A brief reeducation in cardio-pulmonary resuscitation after six months-the benefit from timely repetition (Views : 3484 times)
Written by:
Vedran Frković, Alan Šustić, Fred Zeidler, Alen Protić, Kristian Deša
Original articles
Abstract
Objectives. Sudden cardiac death is a major cause of death in today's world. During the minutes passing from the onset of cardiac arrest to the arrival of professional help, the cardiac arrest victim can only rely upon cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) provided by educated bystanders. Our aim was to explore the possibility of whether a short and affordable course of CPR reeducation could have a significant effect on skills retention and quality of CPR delivered.
Methods. We performed a prospective randomized study that included 72 first and second year medical students who had no clinical experience and no prior training in CPR. Subjects were educated in CPR in accordance with a standardized CPR education protocol. Six months later, half of the studied group (randomly chosen) underwent short reeducation in CPR. One year after initial education they were all tested for CPR skills. The results were printed and filmed.
Results. Students who attended the short reeducation were significantly better in approaching the victim safely, in obtaining a clear airway and in checking the pulse of the victim.
Conclusions. A short and inexpensive course of reeducation, carried out six months after initial education, may render CPR performance more effective for the victim and safer for the rescuer.
Key words: medical education, resuscitation, medical students, basic life support
Human protein C concentrates in adult septic patients (Views : 3078 times)
Written by:
Giovanni Landoni, Martina Crivellari, Giacomo Monti, Chiara Gerli, Paolo Silvani, Alberto Zangrillo
Review articles
Abstract
Some case reports and case series suggest that protein C concentrates may improve the outcome in patients with congenital or acquired protein C deficiency (not only in those with sepsis induced purpura fulminans). We reviewed the published literature on the use of protein C concentrates in adult septic patients and found that it is limited to less than 70 patients reported in observational studies with a 70% survival, and added our personal experience (two adult patients with sepsis and contraindications to recombinant activated protein C).
Key words: sepsis, protein C, cardiac surgery
Pediatric surgical extracorporeal membrane oxygenation - a case series (Views : 2991 times)
Written by:
Randall P. Flick, Stephen J. Gleich, Andrew C. Hanson, Darrell R. Schroeder, Juraj Sprung
Original articles
Abstract
Objective. To review demographic and procedural factors and their association with weaning rate and survival from extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) in pediatric patients undergoing repair of cardiac malformations.
Methods. The hospital records of children requiring ECMO during cardiac operation due to failure to wean from cardio-pulmonary by pass (CPB) were retrospectively reviewed, and an analysis of variables affecting survival was performed.
Results. Thirty-five pediatric patients between January 1, 2000 and December 31, 2006 required ECMO for cardiopulmonary support during cardiac operations. ECMO survival was 54.3% and was comparable across all age groups. The lowest pH during ECMO treatment was the only predictor of mortality (P = 0.006). No other patient, surgical or anesthetic, factor was associated with either weaning from ECMO or hospital survival.
Conclusions. No clear risk factor could be identified for survival from ECMO in our pediatric patients who underwent cardiac surgery and failed weaning from cardiopulmonary bypass.
Keywords: congenital, cardiopulmonary bypass, infants, neonates, failure to wean for cardiopulmonary bypass, survival
Perioperative Cardiac Arrests (Views : 8368 times)
Written by:
Juraj Sprung, Randall P. Flick, Stephen J. Gleich, Toby N. Weingarten
Review articles
Abstract
Perioperative cardiac arrests represent the most serious complication of anesthesia and surgery. It is believed that the incidence and mortality of cardiac arrest has declined, however, a more recent review questioned whether these rates have changed over the last 5 decades. It is difficult to compare the reports from different epochs, because medical practice has advanced, surgical acuity increased, and patients in extremes of age undergo surgery today. In the present article we review the information regarding the incidence of perioperative cardiac arrests and predictors of survival covering the period since the first comprehensive report by Beecher and Todd in 1954. We focus on our publications that report perioperative cardiac arrest at Mayo Clinic for adult noncardiac surgery, during regional anesthesia, and arrests in our pediatric surgical practice.
Key words: anesthesia, cardiac arrest, mortality
Urinary peritonitis caused by gangrenous cystitis (Views : 3849 times)
Written by:
Boubaker Charra, Abdelhamid Hachimi, Mustapha Sodki, Houda Gueddari, Abdellatif Benslama, Said Motaouakkil
Case reports
Abstract
We report a case of a young man who developed severe urinary sepsis, on the 21st day of hospitalization (DH), which was treated with ciprofloxacin and gentamicin. On the 30th DH, he developed bloodstream and urinary infections due to Acinetobacter baumannii which had been treated with colistin and rifampicin. On the 55th DH, he developed urinary peritonitis and necrosis of the anterior and posterior bladder wall. Bilateral ureterostomy was performed. The patient was treated with colistin and imipenem. Peritoneal fluid culture yielded Enterobacter cloacae susceptible to imipenem. An enterocystoplasty was performed. The outcome was favourable.
Keywords: peritonitis, Acinetobacter baumannii, colistin, rifampicin
|
|
