Resuscitation
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Comparative Study
In-hospital cardiac arrest: survival depends mainly on the effectiveness of the emergency response.
To evaluate the factors affecting the outcome of in-hospital cardiac arrest. ⋯ In our setting, where bystander defibrillation was not available, the survival of patients having cardiac arrest in non-monitored areas strongly depends on advanced life support provided by the CAT. A faster CAT response and early defibrillation from the ward staff are the most important improvements necessary to increase cardiac arrest survival in our setting.
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Comparative Study
Induction of therapeutic hypothermia after cardiac arrest in prehospital patients using ice-cold Ringer's solution: a pilot study.
The cooling and haemodynamic effects of prehospital infusion of ice-cold Ringer's solution were studied in 13 adult patients after successful resuscitation from non-traumatic cardiac arrest. After haemodynamics stabilisation, 30 ml/kg of Ringer's solution was infused at a rate of 100ml/min into the antecubital vein. ⋯ No serious adverse haemodynamic effects occurred. It is concluded that the induction of therapeutic hypothermia using this technique in the prehospital setting is feasible.
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Comparative Study
The deployment of an intensive care facility with a military field hospital to the 2003 conflict in Iraq.
The deployment of an intensive care unit with a forward British military field hospital to the conflict in Iraq in March 2003 is described. The 10 bedded unit treated 47 patients in the first month of activity. Thirty seven were adults and 10 were children. ⋯ The difficulties of the working environment are described including the problems of a desert climate and close proximity to a conflict. Several critical incidents occurred including total power failure, extreme ambient temperatures and gas attack alarms. Despite these challenges, the facility attempted to provide a standard of intensive care similar to that seen in UK practice.
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Comparative Study
Progress of the advanced life support courses in Europe and beyond.
The Advanced Life Support (ALS) course was designed initially to teach, and thereby enhance the practice and effectiveness of, resuscitation from cardiac arrest. The target candidates were doctors, nurses and paramedics, and particularly those working in areas likely to encounter such an emergency.
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Comparative Study
The varying ethical attitudes towards resuscitation in Europe.
This study was conducted to assess the varying attitudes in Europe towards ethical aspects of resuscitation in Europe. ⋯ There remains a widespread divergence of views on ethical aspects of resuscitation with the countries of Europe that are largely unpredictable according to commonly perceived national characteristics. The trend over the past 6 years is towards a more permissive attitude. For many ethical questions there can be no clear and correct didactic answers.