Recently, emphasis has been placed on the simultaneous implementation of resuscitation interventions currently recommended within the 2005 American Heart Association (AHA) guidelines for cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and emergency cardiac care (ECC). The rate of successful outcomes from out-of-hospital cardiac arrest remains relatively low in most U.S. communities. Accurate measures of ...

OBJECTIVE:: To investigate the presence of apoptosis after the global myocardial ischemia of cardiopulmonary resuscitation and the regional myocardial ischemia after left anterior descending coronary artery occlusion and relate it to the severity of postresuscitation myocardial dysfunction. DESIGN:: Prospective animal study. SETTING:: University-affiliated animal research laboratory. SUBJECTS:: Male Sprague-Dawley rats. ...

BACKGROUND:: Therapeutic hypothermia (TH) has been shown to reduce the degree of anoxic brain injury, decrease mortality, and improve neurologic recovery in patients surviving cardiac arrest. However, there is a paucity of data on potential markers of neurologic outcome that physicians can use in this setting. METHODS:: A retrospective medical ...

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The purpose of this study is to discuss recent data relating to the treatment of cardiac arrest survivors. This is a rapidly evolving component of resuscitation medicine that impacts significantly on the quality of survival after cardiac arrest. RECENT FINDINGS: The postcardiac arrest syndrome comprises postcardiac arrest ...

BACKGROUND: Increasing evidence indicates that health professionals often may not achieve guideline standards for cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Little is known about layperson CPR performance. METHODS: The investigation was a retrospective cohort study of cardiac arrest patients treated by layperson CPR and one model of automated external defibrillator (AED) as part ...

STUDY OBJECTIVE: Survival after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest depends on the links in the chain of survival. The Utstein elements are designed to assess these links and provide the basis for comparing outcomes within and across communities. We assess whether these measures sufficiently predict survival and explain outcome differences. METHODS: We ...

Abstract Background: Resternotomy during closed chest cardiopulmonary bypass in hypothermia with or without circulatory arrest has been the preferred method for cardiac reoperations with adherent structures to the sternum. Here, we report our experience with this method and the effects of omitting ventricular decompression during the cooling procedure. Methods: Twenty ...

Summary Mild induced hypothermia improves neurological outcome and reduces mortality among initially comatose survivors of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. Similar pathological processes occur in the heart and the brain, namely ischaemia followed by reperfusion injury. Animal data indicate that mild induced hypothermia results in improved myocardial salvage, reduced infarct size, reduced ...

OBJECTIVE:: Left ventricular dysfunction after successful cardiopulmonary resuscitation contributes to early death after resuscitation. Proinflammatory cytokines are known to decrease myocardial function, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha has been shown to increase after successful resuscitation. We hypothesized that blocking the effects of tumor necrosis factor-alpha with infliximab would prevent or minimize ...

Post-cardiac arrest myocardial dysfunction is a common phenomenon after return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) and contributes to hemodynamic instability and low survival rates after cardiac arrest. Mild hypothermia for 24 h after ROSC has been shown to significantly improve neurologic recovery and survival rates. In the present study we investigate ...

There are only few strategic and therapeutic options to improve the functional outcome of patients after cardiac arrest and resuscitation (CPR). The pathophysiology of reperfusion injury after global ischemia is not completely understood. We present here a murine model of cardiac arrest and resuscitation that allows an analysis of the ...

OBJECTIVE: To assess the impedance cardiogram recorded by an automated external defibrillator during cardiac arrest to facilitate emergency care by lay persons. Lay persons are poor at emergency pulse checks (sensitivity 84%, specificity 36%); guidelines recommend they should not be performed. The impedance cardiogram (dZ/dt) is used to indicate stroke ...

Out-of-hospital cardiopulmonary arrest (OHCPA) because of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is almost always fatal, because devastating SAH causes OHCPA and the brain damage is aggravated by OHCPA. We report a rare case of a 63-year-old female patient who survived SAH-induced ventricular fibrillation OHCPA without neurologic sequelae. Early brain computed tomography ...

INTRODUCTION: In case of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) influence of a bystander spouse is decisive for the chance of survival. AIM: To describe spouses' experiences of witnessing their partners' cardiac arrest at home, focusing on the time before the event and when it happened. METHODS: Interviews with fifteen spouses were ...

Episodes of ventricular fibrillation (VF) and myocardial dysfunction commonly occur after cardiac resuscitation compromising the return of stable circulation. We investigated in a pig model of VF whether limiting Na(+)-induced cytosolic Ca(2+) overload using the sarcolemmal sodium-hydrogen exchanger isoform-1 (NHE-1) inhibitor cariporide promotes resuscitation with stable circulation. METHODS: VF was ...

INTRODUCTION: Naloxone's use in cardiac arrest has been of recent interest, stimulated by conflicting results in both human case reports and animal studies demonstrating antiarrhythmic and positive ionotropic effects. We hypothesized that naloxone administration during cardiac arrest, in suspected opioid overdosed patients, is associated with a change in cardiac rhythm. ...

