Resuscitation
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Close family members of cardiac arrest patients who survive to hospital discharge have elevated levels of psychological distress and caregiver burden. We assessed their preferences toward needs during hospitalization and beyond to inform intervention development. ⋯ Interventions focusing on information needs are among the top priorities for families of cardiac arrest survivors. Prospective studies testing these hypotheses-generating findings are needed to inform further intervention development.
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Observational Study
Chest Compressions for Pediatric Organized Rhythms: A Hemodynamic and Outcomes Analysis.
Pediatric cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) guidelines recommend starting CPR for heart rates (HRs) less than 60 beats per minute (bpm) with poor perfusion. Objectives were to (1) compare HRs and arterial blood pressures (BPs) prior to CPR among patients with clinician-reported bradycardia with poor perfusion ("BRADY") vs. pulseless electrical activity (PEA); and (2) determine if hemodynamics prior to CPR are associated with outcomes. ⋯ Pulse pressure and HR are used clinically to differentiate BRADY from PEA. A pre-CPR pulse pressure >20 mmHg was associated with improved patient outcomes.
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Observational Study
Empowering the Next Generation: An innovative "Kids Save Lives" blended learning programme for schoolchildren training.
Guidelines recommend teaching resuscitation from school age; however, little is known about the best methods to provide it. We devised a blended learning program for primary and secondary students (Kids Save Lives - KSL) consisting of brief lectures, practical training with mannequins, and virtual reality. We aimed to evaluate its impact on students' attitudes towards intervening during cardiac arrest and their knowledge about basic life support. ⋯ The blended learning method improved students' understanding of basic life support techniques and their attitude to act during cardiac arrest situations. The positive reception of the virtual reality component underscores technology's potential to bolster engagement and should be further explored for basic life support teaching in schoolchildren.
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Animal studies suggest the efficacy of double sequential external defibrillation (DSED) may depend on the interval between the two shocks, or "DSED interval". No human studies have examined this concept. ⋯ Among patients in refractory VF a DSED interval of less than 75 ms was associated with improved rates of VF termination and ROSC. No association was noted between DSED interval and survival to hospital discharge or neurologic outcome.
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We sought to describe the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the care provided by Canadian emergency medical system (EMS) clinicians to patients suffering out of hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA), and whether any observed changes persisted beyond the initial phase of the pandemic. ⋯ The COVID-19 pandemic was associated with substantial changes in EMS management of OHCA. EMS leaders should consider these findings to optimise current OHCA management and prepare for future pandemics.