Resuscitation
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Accuracy of Automatic Geolocalization of Smartphone Location during Emergency Calls - a Pilot Study.
Widespread use of smartphones allows automatic geolocalization (i.e., transmission of location data) in countless apps. Until now, this technology has not been routinely used in connection with an emergency call in which location data play a decisive role This study evaluated a new software automatically providing emergency medical service (EMS) dispatchers with a caller's geolocation. We hypothesized that this technology will provide higher accuracy, faster dispatching of EMS and a faster beginning of thoracic compressions in a cardiac arrest scenario. ⋯ This pilot study showed that automatic geolocalization leads to a significantly shorter duration of the emergency call, significantly shorter times until the beginning of thoracic compressions, and a higher precision in determining the location of an emergency.
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Automated external defibrillators (AEDs) are critical in the chain of survival following out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA), yet few studies have reported on AED use and outcomes among pediatric OHCA. This study describes the association between bystander AED use, neighborhood characteristics and survival outcomes following public pediatric OHCA. ⋯ Bystander AED use is uncommon in pediatric OHCA, particularly in high-risk neighborhoods, but improves survival. Further study is needed to understand disparities in AED use and outcomes.
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Bag-valve-mask ventilation is the first-line ventilation method during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Risks include excessive volume delivery and gastric insufflation, the latter increasing the risk of pneumonia. The efficacy of ventilation can also be reduced by airway closure. We hypothesized that continuous chest compression (CC) could limit the risk of gastric insufflation compared to the recommended 30:2 interrupted CC strategy. This experimental study was performed in human "Thiel" cadavers to assess the respective impact of discontinuous vs. continuous chest compressions on gastric insufflation and ventilation during CPR. ⋯ Continuous CC significantly reduces the volume of gas insufflated in the stomach compared to the recommended 30:2 interrupted CC strategy. Ventilation actually delivered to the lung is also slightly increased by the strategy.