Resuscitation
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Clinical Trial
Anteroposterior pacer pad position is better than anterolateral for transcutaneous cardiac pacing.
Transcutaneous cardiac pacing (TCP) is a lifesaving procedure for patients with certain types of unstable bradycardia. We aimed to assess the difference in the pacing thresholds between the anteroposterior (AP) and anterolateral (AL) pacer pad positions. The second aim was to characterize the severity of chest wall muscle contractions during TCP. ⋯ gov Identifier: NCT03898050 https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03898050.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Initial rhythm and survival in refractory out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. Post-hoc analysis of the Prague OHCA randomized trial.
The prognosis of refractory out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) is generally poor. A recent Prague OHCA study has demonstrated that an invasive approach (including extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation, ECPR) is a feasible and effective treatment strategy in refractory OHCA. Here we present a post-hoc analysis of the role of initial rhythm on patient outcomes. ⋯ An initial shockable rhythm and treatment with an invasive approach is associated with a reasonable neurologically favorable survival for 180 days despite refractory OHCA. Non-shockable initial rhythms bear a poor prognosis in refractory OHCA even when ECPR is readily available.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Effect of Calcium in Patients with Pulseless Electrical Activity and Electrocardiographic Characteristics Potentially Associated with Hyperkalemia and Ischemia-Sub-study of the Calcium for Out-of-hospital Cardiac Arrest (COCA) trial.
The Calcium for Out-of-hospital Cardiac Arrest (COCA) trial was recently conducted and published. This pre-planned sub-study evaluated the effect of calcium in patients with pulseless electrical activity (PEA) including subgroup analyses based on electrocardiographic characteristics potentially associated with hyperkalemia and ischemia. ⋯ In adults with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest presenting with PEA, effect estimates suggested harm of calcium administration as compared to placebo but with wide confidence intervals. Results were consistent for patients with electrocardiographic characteristics potentially associated with hyperkalemia and ischemia. The results do not support calcium administration based strictly on electrocardiographic findings seen during out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.
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We compared novel methods of long-term follow-up after resuscitation from cardiac arrest to a query of the National Death Index (NDI). We hypothesized use of the electronic health record (EHR), and internet-based sources would have high sensitivity for identifying decedents identified by the NDI. ⋯ Novel methods of outcome assessment are an alternative to NDI for determining patients' vital status. These methods are less reliable for estimating functional status.