Actual treatments for out-of-hospital ventricular fibrillation at critical care medical centers in Osaka: a pilot descriptive study.

Aim: Although advanced treatments are provided to improve outcomes after out-of-hospital ventricular fibrillation, including shock-resistant ventricular fibrillation, the actual treatments in clinical settings have been insufficiently investigated. The aim of the current study is to describe the actual treatments carried out for out-of-hospital ventricular fibrillation patients, including shock-resistant ventricular fibrillation patients, at critical care medical centers.

Methods: We registered consecutive adult patients suffering bystander-witnessed out-of-hospital cardiac arrest of cardiac origin, for whom resuscitation was attempted by emergency medical service personnel, who had ventricular fibrillation as an initial rhythm, and who were transported to critical care medical centers in Osaka from March 2008 to December 2008.

Umbilical center insertion method for initial trocar placement in pediatric laparoscopic surgery.

Background: For laparoscopic surgery in pediatric patients, the initial trocar insertion is usually made employing open laparotomy to avoid injury to the viscera. It is safe but somewhat time-consuming for establishing a pneumoperitoneum, and requires additional sutures for anchoring or preventing air leakage. We devised a new initial trocar insertion technique employing an umbilical center incision to shorten the surgical duration and improve the esthetic appearance.

Incidence and outcomes of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest with shock-resistant ventricular fibrillation: Data from a large population-based cohort.

Background: The increasing survival rates after out-of-hospital cardiac arrests (OHCA) are due mainly to improvements in the first 3 steps of the chain of survival. The aim of this study was to describe the temporal trends of OHCA incidence and outcomes with shock-resistant ventricular fibrillation (VF) requiring advanced life support procedures.

Methods: All our subjects were persons aged 18 years or more who had suffered OHCA of presumed cardiac etiology, were witnessed by bystanders, treated by emergency medical service (EMS), and had VF as initial rhythm.

Iopamidol enema treatment for meconium obstruction of prematurity in extremely low-birth weight infants: a safe and effective method.

Background/purpose: Meconium obstruction of prematurity (MO) often occurs in extremely low-birth weight (ELBW) infants, and its treatment is quite a challenge for neonatologists. We attempted to establish a method of primary treatment for MO of prematurity in ELBW infants.

Methods: An iopamidol enema with 50 cm H(2)O static pressure was performed as the primary treatment.

Preliminary study on the effects of bar placement on the thorax after the nuss procedure for pectus excavatum using bone scintigraphy.

Aim: Bone scintigraphy was performed to elucidate the effects of the Nuss procedure for pectus excavatum on the bony thorax.

Methods: Eight boys and 6 girls (5 - 24 years of age) underwent bone scintigraphy, using (99m)Tc-HMDP. Eleven patients were studied 5 to 21 days after the Nuss procedure; 6 were studied 20 to 24 months after the operation before bar removal.