Resuscitation
-
Comparative Study
Therapeutic hypothermia after cardiac arrest: a retrospective comparison of surface and endovascular cooling techniques.
Therapeutic hypothermia (32-34 degrees C) is recommended for comatose survivors of cardiac arrest; however, the optimal technique for cooling is unknown. We aimed to compare therapeutic hypothermia using either surface or endovascular techniques in terms of efficacy, complications and outcome. ⋯ Endovascular cooling provides better temperature management than surface cooling, as well as a more favorable complication profile. The equivalence in outcome suggested by this small study requires confirmation in a randomized trial.
-
To develop a new method to suppress the artefact generated by chest compressions during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) using only the frequency of the compressions as additional information. ⋯ For a similar sensitivity, we obtained better specificity than that reported for other methods, although still short of the values recommended by the American Heart Association. The results suggest that the CPR artefact can be accurately modelled using only the frequency of the compressions. This information could be easily acquired through the defibrillator's CPR help pads, with minimal hardware modifications.
-
Neurologic prognostication after cardiac arrest relies on clinical examination findings derived before the advent of therapeutic hypothermia (TH). We measured the association between clinical examination findings at hospital arrival, 24, and 72 h after cardiac arrest in a modern intensive care unit setting. ⋯ GCS Motor score < or = 3 or < or = 2 at 24 or 72 h following cardiac arrest does not exclude survival or good outcome. However, absent pupil or corneal response at 72 h appears to exclude survival and good outcome.