Resuscitation
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Multicenter Study
Cardiopulmonary arrest is the most frequent cause of the unresponsive wakefulness syndrome: A prospective population-based cohort study in Austria.
The "Unresponsive wakefulness syndrome" (UWS) or previously termed vegetative state is a possible consequence of severe brain damage where individuals just open their eyes but show no conscious behavioural reaction. While head trauma has previously been considered the prevailing cause, clinical experience suggests shows that cardiopulmonary arrest plays an increasingly important role. We therefore attempted to study this hypothesis in a well-defined region of Austria. ⋯ Cardiopulmonary resuscitation has become the major cause of UWS which leads to an increasing incidence with age. These aspects may become even more prominent with the ageing of our population and need to be considered in the organisation of care.
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Chest compressions and defibrillation are the only therapies proven to increase survival in cardiac arrest. Historically, rescuers must remove hands to shock, thereby interrupting chest compressions. This hands-off time results in a zero blood flow state. Pauses have been associated with poorer neurological recovery. ⋯ Nitrile gloves and neoprene pad prevent (99%) responder's detection of defibrillation of a cadaver. Fire gloves and compression decompression device prevented detection.
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Observational Study
Hypoxic hepatitis after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest: incidence, determinants and prognosis.
Hypoxic hepatitis (HH) may complicate the course of resuscitated out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) patients admitted in intensive care unit (ICU). Aims of this study were to assess the prevalence of HH, and to describe the factors associated with HH occurrence and outcome. ⋯ HH is not a rare complication after OHCA. This complication is mainly triggered by the duration of resuscitation and is associated with increased ICU mortality.
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Observational Study
Low cerebral activity and cerebral oxygenation during immediate transition in term neonates-A prospective observational study.
To analyze whether in term neonates during immediate transition after birth low cerebral activity measured by amplitude-integrated EEG (aEEG) is linked to cerebral regional oxygen saturation (crSO2) measured by near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS). Additionally, the cerebral fractional tissue oxygen extraction (cFTOE) was calculated to analyze whether cerebral activity is linked to cFTOE. ⋯ The present study demonstrates that neonates with initially low cerebral activity during immediate transition after birth concurrently showed low crSO2 (<10th percentile), but increased cerebral oxygen extraction (cFTOE>90th percentile). Cerebral monitoring with aEEG and NIRS might provide useful information on the neonates' condition during immediate transition.
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Potassium cardioplegia-induced transient asystole may conserve myocardial energy, foster chemical defribrillation, and improve VF arrest outcome. A trial of potassium infusion with or without calcium reversal was conducted to test for improvement in intra-arrest VF waveform and post-ROSC hemodynamics. ⋯ Chemical defibrillation and ROSC are possible post potassium-induced asystole. Potassium followed by calcium reversal, but not potassium alone, led to ROSC and post-ROSC hemodynamics comparable to recommended therapy.