Resuscitation
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Review Comparative Study
Are US informed consent requirements driving resuscitation research overseas?
Following a 2-year federally imposed moratorium on acute resuscitation research due to concern regarding the inability of patients in cardiac arrest to provide prospective, informed consent to participate in such research, the United States federal government in 1996 released regulations with provisions for exemption of prospective informed consent in certain types of emergency research. While very few acute resuscitation research studies have been attempted in the United States since that time, such research has continued overseas. ⋯ A recent European Union directive on the conduct of clinical trials may halt European research on patients who are unable to provide prospective, informed consent. The directive contains no provisions for exceptions or waiver of informed consent, and may hinder acute resuscitation research in Europe to an even greater degree than the 1996 regulations have in the United States.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study
Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest rectilinear biphasic to monophasic damped sine defibrillation waveforms with advanced life support intervention trial (ORBIT).
Although biphasic defibrillation waveforms appear to be superior to monophasic waveforms in terminating VF, their relative benefits in out-of-hospital resuscitation are incompletely understood. Prior comparisons of defibrillation waveform efficacy in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) are confined to patients presenting in a shockable rhythm and resuscitated by first responder (basic life support). This effectiveness study compared monophasic and biphasic defibrillation waveform for conversion of ventricular arrhythmias in all OHCA treated with advance life support (ALS). ⋯ Shock success to an organized rhythm comparing step-up protocol for energy settings demonstrated the RLB waveform was superior to MDS in ALS treatment of OHCA. Survival rates for both waveforms are consistent with current theories on the circulatory and metabolic phases of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.
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To report a patient with a large gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) who received multiple blood transfusions intraoperatively and developed a transfusion-related acute lung injury (TRALI). ⋯ Rapid infusion of albumin might be a rescue option in cases of severe TRALI with extensive pulmonary capillary leak during the acute phase.
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Comparative Study
Hospital-wide first-responder automated external defibrillator programme: 1 year experience.
The first year experience with a hospital-wide first-responder automated external defibrillator (AED) programme implemented in a 683-bed University Hospital is reported. Throughout the hospital, 14 "AED access spots" were identified which could be easily reached from all wards and diagnostic rooms within 30s. AEDs were installed (Lifepak 500; Medtronik PhysioControl Corp., Redmond, USA, equipped with a Biolog 3000i portable ECG monitor; Micromedical Industries Ltd., Labrador, Australia). ⋯ In 18 of 27 cases in which the AED was installed promptly, the primary arrest rhythm was either VT or VF, and the AED delivered a shock. For this subgroup, the rate of return of spontaneous circulation and the rate of discharge at home were 88.9 and 55.6%, respectively. This encourages us to extend the concept of first-responder AED-defibrillation throughout our hospital.
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Comparative Study
Providing automated external defibrillators to urban police officers in addition to a fire department rapid defibrillation program is not effective.
The aim of this study was to determine if providing automated external defibrillators (AEDs) to urban police officers would increase the proportion of patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OOH-CA) who were discharged alive from the hospital. ⋯ Equipping police cars with AEDs in an urban area where the fire department-based first response system also carries defibrillators did not improve the hospital discharge survival rate for victims of OOH-CA.