Critical care medicine
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Critical care medicine · May 2015
Neurologic Outcomes and Postresuscitation Care of Patients With Myoclonus Following Cardiac Arrest.
To evaluate the outcomes of cardiac arrest survivors with myoclonus receiving modern postresuscitation care. ⋯ Nine percent of cardiac arrest survivors with myoclonus after cardiac arrest had good functional outcomes, usually in patients without associated epileptiform activity and after prolonged hospitalization. Deaths occurred early and primarily after withdrawal of life support. It is uncertain whether prolonged care would yield a higher percentage of good outcomes, but myoclonus of itself should not be considered a sign of futility.
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Critical care medicine · May 2015
One Fourth of Unplanned Transfers to a Higher Level of Care Are Associated With a Highly Preventable Adverse Event: A Patient Record Review in Six Belgian Hospitals.
The objectives of this study are to determine the prevalence and preventability of adverse events requiring an unplanned higher level of care, defined as an unplanned transfer to the ICU or an in-hospital medical emergency team intervention, and to assess the type and the level of harm of each adverse event. ⋯ Adverse events were found in 56% of the reviewed records, of which almost half were considered highly preventable. This means that one fourth of all unplanned transfers to a higher level of care were associated with a highly preventable adverse event.
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Critical care medicine · May 2015
Enhanced Perfusion During Advanced Life Support Improves Survival With Favorable Neurologic Function in a Porcine Model of Refractory Cardiac Arrest.
To improve the likelihood for survival with favorable neurologic function after cardiac arrest, we assessed a new advanced life support approach using active compression-decompression cardiopulmonary resuscitation plus an intrathoracic pressure regulator. ⋯ Advanced life support with active compression-decompression plus intrathoracic pressure regulator significantly improved cerebral perfusion and 24-hour survival with favorable neurologic function. These findings support further evaluation of this new advanced life support methodology in humans.