Resuscitation
-
Comparative Study
Increase in pre-shock pause caused by drug administration before defibrillation: an observational, full-scale simulation study.
The importance of circulation during cardiopulmonary resuscitation has led to efforts to decrease time without chest compressions ("no-flow time"). The no-flow time from the interruption of chest compressions until defibrillation is referred to as the "pre-shock pause". A shorter pre-shock pause increases the chance of successful defibrillation. It is unclear whether drug administration affects the length of the pre-shock pause. Our study compares pre-shock pause with and without drug administration in a full-scale simulation. ⋯ Drug administration prior to defibrillation was associated with significant increases in pre-shock pauses in this full-scale simulation study.
-
Biography Historical Article
Dominique-Jean Larrey: the effects of therapeutic hypothermia and the first ambulance.
The fields of emergency medicine and resuscitation are indebted to the Baron Dominique-Jean Larrey (1766-1842) for significant advances in patient care. Larrey was a great surgeon who served in the French army during Napoleon's rule. ⋯ Larrey coined the term "Triage" to allocate resources to those most in need of emergent care. Today, many of his techniques still prevail in modern medicine.
-
Total liquid ventilation (TLV) with cooled perfluorocarbons has been demonstrated to induce an ultrafast cardioprotective cooling in rabbits. However, it remains unknown whether this technically challenging strategy would be actually more potent than a conventional external cooling after a prolonged ischemia inducing transmural myocardial infarction. ⋯ Cooling induced by TLV afforded a potent cardioprotection and prevented transmural infarction following prolonged and severe ischemia, even when started later than a surface cooling in rabbits.
-
Pulseless electrical activity is an important cause of cardiac arrest. Our purpose was to determine if induction of hypothermia with a cold perfluorocarbon-based total liquid ventilation (TLV) system would improve resuscitation success in a swine model of asphyxial cardiac arrest/PEA. ⋯ Induction of moderate hypothermia using perfluorocarbon-based total liquid ventilation did not improve ROSC success in this model of asphyxial cardiac arrest.
-
Critical incident reports can identify areas for improvement in resuscitation practice. The Danish Patient Safety Database is a mandatory reporting system and receives critical incident reports submitted by hospital personnel. The aim of this study is to identify, analyse and categorize critical incidents related to cardiac arrests reported to the Danish Patient Safety Database. ⋯ Critical incidents related to cardiac arrest occur due to logistical, technical, teamworking and knowledge problems. These findings should be considered when planning education and implementing resuscitation practice.