Current opinion in critical care
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This article evaluates the latest scientific evidence regarding airway management during in-hospital and out-of-hospital cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). ⋯ Recent studies of airway management during CPR rely mostly on registry and observational designs. Prospective randomized trials are needed to determine the optimal approach to airway management during cardiac arrest, but have not yet been completed.
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Curr Opin Crit Care · Jun 2015
ReviewLung volume assessment in acute respiratory distress syndrome.
Measurements of lung volumes allow evaluating the pathophysiogical severity of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in terms of the degree of reduction in aerated lung volume, calculating strain, quantifying recruitment and/or hyperinflation, and gas volume distribution. We summarize the current techniques for lung volume assessment selected according to their possible usage in the ICU and discuss the recent findings obtained with implementation of these techniques in patients with ARDS. ⋯ Although lung volume measurements are still limited to research area of ARDS, recent progress in technology provides clinicians more opportunities to evaluate lung volumes noninvasively at the bedside and may facilitate individualization of ventilator settings based on the specific physiological understandings of a given patient.
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Curr Opin Crit Care · Jun 2015
ReviewHaemodynamic and ventilator management in patients following cardiac arrest.
The purpose of this study is to review the recent literature describing how to assess and treat postcardiac arrest syndrome associated haemodynamics and manage oxygenation and ventilation derangements. ⋯ Patients who are successfully resuscitated from cardiac arrest often have hypotension and myocardial dysfunction. Careful attention to haemodynamic and ventilator management targeting normal blood pressure, normoxemia and normocapnia may help to avoid secondary organ injury and potentially improve outcomes.
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Curr Opin Crit Care · Jun 2015
ReviewThe accuracy of noninvasive cardiac output and pressure measurements with finger cuff: a concise review.
The present review aims to summarize literature on the accuracy of the finger cuff method to measure cardiac output (CO) and blood pressure, its ability to track hemodynamic changes, and to predict fluid responsiveness. ⋯ The finger cuff method provides a reasonable estimate of CO and blood pressure, which does not meet the criteria for clinical interchangeability with the currently used invasive devices.
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Curr Opin Crit Care · Jun 2015
'Kids save lives': why schoolchildren should train in cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
Quick initiation of basic life support (BLS) by laypersons is one of the most successful strategies in the fight against sudden cardiac death. In developed countries, cardiac arrest is still a major contributor to avoidable death, and despite the fact that more than 50% of all cardiac arrests are witnessed, layperson BLS is performed in less than 20%. To improve this situation, BLS training in schools has been established. ⋯ Resuscitation training in schools can help to increase the amount of BLS-trained population. Social skills of pupils can be improved and training can be successfully implemented independently of the pupils' age and physique.