Resuscitation
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Randomized Controlled Trial
The "Resus:Station": the use of clinical simulations in a randomised crossover study to evaluate a novel resuscitation trolley.
Inadequately designed equipment has been implicated in poor efficiency and critical incidents associated with resuscitation. A novel resuscitation trolley (Resus:Station) was designed and evaluated for impact on team efficiency, user opinion, and teamwork, compared with the standard trolley, in simulated cardiac arrest scenarios. ⋯ We conclude that in this simulated environment, the new design of trolley is safe to use, and has the potential to improve efficiency at a resuscitation attempt.
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Comparative Study
A comparison of survival with and without extracorporeal life support treatment for severe poisoning due to drug intoxication.
The use of extracorporeal life support (ECLS) as a treatment for severe cardiovascular impairment due to poisoning is unclear. Therefore, we conducted a retrospective cohort analysis to compare survival among critically ill poisoned patients treated with or without ECLS. ⋯ In the absence of response to conventional therapies, we consider that ECLS may improve survival in critically ill poisoned patients experiencing cardiac arrest and severe shock.
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Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) using extracorporeal life support (ECLS) system has been successfully used to support patients with in- and out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (IHCA, OHCA) when conventional measures have failed. The purpose of the current study is to report on our experience with extracorporeal CPR in non-postcardiotomy patients. ⋯ CPR using modern miniaturized ECLS systems should be established in the treatment of prolonged cardiac arrest and unsuccessful conventional CPR in selected patients. CPR with ECLS for OHCA has worse outcomes compared to IHCA. Duration of CPR was independent risk factor for mortality after extracorporeal CPR.
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Public access automated external defibrillator (PAD) programs have been shown to be successful in several municipalities. This study sought to determine the usage of and survival rate from a large, urban PAD program in the first 10 years since its implementation. ⋯ While the majority of PAD cases occurred at an airport, there were also survivors from other public locations. AEDs deployed as part of a large PAD program resulted in a very high survival rate for patients with cardiac arrest.