Resuscitation
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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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Cardiac arrest in a private location is associated with a higher mortality when compared to public location. Past studies have not accounted for pre-arrest factors such as chronic disease and medication. ⋯ The higher mortality following cardiac arrest in a private location is partly explained by a higher prevalence of chronic disease and medication use in patients surviving until day 8.
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The prognostic effect of early coronary reperfusion therapy with extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR) in patients with cardiac arrest due to acute coronary syndrome (ACS) has yet to be clarified. We investigated the relationship between time interval from collapse to start of ECPR (CtoE) and coronary reperfusion (CtoR) time and neurological outcome in patients with cardiac arrest due to ACS. ⋯ A shorter CtoE and CtoR predicts better clinical outcome in patients with ACS undergoing ECPR.
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Public Access Defibrillation - the use of Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) by lay bystanders before the arrival of Emergency Medical Services - is an important strategy in delivering prompt defibrillation to victims of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest and can greatly improve survival rates. Such public-access AEDs are used rarely: one barrier might be poor understanding and content of current signage to indicate their presence. The aim of this project was to develop a sign, with public consultation, that better indicated the function of an AED, and an associated poster to encourage its use. ⋯ This is the first time that public consultation has been used to design a public AED location sign. Effective signage has the potential to help break down the barriers to more widespread use of AEDs in public places.
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Early invasive strategy, including percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), may improve survival in out-of-hospital-cardiac-arrest (OHCA) due to coronary artery disease but selection of suitable patients is challenging. Differences and results across gender remain unknown. We aimed to assess the relationship between gender and the use of an early invasive strategy after OHCA, and the relationship with outcome according to gender. ⋯ After OHCA, women are less likely to undergo early invasive strategy. However, rates of PCI after coronary angiogram do not differ across gender, and the association between PCI and outcome is similar across gender.