Resuscitation
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Frequent criticism concerning the investigation of near-death-experiences (NDEs) has been the lack of uniform nomenclature and the failure to control the studied population with an elimination of interfering factors such as administration of sedatives and nonspecific stress responses. Greyson's NDE Scale is a 16-item questionnaire developed to standardize further research into mechanisms and effects of NDEs. ⋯ Alteration of information processing under the influence of hypoxia and hypercarbia only occurs after several minutes of brain ischaemia. International multicentric data collection within the framework for standardized reporting of cardiac arrest events will be the only satisfying method to address this fascinating and intriguing issue.
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One-hundred sixteen patients were given nalbuphine by 10 specifically trained ambulance paramedics over a 9-month period. Forty-seven had suspected myocardial infarction and 69 had sustained trauma or burns. ⋯ There were no serious side effects. We conclude that nalbuphine can be safely administered by trained paramedics to provide effective analgesia to those in pain in a prehospital setting.
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This study investigated the effects of normoxic (FIO2 = 0.21), hyperoxic (FIO2 = 1.0), and hyperoxic (FIO2 = 1.0) plus antioxidant pretreatment (tirilazad mesylate) [corrected] resuscitation on neurologic outcome following 9 min of normothermic (39 +/- 1.0 degrees C) cardiac arrest. Physiologic variables including arterial blood gases and neurologic outcome, which was assessed using a standardized scoring system, were followed over a 24-h period following resuscitation from cardiac arrest. ⋯ These data suggest that oxidant injury has a major role in central nervous system dysfunction following successful resuscitation from 9 min of cardiac arrest. Also, resuscitation from cardiac arrest with hyperoxic FIO2's may contribute to and further exacerbate neurologic dysfunction.