Unanticipated difficult airway management in the prehospital emergency setting: prospective validation of an algorithm.

Background: Difficult intubation management algorithms have proven efficacy in operating rooms but have rarely been assessed in a prehospital emergency setting. We undertook a prospective evaluation of a simple prehospital difficult intubation algorithm.

Methods: All of our prehospital emergency physicians and nurse anesthetists were asked to adhere to a simple algorithm in all cases of impossible laryngoscope-assisted tracheal intubation.

Out-of-hospital tracheal intubation with single-use versus reusable metal laryngoscope blades: a multicenter randomized controlled trial.

Study Objective: Emergency tracheal intubation is reported to be more difficult with single-use plastic than with reusable metal laryngoscope blades in both inhospital and out-of-hospital settings. Single-use metal blades have been developed but have not been compared with conventional metal blades. This controlled trial compares the efficacy and safety of single-use metal blades with reusable metal blades in out-of-hospital emergency tracheal intubation.

Efficacy and safety of the EZ-IO™ intraosseous device: Out-of-hospital implementation of a management algorithm for difficult vascular access.

Objective: Intraosseous access is a rapid and safe alternative when peripheral vascular access is difficult. Our aim was to assess the safety and efficacy of a semi-automatic intraosseous infusion device (EZ-IO) when using a management algorithm for difficult vascular access in an out-of-hospital setting.

Methods: This was a one-year prospective, observational study by mobile intensive care units.

Randomized comparison of eptifibatide versus abciximab in primary percutaneous coronary intervention in patients with acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction: results of the EVA-AMI Trial.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to compare eptifibatide and abciximab as adjuncts to primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Background: The glycoprotein (GP) IIb/IIIa receptor inhibitor abciximab as adjunct to primary PCI in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarctions has been shown to reduce ischemic complications and improve clinical outcomes. So far, no trial has been performed to compare the efficacy of another GP IIb/IIIa receptor inhibitor, eptifibatide, and abciximab in primary PCI.

Predictive factors for positive coronary angiography in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients.

Objectives: Coronary angiography is often performed in survivors of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, but little is known about the factors predictive of a positive coronary angiography. Our aim was to determine these factors.

Methods: In this 7-year retrospective study (January 2000-December 2006) conducted by a French out-of-hospital emergency medical unit, data were collected according to Utstein style guidelines on all out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients with suspected coronary disease who recovered spontaneous cardiac activity and underwent early coronary angiography.