A Random Forest Model for Pulseless Electrical Activity Prognosis Prediction During Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest Using Invasive Blood Pressure.

Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) is a major health concern, with an incidence of approximately 55 per 100,000 person-years in the United States. Pulseless electrical activity (PEA) is a cardiac rhythm observed in 20-30% of OHCA cases and it consists on a regular electrical activity presenting disassociation with cardiac mechanical contractions. Discriminating those PEA with favorable prognosis is crucial to decide pre/post resuscitation therapy.

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.

Multimodal Algorithms for the Classification of Circulation States During Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest.

Goal: Identifying the circulation state during out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) is essential to determine what life-saving therapies to apply. Currently algorithms discriminate circulation (pulsed rhythms, PR) from no circulation (pulseless electrical activity, PEA), but PEA can be classified into true (TPEA) and pseudo (PPEA) depending on cardiac contractility. This study introduces multi-class algorithms to automatically determine circulation states during OHCA using the signals available in defibrillators.

Transthoracic Impedance Measured with Defibrillator Pads-New Interpretations of Signal Change Induced by Ventilations.

Compressions during the insufflation phase of ventilations may cause severe pulmonary injury during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Transthoracic impedance (TTI) could be used to evaluate how chest compressions are aligned with ventilations if the insufflation phase could be identified in the TTI waveform without chest compression artifacts. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine whether and how the insufflation phase could be precisely identified during TTI.