Resuscitation
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study
Prognostic significance of clinical seizures after cardiac arrest and target temperature management.
Clinical seizures are common after cardiac arrest and predictive of a poor neurological outcome. Seizures may be myoclonic, tonic-clonic or a combination of seizure types. This study reports the incidence and prognostic significance of clinical seizures in the target temperature management (TTM) after cardiac arrest trial. Our hypotheses were that seizures are associated with a poor prognosis and that the incidence of seizures is not affected by the target temperature. ⋯ Clinical seizures are common after cardiac arrest and indicate poor outcome with limited specificity. Prolonged seizures are a very grave sign but occasional patients may have a good outcome. The level of the target temperature does not affect the prevalence or prognostic significance of seizures.
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Previous studies have demonstrated significant associations between cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) quality metrics and survival to hospital discharge. No adequately powered study has explored the relationship between location of resuscitation (scene vs. transport) and CPR quality. ⋯ High quality CPR metrics were similar in both (scene and transport) locations of resuscitation. These results suggest that high quality, manual compressions can be performed by prehospital providers regardless of location.
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To establish variables which are associated with favourable Advanced Life Support (ALS) course assessment outcomes, maximising learning effect. ⋯ Clinical experience through membership of cardiac arrest teams and previous ILS or ALS training were independent predictors of performance on the ALS course whilst time spent accessing e-learning materials did not affect course outcomes. This supports the blended approach to e-ALS which allows participants to tailor their e-learning experience to their specific needs.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Integration of In-Hospital Cardiac Arrest Contextual Curriculum into a Basic Life Support Course: A Randomized, Controlled Simulation Study.
The objective was to compare resuscitation performance on simulated in-hospital cardiac arrests after traditional American Heart Association (AHA) Healthcare Provider Basic Life Support course (TradBLS) versus revised course including in-hospital skills (HospBLS). ⋯ A hospital focused BLS course utilizing RCDP was associated with improved performance on hospital-specific quality measures compared with the traditional AHA course.
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Recognition of cardiac arrest and prompt activation time by emergency medical dispatch are key process measures that have been associated with improved survival after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). The aim of this study is to improve recognition of OHCA and time to initiation of telephone assisted chest compressions in an emergency medical communication centre (EMCC). ⋯ Targeted simulation, education and feedback significantly improved recognition of OHCA and reduced time to first chest compression. Continuous measurement of key quality metrics can facilitate development of targeted education and training.