Emergency medicine journal : EMJ
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To evaluate whether the ratio (in Hounsfield units; HU) of grey matter (GM) to white matter (WM) on computed tomography (CT) scans taken within 24 h of resuscitation can be used as a predictor of outcome. ⋯ The GM/WM ratio correlates with the outcome of hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy and may be useful as an objective early predictor of vegetative state or death in comatose patients after cardiac arrest.
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Comparative Study
Lactic acidosis not hyperlactatemia as a predictor of in hospital mortality in septic emergency patients.
To compare the prognostic abilities of lactic acidosis and hyperlactatemia and determine the influence of metabolic acidosis when attempting to predict the outcome of septic patients using serum lactate levels. ⋯ Lactic acidosis not hyperlactatemia was found to predict inhospital mortality more exactly in severe sepsis and septic shock patients. The acid-base state should be considered when attempting to predict the outcome of septic patients using serum lactate levels.
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One of the problems with manual resuscitators is the difficulty in achieving accurate volume delivery. The volume delivered to the patient varies by the physical characteristics of the person and method. This study was designed to compare tidal volumes delivered by the squeezing method, physical characteristics and education and practice levels. ⋯ The tidal volume delivered by a manual resuscitator shows large variations. There were significant differences in the volume delivered by compression methods, but physical characteristics are not a predictor of tidal volume delivery. The manual resuscitator is not a suitable device for accurate ventilation.