Compromised cardiopulmonary resuscitation quality due to regurgitation during endotracheal intubation: a randomised crossover manikin simulation study.

BACKGROUND: Regurgitation is a complication common during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). This manikin study evaluated the effect of regurgitation during endotracheal intubation on CPR quality. METHODS: An airway-CPR manikin was modified to regurgitate simulated gastric contents into the oropharynx during chest compression during CPR. In total, 54 emergency medical technician-paramedics were assigned to either an oropharyngeal regurgitation or clean airway scenario and then switched to the other scenario after finishing the first. The primary outcomes were CPR quality metrics, including chest compression fraction (CCF), chest compression depth, chest compression rate, and longest interruption time. The secondary outcomes were intubation success rate and intubation time. RESULTS: During the first CPR-intubation sequence, the oropharyngeal regurgitation scenario was associated with a significantly lower CCF (79.6% vs. 85.1%, P < 0.001), compression depth (5.2 vs. 5.4 cm, P < 0.001), and first-pass success rate (35.2% vs. 79.6%, P < 0.001) and greater longest interruption duration (4.0 vs. 3.0 s, P < 0.001) than the clean airway scenario. During the second and third sequences, no significant difference was observed in the CPR quality metrics between the two scenarios. In the oropharyngeal regurgitation scenario, successful intubation was independently and significantly associated with compression depth (hazard ratio = 0.47, 95% confidence interval, 0.24-0.91), whereas none of the CPR quality metrics were related to successful intubation in the clean airway scenario. CONCLUSION: Regurgitation during endotracheal intubation significantly reduces CPR quality. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT05278923 , March 14, 2022.

The role of emergency ultrasound for evaluating acute pyelonephritis in the ED.

BACKGROUND: Controversy remains over the imaging method of choice for evaluating acute pyelonephritis (APN) in the emergency department (ED). OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to determine the efficacy of ultrasound in the diagnosis and management of patients presented to the ED with APN. METHODS: This was a retrospective study of prospectively collected data. A cohort of ED patients diagnosed as APN were prospectively registered, and their medical records were then retrospectively reviewed for the presence of complications (admitted >14 days, admission to intensive care unit, or received invasive procedures), significant abnormalities (hydronephrosis, polycystic kidney diseases, renal abscess, emphysematous pyelonephritis), and mild abnormalities (cysts, stones, swelling). RESULTS: The study included 243 patients. Most of the patients received one or more renal imaging studies (n = 206) and 39.5% of which were considered abnormal. The rates of significant abnormalities on different imaging methods were Kidney-ureter-bladder (KUB), 16.3%; emergency ultrasound (EUS), 39.6%; combination of KUB and EUS, 56.6%; and computed tomography, 58.8%. Factors contributed to complicated APN were elderly, male, a history of preexisting renal diseases, current use of catheters, previous renal calculi, and diabetes mellitus. Significant abnormalities can be identified by EUS in 61% of patients with complicated APN. In fact, the presence of significant sonographic abnormalities effectively diverted 34.3% of patients to receive surgical interventions (percutaneous nephrostomy, abscess aspiration, ureteroscopic stone manipulation, lithotripsy, or nephrectomy). CONCLUSION: Structural abnormalities are not uncommon in ED patients with APN. Early assessment of these patients with EUS is likely to have a great impact on their diagnosis and management.

The suction-assisted laryngoscopy assisted decontamination technique toward successful intubation during massive vomiting simulation: A pilot before-after study.

This study demonstrated a training program of the suction-assisted laryngoscopy assisted decontamination (S.A.L.A.D.) technique for emergency medical technician paramedic (EMT-P). The effectiveness of the training program on the improvements of skills and confidence in managing soiled airway was evaluated.In this pilot before-after study, 41 EMT-P participated in a training program which consisted of 1 training course and 3 evaluation scenarios. The training course included lectures, demonstration, and practice and focused on how to perform endotracheal intubation in soiled airway with the S.A.L.A.D technique. The first scenario was performed on standard airway mannequin head with clean airway (control scenario). The second scenario (pre-training scenario) and the third scenario (post-training scenario) were performed in airway with simulated massive vomiting. The post-training scenario was applied immediately after the training course. All trainees were requested to perform endotracheal intubation for 3 times in each scenario. The "pass" of a scenario was defined as more than twice successful intubation in a scenario. The intubation time, count of successful intubation, pass rate, and the confidence in endotracheal intubation were evaluated.The intubation time in the post-training scenario was significantly shorter than that in the pre-training scenario (P = .031). The pass rate of the control, pre-training, and post-training scenario was 100%, 82.9%, and 92.7%, respectively. The proportion of trainees reporting confident or very confident in endotracheal intubation in soiled airway increased from 22.0% to 97.6% after the training program. Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed that the adjusted hazard ratio of successful intubation for post-training versus pre-training scenario was 2.13 (95% confidence interval of 1.57-2.91).The S.A.L.A.D. technique training could efficiently help EMT-P performing endotracheal intubation during massive vomiting simulation.

