Efficacy and tolerance of early administration of tranexamic acid in patients with cirrhosis presenting with acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding: a study protocol for a multicentre, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial (the EXARHOSE study).

Introduction: The management of acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB) is challenging in patients with cirrhosis, as it is responsible for severe complications and high mortality rates. Tranexamic acid (TXA) may help control the bleeding by counterbalancing cirrhosis-related hyperfibrinolysis. Still, there is a lack of unbiased data to conclude on its efficacy.

Development of an online, universal, Utstein registry-based, care practice report card to improve out-of-hospital resuscitation practices.

Rationale, Aims And Objectives: Care quality is a primary concern in health field. In France, the care practice report card (CPRC) is compulsory for practitioners. It is the first step towards the culture of excellence.

Offering the opportunity for family to be present during cardiopulmonary resuscitation: 1-year assessment.

Purpose: To evaluate the psychological consequences among family members given the option to be present during the CPR of a relative, compared with those not routinely offered the option.

Methods: Prospective, cluster-randomized, controlled trial involving 15 prehospital emergency medical services units in France, comparing systematic offer for a relative to witness CPR with the traditional practice among 570 family members. Main outcome measure was 1-year assessment included proportion suffering post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety and depression symptoms, and/or complicated grief.

Family presence during cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

Background: The effect of family presence during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on the family members themselves and the medical team remains controversial.

Methods: We enrolled 570 relatives of patients who were in cardiac arrest and were given CPR by 15 prehospital emergency medical service units. The units were randomly assigned either to systematically offer the family member the opportunity to observe CPR (intervention group) or to follow standard practice regarding family presence (control group).

Capnography monitoring in nonintubated patients with respiratory distress.

Objective: The objective was to assess agreement between end-tidal carbon dioxide values measured by a handheld capnometer (Petco(2)) and values measured by a blood gas analyzer (Paco(2)) in nonintubated patients with respiratory distress in an out-of-hospital setting.

Methods: This prospective study compared Petco(2) values obtained by an end-tidal capnometer (Microcap Plus; Oridion Capnography Inc, Needham, Mass) to Paco(2) values by the Bland and Altman statistical method.

Results: A total of 50 patients were included.