Rescue operations lead to increased cardiovascular stress in HEMS Crew Members - A prospective pilot study of a German HEMS cohort

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Markus Strauss ◽  
Janosch Dahmen ◽  
Sophia Hutter ◽  
Marko Brade ◽  
Roman Leischik

Abstract BackgroundHelicopter emergency medical service (HEMS) is an important part of prehospital emergency medicine. The working conditions lead to high physical stress, especially in rescue operations. To date, little is known about the cardiovascular stress of HEMS crew members in the rescue service. Examinations of professional groups in public security have shown a significant risk in these. The present study aims to determine the cardiovascular stress profile during rescue situations in HEMS crew members.MethodsA total number of 21 (male n=20) HEMS crew members (11 emergency physicians and 10 paramedics) participated in the prospective study. Heart rate (HR), blood pressure (BP) and long-term ECG measurements were recorded at the whole operation day. The changes of measurements during rescue operation (in total 52 operations) were compared to these of standby time.ResultsRescue operations lead to increased load on the cardiovascular system. Expression of this is significantly higher BP, HR values and rate of cardiac events compared to standby time. Significantly higher of both, mean and maximal, diastolic and systolic blood pressure were measured on duty. Especially the difference in BP sys mean is 7.4 ± 9.0 mmHg (7.4, CI [5.1; 9.7], p <0.001). HR minimal, mean and maximal were also significantly higher during rescue operations. HR max was 33.7 bpm higher on average than in the standby time (CI [26.2; 40.8], p <0.001). Cardiac events occurred significantly more frequently during the period of rescue operation than in standby time hours (time volume of 1 hour, p = 0.02).ConclusionsThe results show a significant load on the cardiovascular system during rescue operations in HEMS crew members. This is expressed in a higher occurrence of extrasystoles, HR and BP values during rescue operation than on standby time. Therefore, it is important to carry out a risk stratification of the personnel deployed in the HEMS crew members to prevent cardiovascular risk and events.

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. 1602
Author(s):  
Markus Strauss ◽  
Janosch Dahmen ◽  
Sophia Hutter ◽  
Marko Brade ◽  
Roman Leischik

Helicopter emergency medical service (HEMS) is an essential part of prehospital emergency medicine. The working conditions lead to high physical stress, especially in rescue operations. The study aimed to determine the cardiovascular stress profile during rescue situations in HEMS crew members. Twenty-one HEMS crew members (male n = 20) participated in the prospective study. Heart rate, blood pressure and long-term ECG measurements were recorded during the whole operation day. The changes of measurements during rescue operation (52 operations in total) were compared to these of standby time. Rescue operations lead to increased load on the cardiovascular system, as expressed by significantly higher blood pressure, heart rate values and rate of cardiac events compared to standby time. Of special note, the difference in systolic blood pressure mean was 7.4 ± 9.0 mmHg (CI [5.1; 9.7], p < 0.001). Maximal heart rate was on average 33.7 bpm higher during rescue operation than in the standby time (CI [26.2; 40.8], p < 0.001). Cardiac events occurred significantly more frequently during the period of rescue operation than in standby time hours (p = 0.02). The results reported a significant load on the cardiovascular system during rescue operations in HEMS crew members. Therefore, it is necessary to carry out a risk stratification of the HEMS crew members to prevent cardiovascular risk and events.


2001 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 15-25 ◽  
Author(s):  
Harald Walach ◽  
Stefan Schmidt ◽  
Yvonne-Michelle Bihr ◽  
Susanne Wiesch

We studied the effect of experimenter expectations and different instructions in a balanced placebo design. 157 subjects were randomized into a 2 × 4 factorial design. Two experimenters were led to expect placebos either to produce physiological effects or not (pro- vs. antiplacebo). All subjects except a control group received a caffeine placebo. They were either made to expect coffee, no coffee, or were in a double-blind condition. Dependent measures were blood pressure, heart rate, well-being, and a cognitive task. There was one main effect on the instruction factor (p = 0.03) with the group “told no caffeine” reporting significantly better well-being. There was one main effect on the experimenter factor with subjects instructed by experimenter “proplacebo” having higher systolic blood pressure (p = 0.008). There was one interaction with subjects instructed by experimenter “proplacebo” to receive coffee doing worse in the cognitive task than the rest. Subjects instructed by experimenter “antiplacebo” were significantly less likely to believe the experimental instruction, and that mostly if they had been instructed to receive coffee. Contrary to the literature we could not show an effect of instruction, but there was an effect of experimenters. It is likely, however, that these experimenter effects were not due to experimental manipulations, but to the difference in personalities.


