Academic emergency medicine : official journal of the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine
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Comparative Study
Comparison of experimental chest compression data to a theoretical model for the mechanics of constant peak displacement cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
The objective was to validate an existing theoretical model for the mechanics of constant peak displacement cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) using experimental data taken using various back support surfaces at different chest compression (CC) rates. ⋯ Good quantitative agreement between the experimental data and the theoretical model suggests that the constant peak displacement CPR model provides reasonable prediction of CC mechanics during CPR over a wide range of CC rates. Conflicts in the literature are also explained by showing that backboards can significantly enhance CPR CC performance when the back support stiffness is less than 250 N/cm, while for surfaces with higher stiffness, the benefit of using a backboard is reduced.
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The difficult intravenous access (DIVA) score, a proportionally weighted four-variable (vein palpability, vein visibility, patient age, and history of prematurity) clinical rule, has been developed to predict failure of intravenous (IV) placement in children. This study sought to externally validate and refine the DIVA score. ⋯ This study validated the previously derived four-variable DIVA score. A simpler three-variable rule was as predictive of failed IV placement on first attempt as the four-variable rule. Validation in nonpediatric EDs is needed to thoroughly evaluate generalizability.