Survival and neurological status after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in the pediatric population in Andalusia.

OBJECTIVE: Little is known about the evolution and long-term neurological status of pediatric patients who survive out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. Our aim is to describe long-term survival and neurological status. DESIGN: Retrospective observational study, based on the Andalusian Register of out-of-hospital Cardiac Arrest. SETTING: Pre-hospital Care. PATIENTS: The study included patients aged 0-15 years between January 2008 and December 2012. INTERVENTIONS: Patients follow up. VARIABLES: Prehospital and hospital care variables were analyzed and one-year follow-up was performed, along with a specific follow-up of survivors in June 2014. RESULTS: Of 5069 patients included in the register, 125 (2.5%) were aged ≤15 years. Cardiac arrest was witnessed in 52.8% of cases and resuscitation was performed in 65.6%. The initial rhythm was shockable in 7 (5.2%) cases. Nearly half (48.8%) the patients reached the hospital alive, of whom 20% did so while receiving resuscitation maneuvers. Only 9 (7.2%) patients survived to hospital discharge; 5 showed ad integrum recovery and 4 showed significant neurological impairment. The 5 patients with complete recovery continued their long-term situation. The remaining 4 patients, although slight improvement, were maintained in situation of neurological disability. CONCLUSIONS: Survival after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in pediatric patients was low. The long-term prognosis of survivors with good neurological recovery remains, although improvement in the rest was minimal.

[Results of an artificial airway management protocol in critical patients subjected to mechanical ventilation]. / Resultados de un protocolo de manejo sobre la vía aérea artificial en pacientes críticos sometidos a ventilación mecánica.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the results of the implementation of a protocol in an intensive care unit (ICU) referred to critically ill patients requiring a prolonged artificial airway. DESIGN: A prospective, observational cohort study was carried out. INTERVENTION: Management strategies were established on the airway by endotracheal intubation (ETI) or tracheostomy, and guidelines were developed for action in the decannulation process. SETTING: A polyvalent ICU. PATIENTS: We studied 169 patients subjected to mechanical ventilation (MV), 67 with ETI ≥ 10 days of MV and 102 with percutaneous (PT) or surgical tracheostomy (TQ). VARIABLES OF INTEREST: ICU and hospital stays, days of ETI and MV, mortality, tracheostomy, anatomical risk factors, surgical complications, and postoperative decannulation period. RESULTS: ETI versus tracheotomy involved fewer days of MV (17 vs. 30 days, p<0.001), a shorter ICU stay (20 vs. 35 days, p<0.001), and a shorter hospital stay (34 vs. 51 days, p<0.001).There were more TQ procedures in patients with risk factors (47% TP vs. 89% TQ, p<0.001). Intraoperative minor bleeding was the most common complication, being associated with TQ (31% vs. 11%, p = 0.03). TP was associated with a shorter cannulationperiod (25 days vs. 34 days, p<0.04). CONCLUSIONS: The protocol variants showed no differences in terms of complications and mortality, when orienting application to patients with similar characteristics.

[Circadian rhythm and time variations in out-hospital sudden cardiac arrest]. / Ritmo circadiano y variaciones temporales en el paro cardiaco súbito extrahospitalario.

OBJECTIVES: To analyze the chronobiological and time variations of out- hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). DESIGN: A retrospective descriptive study was made. PATIENTS: All cases of OHCA of cardiac origin registered over 18 months in the database of the emergency medical service (EMS) of the Autonomous Community of Castilla y León (Spain) were evaluated. VARIABLES ANALYZED: Age, sex, recovery of spontaneous circulation (ROSC), first monitored rhythm (amenable / not amenable to defibrillation), alert site [(home, public place, primary care (PC) center], alerting person (family, witness, law enforcement member, PC center staff), alert time (0-8; 8-16; 16-24), emergency team activation time, care time and day of the week. Univariate analysis (chi-squared), variance, and nonparametric tests comparing the variables in three periods of 8 hours. Chronobiological analysis by fast Fourier transform and Cosinor testing. RESULTS: We studied 1286 cases reported between January 2007 and June 2008. Statistically significant differences were observed in terms of younger age, higher incidence in the victim's home, and greater frequency of family-cohabiting persons as witnesses in the period between 0 and 8 hours. Chronobiological analysis found daily rhythm (circadian) with acrophase at 11.16 h (p<0.001) and weekly rhythm (circaseptan) with acrophase on Wednesday (p<0.05). The median alert time-care time interval and emergency team activation time-care time were 11.7 min and 8.0 min, respectively, without differences between periods. CONCLUSIONS: We have demonstrated the presence of a daily rhythm of emergence of OHCA with a morning peak and a weekly rhythm with a peak on Wednesdays. These results can guide the planning of resources and improvements in response in certain time periods.

