Resuscitation
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Multicenter Study
The Resuscitation Outcomes Consortium Epistry-Trauma: design, development, and implementation of a North American epidemiologic prehospital trauma registry.
Injury is a major public health problem generating substantial morbidity, mortality, and economic burden on society. The majority of seriously injured persons are initially evaluated and cared for by prehospital providers, however the effect of emergency medical services (EMS) systems, EMS clinical care, and EMS interventions on trauma patient outcomes is largely unknown. ⋯ In this paper, we describe the background, design, development, implementation, content, and potential uses of the first North American comprehensive epidemiologic prehospital data registry for injured persons. This data registry samples patients from 264 EMS agencies transporting to 287 acute care hospitals in both the United States and Canada.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Comparative Study
Resuscitation Outcomes Consortium (ROC) PRIMED cardiac arrest trial methods part 2: rationale and methodology for "Analyze Later vs. Analyze Early" protocol.
The primary objective of the trial is to compare survival to hospital discharge with modified Rankin score (MRS) < or =3 between a strategy that prioritizes a specified period of CPR before rhythm analysis (Analyze Later) versus a strategy of minimal CPR followed by early rhythm analysis (Analyze Early) in patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. ⋯ If this trial demonstrates a significant improvement in survival with a strategy of Analyze Later, it is estimated that 4000 premature deaths from cardiac arrest would be averted annually in North America alone.
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Case Reports
Unsuccessful resuscitation of a preterm infant due to a pneumothorax and a masked tension pneumopericardium.
Pneumopericardium is the least common form of air leak in infants. A tension pneumopericardium is even more infrequent but associated with a very high mortality rate. We describe the case of an unsuccessful resuscitation in a preterm infant due to a pneumothorax and tension pneumopericardium. ⋯ Postmortal examination revealed a tension pneumopericardium and massive interstitial pulmonary emphysema, which was not obvious on radiographical investigation. In cases of acute deterioration of a ventilated neonate, one should always rule out pneumothorax. If the patient does not recover after pleural drainage and cardiac resuscitation a (tension) pneumopericardium should be considered.
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Early cooling of resuscitated patients improves neurological outcome. Out-of hospital initiation of cooling is uncommon however for mainly practical reasons. Using burn dressings in the out-of-hospital care could initiate brain cooling in an early stage and therefore be of value; the method is easily adaptable by ambulance crews. The influence of burn dressings on brain temperature is however unknown. We determined tympanic temperature changes as proxy for brain temperature in healthy volunteers after the application of cooling dressings to face and neck as a proof of concept study. ⋯ Burn dressings could be of value in the early initiation of brain cooling in resuscitated patients. This study warrants further research to the effect of burnshield dressings on neurological activity and the effect on outcome after resuscitation.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study
Resuscitation Outcomes Consortium (ROC) PRIMED cardiac arrest trial methods part 1: rationale and methodology for the impedance threshold device (ITD) protocol.
The primary aim of this study is to compare survival to hospital discharge with a modified Rankin score (MRS)< or =3 between standard cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) plus an active impedance threshold device (ITD) versus standard CPR plus a sham ITD in patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. Secondary aims are to compare functional status and depression at discharge and at 3 and 6 months post-discharge in survivors. ⋯ If the ITD demonstrates the hypothesized improvement in survival, it is estimated that 2700 deaths from cardiac arrest per year would be averted in North America alone.