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Mountainous areas pose a challenge for the out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) chain of survival. Survival rates for OHCAs in mountainous areas may differ depending on the location. Increased survival has been observed compared to standard location when OHCA occurred on ski slopes. Limited data is available about OHCA in other mountainous areas. The objective was to compare the survival rates with a good neurological outcome of OHCAs occurring on ski slopes (On-S) and off the ski slopes (Off S) compared to other locations (OL). Analysis of prospectively collected data from the cardiac arrest registry of the Northern French Alps Emergency Network (RENAU) from 2015 to 2021. The RENAU corresponding to an Emergency Medicine Network between all Emergency Medical Services and hospitals of 3 counties (Isère, Savoie, Haute-Savoie). The primary outcome was survival at 30 days with a Cerebral Performance Category scale (CPC) of 1 or 2 (1: Good Cerebral Performance, 2: Moderate Cerebral Disability). A total of 9589 OHCAs were included: 213 in the On-S group, 141 in the Off-S group, and 9235 in the OL group. Cardiac etiology was more common in On-S conditions (On-S: 68.9% vs Off S: 51.1% vs OL: 66.7%, p < 0.001), while Off-S cardiac arrests were more often due to traumatic circumstances (Off S: 39.7% vs On-S: 21.7% vs OL: 7.7%, p < 0.001). Automated external defibrillator (AED) use before rescuers' arrival was lower in the Off-S group than in the other two groups (On-S: 15.2% vs OL: 4.5% vs Off S: 3.7%; p < 0.002). The first AED shock was longer in the Off-S group (median time in minutes: Off S: 22.0 (9.5–35.5) vs On-S: 10.0 (3.0–19.5) vs OL: 16.0 (11.0–27.0), p = 0.03). In multivariate analysis, on-slope OHCA remained a positive factor for 30-day survival with a CPC score of 1 or 2 with a 1.96 adjusted odds ratio (95% confidence interval (CI), 1.02–3.75, p = 0.04), whereas off-slope OHCA had an 0.88 adjusted odds ratio (95% CI, 0.28–2.72, p = 0.82). OHCAs in ski-slopes conditions were associated with an improvement in neurological outcomes at 30 days, whereas off-slopes OHCAs were not. Ski-slopes rescue patrols are efficient in improving outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Early airway management during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) prevents aspiration of gastric contents. Endotracheal intubation is the gold standard to protect airways, but supraglottic airway devices (SGA) may provide some protection with less training. Bag-mask ventilation (BMV) is the most common method used by rescuers. We hypothesized that SGA use by first rescuers during CPR could increase ventilation success rate and also decrease intragastric pressure and pulmonary aspiration. We performed a randomized cross-over experimental trial on human cadavers. Protocol A: we assessed the rate of successful ventilation (chest rise), intragastric pressure, and CPR key time metrics. Protocol B: cadaver stomachs were randomized to be filled with 300 mL of either blue or green serum saline solution through a Foley catheter. Each rescuer was randomly assigned to use SGA or BMV during a 5-minute standard CPR period. Then, in a crossover design, the stomach was filled with the second color solution and another 5-minute CPR period was performed using the other airway method. Pulmonary aspiration, defined as the presence of colored solution below the vocal cords, was assessed by a blinded operator using bronchoscopy. A generalized linear mixed model was used for statistical analysis. Protocol A: Forty-eight rescuers performed CPR on 11 cadavers. Median ventilation success was higher with SGA than BMV: 75.0% (IQR: 59.8–87.3) vs. 34.7% (IQR: 25.0–50.0), (p = 0.003). Gastric pressure and differential (maximum minus minimum) gastric pressure were lower in the SGA group: 2.21 mmHg (IQR: 1.66; 2.68) vs. 3.02 mmHg (IQR: 2.02; 4.22) (p = 0.02) and 5.70 mmHg (IQR: 4.10; 7.60) vs. 8.05 mmHg (IQR: 5.40; 11.60) (p = 0.05). CPR key times were not different between groups. Protocol B: Ten cadavers were included with 20 CPR periods. Aspiration occurred in 2 (20%) SGA procedures and 5 (50%) BMV procedures (p = 0.44). Use of SGA by rescuers improved the ventilation success rate, decreased intragastric pressure, and did not affect key CPR metrics. SGA use by basic life support rescuers appears feasible and efficient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Background: The combination of controlled automated head/thorax elevation, active compression-decompression (ACD) cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), and an impedance threshold device (ITD-16), termed AHUP-CPR, lowers intracranial pressure and increases circulation and neurologically-sound survival in pigs versus conventional (C) CPR. This study examined whether AHUP-CPR increased end