shock.
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To examine interventions and timing of emergency team calls in hospitals with or without a medical emergency team (MET). ⋯ Nearly all emergency team calls required critical care type interventions. Emergency team calls show a unique temporal pattern for both MET and control hospitals. These findings have important organizational and resource-related implications for hospitals evaluating and establishing rapid response systems.
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Comparative Study
The impact of Rapid Response System on delayed emergency team activation patient characteristics and outcomes--a follow-up study.
To evaluate the impact of Rapid Response System (RRS) maturation on delayed Medical Emergency Team (MET) activation and patient characteristics and outcomes. ⋯ Maturation of a RRS is associated with a decrease in the incidence of unplanned ICU admissions and MET activation delay. Assessment of a RRS early in the course of its implementation may underestimate its efficacy.
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Episodes of ventricular fibrillation (VF) and myocardial dysfunction commonly occur after cardiac resuscitation compromising the return of stable circulation. We investigated in a pig model of VF whether limiting Na(+)-induced cytosolic Ca(2+) overload using the sarcolemmal sodium-hydrogen exchanger isoform-1 (NHE-1) inhibitor cariporide promotes resuscitation with stable circulation. ⋯ Cariporide administered at the start of chest compression may help restore electrically and mechanically stable circulation after resuscitation from cardiac arrest.
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Naloxone's use in cardiac arrest has been of recent interest, stimulated by conflicting results in both human case reports and animal studies demonstrating antiarrhythmic and positive ionotropic effects. We hypothesized that naloxone administration during cardiac arrest, in suspected opioid overdosed patients, is associated with a change in cardiac rhythm. ⋯ Although we cannot support the routine use of naloxone during cardiac arrest, we recommend its administration with any suspicion of opioid use. Due to low rates of return of spontaneous circulation and survival during cardiac arrest, any potential intervention leading to rhythm improvement is a reasonable treatment modality.