[ILCOR 2010 recommendations. The evidence evaluation process in resuscitation]. / Recomendaciones ILCOR 2010. El proceso de evaluación de la evidencia en resucitación.

The consensus document on the Science of Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiac Care with ILCOR Treatment Recommendations is an invaluable tool for quickly, simply and rigorously establishing the evidence on which the Resuscitation Guidelines 2010 are fundamented. We present a method that has been used in the review process according to evidence-based medicine, which can be considered a role model for both individual and collective use in clinical practice, not only in the field of resuscitation but also in other areas of medicine.

[News in basic life support and semi-automated external defibrillation]. / Novedades en soporte vital básico y desfibrilación externa semiautomática.

During resuscitation, basic life support (BLS) and automated external defibrillation refer to maneuvers designed to maintain airway patency and support breathing and circulation without equipment other than a barrier device and the use of an automated external defibrillator (AED). We present some of the most important developments incorporated to the new international recommendations for resuscitation 2010. Aspects related to prevention and early detection of cardiac arrest are highlighted, along with the important role of dispatchers of emergency medical services, the importance of high quality CPR and programs of public access defibrillation. We likewise describe sequences of action and basic life support algorithms, and semi-automated external defibrillation.

[Novelties in advanced life support]. / Novedades en soporte vital avanzado.

We present some of the most important developments in advanced life support incorporating the new international recommendations for resuscitation 2010. The study highlights aspects related to prevention and early detection of in-hospital cardiac arrest, resuscitation in the hospital, the new advanced life support algorithm, the techniques and devices for cardiopulmonary resuscitation, post-resuscitation care, assessment of the prognosis of patients who survive initially, and specific aspects of non-beating heart organ donation and the creation of cardiac arrest referral centers.

[Novelities in resuscitation training methods]. / Novedades en métodos formativos en resucitación.

The importance of cardiac arrest as a health problem makes training in resuscitation a topic of great interest. It is necessary to enhance resuscitation training for all citizens, starting in schools and institutes, targeting teachers and nurses for training, to in turn become future trainers. The model of short courses with video-instruction and the use of mannequins is useful for the dissemination of resuscitation techniques. Liberalization of the use of automated external defibrillators (AED) and reduction of the training requirements in basic life support and AED for those non-health professionals who can use them, seems appropriate. Training must be improved in schools of medicine and nursing schools at undergraduate level. Health professionals should be trained according to their needs, with emphasis on non-technical skills such as leadership and teamwork. The model based on the use of trainers and low-fidelity mannequins remains a basic and fundamental element in training. Training through performance evaluation is a technique that should be implemented in all areas where cases of cardiac arrest are seen and the healthcare team has intervened. Simulation appears to be defined as the current and future modality for training in various medical areas, including of course the important field of resuscitation. Lastly, research in resuscitation training should be considered an example of translational science, where rigorous studies of skill acquisition with outcome measures serve to transfer the results to the clinical environment for analysis of their impact upon patient care.

Almitrine in acute respiratory failure. Effects on pulmonary gas exchange and circulation.

The effects of almitrine administration on pulmonary gas exchange and pulmonary and systemic hemodynamics were assessed in eight patients with severe acute respiratory failure (ARF) secondary to sepsis or shock. A control group of five patients not receiving the drug were submitted to the same protocol. All the patients were sedated, paralyzed, and mechanically ventilated. Measurements were made before (BASELINE), during (ALM 15), at the end of (ALM 30), and at 30 minute intervals after (POSTALM 30, 60, 90, 120) the intravenous (IV) infusion of 0.5 mg/kg body weight of almitrine in 30 minutes. Almitrine produced an increase in PaO2 from 86 +/- 14 (BASELINE) to 129 +/- 69 (ALM 15) and 129 +/- 86 mm Hg (ALM 30). The PaO2 quickly declined after stopping the infusion. The P(A-a)O2 and QVA/QT decreased with almitrine administration. The Ppa and QT increased transiently at ALM 30. We conclude that IV almitrine improves gas exchange and may be useful in the management of ARF.

