Resuscitation
-
Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) remains a major public health problem. The majority of SCA events occur in the home; however, scant data has been published regarding the effectiveness of privately owned AEDs. ⋯ People who purchase an AED for their home, even without previous AED experience, are able to use the device successfully in both adults and children. The high survival rate observed in this study demonstrates that lay responders with privately owned AEDs can successfully and safely use the devices.
-
The majority of avalanche victims who sustain complete burial die within 35min due to asphyxia and injuries. After 35min, survival is possible only in the presence of a patent airway, and an accompanying air pocket around the face may improve survival. At this stage hypothermia is assumed to be an important factor for survival because rapid cooling decreases oxygen consumption; if deep hypothermia develops before cardiac arrest, hypothermia may be protective and prolong the time that cardiac arrest can be survived. The aim of the study was to investigate the combined effects of hypoxia, hypercapnia and hypothermia in a porcine model of avalanche burial. ⋯ Our results demonstrate that hypothermia may develop in the early phase of avalanche burial and severe asphyxia may occur even in the presence of an air pocket.
-
To evaluate the association between cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) quality and hemodynamic measurements during in-hospital pediatric cardiac arrest. We hypothesized that AHA recommended CPR rate and depth targets would be associated with systolic blood pressures≥80mmHg and diastolic blood pressures≥30mmHg. ⋯ AHA quality targets (rate≥100/min and depth≥38mm) were associated with systolic BPs≥80mmHg and diastolic BPs≥30mmHg during CPR in children.
-
Comparative Study
Crystalloid vs. hypertonic crystalloid-colloid solutions for induction of mild therapeutic hypothermia after experimental cardiac arrest.
To compare cerebral and hemodynamic consequences of different volumes of cold acetated Ringer's solution or cold hypertonic saline dextran administered in order to achieve mild hypothermia after cardiac arrest (CA) in a pig model of experimental cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). ⋯ No statistical differences were observed between the hypothermic groups in the time to achieve mild hypothermia. Although inclusion of cold hypertonic crystalloid-colloidal solutions in the early resuscitation after ROSC may be more effective than cold crystalloids in reducing brain edema, this study demonstrates that mild hypothermia induced with small volumes of cold hypertonic crystalloid-colloids is less as effective as crystalloid's induced hypothermia in mitigating brain injury after cardiac arrest.
-
Weight estimations in children, which are required when actual weight cannot be measured, are often very inaccurate because of variations in body habitus not accounted for in the estimating methodology. This study was conducted to evaluate the accuracy of the PAWPER tape, a new two-step weight-estimation tape device which employs a length-based habitus-modified weight estimation system. ⋯ The PAWPER tape has been shown to be a simple and reliable method of weight estimation in children and infants. The inclusion of an appraisal of body habitus in the methodology considerably improved the accuracy of weight estimation.