Resuscitation
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To identify the optimal level of hypothermia during cardiac arrest, just prior to resuscitation with an extracorporeal cooling system and without fluid overload, for neurological outcome at day 9 in pigs. ⋯ An extracorporeal cooling system rapidly induced brain hypothermia following prolonged normovolaemic cardiac arrest in pigs. Difference in outcome was not statistically significant amongst the three groups with various levels of hypothermia (30 degrees C, 24 degrees C and 18 degrees C) during cardiac arrest prior to resuscitation; however, the animals with the least temperature reduction showed a trend to better survival at 9 days. Further studies are necessary to investigate optimised methods for induction, as well as level, of cerebral hypothermia.
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To describe the use of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training programmes in Sweden for 25 years and relate those to changes in the percentage of patients with out of hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) who receive bystander CPR. ⋯ By using a cascade principle for CPR education nearly 2 million rescuers were educated in Sweden (9 million inhabitants) between 1989 and 2007. This resulted in a marked increase in bystander CPR attempts.
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We investigated the safety, feasibility and efficacy of a resuscitation blanket designed with the intent to protecting the rescuer from the risk of receiving electrical current during defibrillation which, would allow for uninterrupted chest compressions. ⋯ The resuscitation blanket is a safe and useful tool which protects the rescuer from hands-on defibrillation shocks, allowing for uninterrupted chest compressions, and therefore improving defibrillation success.
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Comparative Study
Utility of the Pentax-AWS without interruption of chest compression: comparison of the Macintosh laryngoscope with the Pentax-AWS in manikin model.
Emergency airway management in suboptimal conditions can result in difficulties in tracheal intubation. The video laryngoscope (Pentax-AWS) has potential advantages during difficult tracheal intubations. According to the 2005 guidelines for cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), all rescuers should minimize interruption of chest compressions. Our hypothesis is that tracheal intubation using the Pentax-AWS is possible without interruption of chest compressions. We tested this using tracheal intubation performed by less experienced medical personnel in a manikin model. ⋯ The Pentax-AWS was an effective tool for endotracheal intubation during chest compression performed by less experienced medical personnel in a manikin model simulating cardiac arrest, both under conditions of normal and difficult airways.