Resuscitation
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First aid measures can be life-saving. Starting first aid education early may strengthen interest, motivation and ability to provide first aid. ⋯ 6-7-Year-old children can give basic first aid to an unconscious patient. A course with 5 lessons leads to a significant increase in first aid knowledge and skills. Knowledge retention is good after 6 months. All primary school children should receive first aid training starting in first grade.
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With the recent introduction of therapeutic hypothermia the application of sedation becomes necessary in cardiac arrest patients. We therefore analysed the usefulness of the Glasgow coma score (GCS) for outcome prediction in survivors of cardiac arrest treated with therapeutic hypothermia. ⋯ Our results indicate that monitoring of the GCS is a simple and reliable method for clinical outcome assessment in patients treated with therapeutic hypothermia. Thus, GCS monitoring remains a powerful tool to predict outcome of patients treated with therapeutic hypothermia.
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We developed a suction laryngoscope, which enables simultaneous suction and laryngoscopy in cases of airway haemorrhage and evaluated its potential benefits in physicians with varying emergency medical service experience. ⋯ In a model of severe simulated airway haemorrhage, employing a suction laryngoscope significantly decreased the likelihood of oesophageal intubations in physicians with occasional emergency medical service experience.
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Comparative Study
Erythropoietin facilitates the return of spontaneous circulation and survival in victims of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.
Erythropoietin activates potent protective mechanisms in non-hematopoietic tissues including the myocardium. In a rat model of ventricular fibrillation, erythropoietin preserved myocardial compliance enabling hemodynamically more effective CPR. ⋯ Erythropoietin given during CPR facilitates ROSC, ICU admission, 24-h survival, and hospital survival. This effect was consistent with myocardial protection leading to hemodynamically more effective CPR (Trial registration: http://isrctn.org. Identifier: ISRCTN67856342).
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To assess the regional vulnerability to ischemic damage and perfusion/metabolism mismatch of reperfused brain following restoration of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) after cardiac arrest. ⋯ The cortical regions tended most vulnerable to the ischemic insult with an oligaemic pattern and a low CMRO(2) whereas the cerebellum instead showed a pattern of luxury perfusion.