Resuscitation
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Implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) are a well-established therapy for patients at risk of life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias. With rising implant rates, the risk of a rescuer performing chest compressions during discharge is increasing, leading to concerns over rescuer safety from the resultant leakage current. More recently, subcutaneous ICDs (S-ICD) have been developed, which utilise a higher energy and more superficial electrodes compared with transvenous ICDs (T-ICD), raising safety concerns further. ⋯ Rescuers performing chest compressions on ICD patients are at risk from leakage current, particularly from S-ICDs. Chest compressions should be performed from the opposite side to the ICD to reduce rescuer risk.
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Aortic stenosis is an independent predictor for outcome in patients with in-hospital cardiac arrest.
Prognostic tools for decision-making whether to continue advanced life support or limit life sustaining interventions in In-Hospital Cardiac Arrest (IHCA), remain scarce and inconclusive. In this regard it seems intuitive that the presence of aortic stenosis (AS) impacts on both central and peripheral perfusion during resuscitative attempts and might worsen outcome. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the prognostic value of AS on outcome after IHCA. ⋯ AS proved to be a strong and independent predictor for mortality and poor outcome after IHCA. Therefore, the presence of AS mirrors an easily available predictive tool for risk stratification and decision-making.
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The design and implementation of a wearable training device to improve cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is presented. ⋯ The system allows for portable, real-time feedback for use in training and in the field, and shows promise toward classifying and improving the administration of CPR.
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To evaluate volume-outcome relationship in paediatric out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). ⋯ There may be a relationship between institutional case volume and survival outcomes in paediatric OHCA.
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Observational Study
Impact of right ventricular dysfunction on mortality in adults with cardiac arrest undergoing coronary angiogram.
We sought to identify the impact of echocardiographic right ventricular (RV) systolic dysfunction on mortality in adults with cardiac arrest (CA). ⋯ In this observational contemporary study, RV dysfunction was independently associated with higher mortality in adults with CA undergoing coronary angiogram. RV dysfunction may be useful for risk stratification and management in this high-mortality population.