Resuscitation
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Comparative Study
Development of a rapid, safe, fiber-optic guided, single-incision cricothyrotomy using a large ovine model: a pilot study.
We present a pilot study in which we use an ovine model to develop a rapid, safe cricothyrotomy technique using a Melker cuffed 5.0 cricothyrotomy catheter loaded over a fiberoptic stainless steel optical stylet. The technique requires a single incision. The stylet allows easy placement and facilitates visual, tactile, and transillumination confirmation of intratracheal placement. We recorded this process on video to facilitate the development of the procedure and to allow others to replicate it for further research or refinement. All devices used in this technique are currently employed in clinical practice. ⋯ The procedure is rapid, incorporates redundant safety features, and uses equipment increasingly available to anesthesiologists, emergency physicians, intensivists and surgeons. The promising outcome of this pilot study should be verified in a larger controlled, comparative trial.
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Comparative Study
Comparison of efficacy of pulsed biphasic waveform and rectilinear biphasic waveform in a short ventricular fibrillation pig model.
The waveform designs and their relative defibrillation efficacy of external biphasic waveforms may differ remarkably among manufacturers. In this study, we compared pulsed biphasic waveform (PBW) with rectilinear biphasic waveform (RBW) and their effects on terminating ventricular fibrillation (VF). ⋯ In the setting of this experiment, there was no difference in terms of defibrillation efficacy and myocardial injury related to the electrical shocks of the two waveforms.
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Multicenter Study Comparative Study
Rescuer fatigue during actual in-hospital cardiopulmonary resuscitation with audiovisual feedback: a prospective multicenter study.
Rescuer fatigue during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is a likely contributor to variable CPR quality during clinical resuscitation efforts, yet investigations into fatigue and CPR quality degradation have only been performed in simulated environments, with widely conflicting results. ⋯ During actual in-hospital CPR with audiovisual feedback, CC depth decay became evident after 90s of CPR, but CC rate did not change. These data provide clinical evidence for rescuer fatigue during actual resuscitations and support current guideline recommendations to rotate rescuers during CC delivery.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Comparative Study
Alternating providers during continuous chest compressions for cardiac arrest: every minute or every two minutes?
Studies have shown that the quality of chest compressions for cardiac arrest decreases markedly after only a brief time. This is thought to be an important contributor to an adverse outcome of resuscitation, which has led to recommendations to alternate chest compression providers. This study compared alternating rescuers every 1 min versus every 2 min in a manikin simulation. ⋯ Power calculations with these results show that an unfeasibly large number of scenarios would be needed to definitively demonstrate the superiority of one of the scenarios. It seems reasonable to alternate chest compression providers every 2 min, to prevent the loss of effective compressions due to fatigue and to minimise interruptions of chest compressions. The ideal time to do this would be during the rhythm and pulse check as dictated by current guidelines.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study
Comparison of two mechanical intraosseous infusion devices: a pilot, randomized crossover trial.
Administration of medications via the intraosseous (IO) route has proven to be a lifesaving procedure in critically ill or injured children. Two mechanical IO infusion devices have been approved for use in children, the spring-loaded IO infusion device (Bone Injection Gun, BIG) and the battery-powered IO infusion drill (EZ-IO). The objective of this pilot study was to compare the success rates for insertion and the ease-of-use of the two devices. ⋯ As tested by paramedic students on a turkey bone model, the EZ-IO demonstrated higher success rates than the BIG and was the preferred device. Future studies are planned to determine which of the two devices is more appropriate for obtaining IO access in the setting of paediatric emergencies.