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Aim: Head and thorax elevation during cardiopulmonary resuscitation improves cerebral hemodynamics and ultimate neurological outcome after cardiac arrest. Its effect during extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (E-CPR) is unknown. We tested whether this procedure could improve hemodynamics in swine treated by E-CPR. Methods and Results: Pigs were anesthetized and submitted to 15 minutes of untreated ventricular fibrillation followed by E-CPR. Animals randomly remained in flat position (flat group) or underwent head and thorax elevation since E-CPR institution (head-up group). Electric shocks were delivered after 30 minutes until the return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC). They were followed during 120 minutes after ROSC. After 30 minutes of E-CPR, ROSC was achieved in all animals, with no difference regarding blood pressure, heart rate, and extracorporeal membrane of oxygenation flow among groups. The head-up group had an attenuated increase in ICP as compared with the flat group after cardiac arrest (13 ± 1 vs. 26 ± 2 mm Hg at the end of the follow-up, respectively). Cerebral perfusion pressure tended to be higher in the head-up versus flat group despite not achieving statistical difference (66 ± 1 vs 46 ± 1 mm Hg at the end of the follow-up). Carotid blood flow and cerebral oxygen saturation were not significantly different among groups. Conclusion: During E-CPR, head and thorax elevation prevents ICP increase. Whether it could improve the ultimate neurological outcome in this situation deserves further investigation.

Resume L’ECPR represente la deuxieme ligne de traitement de l’arret cardiaque extrahospitalier apres echec de la reanimation cardiopulmonaire conventionnelle. Les donnees actuelles suggerent la necessite de mettre en place une assistance circulatoire dans les 60 minutes qui suivent l’arret cardiaque, afin d’optimiser les chances de survie sans sequelles neurologiques. Malgre l’absence de consensus, concernant les criteres de selection des patients, eligibles a cette therapeutique, une chaine de survie optimale et une filiere de soins preetablie sont indispensables.

Purpose Prognostication of refractory out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) is essential for selecting the population that may benefit from extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR). We aimed to examine the prognostic value of signs of life before or throughout conventional CPR for individuals undergoing ECPR for refractory OHCA. Methods Pooling the original data from three cohort studies, we estimated the prevalence of signs of life, for individuals with refractory OHCA resuscitated with ECPR. We performed multivariable logistic regression to examine the independent associations between the occurrence of signs of life and 30-day survival with a CPC score ≤ 2. Results The analytical sample consisted of 434 ECPR recipients. The prevalence of any sign of life was 61%, including pupillary light reaction (48%), gasping (32%), or increased level of consciousness (13%). Thirty-day survival with favorable neurological outcome was 15% (63/434). In multivariable analysis, the adjusted odds ratios of 30-day survival with favorable neurological outcome were 7.35 (95% confidence interval [CI], 2.71–19.97), 5.86 (95% CI, 2.28–15.06), 4.79 (95% CI, 2.16–10.63), and 1.75 (95% CI, 0.95–3.21) for any sign of life, pupillary light reaction, increased level of consciousness, and gasping, respectively. Conclusion The assessment of signs of life before or throughout CPR substantially improves the accuracy of a multivariable prognostic model in predicting 30-day survival with favorable neurological outcome. The lack of any sign of life might obviate the provision of ECPR for patients without shockable cardiac rhythm.

