Resuscitation
-
Eight different breathing gas humidifiers were tested by humidity measurements using two independent methods under simulated clinical conditions. The comparison considering the influence of tidal volume and inspiratory/expiratory ratios revealed great differences between the individual devices depending on the kind of humidification and functional principles. ⋯ The humidifiers Bird 500 cm3 Micronebulizer, Ultrasonic Nebulizer NB 100 and Draeger Compressor 660, were strongly dependent on the respiration parameters and exceeded the required minimum of 70% relative humidity only under certain conditions. The Engstroem ER-200 Vaporizer had a low performance and was not suitable as a breathing gas humidifier for longterm ventilation.
-
Recordings from three patients in cardiac arrest are shown to illustrate the importance of monitoring pulmonary perfusion by means of the capnogram as a continuous guide to the cardiac output achieved by cardiac massage and resuscitation. Such monitoring allows the performance to be adjusted to obtain the maximal result.
-
In 54 patients with circulatory arrest mainly due to ischaemic heart disease cerebral functions were tested longitudinally during primary cardiopulmonary resuscitation or basic life support. Cerebral recovery was characterized by the appearance of functions in caudorostral sequence. ⋯ If circulation was re-established it usually happened within less than 20 min of basic life support. Prolongation of the resuscitation attempt beyond this time occasionally resulted in a selective reestablishment of circulation (brain death) but most often resulted in a dissociated recovery of cerebral functions (cardiac death).