Publications by authors named "Ayal Z Pierce"

Background: Medical learners may use YouTube® videos to prepare for procedures. Videos are convenient and readily available, but without any uploading standards, their accuracy and quality for education are uncertain. We assessed the quality of emergency cricothyrotomy videos on YouTube through an expert panel of surgeons with objective quality metrics.

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Background: Previous studies have demonstrated the use of virtual reality (VR) in mass-casualty incident (MCI) simulation; however, it is uncertain if VR simulations can be a substitute for in-person disaster training. Demonstrating that VR MCI scenarios can elicit the same desired stress response achieved in live-action exercises is a first step in showing non-inferiority. The primary objective of this study was to measure changes in sympathetic nervous system (SNS) response via a decrease in heart rate variability (HRV) in subjects participating in a VR MCI scenario.

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Background: Out-of-hospital cardiac arrests are a leading global cause of mortality. The American Heart Association (AHA) promotes several important strategies associated with improved cardiac arrest (CA) outcomes, including decreasing pulse check time and maintaining a chest compression fraction (CCF) > 0.80.

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Background: National databases are increasingly used to research complication rates, risk factors, and the role of comorbidities. Three commonly used databases are the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Program's National Inpatient Sample (NIS), the National Hospital Discharge Survey (NHDS), and the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP). Despite many publications, the accuracy of results from these databases remains unclear.

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