Background: Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) decreases lung volume below the functional residual capacity and can generate intrathoracic airway closure. Conversely, large insufflations can induce thoracic distension and jeopardize circulation. The capnogram (CO2 signal) obtained during continuous chest compressions can reflect intrathoracic airway closure and we hypothesized here that it can also indicate thoracic distension. Objectives: to test whether a specific capnogram may identify thoracic distension during CPR and assess its impact on gas exchange and hemodynamics. Methods: 1. In out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients, we identified on capnograms three patterns: intrathoracic airway closure, thoracic distension or regular pattern. An algorithm was designed to identify them automatically.2. To link CO2 patterns with ventilation, we conducted three experiments:i) Reproducing the CO2 patterns in human cadavers. ii) Assessing the influence of tidal volume and respiratory mechanics on thoracic distension using a mechanical lung model. iii) Exploring the impact of thoracic distension patterns on different circulation parameters during CPR on a pig model. Measurements and main results: Clinical data: 202 patients were included. Intrathoracic airway closure was present in 35%, thoracic distension in 22% and regular pattern in 43%. Experiments:i) Higher insufflated volumes reproduced thoracic distension CO2 patterns in 5 cadavers. ii) In the mechanical lung model, thoracic distension patterns were associated with higher volumes and longer time constants. iii) In six pigs during CPR with various tidal volumes, a CO2 pattern of thoracic distension, but not tidal volume per se, was associated with a significant decrease in blood pressure and cerebral perfusion. Conclusions: During CPR, intrathoracic airway closure, thoracic distension or regular pattern can be identified by capnogram analysis. A thoracic distension pattern on the capnogram may indicate a negative impact of ventilation on blood pressure and cerebral perfusion during CPR, not predicted by tidal volume per se.

Introduction: Access time to extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR) refractory out of hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) is a crucial factor. In our region, some patients are not eligible ...

Introduction: Extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (E-CPR) is used for the treatment of refractory cardiac arrest but the optimal target to reach for mean arterial pressure (MAP) remains to be determined. Hypothesis: We hypothesized that MAP levels modify cerebral hemodynamics during E-CPR. Accordingly, we tested two MAP targets (65-75 vs 80-90 mmHg) in a porcine model of E-CPR. Methods: Pigs were anesthetized and instrumented for the evaluation of cerebral and systemic hemodynamics. They were submitted to 15 min of untreated ventricular fibrillation followed by 30 min of E-CPR. Electric attempts of defibrillation were then delivered until resumption of spontaneous circulation (ROSC). Extracorporeal circulation was initially set to an average flow of 40 ml/kg/min with a standardized volume expansion in both groups. The dose of epinephrine was set to reach either a standard or a high MAP target level (65-75 vs 80-90 mmHg, respectively). Animals were followed during 120 min after ROSC. Results: Six animals were included in both groups. After cardiac arrest, MAP was maintained at the expected level (Figure). During E-CPR, high MAP transiently improved carotid blood flow as compared to standard MAP. This blood flow progressively decreased after ROSC in high vs standard MAP, while intra-cranial pressure increased. Interestingly, this was associated with a significant decrease in cerebral oxygen consumption (26±8 vs 54±6 L O 2 /min/kg at 120 min after ROSC, respectively; p Conclusion: Increasing MAP above 80 mmHg with epinephrine aggravates cerebral hemodynamics after E-CPR. Figure: Mean arterial pressure (MAP), cerebral blood flow and oxygen consumption (*, p

Background Extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (E-CPR) is used for the treatment of refractory cardiac arrest. However, the optimal target to reach for mean arterial pressure (MAP) remains to be determined. We hypothesized that MAP levels critically modify cerebral hemodynamics during E-CPR and tested two distinct targets (65–75 vs 80–90 mmHg) in a porcine model. Methods Pigs were submitted to 15 min of untreated ventricular fibrillation followed by 30 min of E-CPR. Defibrillations were then delivered until return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC). Extracorporeal circulation was initially set to an average flow of 40 ml/kg/min. The dose of epinephrine was set to reach a standard or a high MAP target level (65–75 vs 80–90 mmHg, respectively). Animals were followed during 120-min after ROSC. Results Six animals were included in both groups. During E-CPR, high MAP improved carotid blood flow as compared to standard MAP. After ROSC, this was conversely decreased in high versus standard MAP, while intra-cranial pressure was superior. The pressure reactivity index (PRx), which is the correlation coefficient between arterial blood pressure and intracranial pressure, also demonstrated inverted patterns of alteration according to MAP levels during E-CPR and after ROSC. In standard-MAP, PRx was transiently positive during E-CPR before returning to negative values after ROSC, demonstrating a reversible alteration of cerebral autoregulation during E-CPR. In high-MAP, PRx was negative during E-CPR but became sustainably positive after ROSC, demonstrating a prolonged alteration in cerebral autoregulation after ROSC. It was associated with a significant decrease in cerebral oxygen consumption in high- versus standard-MAP after ROSC. Conclusions During early E-CPR, MAP target above 80 mmHg is associated with higher carotid blood flow and improved cerebral autoregulation. This pattern is inverted after ROSC with a better hemodynamic status with standard versus high-MAP.

