Resuscitation
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This study describes the epidemiology of sudden cardiac arrest patients in Victoria, Australia, as captured via the Victorian Ambulance Cardiac Arrest Register (VACAR). We used the VACAR data to construct a new model of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA), which was specified in accordance with observed trends. ⋯ The new model accounts for relationships among predictors of survival. These relationships indicate that interventions such as reduced response times and bystander CPR act in multiple ways to improve survival.
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Trauma management systems have grown in response to regional variations in trauma population, geographical conditions and the provisions of care. National Trauma Registries are being established to improve patient outcomes. However international comparisons could provide the potential to record regional performance, identify and share examples of best practice. To assess whether it was possible to compare data currently being collected by a number of trauma services across Europe, a group was established to develop a common core dataset and to assess the feasibility of collecting anonymised data. ⋯ It is possible to collect and collate outcome data from established trauma registries across Europe with minimal additional infrastructure using a web-based system. Initial analysis of the results reveals significant international variations. The network has potential as a source of data for epidemiological and clinical research and for optimal trauma system design across Europe.
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Early, effective lactate clearance has been shown to be associated with improved mortality in patients with trauma, burns, and sepsis. We investigated whether early, high lactate clearance was associated with reduced mortality in post-cardiac arrest patients. ⋯ Early, effective lactate clearance is associated with decreased early and overall in-hospital mortality in post-cardiac arrest patients. These findings suggest that post-arrest tissue hypo-perfusion plays in an important role in early as well as overall mortality.
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Comparative Study
Revised resuscitation guidelines: adrenaline versus adrenaline/vasopressin in a pig model of cardiopulmonary resuscitation--a randomised, controlled trial.
Synergistic effects of adrenaline (epinephrine) and vasopressin may be beneficial during cardiopulmonary resuscitation. However, it is unknown whether either adrenaline alone or an alternating administration of adrenaline and vasopressin is better for restoring vital organ perfusion following basic life support (BLS) according to the revised algorithm with a compression-to-ventilation (c/v) ratio of 30:2. ⋯ Adrenaline/vasopressin resulted in higher coronary and cerebral perfusion pressures, and cerebral blood flow, while ROSC was comparable.
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Comparative Study
A preliminary feasibility study of a short DVD-based distance-learning package for basic life support.
To test the hypothesis that laypeople who learn CPR using an 8-min self-instructional DVD acquire a level of skill that is comparable to that achieved with conventional courses. ⋯ Very short, DVD-based, self-instructional packages may be suitable for more widespread use, including distance-learning and other circumstances in which educational opportunities and resources are limited.