[Use of high-flow oxygen treatment in the emergency medical service: what are the dangers for users from the perspective of occupational and fire protection?].

Introduction: The administration of high concentrations of oxygen may harm patients or paramedics by increasing the probability of fire. The presented work investigated the effect of oxygen applied via high flow in different concentrations and flow rates on environmental oxygen concentrations in the patient compartment of an ambulance.

Results: Environmental oxygen concentrations increased rapidly over time and oxygen is stored in blankets and clothes over a long period.

Resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta (REBOA) during cardiopulmonary resuscitation: A pilot study.

Aim: Resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta (REBOA) during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) increases coronary and cerebral perfusion pressure, which might improve neurologically intact survival after refractory cardiac arrest. We investigated the feasibility of REBOA during CPR in the emergency department.

Methods: Patients in refractory cardiac arrest not qualifying for extracorporeal CPR were included in this pilot study.

Sonographic patterns of lung consolidation in mechanically ventilated patients with and without ventilator-associated pneumonia: a prospective cohort study.

Purpose: Thoracic ultrasound (TUS) has been successfully used in the diagnosis of community-acquired pneumonia. Little is known about its diagnostic potential in ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP). The purpose of this study was to systematically describe the morphology and temporal changes of sonographic patterns in mechanically ventilated patients and to evaluate the diagnostic performance characteristics of TUS-based VAP diagnoses.

Current practice of lung ultrasonography (LUS) in the diagnosis of pneumothorax: a survey of physician sonographers in Germany.

Background: The purpose of this study was to survey the current practice of the use of lung ultrasonography (LUS) in the diagnosis of pneumothorax.

Methods: Physician sonographers, accredited for diagnostic ultrasonography in surgery, anaesthesia and medicine were studied. Questions addressed the frequency of exposure to patients with suspected pneumothorax, frequency of LUS use, preferences regarding technical aspects of LUS examination, assessment of diagnostic accuracy of LUS and involvement in teaching.