Resuscitation
-
An investigation of inter-shock timing and electrode placement for double-sequential defibrillation.
Double-Sequential Defibrillation (DSD) is the near-simultaneous use of two defibrillators to treat refractory VF. We hypothesized that (1) risk of DSD-associated defibrillator damage depends on shock vector and (2) the efficacy of DSD depends on inter-shock time. ⋯ University of Alabama at Birmingham Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) Protocol Number 06860.
-
The incidence of cardiac arrest (CA) in nursing homes is rising. Our objective was to compare nursing home CAs with at-home CAs in patients aged 65 and over with regard to the CAs' characteristics, the use and characteristics of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), and the outcome. ⋯ Nursing home residents who experience a CA are less likely to receive CPR from a MICU. If CPR is performed, however, the residents' prognosis is no worse than that of patients treated at home.
-
The aim of this study was to describe patient characteristics, event characteristics, and outcomes for patients with in-hospital cardiac arrest in Denmark. ⋯ In-hospital cardiac arrest occurs in at least 2000 patients each year in Denmark with a 30-day survival of approximately 28%. The establishment of a national registry for in-hospital cardiac arrest in Denmark will allow for quality improvement and research projects.
-
Observational Study
Impact of first documented rhythm on cost-effectiveness of extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
Recommendations for extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR) state that appropriate patient selection is important for the sake of efficacy and cost-effectiveness of ECPR. It is not known whether first documented rhythm plays a prominent role in economic outcomes of patients with cardiac arrest who received ECPR. ⋯ ECPR for patients presenting with VF/VT was found to be highly cost-effective and ECPR for patients presenting with ASY/PEA was borderline cost-effective.
-
Knowledge about the effect of bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) of non-cardiac origin is lacking. We aimed to investigate the association between bystander CPR and survival in OHCA of presumed non-cardiac origin. ⋯ Bystander CPR was associated with a higher chance of 30-day survival among OHCA of presumed non-cardiac origin regardless of the underlying cause (medical/non-medical). Rates of bystander CPR and 30-day survival improved during the study period.