Comparative Evaluation of Vibratory Physiotherapy Methods in the Early Period after Cardiac Surgery

Postoperative respiratory complications in patients undergoing cardiac surgery occur in 20‒30% cases, and the most of them can be associated with ineffective cough and bronchial mucus evacuation.The objective. Comparative assessment of effectiveness and safety of methods for stimulating the evacuation of bronchial secretions using oscillatory PEP-therapy (Acapella Duet), oscillatory chest compression insufflator-aspirator “Comfort Cough Plus”, and the traditional method of manual chest percussion in the early period after cardiac surgery.Subjects and Methods. The prospective study included 120 cardiac surgery patients. They were divided into 3 groups (40 in each), depending on the type of the applied respiratory procedure. Distribution into groups was carried out by random selection. All procedures were performed 10‒12 hours after tracheal extubation. Before the procedure and 20 minutes after it, the efficiency of sputum discharge was assessed, gas exchange indices on room air breathing and maximum inspiratory lung capacity (MILC) were measured.Results. Ineffective bronchial mucus evacuating in the early period after tracheal extubation was observed in 86.7% of the patients. A single procedure of both PEP-therapy (Group 1) and mechanical cough stimulation (Group 2) led to improved sputum passage, as evidenced by an increase in the number of patients with productive cough by 4.25 times (p < 0.0009) and 5.3 times (p < 0.0007), respectively. In patients of Groups 1 and 2, an increase in MILC was observed (by 42.2% and 60.0%, respectively, p = 0.000001), the difference between the groups was statistically significant. In Control Group 3, with manual physiotherapy, the average increase in MILC was only 11.6%. Mechanical respiratory therapy procedures led to significant improvement in gas exchange variables, as evidenced by an increase in SpO2 in Groups 1 and 2 (p = 0.000009 and 0.000001, respectively) and a decrease in the proportion of patients with impaired oxygenating lung function (SpO2 below 92%) by 11 and 12 times, respectively (p < 0.01). The most significant changes were revealed in case of mechanical stimulation with aspirator-insufflator due to combination of two methods (oscillatory chest compression and lung inflation). In Control Group, no significant changes of gas exchange variables were observed.Conclusion: Mechanical vibratory methods for stimulating the bronchial secretion evacuation have significant advantages over classical manual chest massage in patients after cardiac surgery. Their positive effect on sputum passage, ventilatory parameters and gas exchange was noted, and the most pronounced effect was observed after oscillatory chest compression with insufflator-aspirator. The procedures were well tolerated and there were no complications associated with them.

Effect of Early Supraglottic Airway Device Insertion on Chest Compression Fraction during Simulated Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest: Randomised Controlled Trial

Early insertion of a supraglottic airway (SGA) device could improve chest compression fraction by allowing providers to perform continuous chest compressions or by shortening the interruptions needed to deliver ventilations. SGA devices do not require the same expertise as endotracheal intubation. This study aimed to determine whether the immediate insertion of an i-gel® while providing continuous chest compressions with asynchronous ventilations could generate higher CCFs than the standard 30:2 approach using a face-mask in a simulation of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. A multicentre, parallel, randomised, superiority, simulation study was carried out. The primary outcome was the difference in CCF during the first two minutes of resuscitation. Overall and per-cycle CCF quality of compressions and ventilations parameters were also compared. Among thirteen teams of two participants, the early insertion of an i-gel® resulted in higher CCFs during the first two minutes (89.0% vs. 83.6%, p = 0.001). Overall and per-cycle CCF were consistently higher in the i-gel® group, even after the 30:2 alternation had been resumed. In the i-gel® group, ventilation parameters were enhanced, but compressions were significantly shallower (4.6 cm vs. 5.2 cm, p = 0.007). This latter issue must be addressed before clinical trials can be considered.

Effect of Prehospital Epinephrine Use on Survival from Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest and on Emergency Medical Services

This study was to identify the effect of epinephrine on the survival of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) patients and changes in prehospital emergency medical services (EMSs) after the introduction of prehospital epinephrine use by EMS providers. This was a retrospective observational study comparing two groups (epinephrine group and norepinephrine group). We used propensity score matching of the two groups and identified the association between outcome variables regarding survival and epinephrine use, controlling for confounding factors. The epinephrine group was 339 patients of a total 1943 study population. The survival-to-discharge rate and OR (95% CI) of the epinephrine group were 5.0% (p = 0.215) and 0.72 (0.43–1.21) in the total patient population and 4.7% (p = 0.699) and 1.15 (0.55–2.43) in the 1:1 propensity-matched population. The epinephrine group received more mechanical chest compression and had longer EMS response times and scene times than the norepinephrine group. Mechanical chest compression was a negative prognostic factor for survival to discharge and favorable neurological outcomes in the epinephrine group. The introduction of prehospital epinephrine use in OHCA patients yielded no evidence of improvement in survival to discharge and favorable neurological outcomes and adversely affected the practice of EMS providers, exacerbating the factors negatively associated with survival from OHCA.