The use of extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR) to resuscitate patients with refractory out-of-hospital cardiac arrest is increasing in the United States and the developed world. This approach to treatment is appealing, because it can restore prearrest levels of perfusion to the brain and vital organs while the cause of the arrest is addressed. In this article, the authors highlight current ECPR program development and discuss controversies.

Background The evaluation process of French medical students will evolve in the next few years in order to improve assessment validity. Script concordance testing (SCT) offers the possibility to assess medical knowledge alongside clinical reasoning under conditions of uncertainty. In this study, we aimed at comparing the SCT scores of a large cohort of undergraduate medical students, according to the experience level of the reference panel. Methods In 2019, the authors developed a 30-item SCT and sent it to experts with varying levels of experience. Data analysis included score comparisons with paired Wilcoxon rank sum tests and concordance analysis with Bland & Altman plots. Results A panel of 75 experts was divided into three groups: 31 residents, 21 non-experienced physicians (NEP) and 23 experienced physicians (EP). Among each group, random samples of N = 20, 15 and 10 were selected. A total of 985 students from nine different medical schools participated in the SCT examination. No matter the size of the panel (N = 20, 15 or 10), students’ SCT scores were lower with the NEP group when compared to the resident panel (median score 67.1 vs 69.1, p p N = 15 and 67.7 vs 68.4, p N = 10) and with EP compared to NEP (65.4 vs 67.1, p p p Conclusions Even though student SCT scores differed statistically according to the expert panels, these differences were rather weak. These results open the possibility of including less-experienced experts in panels for the evaluation of medical students.

Objective The efficiency of pralidoxime in the treatment of human organophosphates poisoning is still unclear. In a rat model, we showed that pralidoxime induced a complete but concentration-dependent reversal of paraoxon-induced respiratory toxicity. The aim of this study was to assess the efficiency of pralidoxime in a species other than rats. Methods A dose of diethylparaoxon corresponding to 50% of the median lethal dose was administered subcutaneously to male F1B6D2 mice. Ascending single pralidoxime doses of 10, 50-100 and 150 mg kg-1 were administered intramuscularly 30 min after diethylparaoxon administration. Ventilation at rest was assessed using whole-body plethysmography and mice temperature was assessed using infrared telemetry. Results are expressed as mean±SE. Statistical analysis used non-parametric tests. Results From 30 to 150 min post-injection, diethylparaoxon induced clinical symptoms and a decrease in respiratory frequency, which resulted from an increase in expiratory and inspiratory times associated with an increase in the tidal volume. In the 10-, 50- and 100-mg kg-1 pralidoxime groups, there was a trend towards a non-significant improvement of paraoxon-induced respiratory toxicity. The 150 mg kg-1 dose of pralidoxime induced a significant reversal of all respiratory parameters. Conclusion In the present study, a toxic but non-lethal model of diethylparaoxon in awake, unrestrained mice was observed. By administering an equipotent dose of diethylparaoxon to rats, a 150 mg kg-1 dose of pralidoxime administered alone completely reversed diethylparaoxon-induced respiratory toxicity in mice. The dose dependency of reversal suggests that further studies are needed for assessing plasma concentrations of pralidoxime resulting in reversal of toxicity.

In recent years, extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR) has emerged as the second line of treatment for refractory cardiac arrest, at least across industrialized countries. Despite impressive results with high survival rates in case series all over the world, access to ECPR is limited to certain countries and areas. In areas where patients have access to ECPR, precise inclusion criteria and patient care vary substantially from one center to another. This raises a certain number of ethical concerns which will be addressed in this chapter.

