Annual improvement trends in resuscitation outcome of patients defibrillated by laypersons after out-of-hospital cardiac arrests and compression-only resuscitation of laypersons.

AIM: We aimed to investigate the effect of compression-only cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) with conventional CPR in patients who were defibrillated by laypersons. METHODS: This is a population-based, nationwide observational study. Adult and children who sustained a witnessed out-of-hospital cardiac arrest and defibrillated by laypersons between 2005 to 2019 were identified on the national database. The study used trend analyses, multivariate logistic regression, and inverse probability weighting using propensity score to explore changes in one-month survival and survival with a good neurological outcome over time and the influence of compression-only CPR compared with conventional CPR. RESULTS: In total, 11,402 patients defibrillated by laypersons were enrolled in this study. The percentages of compression-only resuscitation increased dramatically and more than 50% from 2012 (P < 0.001). The percentages of cases with favorable resuscitation outcomes also increased annually (P < 0.001). By regression analysis, favorable outcomes were associated with recent years, male sex, younger age, and shorter resuscitation start time. In addition, the adjusted odds ratio of compression-only CPR to conventional CPR was 1.23 with a 95% confident interval 1.13-1.34. By inverse probability weighting, compression-only CPR was superior to conventional CPR for the favorable outcomes (P < 0.001). The adjusted outcomes in each year were better in compression-only resuscitation in most of the years. The overall relative risk reduction and the number needed to treat for compression-only resuscitation compared with conventional resuscitation were 7.6% and 22.1, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: In Japan, the outcomes of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients who were defibrillated by laypersons were considerably better in compression-only resuscitation of laypersons every year.

Verification of airway management during cardiac arrest: a manikin-based observational study.

INTRODUCTION: The study aimed to clarify the difficulties concerning insertion of advanced airway devices during cardiac arrest. METHOD: In an observational study using manikins, we examined the airway management techniques of 19 teams at the Osaka Senri medical rally. For ex-post verification, we recorded chest compression and ventilation using the Resusci Anne Advanced Skill Trainer (Laerdal, Norway) and recorded actions of the teams using a video camera. RESULTS: Only a small proportion of teams did not adopt advanced airway management (4 teams, 21.1%). Thirteen teams selected tracheal intubation. None showed chest compression interruptions during intubation manipulation, and the median duration of chest compression interruption during confirmation of postintubation was 6.4 seconds. The median duration of ventilation interruption during intubation was 45.5 seconds. When teams were evaluated for the duration of direct laryngoscopy, that is, so-called duration of intubation, the median duration was 19 seconds, which constituted a large underestimate compared with the duration of ventilation interruption. This represents an underestimation of about 27 seconds. We considered the issues to be identified for shortening the duration of ventilation interruption. CONCLUSION: From this study, it is clear that the strategy of Guideline 2005 that was designed to minimize chest compression interruption has permeated deeply. The recommendation that the duration of intubation manipulation should not exceed 30 seconds has had various interpretations, but it is important to focus on the duration of ventilation interruption.

A manikin-based observational study on cardiopulmonary resuscitation skills at the Osaka Senri medical rally.

AIM: To examine the current status and problems of resuscitation management in Japan as demonstrated at the 2006 and 2007 Osaka Senri medical rallies. METHODS: Using manikins, the quality of resuscitation was evaluated in 33 teams that participated in the medical rallies. The challenge was to deliver defibrillation shocks for ventricular fibrillation; data were recorded using the Laerdal PC Skill Reporting System (Norway). The teams were first subjectively (visually) evaluated by a panel of judges and these evaluations were later reaffirmed using video records. RESULTS: An approximately 30s delay was observed between the time of contact and initiation of chest compression in the teams that adopted the American Heart Association (AHA) method compared with those that adopted the European Resuscitation Council (ERC) method. Although the overall quality of chest compressions was very good, in several instances, the hand positions were inappropriate and complete chest recoil was not achieved. The left paddle was incorrectly positioned by all teams. Only 15.8% of the teams were able to deliver shocks with less than 10s of interruption between the chest compressions. Regarding interruption of chest compressions at confirmation of correct tracheal tube placement, among the eight teams that adopted the AHA method, pauses of more than 10s were confirmed in five (62.5%). CONCLUSIONS: Significant differences in performance between the AHA and ERC methods were observed. The ERC guidelines were more rational and suitable in terms of actual application than the AHA guidelines.

Increased local angiotensin II formation in aneurysmal aorta.

