Randomized crossover trial comparing physical strain on advanced life support providers during transportation using real-time automated feedback.

Background: Feedback devices provide verbal and visual real-time information on cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) quality. Feedback devices can improve the quality of CPR during transportation. It remains unclear if feedback has an effect on the physical strain felt by providers during ongoing CPR.

Surface cooling for rapid induction of mild hypothermia after cardiac arrest: design determines efficacy.

Objectives: Recently, a novel cooling pad was developed for rapid induction of mild hypothermia after cardiac arrest. The aim of this study was to evaluate the cooling efficacy of three different pad designs for in-hospital cooling.

Methods: Included in this prospective interventional study were patients with esophageal temperature (Tes) > 34 degrees C on admission.

Quality of closed chest compression on a manikin in ambulance vehicles and flying helicopters with a real time automated feedback.

Context: Automated verbal and visual feedback improves quality of resuscitation in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest and was proven to increase short-term survival. Quality of resuscitation may be hampered in more difficult situations like emergency transportation. Currently there is no evidence if feedback devices can improve resuscitation quality during different modes of transportation.

Factors associated with a change in functional outcome between one month and six months after cardiac arrest: a retrospective cohort study.

Aim Of The Study: The appropriate time point of evaluation of functional outcome in cardiac arrest survivors remains a matter of debate. In this cohort study we posed the hypothesis that there are no significant changes in Cerebral Performance Categories (CPC) between one month and six months after out-of hospital cardiac arrest. If changes were present we aimed to identify reasons for these changes.

The strong ion gap and outcome after cardiac arrest in patients treated with therapeutic hypothermia: a retrospective study.

Objective: This study investigates whether the strong ion gap (SIG) is associated with long-term outcome after cardiac arrest in patients treated with therapeutic hypothermia. The hypothesis of the study was that an elevated SIG was associated with unfavourable outcome after cardiac arrest.

Design: Retrospective review of records from 1995 to 2007 of patients who received cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

Thrombolytic therapy vs primary percutaneous intervention after ventricular fibrillation cardiac arrest due to acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction and its effect on outcome.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of thrombolytic therapy on neurologic outcome and mortality in patients after cardiac arrest due to acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction and to compare this with those in patients treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). We retrospectively examined patients after they had ventricular fibrillation cardiac arrests. To assess the effect of thrombolysis and PCI on outcome, we used odds ratios and their 95% confidence intervals and logistic regression modeling.

Feasibility and efficacy of a new non-invasive surface cooling device in post-resuscitation intensive care medicine.

Aim Of The Study: There is sufficient evidence that therapeutic hypothermia after non-traumatic cardiac arrest improves neurological outcome and reduces mortality. Many different invasive and non-invasive cooling devices are currently available. Our purpose was to show the efficacy, safety and feasibility using a non-invasive cooling device to control patient temperature within a range of 33-37 degrees C.

[Surgical reduction of fat surplus leading to pulmonary embolism].

Surgical reduction of fat surplus is usually performed on healthy individuals and is reported as a safe procedure as it is not associated with a lethal outcome. Due to the anticipation of peri- and postoperative bleeding as a result of the large wound area, which may have a negative influence on the cosmetic result, patients often receive no or only inadequate anticoagulation. We report three cases in which surgical reduction of fat surplus led to sudden collapse and cardiac arrest.