Resuscitation
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To determine the opinion of head teachers on the educational and logistical characteristics required for a basic cardiopulmonary resuscitation (b-CPR) programme for secondary school teenagers to succeed. ⋯ In Barcelona, most secondary schools surveyed were highly interested in a b-CPR programme for their teenagers in grades 3 or 4. Teachers would prefer healthcare providers to give the programme but would be willing to teach b-CPR theory if trained previously.
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To compare the support for, and perceptions of, family-witnessed resuscitation (FWR) in urban and suburban emergency departments (ED). ⋯ Overall, there is divided support among ED personnel for FWR. The hospital setting appears to influence this support strongly, as well as the perceived benefit of FWR.
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Therapeutic hypothermia appears to improve the outcome of pre-hospital cardio-pulmonary arrest (CPA) in patients with an initial cardiac rhythm of ventricular fibrillation or nonperfusing ventricular tachycardia (VF/VT). Notwithstanding, the outcome of this procedure is certainly difficult to predict based solely on the initial rhythm. The aim of the present study was to predict the outcome using auditory brainstem responses (ABRs) in CPA patients treated with therapeutic hypothermia. ⋯ The absence of the ABR wave V in the early phase after ROSC wave indicated a reduced effect of therapeutic hypothermia, even in cases that underwent hypothermia promptly after out-of-hospital CPA. Measurement of ABRs appears to be useful as a predictor of effectiveness and as a criterion for determining the indication for therapeutic hypothermia.
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Comparative Study
Efficacy of FDA-approved hemostatic drugs to improve survival and reduce bleeding in rat models of uncontrolled hemorrhage.
Several FDA-approved intravenous drugs are used to reduce surgical bleeding. This series of studies tested whether these drugs (aprotinin, desmopressin, tranexamic acid, epsilon-aminocaproic acid) could reduce bleeding due to traumatic injuries in two models of uncontrolled hemorrhage in rats. In the first phase of each study, a nonlethal tail bleeding model was used that incorporated limited fluid resuscitation (lactate Ringer's solution). ⋯ Three studies were performed, testing each of the drugs singly and in combination. None of the drugs significantly reduced either bleeding time or blood loss in the tail bleeding model, nor were blood loss, survival time or mortality rate altered in the liver injury model. Taken together, these results suggest that these FDA-approved drugs, when used either singly or in combination, are not efficacious in these models of traumatic uncontrolled hemorrhage.
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From early March 2003 to late May 2003, severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) was detected in Singapore. The increase in workload and new infection control procedures were thought to affect resuscitation and airway management. Our aim was to study the effects of wearing of personal protective equipment (PPE) and powered air-purifying respirator (PAPR) and the restriction in the number of resuscitation personnel on airway management during the SARS crisis. ⋯ Restriction in the number of healthcare staff attending to each patient may have influenced the department's decision to allow only the most confident or experienced personnel to manage the airway. The exposure of junior medical officers in emergency airway management during SARS and the immediate post-SARS period was decreased. This trend should be monitored further and intervention may be necessary should it continue to decline.