2000 ◽  
Vol 39 (02) ◽  
pp. 118-121 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Akselrod ◽  
S. Eyal

Abstract:A simple nonlinear beat-to-beat model of the human cardiovascular system has been studied. The model, introduced by DeBoer et al. was a simplified linearized version. We present a modified model which allows to investigate the nonlinear dynamics of the cardiovascular system. We found that an increase in the -sympathetic gain, via a Hopf bifurcation, leads to sustained oscillations both in heart rate and blood pressure variables at about 0.1 Hz (Mayer waves). Similar oscillations were observed when increasing the -sympathetic gain or decreasing the vagal gain. Further changes of the gains, even beyond reasonable physiological values, did not reveal another bifurcation. The dynamics observed were thus either fixed point or limit cycle. Introducing respiration into the model showed entrainment between the respiration frequency and the Mayer waves.


Author(s):  
Niken Setyaningrum ◽  
Andri Setyorini ◽  
Fachruddin Tri Fitrianta

ABSTRACTBackground: Hypertension is one of the most common diseases, because this disease is suffered byboth men and women, as well as adults and young people. Treatment of hypertension does not onlyrely on medications from the doctor or regulate diet alone, but it is also important to make our bodyalways relaxed. Laughter can help to control blood pressure by reducing endocrine stress andcreating a relaxed condition to deal with relaxation.Objective: The general objective of the study was to determine the effect of laughter therapy ondecreasing elderly blood pressure in UPT Panti Wredha Budhi Dharma Yogyakarta.Methods: The design used in this study is a pre-experimental design study with one group pre-posttestresearch design where there is no control group (comparison). The population in this study wereelderly aged over> 60 years at 55 UPT Panti Wredha Budhi Dharma Yogyakarta. The method oftaking in this study uses total sampling. The sample in this study were 55 elderly. Data analysis wasused to determine the difference in blood pressure before and after laughing therapy with a ratio datascale that was using Pairs T-TestResult: There is an effect of laughing therapy on blood pressure in the elderly at UPT Panti WredhaBudhi Dharma Yogyakarta marked with a significant value of 0.000 (P <0.05)


2020 ◽  
Vol 132 (6) ◽  
pp. 1900-1906 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jack J. Haslett ◽  
Lindsey A. LaBelle ◽  
Xiangnan Zhang ◽  
J Mocco ◽  
Joshua Bederson ◽  
...  

