Resuscitation
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The Good Outcome Following Attempted Resuscitation (GO-FAR) Score uses pre-arrest factors to predict survival after In-Hospital Cardiac Arrest (IHCA) with minimal neurological dysfunction, (cerebral performance category (CPC) ≤1). Moderate neurological dysfunction (CPC ≤2) may be a more acceptable outcome. ⋯ The GO FAR 2 score provides clinicians with a prognostic estimate of the likelihood of a good outcome after IHCA based on pre-arrest patient factors. Future research is required to validate the GO-FAR 2 score.
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Although out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) is a major cause of global mortality, survival rates have increased over the last decade. As such, there is an increasing need to explore long-term functional outcomes of survivors, such as return to work (RTW). ⋯ This is the largest study to collectively examine factors associated with RTW among survivors of OHCA. Although larger qualitative studies are needed, our findings highlight which patients are at risk of not RTW and who may benefit from targeted rehabilitation strategies.
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Despite its important role in care of the critically ill, there have been few large-scale descriptions of the epidemiology of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) advanced airway management (AAM) and the variations in care with different patient subsets. We sought to characterize AAM performance in a national cohort of EMS agencies. ⋯ AAM success rates varied by airway technique and patient subset. In this national cohort, these results offer perspectives of EMS AAM practices.
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The relations between specific ECG patterns and coronary angiographic findings in cardiac arrest patients with different comorbidities are not properly assessed. More evidence is needed to identify patients with the highest risk for acute coronary artery disease as a cause of the cardiac arrest. This study aims to describe the coronary artery findings after cardiac arrest in relation to ECG and comorbidity. ⋯ Our study suggests, that evaluation of ECG patterns and comorbidities in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients without ST-segment elevation may be important to identify those with a high risk of coronary artery lesions that could benefit from early revascularization.
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The primary purpose of an avalanche airbag is to prevent burial during an avalanche. Approximately twenty percent of avalanche victims deploying airbags become critically buried, however. One avalanche airbag actively deflates three minutes after deployment, potentially creating an air pocket. Our objective was to evaluate this air pocket and its potential to prevent asphyxiation. ⋯ The avalanche airbag under study creates an air pocket that appears to delay asphyxia, which could allow extra time for rescue and improve overall survival of avalanche victims.