Characteristics of helicopter hoist operations with intubated patients: a retrospective analysis of a Norwegian physician staffed SAR helicopter service.

Background: Timely medical management and evacuation of critically ill or injured patients from austere environments or maritime vessels is often achieved by helicopter hoist operations. When indicated, intubation is performed onsite to restore and sustain patient physiology and to facilitate safe transport. We aimed to describe the characteristics of helicopter hoist operations (HHOs) with intubated patients in a physician staffed SAR helicopter service and to identify learning points for future missions.

Injuries associated with mechanical chest compressions and active decompressions after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest: A subgroup analysis of non-survivors from a randomized study.

Background: Both skeletal and visceral injuries are reported after cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). This subgroup analysis of a randomized clinical study describes/compares autopsy documented injury patterns caused by two mechanical, piston-based chest compression devices: standard LUCAS® 2 (control) and LUCAS® 2 with active decompression (AD, intervention) in non-survivors with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (CA).

Method: We compared injuries documented by autopsies (medical/forensic) after control and intervention CPR based on written relatives consent to use patients' data.

Mechanical active compression-decompression versus standard mechanical cardiopulmonary resuscitation: A randomised haemodynamic out-of-hospital cardiac arrest study.

Background: Active compression-decompression cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ACD-CPR) utilises a suction cup to lift the chest-wall actively during the decompression phase (AD). We hypothesised that mechanical ACD-CPR (Intervention), with AD up to 30 mm above the sternal resting position, would generate better haemodynamic results than standard mechanical CPR (Control).

Methods: This out-of-hospital adult non-traumatic cardiac arrest trial was prospective, block-randomised and non-blinded.

Tidal volume measurements via transthoracic impedance waveform characteristics: The effect of age, body mass index and gender. A single centre interventional study.

Background And Aim: Measuring tidal volumes (TV) during bag-valve ventilation is challenging in the clinical setting. The ventilation waveform amplitude of the transthoracic impedance (TTI-amplitude) correlates well with TV for an individual, but poorer between patients. We hypothesized that TV to TTI-amplitude relations could be improved when adjusted for morphometric variables like body mass index (BMI), gender or age, and that TTI-amplitude cut-offs for ventilations with adequate TV (>400ml) could be established.