Resuscitation
-
To describe the plan and development of a programme for the introduction of automated external defibrillation for non medical personnel and to report the results of the first 10 months of activity in a community which is predominently rural, such as Galicia. ⋯ The programme followed for the introduction of AEDs in Galicia was adapted to the socio-demographic characteristics of the population. The prehospital emergency assistance model was developed, executed and controlled by the Public Emergency Health Foundation of Galicia 061 (PEHF-061). The overall results of our first 10 months experience with the automated external defibrillation programme were as to be expected. In general, they are comparable to other published reports; however, ways of shortening the times from the point of collapse to defibrillation must be found, mainly by training the population and through the extension of automated external defibrillation provision to other first responders.
-
Brain recovery after cardiac arrest (CA) was assessed in cats using arterial spin tagging perfusion-weighted imaging (PWI), diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI), and 1H-spectroscopy (1H-MRS). Cerebral reperfusion and metabolic recovery was monitored in the cortex and in basal ganglia for 6 h after cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Furthermore, the effects of an hypertonic/hyperoncotic solution (7.5% NaCl/6% hydroxyl ethyl starch, HES) and a tissue-type plasminogen activator (TPA), applied during CPR, were assessed on brain recovery. ⋯ Osmotic and thrombolytic therapy were ineffective in ameliorating delayed hypoperfusion. Calculation of the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) from DWI demonstrated complete recovery of ion and water homeostasis in all animals. 1H-MRS measurements of lactate suggested an extended preservation of post-ischaemic anaerobic metabolism after TPA treatment. The combination of noninvasive MR techniques is a powerful tool for the evaluation of therapeutical strategies on circulatory and metabolic cerebral recovery after experimental cerebral ischaemia.
-
Biography Historical Article
The Resuscitation greats. J D Herholdt and C G Rafn: two unsung heroes from Denmark.
-
Outcome after prehospital defibrillation remains dire. The aim of the present study was to elucidate the pathophysiology of cardiac arrest and to suggest ways to improve outcome. Ventricular fibrillation (VF) was induced in air-ventilated pigs, after which ventilation was withdrawn. ⋯ During 30 s of mCPR coronary perfusion pressure was negative, but a carotid flow of about 25% of basal value was obtained. In this pig model, VF caused venous congestion, an empty left heart, and a greatly distended right heart within 3 min. Adequate heart massage before and during defibrillation greatly improved the likelihood of return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC).
-
Early defibrillation using automated external defibrillators (AEDs) has been advocated to improve survival in witnessed out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) due to pulseless ventricular tachycardia (VT) and ventricular fibrillation (VF). However, when VT/VF is untreated and prolonged for more than a few minutes, defibrillation using AEDs may fail. ⋯ Implementation of the AED did not improve survival or a favourable neurological outcome in patients with OHCA due to VF/VT. However, with 5.7 min time to defibrillation, our EMS did not meet the criteria for early defibrillation. For prolonged periods of VT/VF, initial basic life support (BLS) may be superior to immediate AED. If response times of <4 min cannot be attained by the emergency systems, reconsidering of resuscitation algorithms seems to be advisable.