Acute urinary retention secondary to perforated diverticulitis misdiagnosed as acute prostatitis.

Abdominal abscess resulting from a perforated diverticulitis has never been reported as a cause of acute urinary retention. Our patient is the first case to be reported. Because of the atypical presentation, he was initially misdiagnosed and treated as having acute prostatitis. Emergency physicians should have a high index of suspicion. Detailed history, abdominal sonography, and digital examination are helpful in diagnosing this disease.

Effect of preceding medications on resuscitation outcome of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.

As evidence regarding the impact of preceding medications on resuscitation outcomes has been inconsistent, this study aimed to analyze the association between preceding medications and resuscitation outcomes in patients experiencing out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). This retrospective study included patients with OHCA presenting to a tertiary care hospital by emergency medical service (EMS) between January 2006 and June 2011. Using the Utstein template, data were collected from EMS and hospital medical records for prehospital care, in-hospital care, and medications which were taken continuously for at least 2 weeks preceding OHCA. Primary outcome was the proportion of patients with a survived event. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to evaluate the predictors of survived events. Among the 1381 included patients with OHCA, 552 (40.0%) patients achieved sustained return of spontaneous circulation and 463 (33.5%) patients survived after resuscitation, 96 (7.0%) patients survived until discharge, and 20 (1.4%) patients had a favorable neurological outcome at discharge. The multivariable analyses revealed that use of statins preceding OHCA was independently associated with a greater probability of a survived events (OR=2.09, 95% CI 1.08 to 4.03, p=0.028).Use of digoxin was adversely associated with survived events (OR=0.39, 95% CI 0.16 to 0.90, p=0.028) in patients with OHCA. The continuous use of statins preceding OHCA was positively associated with survived events, while use of digoxin was adversely related. It deserves more attention on medications preceding OHCA because of their potential effect on resuscitation outcomes.

A 5-Month-Old Infant with Right Scrotum Swelling; a Case Report.

Migration of the distal catheters of ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt is a rare event. Here, we report an unusual case of a 5-month-old infant with post-hemorrhagic hydrocephalus, who developed right scrotum swelling soon after VP shunting. Plain abdominal x-ray showed the shunt tubing, which was twisted and kinked in its distal portion and coiled in the right scrotum. The infant was operated on and managed with successful outcome.

Are new resuscitation guidelines better? Experience of an Asian metropolitan hospital.

INTRODUCTION: Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) guidelines were revised in 2005 based on new evidence and expert consensus. However, the benefits of the new guidelines remain undetermined and their influence has not been published in Asia. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of implementing the new resuscitation guidelines and identify factors that influence the discharge survival of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) patients in an Asian metropolitan city. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was an observational cohort study of all OHCA patients seen by the emergency medical service during the period before (Nov 2003 to Oct 2005) and after (May 2006 to Oct 2008) implementing the new resuscitation guidelines. Detailed clinical information was recorded using the Ustein style template. Statistical analysis was done using X2 test or t-test for univariate analysis and the logistic regression model for multivariate analysis. RESULTS: There were 463 patients before and 430 patients after the new guidelines who received resuscitation. The rate of recovery of spontaneous circulation (ROSC), survival-to-intensive care unit (ICU) admission, and survival-to-hospital discharge all showed no benefits regarding the new resuscitation guidelines (ROSC: 42% vs 39%, P = 0.32; Survival-to-ICU admission: 33% vs 30%, P = 0.27; survival-to-hospital discharge: 10% vs 7%, P = 0.09). The rate of ventricular fibrillation/pulseless ventricular tachycardia (VF/pulseless VT), rate of witnessed arrest, and rate of bystander CPR were much lower than in Western studies. After multivariate logistic regression, factors related to discharge survival were witnessed arrest and initial rhythm with VF/pulseless VT. The new resuscitation guidelines did not significantly influence the discharge survival. CONCLUSIONS: We did not observe any improvement in survival after implementing the new guidelines. Independent factors of survival-to-hospital discharge are witnessed arrest and initial rhythm with VF/pulseless VT. Because the rates of VF/pulseless VT and bystander CPR in Asia are low, popularising CPR training programmes and increasing the rate of bystander CPR may be more important for improving OHCA survival rates than frequent guideline changes.