Resuscitation
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The survival rate of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) patients has increased over the past decades. This gives rise to a growing number of patients with hypoxic-ischemic brain damage and cognitive impairment. Currently, cognitive impairment is underdiagnosed in OHCA patients. There is a need for a validated cognitive screening instrument to identify patients with cognitive impairment. This study aimed to examine the diagnostic value of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) in patients after OHCA. ⋯ This study shows that the MoCA may be a valid cognitive screening instrument for use in the OHCA patient population.
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A strengthened chain of survival benefits patient outcomes after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA).2 Over the past decade, the Taipei Fire Department (TFD) has continuously implemented system-wide initiatives on this issue.We hypothesised that for adult, non-trauma OHCA patients, the bundle of these system-wide initiatives are associated with better outcomes. ⋯ For non-trauma adult OHCA in Taipei, continuous, multifaceted system-wide initiatives on the community chain of survival were associated with improved odds of STHD and favourable neurologic outcomes.
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Shock is common in patients resuscitated from out-of-hospital-cardiac arrest (OHCA). Shock severity can be classified using the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Intervention (SCAI) Shock Classification. We aimed to examine the association of SCAI Shock Stage with in-hospital mortality and neurological outcome in comatose OHCA patients undergoing targeted temperature management (TTM). ⋯ Higher shock severity, defined using the SCAI Shock Classification, was associated with increased in-hospital mortality and a lower likelihood of good neurological outcome in OHCA patients treated with TTM.
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Editorial Comment
Dispatcher-assisted CPR for cardiac arrest in children - conventional versus compression-only CPR.
This study showed that conventional CPR outcomes in Cerebral Performance Category were better than those compression-onlybystander CPR that were achieved at 1 month post resuscitation. There was no difference in those with an initial shockable rhythm, requiring CPR for 20 minutes before hospital arrival, public defibrillation, advanced airway care or epinephrine administration. However, survival rates in paediatric CPR is low. Ways in which to improve the outcomes are suggested which included bystander CPR, teaching and training of dispatchers and additional technologies.
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Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest is a global public health issue experienced by ≈3.8 million people annually. Only 8% to 12% survive to hospital discharge. Early defibrillation of shockable rhythms is associated with improved survival, but ensuring timely access to defibrillators has been a significant challenge. ⋯ The writing group undertook systematic searches of the literature to inform this statement. Innovative strategies were identified that relate to enhanced public outreach, behavior change approaches, optimization of static public-access defibrillator deployment and housing, evolved automated external defibrillator technology and functionality, improved integration of public-access defibrillation with existing emergency dispatch protocols, and exploration of novel automated external defibrillator delivery vectors. We provide evidence- and consensus-based policy suggestions to enhance public-access defibrillation and guidance for future research in this area.