tidal (ET) CO 2 , a non-invasive marker of cardiac output and organ perfusion, compared with C-CPR in witnessed out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients., Method: We conducted a prospective, single-arm, pre-post intervention trial in France between October 2019 and October 2022.Firefighters treated patients enrolled during the pre-intervention period with manual C-CPR and with AHUP-CPR during the post-intervention period. Advanced life support was provided by a physician-staffed 2nd-tier response vehicle for the two study periods. The primary outcome was the peak ETCO 2 value measured during CPR., Results: 122 patients with a mean age of 67 years (standard deviation [SD], 17) were enrolled (59 in the pre-intervention period and 63 in the post-intervention period). Based on an intention-to-treat analysis, mean baseline ETCO 2 values were comparable between pre- (20.1 mmHg, SD,16.3) and post-(19.2 mmHg, SD, 16.3) intervention periods. Mean peak ETCO 2 values during CPR were 30.3 mmHg (SD, 13.1) versus 40.7 mmHg (SD, 17.8) for the pre- and post-intervention study periods (mean difference, 10.6, 95% confidence interval, 4.6 to 16.1, P < 0.001). Mean differences in peak ETCO 2 between study periods did not vary according to the first recorded cardiac rhythm (P for interaction = 0.99). The proportion of return of spontaneous circulation [19 (32.2%) vs. 21 (33.3%)], survival on hospital admission [17 (28.8%) vs. 19 (30.2%)], and 30-day survival with favorable neurological outcome [8 (13.6%) vs. 7 (11.1%)] did not differ between study periods., Conclusion: ETCO 2 values during AHUP-CPR reached the range of non-arrest normal physiological levels and were significantly higher than with C-CPR, regardless of the presenting cardiac rhythm., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: Keith Lurie is the inventor of devices to elevate the head and thorax during CPR. He is the chief medical officer of Advanced CPR Solutions, a company that develops CPR technologies. The other authors declared no conflict of interest related to this work., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Our goal was to investigate the effects of head-thorax elevation (HUP) during chest compressions (CC) on lung ventilation. A prospective study was performed on seven human cadavers. Chest was automatically compressed-decompressed in flat position and during progressive HUP from 18 to 35°. Lung ventilation was measured with electrical impedance tomography. In each cadaver, 5 sequences were randomly performed: one without CC at positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) 0cmH 2 O, 3 s with CC at PEEP0, 5 or 10cmH 2 O and 1 with CC and an impedance threshold device at PEEP0cmH 2 O. The minimal-to-maximal change in impedance (VT EIT in arbitrary unit a.u.) and the minimal impedance in every breathing cycle (EELI) the) were compared between flat, 18°, and 35° in each sequence by a mixed-effects model. Values are expressed as median (1st-3rd quartiles). With CC, between flat, 18° and 35° VT EIT decreased at each level of PEEP. It was 12416a.u. (10,689; 14,442), 11,239 (7667; 13,292), and 6457 (4631; 9516), respectively, at PEEP0. The same was true with the impedance threshold device. EELI/VT EIT significantly decreased from - 0.30 (- 0.40; - 0.15) before to - 1.13 (- 1.70; - 0.61) after the CC (P = 0.009). With HUP lung ventilation decreased with CC as compared to flat position. CC are associated with decreased in EELI., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

The aim was to describe out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) occurring in the workplace of a large emergency network, and compare the evolution of their management in the last 15 years. A retrospective study based on data from the Northern Alps Emergency Network compared characteristics of OHCA between cases in and out the workplace, and between cases occurring from January 2004 to December 2010 and from January 2011 to December 2017. Among the 15,320 OHCA cases included, 320 occurred in the workplace (2.1%). They were more often in younger men, and happened more frequently in an area with access to public defibrillation, had more often a shockable rhythm, had a cardiopulmonary resuscitation started by a bystander more frequently, and had a better outcome. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation started by a bystander was the only chain of survival link that improved for cases occurring after December 2010. Workplace OHCA seems to be managed more effectively than others; however, only a slight survival improvement was observed, suggesting that progress is still needed., Competing Interests: Authors are paid by their institution; AD is also paid as editor of the Archives des Maladies professionnelles et de l’Environnement (Elsevier)., (© 2023 Occupational Safety and Health Research Institute.)

