Resuscitation
-
Wide variation in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) survival has been reported, with low survival in urban settings. We sought to describe the epidemiology of OHCA in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the fifth largest U.S. city, and identify potential areas for targeted interventions to improve survival. ⋯ Philadelphia's reported incidence is consistent with urban settings although the survival rate is higher than other urban centers.
-
Observational Study
Barriers to Patient Positioning for Telephone Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation in Out-Of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest.
9-1-1 callers often face barriers preventing them from starting Telephone CPR (TCPR). The most common problem is getting patients to a hard, flat surface. This study describes barriers callers report when trying to move patients to a hard, flat surface and assesses conditions associated with overcoming these barriers. ⋯ Inability to move patients to a hard, flat surface is associated with a reduced rate of TCPR and increased time to first compression. Assessing the conditions under which such barriers are overcome is important for telecommunicator training and can help improve rates and timeliness of TCPR.
-
Pulmonary Embolism (PE) is a relatively common cardiovascular condition, occasionally and tragically manifesting as Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA). The natural history of SCA complicating PE has been poorly evaluated.In this study, we described the management and outcome of PE-related SCA. ⋯ PE is responsible of approximately 3% of hospitalizations for SCA. Thrombolysis was associated with an increased survival in this population, reinforcing current guidelines advocating for such treatment in PE-related SCA.
-
The introduction of a paediatric Medical Emergency Team (pMET) was accompanied by weekly in-situ simulation team training. Key ward staff participated in team training, focusing on recognition of the deteriorating child, teamwork and early involvement of senior staff. Following an earlier study [1], this investigation aimed to evaluate the long-term impact of ongoing regular team training on hospital response to deteriorating ward patients, patient outcome and financial implications. ⋯ These results indicate that lessons learnt by ward staff during team training led to sustained improvements in the hospital response to critically deteriorating in-patients, significantly improved patient outcomes and substantial savings. Integration of regular in-situ simulation training of medical emergency teams, including key ward staff, in routine clinical care has potential application in all acute specialties.
-
Observational Study
Recognising Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest During Emergency Calls Increases Bystander Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Survival.
Initiation of early bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) depends on bystanders' or medical dispatchers' recognition of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). The primary aim of our study was to investigate if OHCA recognition during the emergency call was associated with bystander CPR, return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC), and 30-day survival. Our secondary aim was to identify patient-, setting-, and dispatcher-related predictors of OHCA recognition. ⋯ Recognition of OHCA during emergency calls was positively associated with the provision of bystander CPR, ROSC, and 30-day survival in witnessed OHCA.