Resuscitation
-
Comparative Study
Incidence of cross-border emergency care and outcomes of cardiopulmonary resuscitation in a unique European region.
Emergency medical service (EMS) systems in Europe have developed differently due to legal, educational and organisational aspects. The aim of the present study was to compare cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) outcomes and characteristics in three differently organised and staffed EMS systems in close vicinity. ⋯ Despite medical and organisational discrepancies, outcomes of CPR in three neighbouring EMS systems are comparable. Neurological outcome is influenced by demographical, organisational and medical factors. Cross-border emergency assistance for CPR is almost undetectable and needs improvement.
-
Case Reports
Haemothorax: A potentially fatal complication of subclavian cannulation--A case report.
Central venous cannulation forms one of the mainstays of management of trauma and haemodynamically unstable patients. Frequently this procedure has to be done as an emergency in the emergency department. ⋯ This led to massive haemothorax, which eventually caused the patient to succumb. We re-emphasise the need for ultrasound guidance for insertion of central venous lines, especially in the emergency setting.
-
We report the life-saving administration of thrombolysis during cardiopulmonary resuscitation in a patient with recent intracerebral haemorrhage. A 53-year-old male with intracerebral haemorrhage was admitted to the intensive care unit. On the 24th day of treatment he suffered cardiac arrest with pulseless electrical activity. ⋯ Permanent restoration of a spontaneous rhythm was feasible only after administration of systemic thrombolysis with recombinant tissue plasminogen activator. Neurological examination and a computed tomogram of the brain did not show rebleeding. We conclude that under extreme circumstances absolute contraindications to thrombolysis should be weighed against the potential benefit.
-
The effects of vasopressin on the gut in a porcine uncontrolled haemorrhagic shock model are described. In eight anaesthetised pigs, a liver laceration was performed; when haemorrhagic shock was decompensated, all animals received 0.4 IU/kg vasopressin, followed by 0.08 IU/kg min over 30 min, which maintained a mean arterial blood pressure >40 mmHg. ⋯ All histological samples retained 7 days after the experiment revealed no histopathological changes. In conclusion, in this small observational study of uncontrolled porcine haemorrhagic shock, a resuscitation strategy that included high dose vasopressin was associated with transient diarrhoea and good long term survival.
-
We reported previously that therapeutic hypothermia with extracorporeal lung and heart assist (ECLHA) improved neurological outcome after 15 min cardiac arrest (CA) in dogs, although 45 min was needed to achieve hypothermia. We now investigate whether rapidly induced hypothermia with ECLHA (RHE) would result in a better outcome than slowly induced hypothermia with ECLHA (SHE) in dogs. ⋯ Rapid hypothermic induction might be an important factor to improve neurological outcomes in prolonged CA models.