We investigated the levels and locations of angiotensin II-forming enzymes, angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) and chymase, in aneurysmal and normal aortas. Aneurysmal aortic specimens (n = 14) were obtained at the time of operative aneurysm repair from 14 patients ranging in age from 57 to 84 y. Normal aortic specimens (n = 16) were obtained from 16 patients (48 to 72 y) who underwent coronary artery bypass surgery. The ACE and chymase activities were determined using each specimen. Sections of each specimen were immunostained with antibodies for ACE and chymase. The ACE activities in the aneurysmal and normal aortas were 0.82 +/- 0.10 and 0.14 +/- 0.05 mU/mg protein, respectively, and this difference was significant. The chymase activities in the aneurysmal and normal aortas were 17.9 +/- 2.40 and 1.02 +/- 0.18 mU/mg protein, respectively, and this difference was also significant. In the aneurysmal aorta, ACE-positive cells were detected with macrophages in the intima and media and chymase-positive cells were detected with mast cells in the media and adventitia, whereas positive ACE and chymase cells in the normal aorta were located only in the endothelium and adventitia, respectively. Angiotensin II-forming enzymes, chymase and ACE, were significantly increased in the aneurysmal aorta, and increased angiotensin II may be associated with the development of aneurysmal formations.

Surgical treatment of traumatic thoracic aorta rupture: a 7-year experience.

OBJECTIVES: Traumatic aortic rupture is highly lethal and an ongoing therapeutic challenge. We review our 7-year experience with traumatic aortic disruption. METHODS: We treated 12 cases of traumatic rupture of the thoracic aorta (TRTA) from December 1994 to June 2001 at our institution. Of these, 9 were male, and the average age 26 years. Injuries were caused by traffic accidents in 9 cases and falls in 3. Contrast-enhanced helical computed tomography was used to diagnose10 cases and digital subtraction angiography to diagnose 2 at other hospitals. Six of 12 (50%) disruptions were located in the aortic isthms. All surgery was conducted under cardiopulmonary bypass. A percutaneous cardiopulmonary support system (heparin-bonded artificial lung and centrifugal pump) was used in 6 cases since 1998. RESULTS: Among the 12 patients, 6 had early surgical repair within 2 days after the accident, and all survived free of neurological problems. Six other had repair delayed more than 2 days and all were doing well. CONCLUSION: Immediate repair of aortic lesions should be the rule because the majority of deaths from TRTA occur within 24 hours. We believe, however, that immediate surgery may not be necessary for some patients with severe, multiple associated lesions who survive initial traumatic aortic disruption of the aorta.

Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest due to drowning among children and adults from the Utstein Osaka Project.

BACKGROUND: Children have better outcomes after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) than adults. However, little is known about the difference in outcomes between children and adults after OHCA due to drowning. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study is to assess the outcome after OHCA due to drowning between children and adults. Our hypothesis is that outcomes after OHCA due to drowning would be in better among children (<18 years old) compared with adults (≥18 years old). METHOD: This prospective population-based, observational study included all emergency medical service-treated OHCA due to drowning in Osaka, Japan, between 1999 and 2010 (excluding 2004). Outcomes were evaluated between younger children (0-4 years old), older children (5-17 years old), and adults (≥18 years old). Major outcome measures were one-month survival and neurologically favorable one-month survival defined as cerebral performance category 1 or 2. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to account for potential confounders. RESULTS: During the study period, 66,716 OHCAs were documented, and resuscitation was attempted for 62,048 patients (1300 children [2%] and 60,748 adults [98%]). Among these OHCAs, 1737 (3% of OHCAs) were due to drowning (36 younger children [2%], 32 older children [2%], and 1669 adults [96%]). The odds of one-month survival were significantly higher for younger children (28% [10/36]; adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 20.20 [95% confidence interval {CI} 7.45-54.78]) and older children (9% [3/32]; AOR, 4.47 [95% CI 1.04-19.27]) when compared with adults (2% [28/1669]). However, younger children (6% [2/36]; AOR, 5.23 [95% CI 0.52-51.73]) and older children (3% [1/32]; AOR, 2.53 [95% CI 0.19-34.07]) did not have a higher odds of neurologically favorable outcome than adults (1% [11/1669]). CONCLUSION: In this large OHCA registry, children had better one-month survival rates after OHCA due to drowning compared with adults. Most survivors in all groups had unfavorable neurological outcomes.