Aim: Non-traumatic cardiac arrest is a major public health problem that carries an extremely high mortality rate. The Resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta (REBOA) procedure is currently being discussed as a possible technique to be used during Advanced Life Support (ALS) in humans with Cardiac arrest (CA). The aim of this study was to assess the training of emergency physicians in the procedures related to insertion of a novel REBOA catheter. Methods: We developed a training program using a simulated CA model on human cadavers. CPR was performed using the LUCAS device (Stryker/Jolife AB, Lund, Sweden). All cadavers were hemodynamically monitored. The Neurescue REBOA catheter (Neurescue REBOA device, Neurescue ApS, Copenhagen, Denmark) was inserted using a semi-surgical cut-down and sheath placement technique. Time needed to perform the procedures was measured. The procedures were instructed by 2 experts using video, procedural simulation on manikin and full-scale training on cadavers. Results: Six human cadavers were enrolled and a total of 12 procedures were performed by 2 expert investigators and 10 novice investigators. Eight semi-surgical cut-down producers including placements of the introducer sheath were performed on the first attempt and 4 required a second attempt. The median time required for the semi-surgical cutdown procedure and sheath placement by the novice investigators was: 6 min 48 sec (Min: 3 min 45 sec and Max: 26 min 25 sec). The median time required for the insertion and occlusion of the REBOA catheter by the novice investigators was: 3 min 22 sec (Min: 1 min 22 sec and Max: 7 min 5 sec). The median time required for full insertion for the novice investigators was: 11 min 14 sec (Min: 6 min 49 sec and Max: 28 min 15 sec). The mean aortic pressure during compression was: 31.9 mmHg (±17.0). Conclusions: Semi surgical cut-down and introducer sheath placement were performed in 1 or two 2 attempts for all novice investigators with an insertion time compatible with ALS during refractory CA. Simulation training on cadavers brings clinical realism and could be an important addition to the use of manikin or animal training models.

The chemical structure of organophosphate compounds (OPs) is a well-known factor which modifies the acute toxicity of these compounds. We compared ventilation at rest and cholinesterase activities in male Sprague-Dawley rats poisoned with dimethyl paraoxon (DMPO) and diethyl paraoxon (DEPO) at a subcutaneous dose corresponding to 50% of the median lethal dose (MLD). Ventilation at rest was recorded by whole body plethysmography. Total cholinesterase activities were determined by radiometric assay. Both organophosphates decreased significantly the respiratory rate, resulting from an increase in expiratory time. Dimethyl-induced respiratory toxicity spontaneously reversed within 120 min post-injection. Diethyl-induced respiratory toxicity was long-lasting, more than 180 min post-injection. Both organophosphates decreased cholinesterase activities from 10 to 180 min post-injection with the same degree of inhibition of total cholinesterase within an onset at the same times after injection. There were no significant differences in residual cholinesterase activities between dimethyl and diethyl paraoxon groups at any time. The structure of the alkoxy-group is a determinant factor of the late phase of poisoning, conditioning duration of toxicity without significant effects on the magnitude of alteration of respiratory parameters. For same duration and magnitude of cholinesterase inhibition, there was a strong discrepancy in the time-course of effects between the two compounds.

In France, there are 40 000 sudden deaths each year and the cardiac arrest survival rate is less than 10%. The arrival of extracorporeal cardio pulmonary resuscitation (ECPR) offers hope in the event of refractory cardiac arrest in prehospital care. Extending ECPR programmes requires more scientific evidence, training and an evolution of the role of paramedics.

