Resuscitation
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One of the arguments put forward in support of a relatively fast rate of chest compression during CPR, is that it facilitates the achievement of a high compression:relaxation ratio. This has been shown to increase blood flow. In this study a group of volunteers carried out chest compression at the rate that each felt was correct and comfortable. ⋯ In a second study volunteers carried out chest compression on a manikin at rates of 40/min; 60/min; 80/min and 100/min. There was no significant rate related difference in the compression:relaxation ratios recorded. The ability to achieve a high compression duration is not related to compression rate, and should not be a consideration when guidelines on CPR are revised.
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The quality of brain recovery after cardiac arrest depends crucially on the speed of cardiac resuscitation because the low cerebral perfusion pressure during the resuscitation procedure facilitates the development of no-reflow. To accelerate return of spontaneous circulation, high dose epinephrine has been recommended but the effect on the dynamics of early brain recovery is still unknown. We, therefore, studied the dynamics of brain resuscitation after cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) with standard and high dose epinephrine using non-invasive NMR techniques. ⋯ Brain recovery was monitored by magnetic resonance imaging of the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) of water for 3 h. Although high dose epinephrine treatment led to a significantly higher blood pressure during early reperfusion, rapidly changing heterogeneities of early brain recovery were observed in both groups. High dose epinephrine thus does not improve the quality of post-cardiac arrest brain recovery during the first 3 h of reperfusion.
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We have assessed the deleterious effects of methylmethacrylate (MMA) on cardiac function and metabolism in the isolated heart-lung preparation with or without volatile anesthetics. Wistar rats were prepared for the heart-lung model. They were randomly divided into 5 groups as follows. (1) Control (C) group. (2) Cement (M) group; they received MMA. (3) Halothane (H) group; they received MMA and 1% halothane. (4) Isoflurane (I) group; they received MMA and 1.5% isoflurane. (5) Sevoflurane (S) group; they received MMA and 2.5% sevoflurane. ⋯ MMA 1000 micrograms/ml is much higher than the blood level (0.05-31.89 micrograms/ml) which was reported in clinical patients who had femoral prosthesis. Therefore, the direct contribution of MMA itself to cardiac depression may be less than the other factors such as embolism in clinical situations. Volatile anesthetics did not influence the deleterious effects of MMA on cardiac function and metabolism.
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The purpose of the present retrospective study was to identify easily obtainable predictors of short-term outcome for emergency victims treated by a physician-staffed helicopter emergency medical system (HEMS). The study was conducted at the HEMS unit 'Christophorus 1' based at Innsbruck, Austria. Outcomes for 2139 patients rescued in primary missions during a 3-year period from 1 January 1989 to 31 December 1991 were included in the study. ⋯ Flight time to the scene and the original specialty of the additionally trained emergency physician had no significant influence on outcome. Multivariate analysis using the Cox proportional hazards model revealed that severity of the emergency by the seven-level NACA scale (P = 0.0001), initial respiratory status (P = 0.0001), time at the scene (P = 0.0108), patient age (P = 0.0047) and patient gender (P = 0.0477) were each independent predictors of short-term survival following physician-staffed helicopter rescue. We conclude that the parameters described above can be used in an initial predictive assessment by the flight physician and the admitting institution.
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To determine the epidemiology and aetiology of out-of-hospital paediatric cardiac arrest and the outcome of resuscitation and to apply the Utstein template for the paediatric cardiac arrest population. ⋯ Survival from paediatric cardiac arrest has remained low. The overall survival rate was 9.6%, survival after attempted resuscitation 14.7% and 0% when resuscitation was attempted in witnessed arrest of cardiac origin. Asystole was the most common initial rhythm and the four leading causes for cardiac arrest were SIDS, trauma, airway related arrest and (near)drowning. The Utstein template adopted for adult out-of-hospital cardiac arrests was was found applicable also in paediatric cardiac arrests.