OBJECTIVECarotid artery disease is a common illness that can pose a significant risk if left untreated. Treatment via carotid endarterectomy (CEA) or carotid artery stenting (CAS) can also lead to complications. Given the risk of adverse events related to treating, or failing to treat, carotid artery disease, this is a possible area for litigation. The aim of this review is to provide an overview of the medicolegal factors involved in treating patients suffering carotid artery disease and to compare litigation related to CEA and CAS.METHODSThree large legal databases were used to search for jury verdicts and settlements in cases related to untreated carotid artery disease, CEA, and CAS. Search terms included “endarterectomy,” “medical malpractice,” “carotid,” “stenosis,” “stenting,” “stent,” and combinations of those words. Three types of cases were considered relevant: 1) cases in which the primary allegation was negligence performing a CEA or perioperative care (CEA-related cases); 2) cases in which the primary allegation was negligence performing a CAS or perioperative care (CAS-related cases); and 3) cases in which the plaintiff alleged that a CEA or CAS should have been performed (failure-to-treat [FTT] cases).RESULTSOne hundred fifty-four CEA-related cases, 3 CAS-related cases, and 67 FTT cases were identified. Cases resulted in 133 verdicts for the defense (59%), 64 settlements (29%), and 27 plaintiff verdicts (12%). The average payout in cases that were settled outside of court was $1,097,430 and the average payout in cases that went to trial and resulted in a plaintiff verdict was $2,438,253. Common allegations included a failure to diagnose and treat carotid artery disease in a timely manner, treating with inappropriate indications, procedural error, negligent postprocedural management, and lack of informed consent. Allegations of a failure to timely treat known carotid artery disease were likely to lead to a payout (60% of cases involved a payout). Allegations of procedural error, specifically where the resultant injury was nerve injury, were relatively less likely to lead to a payout (28% of cases involved a payout).CONCLUSIONSBoth diagnosing and treating carotid artery disease has serious medicolegal implications and risks. In cases resulting in a plaintiff verdict, the payouts were significantly higher than cases resolved outside the courtroom. Knowledge of common allegations in diagnosing and treating carotid artery disease as well as performing CEA and CAS may benefit neurosurgeons. The lack of CAS-related litigation suggests these procedures may entail a lower risk of litigation compared to CEA, even accounting for the difference in the frequency of both procedures.


2020 ◽  
Vol 16 ◽  
Author(s):  
Seiji Umemoto ◽  
Toshio Ogihara ◽  
Masunori Matsuzaki ◽  
Hiromi Rakugi ◽  
Kazuyuki Shimada ◽  
...  

Background: In the trial known as COPE (Combination Therapy of Hypertension to Prevent Cardiovascular Events) three benidipine (a calcium channel blocker; CCB) regimens were compared. Hypertensive Japanese outpatients aged 40–85 years (n=3,293) who did not achieve the target blood pressure of <140/90 mmHg with benidipine 4 mg/day were treated with the diuretic thiazide (n=1,094) or a β-blocker (n=1,089) or an additional angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB; n=1,110). A significantly higher incidence of hard cardiovascular composite endpoints and of fatal or non-fatal strokes was observed in the benidipine-β-blocker group compared to the benidipine-thiazide group. Objective and Methods: We further evaluated the treatment effects of the three benidipine-based regimens on vascular and renal events in a sub-analysis of the COPE patients. Results: A total of 10 vascular events (0.8 per 1,000 person-years) including one aortic dissection (0.1 per 1,000 person-years) and nine cases of peripheral artery disease (0.8 per 1,000 person-years) were documented, as was a total of seven renal events (0.6 per 1,000 person-years). No significant differences in vascular and renal events were revealed among the three treatment groups: vascular events p=0.92 renal events p=0.16 log-rank test. Conclusions: Blood pressure-lowering therapy with benidipine combined with an ARB, β-blocker, or thiazide was similarly effective in the prevention of vascular and renal events in hypertensive outpatients, although there is no enough these events to compare the difference in the three treatment groups.


2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (8) ◽  
pp. 1253-1261
Author(s):  
Mourad Akdad ◽  
Mohamed Eddouks

Aims: The present study was performed in order to analyze the antihypertensive activity of Micromeria graeca (L.) Benth. ex Rchb. Background: Micromeria graeca (L.) Benth. ex Rchb is an aromatic and medicinal plant belonging to the Lamiaceae family. This herb is used to treat various pathologies such as cardiovascular disorders. Meanwhile, its pharmacological effects on the cardiovascular system have not been studied. Objective: The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of aqueous extract of aerial parts of Micromeria graeca (AEMG) on the cardiovascular system in normotensive and hypertensive rats. Methods: In this study, the cardiovascular effect of AEMG was evaluated using in vivo and in vitro investigations. In order to assess the acute effect of AEMG on the cardiovascular system, anesthetized L-NAME-hypertensive and normotensive rats received AEMG (100 mg/kg) orally and arterial blood pressure parameters were monitored during six hours. In the sub-chronic study, rats were orally treated for one week, followed by blood pressure assessment during one week of treatment. Blood pressure was measured using a tail-cuff and a computer-assisted monitoring device. In the second experiment, isolated rat aortic ring pre-contracted with Epinephrine (EP) or KCl was used to assess the vasorelaxant effect of AEMG. Results: Oral administration of AEMG (100 mg/kg) provoked a decrease of arterial blood pressure parameters in hypertensive rats. In addition, AEMG induced a vasorelaxant effect in thoracic aortic rings pre-contracted with EP (10 μM) or KCl (80 mM). This effect was attenuated in the presence of propranolol and methylene blue. While in the presence of glibenclamide, L-NAME, nifedipine or Indomethacin, the vasorelaxant effect was not affected. Conclusion: This study showed that Micromeria graeca possesses a potent antihypertensive effect and relaxes the vascular smooth muscle through β-adrenergic and cGMP pathways.


