Resuscitation
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To quantify the associations of foreign body airway obstruction (FBAO) basic life support (BLS) interventions with FBAO relief and survival to discharge. ⋯ Back blows are associated with improved outcomes compared to abdominal thrusts and chest compressions. These data can inform prospective studies aimed at improving response to choking emergencies.
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This is a commentary on the study conducted by Dunne et al. from Alberta, Canada, which retrospectively analyzed data from patients with foreign body airway obstruction (FBAO) in the region. By linking the region's prehospital data with hospital data, the authors were able to report not only the FBAO relief of each intervention, but also patient survival outcomes and complications associated with the interventions. By analyzing the 709 patient encounters that received BLS interventions from bystanders, paramedics, or both, and adjusting for potential confounders, the study showed that abdominal thrusts and chest compressions were associated with decreased odds of FBAO relief compared to back blows as the first intervention. The commentary summarizes the study findings and discusses the importance of the study in the context of FBAO research, which has been choked for too many years.
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The Association of Early Naloxone Use with Outcomes in Non-Shockable Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest.
Evaluate the association between early naloxone use and outcomes after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) with initial non-shockable rhythms. ⋯ Patients with initial non-shockable OHCA who received law enforcement or EMS naloxone prior to IV/IO access attempts had higher adjusted odds of ROSC at any time, ROSC at ED arrival, survival to admission, survival to discharge, and good neurologic outcome.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Landiolol for refractory ventricular fibrillation in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, pilot trial.
Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) complicated by refractory ventricular fibrillation (VF) is associated with poor outcome. Beta-1-receptor selective blockade might overcome refractory VF and improve survival. This trial investigates the efficacy and safety of prehospital landiolol in OHCA and refractory VF. ⋯ In patients with OHCA and refractory VF who are pretreated with epinephrine and amiodarone, add-on bolus infusion of landiolol 20 mg did not lead to a shorter time to sustained ROSC compared with placebo. Landiolol might be associated with bradycardia and asystole.