Background: Adrenaline is recommended during cardio-pulmonary resuscitation. The optimal dose remains debated, and the effect of lower than recommended dose is unknown., Objective: To compare the outcome of patients treated with the recommended, lower or higher cumulative doses of adrenaline., Design, Settings, Participants: Patients were included from the French National Cardiac Arrest Registry and were grouped based on the received dose of adrenaline: recommended, higher and lower dose., Outcome Measures and Analysis: The primary endpoint was good neurologic outcome at 30 days post-OHCA, defined by a cerebral performance category (CPC) of less than 3. Secondary endpoints included return of spontaneous circulation and survival to hospital discharge. A multiple propensity score adjustment approach was performed., Main Results: 27 309 patients included from July 1st 2011 to January 1st 2019 were analysed, mean age was 68 (57-78) years and 11.2% had ventricular fibrillation. 588 (2.2%) patients survived with a good CPC score. After adjustment, patients in the high dose group had a significant lower rate of good neurologic outcome (OR, 0.6; 95% CI, 0.5-0.7). There was no significant difference for the primary endpoint in the lower dose group (OR, 0.8; 95% CI, 0.7-1.1). There was a lower rate of survival to hospital discharge in the high-dose group vs. standard group (OR, 0.5; 95% CI, 0.5-0.6)., Conclusion: The use of lower doses of adrenaline was not associated with a significant difference on survival good neurologic outcomes at D30. But a higher dose of adrenaline was associated with a lower rate of survival with good neurological outcomes and poorer survival at D30., (Copyright © 2021 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Adrenaline is recommended for cardiac arrest resuscitation, but its effectiveness has been questioned recently. Achieving return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) is essential and is obtained by increasing coronary perfusion pressure (CPP) after adrenaline injection. A threshold as high as 35 mmHg of CPP may be necessary to obtain ROSC, but increasing doses of adrenaline might be harmful to the brain. Our study aimed to compare the increase in CPP with reduced doses of adrenaline to the recommended 1 mg dose in a pig model of cardiac arrest. Fifteen domestic pigs were randomized into three groups according to the adrenaline doses: 1 mg, 0.5 mg, or 0.25 mg administered every 5 min. Cardiac arrest was induced by ventricular fibrillation; after 5 min of no-flow, mechanical chest compression was resumed. The Wilcoxon test and Kruskal-Wallis exact test were used for the comparison of groups. Fisher's exact test was used to compare categorical variables. CPP, EtCO 2 level, cerebral, and tissue near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) were measured. CPP was significantly lower in the 0.25 mg group 90 s after the first adrenaline injection: 28.9 (21.2; 35.4) vs. 53.8 (37.8; 58.2) in the 1 mg group ( p = 0.008), while there was no significant difference with 0.5 mg 39.6 (32.7; 52.5) ( p = 0.056). Overall, 0.25 mg did not achieve the threshold of 35 mmHg. EtCO 2 levels were higher at T12 and T14 in the 0.5 mg than in the standard group: 32 (23; 35) vs. 19 (16; 26) and 26 (20; 34) vs. 19 (12; 22) ( p < 0.05). Cerebral and tissue NIRS did not show a significant difference between the three groups. CPP after 0.5 mg boluses of adrenaline was not significantly different from the recommended 1 mg in our model of cardiac arrest.

Aim: The optimal head and thorax position after return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) following cardiac arrest (CA) is unknown. This study examined whether head and thorax elevation post-ROSC is beneficial, in a porcine model., Methods: Protocol A: 40 kg anesthetized pigs were positioned flat, after 7.75 min of untreated CA the heart and head were elevated 8 and 12 cm, respectively, above the horizontal plane, automated active compression decompression (ACD) plus impedance threshold device (ITD) CPR was started, and 2 min later the heart and head were elevated 10 and 22 cm, respectively, over 2 min to the highest head up position (HUP). After 30 min of CPR pigs were defibrillated and randomized 10 min later to four 5-min epochs of HUP or flat position. Multiple physiological parameters were measured. In Protocol B, after 6 min of untreated VF, pigs received 6 min of conventional CPR flat, and after ROSC were randomized HUP versus Flat as in Protocol A. The primary endpoint was cerebral perfusion pressure (CerPP). Multivariate analysis-of-variance (MANOVA) for repeated measures was used. Data were reported as mean ± SD., Results: In Protocol A, intracranial pressure (ICP) (mmHg) was significantly lower post-ROSC with HUP (9.1 ± 5.5) versus Flat (18.5 ± 5.1) (p < 0.001). Conversely, CerPP was higher with HUP (62.5 ± 19.9) versus Flat (53.2 ± 19.1) (p = 0.004), respectively. Protocol A and B results comparing HUP versus Flat were similar., Conclusion: Post-ROSC head and thorax elevation in a porcine model of cardiac arrest resulted in higher CerPP and lower ICP values, regardless of VF duration or CPR method., Iacuc Protocol Number: 19-09., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: Cerebral blood flow during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is a major neuroprognostic factor although not clinically feasible for routine assessment and monitoring. In this context, a surrogate marker for cerebral perfusion during CPR is highly desirable. Yet, cerebral blood flow hemodynamic determinants remain poorly understood and their significance might be altered by changes in head positioning such as flat, head up, and head down during CPR., Hypothesis: We hypothesized that routinely measured hemodynamic parameters would correlate with cerebral brain flow during CPR, independently of the head position., Methods: Associations between cerebral blood flow, measured using microsphere techniques, and hemodynamic parameters were studied from two prior publications. Eight pigs receiving CPR with an automated device and an impedance threshold device in the flat or supine, whole body head down and whole body head up tilt positions were analysed for the derivation sample. Relevant associations were examined for consistency in an external validation sample consisting of 18 pigs randomized to supine position versus head and torso elevation., Results: After adjusting for position, arterial blood pressure and cerebral perfusion pressure during decompression were significantly associated with cerebral blood flow, in the derivation and the external validation samples. No significant associations were found between cerebral blood flow during CPR and right atrial pressure, intracranial pressure, end tidal CO 2 , carotid blood flow, and coronary perfusion pressure in the derivation sample., Conclusion: Decompression arterial blood pressure and cerebral perfusion pressure are relevant candidate surrogate markers for cerebral blood flow during CPR, independently of head position., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)