Articles: emergency-medical-services.
-
eCPR, the modality of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) applied in the setting of cardiac arrest, has emerged as a novel therapy which may improve outcomes in select patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). To date, implementation has been mainly limited to single academic centres. Our objective is to describe the feasibility and challenges with implementation of a regional protocol for eCPR. ⋯ We describe the successful implementation of a regional eCPR program with ongoing patient enrolment and data collection. These preliminary findings can serve as a model for other EMS systems who seek to implement regional eCPR programs.
-
Whether and how bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) modifies the cardiac rhythm after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) over time remains unclear. We investigated the association between bystander CPR and the likelihood of ventricular fibrillation (VF) or ventricular tachycardia (VT) as the first documented cardiac rhythm. ⋯ Bystander CPR was associated with a higher VF/VT likelihood and a lower likelihood of pulseless electrical activity at first documented rhythm analysis. Our results support early CPR for OHCA and highlight the need for further research to understand whether and how CPR modifies the cardiac rhythm after arrest.
-
We sought to examine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the incidence and survival outcomes of emergency medical service (EMS)-witnessed out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) in Victoria, Australia. ⋯ Unlike the reported findings in non-EMS-witnessed OHCA populations, changes during the COVID-19 pandemic did not influence incidence or survival outcomes in EMS-witnessed OHCA. This may suggest that changes in clinical practice that sought to limit the use of aerosol generating procedures did not influence outcomes in these patients.
-
Emergency departments (EDs) play a critical role in the US healthcare system. As freestanding EDs (FSEDs) are integrated into the acute care landscape, local EMS providers are transporting to these facilities, which may be closer in proximity and provide faster turnaround times. We hypothesized that patients transported via EMS to a freestanding ED required fewer tests and are admitted less frequently than those transported to a HBED. Our objective was to compare testing frequency and admission rates between patients transported via EMS to a FSED vs. HBED. ⋯ Patients brought in via EMS to a FSED were less likely to have blood work, x-ray, or CT scan, and were less likely to be admitted to the hospital than those transported to a HBED.
-
The incidence of compression-associated injuries from using the CLOVER3000, a new mechanical cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) device, is not well studied in the context of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). Thus, we aimed to compare compression-associated injuries between CLOVER3000 and manual CPR. ⋯ We observed a similar overall incidence of compression-associated injuries between the CLOVER3000 and manual CPR groups on small sample size.