Academic emergency medicine : official journal of the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine
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To determine current practice and attitudes among emergency physicians (EPs) regarding the initiation and termination of CPR. ⋯ Most EPs attempt to resuscitate patients in cardiopulmonary arrest, regardless of futility, except in cases where a legal advance directive is available. Many EPs' decisions regarding resuscitation are based on concerns of litigation and criticism, rather than their professional judgment of medical benefit or futility. Compliance with patients' wishes regarding resuscitation is low unless a legal advance directive is present. Possible solutions to these problems may include standardized guidelines for the initiation and termination of CPR, tort reform, and additional public education regarding resuscitation and advance directives.
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Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Use of the alveolar dead space fraction (Vd/Vt) and plasma D-dimers to exclude acute pulmonary embolism in ambulatory patients.
To evaluate the utility of a modified calculation of the alveolar dead space fraction (Vd/Vt), combined with plasma D-dimers, to aid in the exclusion of acute pulmonary embolism (PE). ⋯ In ambulatory patients, the finding of Vd/Vt < 0.2 and D-dimers < 0.5 microgram/L lowers the probability of acute PE.
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Clinical Trial
Vasopressin can increase coronary perfusion pressure during human cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
To determine the hemodynamic effect of vasopressin on coronary perfusion pressure (CPP) in prolonged human cardiac arrest. ⋯ In this human model of prolonged cardiac arrest, 40% of the patients receiving vasopressin had a significant increase in CPP. This pilot study suggests that investigation of earlier use of vasopressin as a therapeutic alternative in the treatment of cardiac arrest is warranted.
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1) To describe elements of adult nontraumatic cardiac arrest protocols in those U.S. cities in which resuscitative efforts are being terminated in the out-of-hospital setting. 2) To determine the prevalence and methods of on-scene family grief counseling delivered in this setting. ⋯ Many U.S. urban EMS systems are terminating efforts for selected adult nontraumatic cardiac arrest patients, although few have written policies to address grief intervention for family members at the scene.