scholarly journals Strengthening Links in the “Chain of Survival”: A Singapore Perspective

2002 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 121-125 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ra Charles ◽  
F Lateef ◽  
V Anantharaman

Introduction The concept of the chain of survival is widely accepted. The four links viz. early access, early cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), early defibrillation and early Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) are related to survival after pre-hospital cardiac arrest. Owing to the dismal survival-to-discharge figures locally, we conducted this study to identify any weaknesses in the chain, looking in particular at bystander CPR rates and times to Basic Cardiac Life Support (BCLS) and ACLS. Methods and materials A retrospective cohort study was conducted in the Emergency Department of an urban tertiary 1500-bed hospital. Over a 12-month period, all cases of non-trauma out-of-hospital cardiac arrest were evaluated. Results A total of 142 cases of non-trauma out-of-hospital cardiac arrest were identified; the majority being Chinese (103/142, 72.5%) and male (71.8%) with a mean age of 64.3±7.8 years (range 23–89 yrs). Most patients (111/142, 78.2%) did not receive any form of life support until arrival of the ambulance crew. Mean time from collapse to arrival of the ambulance crew and initiation of BCLS and defibrillation was 9.2±3.5 minutes. Mean time from collapse to arrival in the Emergency Department (and thus ACLS) was 16.8±7.1 minutes. Three patients (2.11%) survived to discharge. Conclusion There is a need to (i) facilitate layperson training in bystander CPR, and (ii) enhance paramedic training to include ACLS, in order to improve the current dismal survival outcomes from out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in Singapore.

Author(s):  
Peter Radsel ◽  
Marko Noc

Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) remains the leading cause of death in developed countries, with an annual incidence from 36 to 81 events per 100,000. Prehospital treatment includes immediate recognition, bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation, defibrillation, and advanced cardiac life support known as a ‘chain of survival’. Owing to improvements in the ‘chain of survival’, the proportion of patients with re-establishment of spontaneous circulation on the field may nowadays exceed 50%. This leads to increased hospital admission observed in communities with mature prehospital emergency services. According to autopsy and immediate coronary angiography (CAG), significant coronary artery disease may be documented in more than 70% of patients. Moreover, in the presence of ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) in post-resuscitation electrocardiogram, acute thrombotic lesions may be found in up to 90%. However, the absence of STEMI does not exclude obstructive or thrombotic coronary stenosis, which may be present in 25–58% of patients. Because of these findings, interventional cardiologists are increasingly alerted for immediate CAG and percutaneous coronary intervention in OHCA patients.


Circulation ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 140 (24) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonathan P. Duff ◽  
Alexis A. Topjian ◽  
Marc D. Berg ◽  
Melissa Chan ◽  
Sarah E. Haskell ◽  
...  

This 2019 focused update to the American Heart Association pediatric basic life support guidelines follows the 2019 systematic review of the effects of dispatcher-assisted cardiopulmonary resuscitation (DA-CPR) on survival of infants and children with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. This systematic review and the primary studies identified were analyzed by the Pediatric Task Force of the International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation. It aligns with the International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation’s continuous evidence review process, with updates published when the International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation completes a literature review based on new published evidence. This update summarizes the available pediatric evidence supporting DA-CPR and provides treatment recommendations for DA-CPR for pediatric out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. Four new pediatric studies were reviewed. A systematic review of this data identified the association of a significant improvement in the rates of bystander CPR and in survival 1 month after cardiac arrest with DA-CPR. The writing group recommends that emergency medical dispatch centers offer DA-CPR for presumed pediatric cardiac arrest, especially when no bystander CPR is in progress. No recommendation could be made for or against DA-CPR instructions when bystander CPR is already in progress.


2020 ◽  
pp. 088506662090680
Author(s):  
Natalie Achamallah ◽  
Jeffrey Fried ◽  
Rebecca Love ◽  
Yuri Matusov ◽  
Rohit Sharma

Introduction: Absence of pupillary light reflex (PLR) is a well-studied indicator of poor neurologic recovery after cardiac arrest. Interpretation of absent PLR is difficult in patients with hypothermia or hypotension, or who have electrolyte or acid-base disturbances. Additionally, many studies exclude patients who receive epinephrine or atropine from their analysis on the basis that these drugs are thought to abolish the PLR. This observational cohort study assessed for presence or absence of PLR in in-hospital cardiac arrest patients who received epinephrine with or without atropine during advanced cardiac life support and achieved return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC). Methods: Pupil size and reactivity were assessed in adult patients who had an in-hospital cardiac arrest, received epinephrine with or without atropine, and achieved ROSC. Measurements were taken using a NeurOptics NPi-200 infrared pupillometer. Results: Forty patients had pupillometry performed within 1 hour (median: 6 minutes) after ROSC. Of these only 1 (2.5%) patient had nonreactive pupils at first measurement after ROSC. The remaining 39 (97.5%) had reactive pupils. Of the 19 patients who had pupils checked within 3 minutes of ROSC, 100% had reactive pupils. Degree of pupil responsiveness was not correlated with cumulative dose of epinephrine. Ten patients received atropine in addition to epinephrine, including the sole patient with nonreactive pupils. The remaining 9 (90%) had reactive pupils. Conclusion: Epinephrine and atropine do not abolish the PLR in patients who achieve ROSC after in-hospital cardiac arrest. Lack of pupillary response in the post-arrest patient should not be attributed to these drugs.