In animal models, whole-body cooling reduces end-organ injury after cardiac arrest and other hypoperfusion states. The benefits of cooling in humans, however, are uncertain, possibly because detrimental effects of prolonged cooling may offset any potential benefit. Total liquid ventilation (TLV) provides both ultrafast cooling and rewarming. In previous reports, ultrafast cooling with TLV potently reduced neurological injury after experimental cardiac arrest in animals. We hypothesized that a brief period of rapid cooling and rewarming via TLV could also mitigate multiorgan failure (MOF) after ischemia-reperfusion induced by aortic cross-clamping.Anesthetized rabbits were submitted to 30 minutes of supraceliac aortic cross-clamping followed by 300 minutes of reperfusion. They were allocated either to a normothermic procedure with conventional ventilation (control group) or to hypothermic TLV (33°C) before, during, and after cross-clamping (pre-clamp, per-clamp, and post-clamp groups, respectively). In all TLV groups, hypothermia was maintained for 75 minutes and switched to a rewarming mode before resumption to conventional mechanical ventilation. End points included cardiovascular, renal, liver, and inflammatory parameters measured 300 minutes after reperfusion.In the normothermic (control) group, ischemia-reperfusion injury produced evidence of MOF including severe vasoplegia, low cardiac output, acute kidney injury, and liver failure. In the TLV group, we observed gradual improvements in cardiac output in post-clamp, per-clamp, and pre-clamp groups versus control (53 ± 8, 64 ± 12, and 90 ± 24 vs 36 ± 23 mL/min/kg after 300 minutes of reperfusion, respectively). Liver biomarker levels were also lower in pre-clamp and per-clamp groups versus control. However, acute kidney injury was prevented in pre-clamp, and to a limited extent in per-clamp groups, but not in the post-clamp group. For instance, creatinine clearance was 4.8 ± 3.1 and 0.5 ± 0.6 mL/kg/min at the end of the follow-up in pre-clamp versus control animals (P = .0004). Histological examinations of the heart, kidney, liver, and jejunum in TLV and control groups also demonstrated reduced injury with TLV.A brief period of ultrafast cooling with TLV followed by rapid rewarming attenuated biochemical and histological markers of MOF after aortic cross-clamping. Cardiovascular and liver dysfunctions were limited by a brief period of hypothermic TLV, even when started after reperfusion. Conversely, acute kidney injury was limited only when hypothermia was started before reperfusion. Further work is needed to determine the clinical significance of our results and to identify the optimal duration and timing of TLV-induced hypothermia for end-organ protection in hypoperfusion states.

Resume La prise en charge d’une catastrophe avec de nombreuses victimes n’est pas une hypothese, c’est une realite que les medias nous rappellent regulierement. Un accident catastrophique a effet limite (ACEL) provoque une inadequation temporaire entre la demande et l’offre de soins. Cette inadequation porte plus sur la quantite que sur la complexite des soins elle-meme. Elle pose un defi organisationnel majeur. La reponse mise en œuvre a pour but de reequilibrer les moyens et les besoins.

Resume Dans les situations de catastrophe, certains patients relevent d’une indication a l’anesthesie generale et/ou a des sedations a visee anxiolytique ou analgesique. Au vu du contexte, il faudra adapter les pratiques habituelles. Cette adaptation doit prendre en compte les ressources disponibles (oxygene, respirateur, medicaments…), la nature de l’evenement causal (blast, intoxication…), les lesions elles-memes (hemorragiques ou non). En fonction de la situation, il faudra systematiquement adapter les medicaments utilises.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the epidemiological characteristics of blood or fluid exposure (BFE) and occupational infection risk among emergency medicine (EM) residents and young physicians (

Aims Mechanical chest compression (CC) during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) with AutoPulse or LUCAS devices has not improved survival from cardiac arrest. Cohort studies suggest risk of excess damage. We studied safety of mechanical CC and determined possible excess damage compared with manual CC. Methods and results This is a randomized non-inferiority safety study. Randomization to AutoPulse, LUCAS, or manual CC with corrective depth and rate feedback was performed. We included patients with in-hospital cardiac arrest or with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest arriving with manual CPR at the emergency department. The primary outcome was serious or life-threatening visceral resuscitation-related damage, assessed blind by post-mortem computed tomography scan and/or autopsy or by clinical course until discharge. Non-inferiority hypothesis: mechanical CC compared with manual control does not increase the primary outcome by a risk difference of > 10% [upper 95% confidence interval (CI)]. We included 115 patients treated with AutoPulse, 122 with LUCAS, and 137 patients received manual CC. Safety outcome analysis was possible in 337 of 374 (90.1%) included patients. The primary outcome was observed in 12 of 103 AutoPulse patients (11.6%), 8 of 108 LUCAS patients (7.4%), and 8 of 126 controls (6.4%). Rate difference AutoPulse—control: +5.3% (95% CI − 2.2% to 12.8%), P = 0.15. Rate difference LUCAS—control +1.0% (95% CI − 5.5% to 7.6%), P = 0.75. Conclusion LUCAS does not cause significantly more serious or life-threatening visceral damage than manual CC. For AutoPulse, significantly more serious or life-threatening visceral damage than manual CC cannot be excluded.

