Resuscitation
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Comparative Study
Intestinal ischaemia during cardiac arrest and resuscitation: comparative analysis of extracellular metabolites by microdialysis.
Intestinal ischaemia is a major complication of shock syndromes causing translocation of bacteria and endotoxins and multiple organ failure in intensive care patients. The present study was designed to use microdialysis as a tool to monitor intestinal ischaemia after cardiac arrest and resuscitation in pigs. For this purpose, microdialysis probes were implanted in pig jejunal wall, peritoneum, skeletal muscle and brain, and interstitial fluid was obtained during circulatory arrest (induced by ventricular fibrillation) and after return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC). ⋯ Brain and muscle samples showed similar changes as in intestinum and peritoneum except for glutamate, which was increased in brain but not in muscle. We conclude that intestinal ischaemia occurs as a consequence of cardiac arrest and resuscitation and can be monitored by in vivo microdialysis. Comparative analysis by multi-site microdialysis reveals that the intestine is equally or even more sensitive to ischaemia than brain or muscle.
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The study evaluates the knowledge of first aid in mountaineerers who climb routes of moderate difficulty in the western Alps. Additionally the mountaineer's ability to assess their own knowledge was investigated. An analysis of the mountain accidents in the same area showed the real need for knowledge. ⋯ First aid education of mountaineers must be improved. Adequate education should take into account the specific demands of alpine emergencies.
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A total of 494 participants who were scheduled to take Baskent University's basic life support (BLS) training programme in 2001-02 were asked to complete a 25-item questionnaire prior to the course. The questionnaire investigated the demographic characteristics of the subjects, their knowledge of the theoretical and practical aspects of BLS, and personal experience and attitudes related to BLS. The 'non-medical group' included 179 laypersons, and the 'medical group' was composed of medical students (n=220), residents (n=69) and clinical nurses (n=26). ⋯ Compared to the other participants, individuals with previous emergency experience, and those who had previous BLS training answered significantly more of the theoretical questions correctly. However, neither of these groups performed significantly better than the other participants in the practical questions (P>0.05 for both comparisons). Based on our findings, we recommend that BLS training for medical undergraduates, other medical personnel and laypersons be improved and standardized throughout Turkey.
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To assess which items of resuscitation equipment are carried on United Kingdom (UK) front line ambulances and what procedures paramedics are able to perform. To compare these findings with those of a previous survey in 1997. ⋯ The equipment available to UK paramedics and procedures that they may perform continues to expand. There are still variations in the basic management of airway, breathing and circulation care and only some services are keeping up to date with current medical thinking, for example the increasing use of crystalloids and hypotensive resuscitation. It remains to be seen whether the widespread use of Nalbuphine as a first line analgesic may decrease as the use of natural strong opiates becomes more widespread.
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Biography Historical Article
The Resuscitation greats. Claude Bernard: on the origin of carbon monoxide poisoning.