Acute polyneuropathy in critically ill patients.

We studied five patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) with acute polyneuropathy. All had previously presented severe infectious processes, accompanied by diverse organ failure accompanied by the Adult Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) in all cases. Two patients died and the three survivors suffered severe motor deficiencies. Electromyographic studies revealed axonal damage which predominantly affected motor neurons. Cerebrospinal fluid was normal in all the patients except one, who showed a moderate increase of lymphocytes. The common causes of polyneuropathy were excluded, but in all cases a nutritional disorder was detected, based on laboratory values of proteins, serum albumin and transferrin. We conclude that polyneuropathy is relatively frequent among critically ill patients and must be closely monitored because of diagnostic difficulties and the repercussions on the progress of these patients. In spite of uncertainties about its cause, it appears to be related to severe infectious processes, ARDS, and nutritional disorders.

[Characteristics of acute myocardial infarction patients treated with mechanical ventilation. Data from the ARIAM Registry]. / Características de los pacientes con infarto agudo de miocardio sometidos a ventilación mecánica. Datos del registro ARIAM.

INTRODUCTION: Scarce information is available about the use, clinical course and follow-up of patients with acute myocardial infarction treated with mechanical ventilation. PATIENTS AND METHOD: Historical cohort study of patients with acute myocardial infarction, included in Spanish registry ARIAM. Differences in clinical characteristics and prognosis from patients treated with or without mechanical ventilation were compared. RESULTS: Three hundred and thirty-three of the 4143 patients (8.1%) with acute myocardial infarction were treated with mechanical ventilation. Treated patients were older, more frequently female, and had more frequently reinfarcts, anterior infarction, Killip III and IV, and higher creatine phosphokinase peak. Diabetes and high blood pressure were more frequent in those in which the technique was applied. They had a higher mortality at the coronary care unit (65.7 vs 5.1%; p < 0.001) than the non-ventilated patients. In multivariate analysis, creatine phosphokinase peak levels higher than 1.200 units/ml, Killip III and IV, and an infarction localization different to inferior were independent predictors of mechanical ventilation application. The 220 treated patients who died were older, more frequently female, had been more frequently admitted to the coronary unit, and had Killip IV whereas Killip III was more frequent among survivors. In multivariate analysis, restricted to patients treated with mechanical ventilation, Killip III was an independent predictor of survival with an odds ratio for mortality of 0.26 (CI 95%: 0.09-0.77). CONCLUSIONS: Mechanical ventilation is a vital support technique employed in a significant number of complicated acute myocardial infarction patients. The high mortality of these patients was related to more extended myocardial infarction and a worse clinical state.

[Menu design for total parenteral nutrition: simplified model derived from a computerized system]. / Diseño de menús de nutrición parenteral total: modelo simplificado derivado de un sistema informático.

After the design and use of a computerized system for the prescription of parenteral nutrition, the authors drew up clinical choice tables, as well as others of a pharmaceutical elaboration, based on the same algorithm of the computer program. The conclusion reached was that the nutrition selection process based on these tables is simpler, saves more time, is based on a logical plan of decision making and does not need a computer support.

[The recommendations regarding non-ST segment elevation acute coronary syndrome have been reviewed. SEMICYUC. Spanish Society for Intensive Medicine, Critical Care and Coronary Units]. / Recomendaciones para el diagnóstico y tratamiento del síndrome coronario agudo sin elevación del segmento ST. SEMICYUC. Sociedad Española de Medicina Intensiva, Crítica y Unidades Coronarias.

These recommendations are designed to be of assistance to doctors in ICUs when making first evaluations of these patients. They are mainly intended to assist with early diagnosis, risk stratification and initial treatment. The need for individualised treatment is at present one of the main objectives in the management of Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS), with or without ST elevation, and this is why we believe the recommendations should be of a predominantly practical nature, given that they affect decision making in the day to day practice of medicine.