Introduction: After 20 to 30 minutes of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) without return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC), cardiac arrest is considered as refractory (RCA). For RCA, extracorporeal CPR (ECPR) is one of the only treatments with a potential benefit on survival. Presence of gasping during CPR has been shown to be strongly associated with a favorable outcome. To our knowledge, signs of life during CPR (such as gasping, movements, pupillary response) has not been studied in the specific context of RCA treated with ECPR. Hypothesis: We assessed the relationship between survival with favorable neurologic outcomes and presence of early signs of life during or before CPR in RCA treated with ECPR. Methods: We carried out a multicenter observational study of patients with out-of-hospital RCA treated with ECPR in 3 cities in France. Primary outcome was favorable neurologic outcome at 30 days defined as CPC score ≤ 2. Signs of life were defined as gasping or recovery of normal breathing, any pupillary response or any movements during CPR. Patient selection for ECPR was decided according to french guidelines criteria such as initial rhythm, no-flow duration, expected transport time and EtCO2 > 10 mmHg. A logistic regression analysis was performed. P -values < 0.05 were considered statistically significant. Results: Overall, 437 patients treated with ECPR were included with 71 (16%) patients with CPC ≤ 2 at 30 days. Signs of life were observed in 261 (59%) patients, with 136 (31%) patients presenting gasping or respiratory movement, 155 (35%) a pupillary response, and 49 (11%) movements during CPR. Overall 63/261 (24.1%) patients with signs life survived with favorable neurologic outcome vs. 8/176 (4.5%) without signs of life, p Conclusions: These results highlight the importance of signs of life before or during CPR on neurological outcomes for RCA treated with ECPR. These results could help select patients with good chance of survival in whom we should not give up resuscitation efforts too soon.

Introduction: ECPR, « extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation » is a second line treatment for refractory cardiac arrest (CA), and low-flow time is clearly identified as a prognostic factor. Our prehospital ECPR team is made of a physician, an anesthetic nurse and a paramedic. During the day (8am to 6pm), the physician, specifically dedicated to the ECPR team, is on site at the EMS call center, where he can have other clinical or research activities; at night and during the weekend, he is on call at home. The nurse and paramedic are on site 24/7, dedicated to the mobile ICU activities, but available for the ECPR team if necessary. Triggering of the ECPR team occurs as early as possible after cardiac arrest, if possible at the same time as the BLS and ALS teams are sent out. Our ECPR team operates inside the city limits but also outside the city in surrounding cities, without access to ECPR. After ECPR team activation, cancellation can occur during transportation or on site of the CA in several situations including return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC), or absence of inclusion criteria for ECPR. Methods: Retrospective monocentric study from January to December 2017. The following data were collected: number of ECPR team activation calls, place and time of intervention, reason for cancellation, number of patients implemented with ECPR. Results: Over the 12 month period, ECPR team was activated 336 times; ECPR triggering occurred during the on call period in 185 cases (55%). Most of the time, interventions were within the city limits (N=209, 62%). Reasons for cancelation were as follows: ROSC (N=116, 34%), no inclusion criteria for ECPR (N=102, 30%), absence of CA (N=25, 7%), unknown (N=42, 12%). All together, 61 patients were actually implemented with ECPR for refractory CA (18%). Conclusion: In the end, 18% of ECPR activation calls lead to actual ECPR implementation. The necessity of early ECPR implementation justifies for early triggering of the ECPR team, despite the high risk of cancellation, whether it be for ROSC or absence of CA. This intense activity justifies for a dedicated complete ECPR team available 24/7. ECPR process requires specific training and precise coordination of personnel in the EMS call center and in the prehospital setting (ALS and ECPR teams).

L’hypothermie therapeutique est une des strategies ayant montre son efficacite dans l’amelioration de la survie et du pronostic neurologique chez les patients comateux dans les suites d’un arret cardiaque. Elle etait recommandee ces dix dernieres annees par les differentes societes savantes internationales. Toutefois, de nouvelles etudes ont remis en cause son efficacite et mene en 2015 a quelques ajustements.