OBJECTIVE: Hypocalcemia associated with cardiac arrest has been reported. However, mechanistic hypotheses for the decrease in ionized calcium (iCa) vary and its importance unknown. The objective of this study was to assess the relationships of iCa, pH, base excess (BE), and lactate in two porcine cardiac arrest models, and to ...

Background: Therapeutic hypothermia for comatose survivors of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest has demonstrated neurological benefits. Although early cooling during cardiac arrest enhances efficacy in animal studies, few clinical studies are available. Methods and Results: The 171 patients who failed to respond to conventional cardiopulmonary resuscitation were studied prospectively. Patients underwent emergency ...

PROBLEM: At Salford Royal Foundation Trust, 179 patients suffered a cardiac arrest between March 2007 and April 2008. MAINE MEASURES FOR MPROVEMENT: Our primary outcome measure was the number of cardiac arrests per 1,000 admissions. STRATEGIES FOR CHANGE: Eleven wards were invited to participate in a Breakthrough Series collaborative from ...

During cardiac arrest (CA), myocardial perfusion is solely dependent on cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) although closed-chest compressions only provide about 10-20% of normal myocardial perfusion. The study was conducted in a whole animal CPR model to determine whether CPR-generated oxygen delivery preserves or worsens mitochondrial function. Male Sprague-Dawley rats (400-450 g) ...

AIMS: As the duration of untreated cardiac arrest increases, the effectiveness of standard therapies declines, and may be more harmful than helpful. We investigated the hemodynamic, metabolic and anti-inflammatory effects of Ringer's ethyl pyruvate solution (REPS) versus Ringer's solution (RS) in the acute model of prolonged porcine arrest. METHODS: Seventeen ...

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effects of a multifaceted paediatric rapid response system on the duration of predefined clinical instability and the subsequent rate of cardiac arrests. METHODS: An interrupted time series study coupled with a retrospective chart review to evaluate the effects of implementing a four component paediatric rapid response ...

OBJECTIVES: To address the association between the 2003 heat wave in Paris (France) and the occurrence of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. DESIGN:: An analysis of the interventions of the medical mobile intensive care units of the City of Paris for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest and prehospital myocardial infarctions, which were routinely and ...

Every year more than a million cardiac arrests are documented in the industrialised nations of the world, with the majority occurring in settings outside hospital. A major factor in survival after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) is early institution of bystander resuscitation efforts. Sadly, the majority of OHCAs do not receive ...

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The field of pediatric cardiac arrest experienced recent advances secondary to multicenter collaborations. This review summarizes developments during the last year and identifies areas for further research. RECENT FINDINGS: A large retrospective review demonstrated important differences in cause, severity, and outcome of in-hospital vs. out-of-hospital pediatric cardiac ...

Two patients in whom the bispectral index (BIS) decreased to zero following cardiac arrest during cardiothoracic surgery are described. The BIS value decreased to zero after cardiac arrest, and the value remained low for the remainder of the anesthetic despite successful cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Both patients were found to have severe ...

Care of the brain-dead patient is common in intensive care practice. Aggressive donor management is advocated to increase supply of viable organs. Significant controversy exists over cardiac resuscitation in patients determined dead by cardiac criteria. The issue, till now, has not been addressed in brain dead patients. We discuss a ...

BACKGROUND: Cardiac arrest remains one of the leading causes of death worldwide. European Resuscitation Council Guidelines for Resuscitation 2005 recommend epinephrine for its treatment. OBJECTIVES: To estimate whether the administration of a vasodilatator such as nitroglycerin in combination with epinephrine during cardiopulmonary resuscitation would improve resuscitation outcome in an established ...

BACKGROUND: Hospitalized patients with heart failure are at risk for cardiac arrest. The ability to predict who may survive such an event with or without neurological deficit would enhance the information on which patients and providers establish resuscitative preferences. METHODS AND RESULTS: We identified 13 063 adult patients with acute ...

BACKGROUND: We investigated the effects of intra-cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) hypothermia with and without volume loading on return to spontaneous circulation and infarction size in an ischemic model of cardiac arrest. METHODS AND RESULTS: Using a distal left anterior descending artery occlusion model of cardiac arrest followed by resuscitation with a ...

Dismal survival statistics associated with sudden cardiac arrest have led to the development of new strategies and mechanical devices aimed at improving the quality of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). The most recent American Heart Association guidelines for cardiopulmonary resuscitation and emergency cardiovascular care were published in 2005. Major changes included revisions ...

A 71-year-old woman was admitted with hypotension and bradycardia. An electrocardiogram showed flattened T waves and increased U wave prominence, resulting in a long QT(U) syndrome. Her initial serum potassium level was 1.6 mmol/L (all other electrolytes, including magnesium, were normal). She suffered recurrent ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation arrest ...

BACKGROUND: Cardiac toxicity significantly correlates with the lipophilicity of local anesthetics (LAs). Recently, the infusion of lipid emulsions has been shown to be a promising approach to treat LA-induced cardiac arrest. As the postulated mechanism of action, the so-called "lipid sink" effect may depend on the lipophilicity of LAs. In ...

