Resuscitation
-
While cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) chest compression fraction (CCF) is associated with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) outcomes, there is no standard method for the determination of CCF. We compared nine methods for calculating CCF. ⋯ CCF varies minimally with different calculation methods. Automated CCF determination may prove sufficient for evaluating CPR quality.
-
Randomized Controlled Trial
Effects of continuous haemofiltration on serum enzyme concentrations, endotoxemia, homeostasis and survival in dogs with severe heat stroke.
To examine the effectiveness of continuous haemofiltration as a treatment for severe heat stroke in dogs. ⋯ Continuous haemofiltration rapidly reduced body temperature, normalised haemodynamics and electrolytes, improved serum enzyme concentrations and increased survival in dogs with heat stroke. Continuous haemofiltration may be an effective treatment for heat stroke.
-
Randomized Controlled Trial
Impaired β-adrenergic receptor signalling in post-resuscitation myocardial dysfunction.
Post-resuscitation myocardial dysfunction is a major cause of fatality in patients receiving successful cardiopulmonary resuscitation. The mechanism of post-resuscitation myocardial dysfunction is largely unknown, although is generally considered related to ischaemia occurring during cardiac arrest and resuscitation and/or reperfusion injury after restoration of circulation. A key mechanism responsible for reduced contractile reserves in chronic heart failure is impaired β-adrenergic receptor signalling. Thus, we hypothesised that β-adrenergic receptor signalling is markedly abnormal in the post-resuscitation period following cardiopulmonary resuscitation. ⋯ β-Adrenergic receptor signalling is markedly impaired in the post-resuscitation period, which may be a mechanism of post-resuscitation myocardial dysfunction.
-
Physiological track and trigger scores have an established role in enhancing the detection of critical illness in hospitalized patients. Their potential to identify individuals at risk of clinical deterioration in the pre-hospital environment is unknown. This study compared the predictive accuracy of the Modified Early Warning Score (MEWS) with current clinical practice. ⋯ Clinical judgement alone has a low sensitivity for critical illness in the pre-hospital environment. The addition of MEWS improves detection at the expense of reduced specificity. The optimal scoring system to be employed in this setting is yet to be elucidated.
-
The incidence rate of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) among infants is high; however, little is known about effective life-support for this group. Thus, we examined factors related to 1-month survival after OHCA among infants. ⋯ The probability of survival after OHCA in infants may be improved by a bystander witnessing the arrest and providing the rescue breathing at the first sight of arrest.