Resuscitation
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Patients suffering out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) have a poor prognosis but survival among subgroups differs greatly. Previous studies have shown conflicting results on whether patient comorbidity affects outcome. The aim of this national study was to investigate the effect of comorbidity on outcome after OHCA in Sweden. ⋯ This large national study showed that increasing comorbidity decreased the chance of survival to 30 days in OHCA. This association remained after covariate adjustment.
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Multicenter Study
Predicting cardiac arrests in pediatric intensive care units.
Early identification of children at risk for cardiac arrest would allow for skill training associated with improved outcomes and provides a prevention opportunity. ⋯ Patients at high risk of cardiac arrest can be identified with routinely available data after 4 h. The cardiac arrest may occur relatively close to the risk assessment period or days later.
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Extracorporeal life support (ECLS) describes the use of blood perfusion devices to provide advanced cardiac or respiratory support. Advances in percutaneous vascular cannula insertion, centrifugal pump technologies, and the miniaturization of extracorporeal devices have simplified ECLS. The intention of this discussion is to review the role of ECLS as a potential rescue method for emergency department (ED) clinicians in critical clinical scenarios and to focus on the prerequisites for managing an ECLS program in an ED setting. ⋯ Emergent ECLS has a role in the ED for selected indications in the face of life-threatening conditions. ECLS provides a bridge to recovery, definitive therapy, intervention or surgery. ECLS program requires an appropriately trained staff (physicians, nurses and ECLS specialists), equipment resources and logistical planning.
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The International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation has initiated a continuous review of new, peer-reviewed, published cardiopulmonary resuscitation science. This is the second annual summary of International Consensus on Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiovascular Care Science With Treatment Recommendations that includes the most recent cardiopulmonary resuscitation science reviewed by the International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation. ⋯ Insights into the deliberations of each task force are provided in the Values and Preferences and Task Force Insights sections. Finally, the task force members have listed the top knowledge gaps for further research.