Resuscitation
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Chest compressions (CC) during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) are the cornerstone of adult CPR protocols and are meant to restore circulation and improve outcome. Although adverse effects such as air-embolisms have been reported, these are rare and considered to be outweighed by beneficial effect. In newborns, however, the lung tissue is more fragile. Thus, the high intra-thoracic pressures resulting from CC may make the newborns more vulnerable for air-embolisms. ⋯ Post-mortem CT after prolonged resuscitation showed a high prevalence of intravascular air-embolism. Autopsy was not suited to detect air-embolism. The clinical importance of air-embolisms on the lethal outcome needs further research.
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To describe the factors associated with outcome after accidental deep hypothermia. ⋯ Cardiac arrest related to rescue collapse was associated with favorable outcome. On-scene rescue collapse should prompt prolonged resuscitation and ECLS rewarming in all CA patients with deep hypothermia. Conversely, unwitnessed cardiac arrest was associated with unfavorable outcome and will likely not benefit from ECLS.
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Interhospital transfer of patients experiencing circulatory failure and shock has a significant risk of cardiovascular deterioration and death. Extracorporeal life support (ECLS) is a rescue tool for hemodynamic stabilization that makes patient transportation much safer. ⋯ ECLS-facilitated patient transfer enables safe interhospital transfer of critically ill patients. In this study, a relevant percentage of patients were in need of a cardiosurgical intervention. The long-term survival rate of these patients supports the further use of this time-, cost- and personnel-demanding strategy.
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Remote ischaemic post-conditioning (RIPoC) in which transient episodes of ischaemia (e.g. by inflation and deflation of a blood pressure cuff) are applied after a prolonged ischaemia/reperfusion injury, may have the potential to improve patient outcome and survival following cardiac arrest. In this study we employed a pig model of cardiac arrest and successful cardiopulmonary resuscitation to evaluate the effects of RIPoC on haemodynamics, cardiac tissue damage and neurologic deficit. ⋯ We propose that RIPoC applied immediately after ROSC reduces serum concentrations of markers for cell damage and improves end-systolic pressure volume relationship 4h after ROSC.
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Total liquid ventilation (TLV) can cool down the entire body within 10-15 min in small animals. Our goal was to determine whether it could also induce ultra-fast and whole-body cooling in large animals using a specifically dedicated liquid ventilator. Cooling efficiency was evaluated under physiological conditions (beating-heart) and during cardiac arrest with automated chest compressions (CC, intra-arrest). ⋯ Using a specifically designed liquid ventilator, TLV induced a very rapid cooling of the entire body in large animals. This was confirmed in both physiological conditions and during cardiac arrest with CC. TLV could be relevant for ultra-rapid cooling independently of body weight.