Resuscitation
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Bag-Valve-Device (BVD) is the most frequently used device for pre-oxygenation and ventilation during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). A minimal expired fraction of oxygen (FeO2) above 0.85 is recommended during pre-oxygenation while insufflated volume (VTi) should be reduced during manual ventilation. The objective was to compare the performances of different BVD in simulated conditions. ⋯ Several BVD did not reach the FeO2 required during pre-oxygenation. Manual ventilation was significantly less protective in three BVD. These observations are related to the different BVD working principles.
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We hypothesized that a prolonged follow-up of survivors of unexplained sudden cardiac arrest (USCA) would subsequently unmask electrical heart disorders in a significant proportion of cases. ⋯ Our findings emphasized that approximately a quarter of patients who had been initially considered as having apparently USCA after index hospital stay actually reveal heart conditions, especially electrical heart disorders.
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Evidence for extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) in refractory out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) remains inconclusive. Recently, the INCEPTION-trial, comparing extracorporeal with conventional CPR, found no statistically significant difference in neurologically favorable survival. Since protocol deviations were anticipated, a pre-specified per-protocol analysis was foreseen. ⋯ A pre-planned, pre-specified per-protocol analysis of the INCEPTION-trial, found a higher survival with favorable neurological in patients undergoing ECPR versus CCPR for refractory shockable OHCA. This difference did not reach statistical significance, but results should be interpreted with care, in the light of the small remaining sample size.
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Although brain injury is the main determinant of poor outcome following cardiac arrest (CA), cardiovascular failure is the leading cause of death within the first days after CA. However, it remains unclear which hemodynamic parameter is most suitable for its early recognition. We investigated the association of cardiac power output (CPO) with early mortality in intensive care unit (ICU) after CA and with mortality related to post-CA cardiovascular failure. ⋯ In post-CA patients, the 8-hour CPO is an independent factor associated with ICU cardiovascular-related mortality.
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Observational Study
Trends in community response and long term outcomes from paediatric cardiac arrest: A retrospective observational study.
This study aimed to investigate trends over time in pre-hospital factors for pediatric out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (pOHCA) and long-term neurological and neuropsychological outcomes. These have not been described before in large populations. ⋯ Long-term favorable neurological outcome, assessed at a median 2.5 years follow-up, improved significantly over the study period. Total IQ scores did not significantly change over time. Furthermore, AED use (OR 1.21, 95%CI 1.10-1.33) and shockable rhythms among adolescents (OR1.15, 95%CI 1.02-1.29) increased over time.