Resuscitation
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Extracorporeal life support (ECLS) describes the use of blood perfusion devices to provide advanced cardiac or respiratory support. Advances in percutaneous vascular cannula insertion, centrifugal pump technologies, and the miniaturization of extracorporeal devices have simplified ECLS. The intention of this discussion is to review the role of ECLS as a potential rescue method for emergency department (ED) clinicians in critical clinical scenarios and to focus on the prerequisites for managing an ECLS program in an ED setting. ⋯ Emergent ECLS has a role in the ED for selected indications in the face of life-threatening conditions. ECLS provides a bridge to recovery, definitive therapy, intervention or surgery. ECLS program requires an appropriately trained staff (physicians, nurses and ECLS specialists), equipment resources and logistical planning.
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To assess the feasibility of an integrated program of extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR) and uncontrolled donation after circulatory determination of death (uDCDD) in refractory cardiac arrest (rCA). ⋯ An integrated program for rCA consisting of a formal pathway to uDCDD referral in ECPR ineligible patients is feasible. ECPR-referred patients had a reasonable survival with full neurologic recovery. Successful kidney transplantation was achieved with uDCDD.
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Current resuscitation guidelines emphasize the use of waveform capnography to help guide rescuers during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). However, chest compressions often cause oscillations in the capnogram, impeding its reliable interpretation, either visual or automated. The aim of the study was to design an algorithm to enhance waveform capnography by suppressing the chest compression artefact. ⋯ Ventilation detection based on waveform capnography improved after chest compression artefact suppression. Moreover, the algorithm enhances the capnogram tracing, potentially improving its clinical interpretation during CPR. Prospective research in clinical settings is needed to understand the feasibility and utility of the method.
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Observational Study
The association between long-term glycaemic control, glycaemic gap and neurological outcome of in-hospital cardiac arrest in diabetics: A retrospective cohort study.
Resuscitation guidelines do not recommend a target blood glucose (BG) level specifically tailored for diabetics experiencing an in-hospital cardiac arrest (IHCA). The glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c) level may be associated with neurological prognosis and used to identify the optimal BG level for diabetic IHCA patients. ⋯ For diabetic patients, poor long-term glycaemic control correlated with worse neurological recovery following an IHCA. The HbA1c-derived average BG level could be used as a reference point for glycaemic management during the early stage of post-cardiac arrest syndrome. The glycaemic gap could be used to identify the optimal glycaemic range around the reference point.
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Recent studies suggest that a 48-h therapeutic hypothermia protocol does not improve outcomes in paediatric out-of-hospital cardiac arrest survivors. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of 72-h therapeutic hypothermia at 33 °C compared to normothermia at 35.5 °C-37.5 °C on outcomes and the incidence of adverse events in paediatric asphyxial out-of-hospital cardiac arrest survivors. ⋯ Paediatric asphyxial out-of-hospital cardiac arrest was associated with high mortality and morbidity. Seventy-two-hour therapeutic hypothermia was associated with a better 1-month survival rate and 6-month neurological outcomes than normothermia in our paediatric patients with asphyxial out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.