Sudden death in ambulatory is a major public health issue: only few survivors, severe brain damage, high socio-economic cost. To improve survival and neurological recovery of these patients, an early therapeutic moderate hypothermia could be promising, as strongly suggested by previous preclinical studies on small animals through hypothermic total liquid ventilation (TLV) with perfluorocarbons (PFC) that maintain normal gas exchanges, and where lungs act as a heat exchanger (INSERM U955-E3, partner and pioneer of this project). Before translation of hypothermic TLV to humans, studies on large animals are necessary. The project ABYSS concerns the development and validation of a total liquid ventilator prototype suitable for large animals (no suitable devices exist on the market). ABYSS involves a consortium of 4 partners: an industrial company (Bertin Technologies) and three academic laboratories (INSERM U955-E3, INSERM U955-E13 and IR4M CNRS UMR8081). The study, which lasted three years, has led to: 1) Realize a prototype of total liquid ventilator for ventilating and cooling large animals, 2) Study the cooling on large animals with TLV, both on beating heart and under external cardiac massage, 3) Study another therapeutic indication: organ preservation of dead patients, 4) Compare three PFC already used as medical devices and analyze the impact of using PFCs with quite unusual physical properties on respiratory flows and airway resistance, 5) Study the miniaturization of the ventilator to enable its use in mobile intensive care unit. The next task will be to improve the understanding of the broncho-alveolar response (at various scales from organ to pulmonary cells) under total liquid ventilation on large animals, in order to get knowledge to improve and to optimize the tolerance of the respiratory system to liquid ventilation with PFC.

Extracorporeal CPR is a second line treatment for refractory cardiac arrest, as written in the latest International Guidelines. Optimal timing, patient selection, location and method of implementation vary across the world. The objective here is to present an international consensus on the pillars of an ECPR program. The major aspect the group agrees on in that ECPR should be implemented within 60 minutes of collapse. With this in mind, the program should be built according to local resources knowing that the optimal team will require pre-established specific roles with personnel dedicated to resuscitation and others to ECPR.

Purpose Extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR) is a second line treatment for refractory cardiac arrest (R-OHCA). Timing of ECPR before performing coronary angiography (CAG) is still debated. The aim of the study was to describe the clinical and angiographic characteristics of the largest cohort of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) patients undergoing ECPR. Methods All refractory OHCA patients with ECPR managed by the prehospital mobile intensive care unit (MoICU of the SAMU) in Paris (France) were prospectively included from October 2014 to December 2016. Results Among 74 patients included over the period, 54 patients had coronary artery disease (CAD). There is a trend toward the CAD patients being older but it did not meet statistical significance (55.3 ± 11.8 vs. 50.6 ± 12.8, p = 0,14). Patients were more frequently men and smokers (p = 0.03 for both). The proportion of initial shockable rhythm tended to be higher in patients with CAD (71% vs. 55%). The rate of 1-, 2-, and 3-vessel disease were 43%, 35% and 22% respectively. The Syntax Score was 18 ± 9 and the lesions in each epicardial vessel were mainly proximal. Percutaneous coronary intervention was performed ad hoc in 49 patients (91%). Complete revascularization was performed in 64%. Inhospital death was numerically lower (65% vs. 75%) in patients with CAD, especially in patients with initial shockable rhythm. Conclusion In 74 refractory OHCA patients treated with ECPR implanted by a prehospital mobile intensive care unit, the rate of CAD was high (54/74) especially in patients with shockable rhythm. The majority of patients presented with double or triple vessel disease and proximal lesions. The severity and extension of CAD may explain the refractory nature of the cardiac arrest.

Out of hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) mortality rates remain very high with poor neurological outcome in survivors. Extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR) is one of the treatments of refractory OHCA. This study used data from the mobile intensive care unit (MOICU) as part of the emergency medical system of Paris, and included all consecutive patients treated with ECPR (including pre-hospital ECPR) from 2011 to 2015 for the treatment of refractory OHCA, comparing two historical ECPR management strategies.We consecutively included refractory OHCA patients. In Period 1, ECPR was indicated in selected patients after 30min of advanced life support; in- or pre-hospital implementation depended on estimated transportation time and ECPR team availability. In Period 2, patient care relied on early ECPR initiation after 20min of resuscitation, stringent patient selection, epinephrine dose limitation and deployment of ECPR team with initial response team. Primary outcome was survival with good neurological function Cerebral Performance Category score (CPC score) 1 and 2 at ICU discharge or day 28.A total of 156 patients were included. (114 in Period 1 and 42 in Period 2). Baseline characteristics were similar. Mean low-flow duration was shorter by 20min (p0.001) in Period 2. Survival was significantly higher in Period 2: 29% vs 8% (P0.001), as confirmed by the multivariate analysis and propensity score. When combining stringent patient selection with an aggressive strategy, the survival rate increased to 38%. Pre-hospital ECPR implementation in itself was not an independent predictor of improved survival, but it was part of the strategy in Period 2.Our data suggest that ECPR in specific settings in the management of refractory OHCA is feasible and can lead to a significant increase in neurological intact survivors. These data, however, need to be confirmed by a large RCT.