The use of induced hypothermia has been considered for treatment of head injuries since the 1900s. However, it was not until 2 landmark studies were published in 2002 that induced hypothermia was considered best practice for patients after cardiac arrest. In 2005, the American Heart Association included recommendations in the ...

OBJECTIVES: This prospective observational study was performed to investigate if the hand position used for external chest compressions is in an optimal position for compressing the ventricles during standard cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). METHODS: Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) was performed during standard CPR in 34 patients with nontraumatic cardiac arrest (24 males, ...

BACKGROUND: Quality cardiopulmonary resuscitation contributes to cardiac arrest survival. The proportion of time in which chest compressions are performed in each minute of cardiopulmonary resuscitation is an important modifiable aspect of quality cardiopulmonary resuscitation. We sought to estimate the effect of an increasing proportion of time spent performing chest compressions ...

BACKGROUND: Three-fourths of cardiac arrest survivors die before hospital discharge or suffer significant neurological injury. Except for therapeutic hypothermia and revascularization, no novel therapies have been developed that improve survival or cardiac and neurological function after resuscitation. Nitrite (NO(2)(-)) increases cellular resilience to focal ischemia/reperfusion injury in multiple organs. We ...

Cardiac involvement in myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) is frequent with increased incidence of conduction disturbances and sudden cardiac death when compared with general population. We describe a 38-year-old man in whom the diagnosis of DM1 was made 8 years after occurrence of cardiac arrest owing to ventricular fibrillation and ...

Although current cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) performance can increase the rates of restoration of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) and survival to hospital admission, the discharge rates of patients remain disappointing. The high mortality rate is attributed to post-cardiac arrest brain injury. The discovery of the postconditioning phenomenon opens a door to endogenous ...

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to investigate the effect on calcium cycling protein and electrical restitution of beta(1)-adrenergic receptor antagonist esmolol administered during cardiopulmonary resuscitation in the porcine ventricular fibrillation model. METHODS: Ventricular fibrillation untreated for four minutes was induced by dynamic steady state pacing protocol in 40 ...

OBJECTIVE: Chest compressions performed by some medical workers are of poor quality, which are too few and shallow with incomplete release. This study was designed to compare the effects of these clinical quality chest compressions with standard manual chest compressions in a porcine model of cardiac arrest. METHODS: Ventricular fibrillation ...

Mild therapeutic hypothermia (32 degrees C-34 degrees C) is the only therapy that improved neurological outcome after cardiac arrest in a randomized, controlled trial. Induced hypothermia after successful resuscitation leads to one additional patient with intact neurological outcome for every 6 patients treated. It protects the brain after ischemia by ...

Cardiac arrest may occur intraoperatively at any time. The purpose of this article is to help the reader recognize and assist in the management of an intraoperative cardiac arrest. Patients who are at risk for cardiac arrest in the OR are identified and different types of pulseless arrythmias are identified. ...

Background: Recent emphasis on high quality prehospital cardiopulmonary resuscitation has resulted in more out-of-hospital cardiac arrest victims surviving to the emergency department. As such, standardized in-hospital post-cardiac arrest care is necessary to assure optimal neurological recovery. Although therapeutic hypothermia has arisen as a key component in the post-cardiac arrest care ...

Mild-to-moderate therapeutic hypothermia after resuscitation from cardiac arrest is neuroprotective, but its effect on postresuscitation myocardial dysfunction is not clear. We hypothesized that therapeutic hypothermia is cardioprotective in postresuscitation. Male adult Wistar rats underwent asphyxia-induced cardiac arrest and manual resuscitation with epinephrine. Therapeutic hypothermia is induced immediately after successful resuscitation ...

The prognosis among patients who suffer out-of-hospital cardiac arrest is poor. Higher survival rates have been observed only in patients with ventricular fibrillation who were fortunate enough to have basic and advanced life support initiated early after cardiac arrest. The ability to predict outcomes of cardiac arrest would be useful ...

Patients with syncope or epilepsy commonly present to primary or secondary care physicians. This lesson presents two patients, both known to have cardiac disease, with implanted cardiac devices, who presented with loss of consciousness, who were initially investigated for epilepsy, but were subsequently shown to have had a cardiac arrhythmia, ...

BACKGROUND: Cardiac arrest without evident cardiac disease may be caused by subclinical genetic conditions. Provocative testing to unmask a phenotype is often necessary to detect primary electrical disease, direct genetic testing, and perform family screening. METHODS AND RESULTS: Patients with apparently unexplained cardiac arrest and no evident cardiac disease (normal ...

OBJECTIVES: In accidental hypothermia, normal signs of death are unreliable. It is generally accepted that a lifeless person is beyond the limits of rescue if plasma potassium (P-potassium) is higher than10 mmol/l. However, the rate of increase in potassium or in other markers after cardiac arrest has not been carefully ...

After sudden cardiac arrest, successful resuscitation and return of spontaneous circulation, a multi-faceted ischaemia/reperfusion related disorder develops. This condition now known as post resuscitation syndrome is characterised by marked increases in the inflammatory response and changes in coagulation profile and vascular reactivity. Additionally, the production of reactive oxygen species and ...