Introduction: Chest compressions have been suggested to provide passive ventilation during cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Measurements of this passive ventilatory mechanism have only been performed upon arrival of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients in the emergency department. Lung and thoracic characteristics rapidly change following cardiac arrest, possibly limiting the effectiveness of this mechanism after prolonged resuscitation efforts.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAim: To investigate whether a ventilation rate ≤10 breaths min in adult cardiac arrest patients treated with tracheal intubation and chest compressions in a prehospital setting is associated with improved Return of Spontaneous Circulation (ROSC), survival to hospital discharge and one-year survival with favourable neurological outcome, compared to a ventilation rate >10 breaths min.
Methods: In this retrospective study, prospectively acquired data were analysed. Ventilation rates were measured with end-tidal CO and ventilation pressures.
Aim: During cardiopulmonary resuscitation, once the patient is intubated, compressions and ventilations are performed simultaneously. Chest compressions during the inspiratory phase of ventilation may force air out of the lungs, causing so-called "reversed airflow", which may lead to ineffective ventilation. The purpose of this study is to determine the occurrence of this phenomenon and to quantify the volume of reversed airflow.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: Interhospital transport of critically ill patients is at risk of complications. The objective of the study was to prospectively record patient safety incidents that occurred during interhospital transports and to determine their risk factors.
Methods: We prospectively collected data during a fifteen-month period in 2 hospitals.
Aim: To detect and quantify gasping during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) patients and to investigate whether gasping is associated with increased return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC).
Materials And Methods: A prospective observational study in patients resuscitated and mechanically or manually ventilated for OHCA by emergency physicians of Ghent University Hospital. After intubation, pressure catheters were inserted in the endotracheal tube (ETT) and pressures were measured at the proximal and distal ends of the ETT.