The purpose of this study was to examine continuous oxygen insufflation (COI) in a swine model of cardiac arrest. The primary hypothesis was COI during standard CPR (S-CPR) should result in higher intrathoracic pressure (ITP) during chest compression and lower ITP during decompression versus S-CPR alone. These changes with COI were hypothesized to improve hemodynamics. The second hypothesis was that changes in ITP with S-CPR+COI would result in superior hemodynamics compared with active compression decompression (ACD) + impedance threshold device (ITD) CPR, as this method primarily lowers ITP during chest decompression.After 6min of untreated ventricular fibrillation, S-CPR was initiated in 8 female swine for 4min, then 3min of S-CPR+COI, then 3min of ACD+ITD CPR, then 3min of S-CPR+COI. ITP and hemodynamics were continuously monitored.During S-CPR+COI, ITP was always positive during the CPR compression and decompression phases. ITP compression values with S-CPR+COI versus S-CPR alone were 5.5±3 versus 0.2±2 (p0.001) and decompression values were 2.8±2 versus -1.3±2 (p0.001), respectively. With S-CPR+COI versus ACD+ITD the ITP compression values were 5.5±3 versus 1.5±2 (p0.01) and decompression values were 2.8±2 versus -4.7±3 (p0.001), respectively.COI during S-CPR created a continuous positive pressure in the airway during both the compression and decompression phase of CPR. At no point in time did COI generate a negative intrathoracic pressures during CPR in this swine model of cardiac arrest.

Background Extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation ( ECPR ) is widely proposed for the treatment of refractory cardiac arrest. It should be associated with coronary angiography if coronary artery disease is suspected. However, the prioritization of care remains unclear in this situation. Our goal was to determine whether coronary reperfusion should be instituted as soon as possible in such situations in a pig model. Methods and Results Anesthetized pigs were instrumented and submitted to coronary artery occlusion and ventricular fibrillation. After 5 minutes of untreated cardiac arrest, conventional cardiopulmonary resuscitation ( CPR ) was started. Fifteen minutes later, ECPR was initiated for a total duration of 240 minutes. Animals randomly underwent either early or late coronary reperfusion at 20 or 120 minutes of ECPR , respectively. This timing was adapted to the kinetic of infarct extension in pigs. Return of spontaneous circulation was determined as organized electrocardiogram rhythm with systolic arterial pressure above 80 mm Hg. During conventional CPR , hemodynamic parameters were not different between groups. Carotid blood flow then increased by 70% after the onset of ECPR in both groups. No animal (0 of 7) elicited return of spontaneous circulation after late reperfusion versus 4 of 7 after early reperfusion ( P =0.025). The hemodynamic parameters, such as carotid blood flow, were also improved in early versus late reperfusion groups (113±20 vs 43±17 mL/min after 240 minutes of ECPR , respectively; P =0.030), along with infarct size decrease (71±4% vs 84±2% of the risk zone, respectively; P =0.013). Conclusions Early reperfusion improved hemodynamic status and facilitated return of spontaneous circulation in a porcine model of ischemic cardiac arrest treated by ECPR .

In France, there are 40 000 sudden deaths each year and the cardiac arrest survival rate is less than 10%. The arrival of extracorporeal cardio pulmonary resuscitation (ECPR) offers hope in the event of refractory cardiac arrest in prehospital care. Extending ECPR programmes requires more scientific evidence, training and an evolution of the role of paramedics.