1993 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. 235-239 ◽  
Author(s):  
James J Menegazzi ◽  
Eric A Davis ◽  
Donald M Yealy ◽  
Renee L Molner ◽  
Kristine A Nicklas ◽  
...  

Resuscitation ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 72 (3) ◽  
pp. 458-465 ◽  
Author(s):  
Miguel Antonio Moretti ◽  
Luiz Antonio Machado Cesar ◽  
Amit Nusbacher ◽  
Karl B. Kern ◽  
Sergio Timerman ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
Charles Payot ◽  
Christophe A Fehlmann ◽  
Laurent Suppan ◽  
Marc Niquille ◽  
Christelle Lardi ◽  
...  

The objective of this study was to identify the key elements used by prehospital emergency physicians (EP) to decide whether or not to attempt advanced life support (ALS) in asystolic out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). From 01.01.2009 to 01.01.2017, all adult victims of asystolic OHCA in Geneva, Switzerland, were retrospectively included. Patients with signs of "obvious death" or with a Do-Not-Attempt-Resuscitation order were excluded. Patients were categorized as having received ALS if this was mentioned in the medical record, or, failing that, if at least one dose of adrenaline had been administered during cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Prognostic factors known at the time of EP's decision were included in a multivariable logistic regression model. 784 patients were included. Factors favourably influencing the decision to provide ALS were witnessed OHCA (OR=2.14, 95%CI1.43–3.20) and bystander CPR (OR=4.10, 95%CI2.28–7.39). Traumatic aetiology (OR=0.04, 95%CI0.02–0.08), age >80 years (OR=0.14, 95%CI0.09–0.24) and a Charlson comorbidity index greater than 5 (OR=0.12, 95%CI0.06–0.27) were the factors most strongly associated with the decision not to attempt ALS. Factors influencing the EP’s decision to attempt ALS in asystolic OHCA are the relatively young age of the patients, few comorbidities, presumed medical aetiology, witnessed OHCA and bystander CPR.


10.2196/15762 ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (5) ◽  
pp. e15762
Author(s):  
Vittal Hejjaji ◽  
Ali O Malik ◽  
Poghni A Peri-Okonny ◽  
Merrill Thomas ◽  
Yuanyuan Tang ◽  
...  

Background Effective and timely delivery of cardiac arrest interventions during in-hospital cardiac arrest resuscitation is associated with greater survival. Whether a mobile app that provides timely reminders of critical interventions improves adherence to Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) guidelines among house officers, who may lack experience in leading resuscitations, remains unknown. Objective The aim of this study was to assess the impact of a commercially available, dynamic mobile app on house officers’ adherence to ACLS guidelines. Methods As part of a quality improvement initiative, internal medicine house officers were invited to participate and randomized to lead 2 consecutive cardiac arrest simulations, one with a novel mobile app and one without a novel mobile app. All simulations included 4 cycles of cardiopulmonary resuscitation with different cardiac arrest rhythms and were video recorded. The coprimary end points were chest compression fraction and number of correct interventions in each simulation. The secondary end point was incorrect interventions, defined as interventions not indicated by the 2015 ACLS guidelines. Paired t tests compared performance with and without the mobile app. Results Among 53 house officers, 26 house officers were randomized to lead the first simulation with the mobile app, and 27 house officers were randomized to do so without the app. Use of the mobile app was associated with a higher number of correct ACLS interventions (out of 7; mean 6.2 vs 5.1; absolute difference 1.1 [95% CI 0.6 to 1.6]; P<.001) as well as fewer incorrect ACLS interventions (mean 0.3 vs 1.0; absolute difference –0.7 [95% CI –0.3 to –1.0]; P<.001). Simulations with the mobile app also had a marginally higher chest compression fraction (mean 90.9% vs 89.0%; absolute difference 1.9% [95% CI 0.6% to 3.4%]; P=.007). Conclusions This proof-of-concept study suggests that this novel mobile app may improve adherence to ACLS protocols, but its effectiveness on survival in real-world resuscitations remains unknown.


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