Author(s):  
Hong Yan Qiao ◽  
Jian Hua Li ◽  
U Joseph Schoepf ◽  
Richard R Bayer ◽  
Fiona C Tinnefeld ◽  
...  

Abstract Aims This study was aimed at investigating whether a machine learning (ML)-based coronary computed tomographic angiography (CCTA) derived fractional flow reserve (CT-FFR) SYNTAX score (SS), ‘Functional SYNTAX score’ (FSSCTA), would predict clinical outcome in patients with three-vessel coronary artery disease (CAD). Methods and results The SS based on CCTA (SSCTA) and ICA (SSICA) were retrospectively collected in 227 consecutive patients with three-vessel CAD. FSSCTA was calculated by combining the anatomical data with functional data derived from a ML-based CT-FFR assessment. The ability of each score system to predict major adverse cardiac events (MACE) was compared. The difference between revascularization strategies directed by the anatomical SS and FSSCTA was also assessed. Two hundred and twenty-seven patients were divided into two groups according to the SSCTA cut-off value of 22. After determining FSSCTA for each patient, 22.9% of patients (52/227) were reclassified to a low-risk group (FSSCTA ≤ 22). In the low- vs. intermediate-to-high (&gt;22) FSSCTA group, MACE occurred in 3.2% (4/125) vs. 34.3% (35/102), respectively (P &lt; 0.001). The independent predictors of MACE were FSSCTA (OR = 1.21, P = 0.001) and diabetes (OR = 2.35, P = 0.048). FSSCTA demonstrated a better predictive accuracy for MACE compared with SSCTA (AUC: 0.81 vs. 0.75, P = 0.01) and SSICA (0.81 vs. 0.75, P &lt; 0.001). After FSSCTA was revealed, 52 patients initially referred for CABG based on SSCTA would have been changed to PCI. Conclusion Recalculating SS by incorporating lesion-specific ischaemia as determined by ML-based CT-FFR is a better predictor of MACE in patients with three-vessel CAD. Additionally, the use of FSSCTA may alter selected revascularization strategies in these patients.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Da Un Jeong ◽  
Ki Moo Lim

AbstractThe pulse arrival time (PAT), the difference between the R-peak time of electrocardiogram (ECG) signal and the systolic peak of photoplethysmography (PPG) signal, is an indicator that enables noninvasive and continuous blood pressure estimation. However, it is difficult to accurately measure PAT from ECG and PPG signals because they have inconsistent shapes owing to patient-specific physical characteristics, pathological conditions, and movements. Accordingly, complex preprocessing is required to estimate blood pressure based on PAT. In this paper, as an alternative solution, we propose a noninvasive continuous algorithm using the difference between ECG and PPG as a new feature that can include PAT information. The proposed algorithm is a deep CNN–LSTM-based multitasking machine learning model that outputs simultaneous prediction results of systolic (SBP) and diastolic blood pressures (DBP). We used a total of 48 patients on the PhysioNet website by splitting them into 38 patients for training and 10 patients for testing. The prediction accuracies of SBP and DBP were 0.0 ± 1.6 mmHg and 0.2 ± 1.3 mmHg, respectively. Even though the proposed model was assessed with only 10 patients, this result was satisfied with three guidelines, which are the BHS, AAMI, and IEEE standards for blood pressure measurement devices.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document