L,Varying Chest Compression Rates During Neonatal Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation: A Randomized Controlled Animal Trial

Background To compare chest compression (CC) rates of 90/min with 180/min and their effect on the time to return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC), survival, hemodynamic, and respiratory parameters. We hypothesized that asphyxiated newborn piglets that received CC at 180/min vs. 90/min during cardiopulmonary resuscitation would have a shorter time to ROSC.Methods Newborn piglets (n=7/group) were anesthetized, intubated, instrumented and exposed to 45 min normocapnic hypoxia followed by asphyxia and cardiac arrest. Piglets were randomly allocated to a CC rate of 180/min or 90/min. CC was performed using an automated chest compression machine. Hemodynamic and respiratory parameters and applied compression force were continuously measured.Results The mean (SD) time to ROSC was 91 (34) and 256 (97) sec for CC rates of 180/min and 90/min, respectively (p=0.08). The number of piglets that achieved ROSC was 7 (100%) and 5 (71%) with 180/min and 90/min CC rates, respectively (p=0.46). Hemodynamic parameters (i.e., diastolic and mean blood pressure, carotid blood flow, stroke volume, end-diastolic volume, left ventricular contractile function) and respiratory parameters (i.e., minute ventilation, peak inflation and peak expiration flow) were all improved with a CC rate of 180/min.Conclusion Time to ROSC and hemodynamic and respiratory parameters were all improved, with a CC rate of 180/min vs. 90/min. Higher CC rates during neonatal resuscitation warrant further investigation.

Comparison of Different Methods For Effective Manual Chest Compression In Dental Chairs, During Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR): A Manikin Study

During cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), almost commercially dental chairs lack sufficient stability to perform effective manual chest compression (MCC). In our previous study, our technique that stabilizing stool can significantly reduce vertical displacement in a dental chair’s backrest. This study demonstrates that the efficacy of different methods for stabilizing 3 types of dental chair with a flat or a severely curved backrest exterior for effective MCC. Vertical displacement of the dental chair’s backrest was recorded. The data was captured with three different stool positions (no stool, under MCC, under shoulders). Reduction ratios were calculated to evaluate the effectiveness of the stool positions. In all types of dental chair, the technique significantly reduced the vertical displacements of the backrest. The reduction ratio varied nearly 40% under the area for MCC and 65% under the shoulder with a severely curved backrest exterior. With a flat shape of dental chair, these ratios were around 90% versus without a stool. The technique is a firm support and reduce the displacement of any type of dental chair’s backrest for effective MCC.

Effect of Acute Exposure to Altitude on the Quality of Chest Compression‐Only Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation in Helicopter Emergency Medical Services Personnel: A Randomized, Controlled, Single‐Blind Crossover Trial

Background Helicopter emergency medical services personnel operating in mountainous terrain are frequently exposed to rapid ascents and provide cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) in the field. The aim of the present trial was to investigate the quality of chest compression only (CCO)‐CPR after acute exposure to altitude under repeatable and standardized conditions. Methods and Results Forty‐eight helicopter emergency medical services personnel were divided into 12 groups of 4 participants; each group was assigned to perform 5 minutes of CCO‐CPR on manikins at 2 of 3 altitudes in a randomized controlled single‐blind crossover design (200, 3000, and 5000 m) in a hypobaric chamber. Physiological parameters were continuously monitored; participants rated their performance and effort on visual analog scales. Generalized estimating equations were performed for variables of CPR quality (depth, rate, recoil, and effective chest compressions) and effects of time, altitude, carryover, altitude sequence, sex, qualification, weight, preacclimatization, and interactions were analyzed. Our trial showed a time‐dependent decrease in chest compression depth ( P =0.036) after 20 minutes at altitude; chest compression depth was below the recommended minimum of 50 mm after 60 to 90 seconds (49 [95% CI, 46–52] mm) of CCO‐CPR. Conclusions This trial showed a time‐dependent decrease in CCO‐CPR quality provided by helicopter emergency medical services personnel during acute exposure to altitude, which was not perceived by the providers. Our findings suggest a reevaluation of the CPR guidelines for providers practicing at altitudes of 3000 m and higher. Mechanical CPR devices could be of help in overcoming CCO‐CPR quality decrease in helicopter emergency medical services missions. Registration URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov ; Unique identifier: NCT04138446.