Resuscitation
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To prospectively investigate cognitive recovery from 3 to 12 months after resuscitation from out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) and the associations between cognitive performance at 3 months and health-related quality of life (HRQL), psychological distress and work status after 12 months. ⋯ The current data describe stability in results from 3 to 12 months. A worse cognitive performance at 3 months and higher reports of psychological distress were associated with lower HRQL.
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To calculate the first Austrian avalanche survival curve and update a Swiss survival curve to explore survival patterns in the Alps. ⋯ The survival curves resembled those previously published and support the idea that underlying survival patterns are reproducible. The results are in accordance with current recommendations for management of avalanche victims and serve as a reminder that expedient companion rescue within a few minutes is critical for survival. An air pocket was shown to be a positive prognostic factor for survival.
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Unrecognised endotracheal tube misplacement in emergency intubations has a reported incidence of up to 17%. Current detection methods have many limitations restricting their reliability and availability in these circumstances. There is therefore a clinical need for a device that is small enough to be practical in emergency situations and that can detect oesophageal intubation within seconds. In a first reported evaluation, we demonstrated an algorithm based on pressure waveform analysis, able to determine tube location with high reliability in healthy patients. The aim of this study was to validate the specificity of the algorithm in patients with abnormal pulmonary compliance, and to demonstrate the reliability of a newly developed small device that incorporates the technology. ⋯ The algorithm retained its specificity in patients with decreased pulmonary compliance. We also demonstrated the feasibility to integrate sensors and diagnostic hardware in a small, portable hand-held device for convenient use in emergency situations.
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Targeting basic life support (BLS) training to bystanders who are most likely to witness an out of hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) is an important public health intervention. We performed a systematic review examining the evidence of the effectiveness of providing BLS training to family members of high-risk cardiac patients. ⋯ Whilst there is no current evidence for improvement in patient outcomes from targeted BLS training for family members, this group are willing and capable to learn these skills. Future research may need to examine longer periods of follow-up using alternate methods (e.g. cardiac arrest registries), and examine the effectiveness of training in the modern era.