Current opinion in critical care
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Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) is a time-critical emergency in which a rapid response following the chain of survival is crucial to save life. Disparities in care can occur at each link in this pathway and hence produce health inequities. This review summarises the health inequities that exist for OHCA patients and suggests how they may be addressed. ⋯ OHCA disproportionately affects deprived communities and ethnic minorities. These groups experience disparities in care throughout the chain of survival and this appears to translate into poorer outcomes. Addressing these inequities will require coordinated action that engages with disadvantaged communities.
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Technology is being increasingly implemented in the fields of cardiac arrest and cardiopulmonary resuscitation. In this review, we describe how recent technological advances have been implemented in the chain of survival and their impact on outcomes after cardiac arrest. Breakthrough technologies that are likely to make an impact in the future are also presented. ⋯ This review highlights the importance of technology applied to every single step of the chain of survival to improve outcomes in cardiac arrest. Further research is needed to understand the best role of different technologies in the chain of survival and how these may ultimately improve outcomes.
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The purpose of this review is to provide an update for critical care clinicians and providers on the recent developments in patient and healthcare professional (HCP) resuscitation education. ⋯ Frequent resuscitation education and training is critical to improving cardiac arrest patient outcomes. Recent evidence shows the effectiveness of technological developments to improve access to training and outcomes.
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Curr Opin Crit Care · Jun 2022
ReviewMonitoring of sedation in mechanically ventilated patients using remote technology.
Two years of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic highlighted that excessive sedation in the ICU leading to coma and other adverse outcomes remains pervasive. There is a need to improve monitoring and management of sedation in mechanically ventilated patients. Remote technologies that are based on automated analysis of electroencephalogram (EEG) could enhance standard care and alert clinicians real-time when severe EEG suppression or other abnormal brain states are detected. ⋯ Preventing oversedation in the ICU remains a challenge. Continuous monitoring of EEG activity, automated EEG analysis, and generation of alerts to clinicians may reduce drug-induced coma and potentially improve patient outcomes.
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Curr Opin Crit Care · Jun 2022
ReviewSurviving cardiac arrest - what do we know about recovery & survivorship?
There has been increasing interest in examining how cardiac arrest survivors and their families experience life after sudden cardiac arrest (SCA). Understanding their experiences provides a basis to study tools and interventions to improve short- and long-term recovery and rehabilitation. ⋯ In line with increased recognition of the importance for recovery and rehabilitation after SCA, there has been a commensurate increase in investigations documenting the needs of survivors and families surviving SCA. Pediatric and underserved populations continue to be understudied with regards to recovery after SCA.