Resuscitation
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Favorable neurological survival in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OOHCA) may be influenced by cerebral perfusion during resuscitation. Cerebral oximetry (COx) provides a portable, noninvasive, real-time index of cerebral perfusion that has not been studied in OOHCA. This study examined the feasibility of using COx to measure cerebral perfusion during OOHCA. ⋯ In our sample of OOHCA patients, cerebral perfusion is rarely detectable using an oximeter during CPR. Ventilation rate does not alter the oximeter readings. It is possible that the current standard mechanical method of cardiopulmonary resuscitation provides little or no cerebral oxygenation during OOHCA.
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Programs focusing on early defibrillation have improved both short- and long-term survival of patients with VF out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). Subsequent long-term management of survivors would be facilitated by a straight-forward, non-invasive method of identifying those at highest risk for recurrence. Therefore, we assessed the predictive value of the standard ECG to determine both short- and long-term outcomes in survivors of VF OHCA to assist in risk stratification of those patients at highest risk of sudden death. ⋯ Careful evaluation of the admitting and discharge ECG provides prognostic information for in-hospital and long-term outcomes, respectively in this cohort of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest survivors. The QRS duration on the dismissal ECG following VF OHCA provides prognostic information which might be useful to identify those at highest risk long-term, and who would benefit from more aggressive antiarrhythmic therapy and cardiac stabilization.
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Cardiac arrest (CA) is associated with poor neurological outcome and is associated with a poor understanding of the cerebral hemodynamic and metabolic changes. The objective of this study was to determine the applicability of near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS), to observe the changes in cerebral total hemoglobin (T-Hb) reflecting cerebral blood volume, oxygenation state of Hb, oxidized cytochrome oxidase (Cyto-C), and brain water content following CA. ⋯ NIRS can be applied to monitor cerebral blood volume, oxygenation state of Hb, Cyto-C, and water content following CA in rats.
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Biography Historical Article
Alexander Graham Bell and the vacuum jacket for assisted respiration.
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Review Case Reports
Posterior tracheal wall laceration after blunt neck trauma in children: a case report and review of the literature.
Adults seem to be more vulnerable than children to tracheal lacerations. Tracheal lacerations have been described particularly after surgical procedures and penetrating trauma, but they may also result from minor blunt trauma. We report the case of a 7-year-old boy who sustained a posterior tracheal wall laceration after a direct frontal fall on a wooden strut. We also review the literature on posterior wall tracheal laceration as an isolated feature after blunt cervical trauma in children, the diagnostic features and management options.