Resuscitation
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Studies show that nurses retain resuscitation skills poorly and that retention of ventilation skills is particularly difficult. We formed the hypothesis that the SMART BAG (SB, O-Two Medical Technologies Inc., Canada), i.e. a bag-valve-mask device with a pressure/flow responsive valve, would assist nurses in providing more efficient ventilation six months after training. ⋯ Six months after training, nurses ventilated at least as efficiently with the SB, compared with the STBVM. This illustrates the ability of the SB to compensate for the deterioration over time in skill. On the other hand, training with a STBVM should focus primarily on prolonging the inspiratory time, and therefore the peak pressure, whilst maintaining an adequate Vt.
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Comparative Study
The effects of teaching basic cardiopulmonary resuscitation--a comparison between first and sixth year medical students.
The purpose of this study was to check if medical students of one of the Universities of Medical Sciences in Poland are prepared to do basic cardiopulmonary resuscitation. The research was undertaken on groups of 50 first year students and 50 sixth year students at the time when they take an exam. To have wider insight into students' ability to perform basic cardiopulmonary resuscitation, quantitative and qualitative methods were used. ⋯ The study showed that skills of ventilation and chest compressions need more practice. The students' own estimation of the ability to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation both in the first and sixth years is very high, but it does not correlate with their knowledge and skills. Our conclusions indicate the need to improve the programme of teaching cardiopulmonary resuscitation with a refresher course in theory and skills at least once a year.
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To discover design principles underlying the optimal waveforms for external chest and abdominal compression and decompression during cardiac arrest and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). ⋯ Optimized waveforms for thoraco-abdominal compression and decompression include previously discovered features of active decompression and interposed abdominal compression. These waveforms can be used by manual (Lifestick-like) and mechanical (vest-like) devices to achieve short periods of near normal blood perfusion non-invasively during cardiac arrest.