European journal of emergency medicine : official journal of the European Society for Emergency Medicine
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Emergency airway management can be particularly challenging in patients entrapped in crashed cars because of limited access. The aim of this study was to analyse the feasibility of four different airway devices in various standardized settings utilized by paramedics and emergency physicians. ⋯ Both scenarios of securing the airway seem suitable in this manikin study, with access from the back seat being superior. Although all airway devices were applicable by both groups, paramedics and emergency physicians, supraglottic device placement was faster and always possible at the first attempt. Therefore, the LMA Supreme and the Laryngeal Tube are attractive alternatives for airway management in this context if endotracheal tube placement fails. Furthermore, supraglottic device placement, while the patient is still in the vehicle, followed by a definitive airway once the patient is extricated would be a worthwhile alternative course of action.
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When performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), the 2010 American Heart Association guidelines recommend a chest compression rate of at least 100 min, whereas the 2010 European Resuscitation Council guidelines recommend a rate of between 100 and 120 min. The aim of this study was to examine the rate of chest compression that fulfilled various quality indicators, thereby determining the optimal rate of compression. ⋯ The number of high-quality CPR compressions was the highest at a compression rate of 120 min, and increased incomplete recoil occurred with increasing compression rate. However, further studies are needed to confirm the results.
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Early identification and treatment of patients with severe infection improve their prognosis. The aims of this study were to describe the 30-day mortality and to identify prognostic factors among blood-cultured patients in a medical emergency department (MED). ⋯ Among blood-cultured patients in the MED, we found an 11.0% overall 30-day mortality. Factors associated with 30-day mortality were age more than 80 years, at least two organ failure, bacteraemia, Charlson Comorbidity Index of at least 2, SIRS, a history of alcohol dependency and late drawing of blood cultures.
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Acute heart failure (AHF) is frequently encountered in the emergency department (ED) or in the cardiac care unit (CCU)/ICU. Discrimination between cardiac and noncardiac cause of dyspnea by clinical means and standard testing is sometimes inadequate. The aim of our study was to assess AHF diagnosis agreement as determined by: (a) the attending physician, (b) the hospital discharge diagnosis, and (c) an adjudication committee. ⋯ Our study showed considerable agreement between different AHF diagnostic standards. An initial AHF diagnosis on the basis of clinical signs and biological parameters utilizing B-type natriuretic peptide testing has high agreement and accuracy with the hospital discharge and adjudicated diagnosis of AHF. The present study also shows that the accuracy of the initial AHF diagnosis allows rapid inclusion in AHF trials. These results, if confirmed in a broader cohort of patients, suggest that the initial ED diagnosis is highly accurate and reliable to guide further inpatient management.
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Observational Study
Efficiency and safety of a noninvasive therapeutic hypothermia protocol in cardiac arrest.
Therapeutic hypothermia (TH) is part of the treatment strategy for comatose survivors of cardiac arrest (CA). The aim of our study was to evaluate the efficiency and the safety of a noninvasive and affordable cooling procedure applied to all types of CA in an ICU. ⋯ This noninvasive TH procedure seems efficient and safe in all patients remaining comatose after CA. Thanks to its simplicity, it could allow prehospital cooling to reach the target temperature more rapidly.