Bedside Craniostomy and Serial Aspiration with an Intraosseous Drill/Needle to Temporize an Acute Epidural Hemorrhage with Mass Effect.

BACKGROUND: This report describes a technique for an immediate mechanical intervention using a familiar tool for emergency physicians and trauma surgeons to temporize acute epidural bleeding with mass effect. The Monro-Kellie Doctrine suggests that immediate removal of some blood will reduce intracranial pressure and mitigate some of the deleterious effects until the neurosurgeon can respond. CASE DESCRIPTION: A 38-year-old male with active extradural hemorrhage and expanding hemtoma with mass effect and herniation was treated at the bedside with an intraosseous drill to perform craniostomy and allow serial aspirations of continued bleeding. CONCLUSIONS: Bedside craniosotmy with an intraosseous drill can allow for immediate temporizing of a large epidural hemorrhage and be applied by emergency physicians and/or trauma specialists when neurosurgical consultation is delayed. Serial aspirations should be performed when hemorrhage is ongoing and until definitive evacuation is performed.

Interposed Abdominal Compression CPR for an Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest Victim Failing Traditional CPR.

Interposed abdominal compression cardiopulmonary resuscitation (IAC-CPR) is an alternative technique to traditional cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) that can improve perfusion and lead to restoration of circulation in patients with chest wall deformity either acquired through vigorous CPR or co-morbidity such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. We report a case of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest where IAC-CPR allowed for restoration of spontaneous circulation and eventual full neurologic recovery when traditional CPR was failing to generate adequate pulses with chest compression alone.

Sensitivity of emergency bedside ultrasound to detect hydronephrosis in patients with computed tomography-proven stones.

INTRODUCTION: Non-contrast computed tomography (CT) is widely regarded as the gold standard for diagnosis of urolithiasis in emergency department (ED) patients. However, it is costly, time-consuming and exposes patients to significant doses of ionizing radiation. Hydronephrosis on bedside ultrasound is a sign of a ureteral stone, and has a reported sensitivity of 72-83% for identification of unilateral hydronephrosis when compared to CT. The purpose of this study was to evaluate trends in sensitivity related to stone size and number. METHODS: This was a structured, explicit, retrospective chart review. Two blinded investigators used reviewed charts of all adult patients over a 6-month period with a final diagnosis of renal colic. Of these charts, those with CT evidence of renal calculus by attending radiologist read were examined for results of bedside ultrasound performed by an emergency physician. We included only those patient encounters with both CT-proven renal calculi and documented bedside ultrasound results. RESULTS: 125 patients met inclusion criteria. The overall sensitivity of ultrasound for detection of hydronephrosis was 78.4% [95% confidence interval (CI)=70.2-85.3%]. The overall sensitivity of a positive ultrasound finding of either hydronephrosis or visualized stones was 82.4% [95%CI: 75.6%, 89.2%]. Based on a prior assumption that ultrasound would detect hydronephrosis more often in patients with larger stones, we found a statistically significant (p=0.016) difference in detecting hydronephrosis in patients with a stone ≥6 mm (sensitivity=90% [95% CI=82-98%]) compared to a stone <6 mm (sensitivity=75% [95% CI=65-86%]). For those with 3 or more stones, sensitivity was 100% [95% CI=63-100%]. There were no patients with stones ≥6 mm that had both a negative ultrasound and lack of hematuria. CONCLUSION: In a population with CT-proven urolithiasis, ED bedside ultrasonography had similar overall sensitivity to previous reports but showed better sensitivity with increasing stone size and number. We identified 100% of patients with stones ≥6 mm that would benefit from medical expulsive therapy by either the presence of hematuria or abnormal ultrasound findings.

Endothelin-1 attenuates the hemodynamic response to exogenous epinephrine in a porcine ischemic ventricular fibrillation cardiac arrest model.

Endothelin-1 (ET-1) increases in the ischemically induced ventricular fibrillation (VF) swine model of cardiac arrest and affects outcome by potentially attenuating the hemodynamic response to epinephrine. Fifty-one swine underwent percutaneous left anterior descending occlusion. Seven minutes postonset of ischemic VF, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) was initiated. If VF persisted after 3 shocks, 1 mg of epinephrine was given. ET-1 (collected at baseline and every 5 min until VF onset) was assayed with ELISA. Bayesian multivariate logistic regression analysis compared peak ET-1 levels with the binary outcome of a positive coronary perfusion pressure response of >20 mmHg following epinephrine. Sixteen animals (31%) failed to achieve a positive response. Restoration of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) was observed in 1/16 (6.3%) of epinephrine nonresponders and 20/35 (57.1%) of epinephrine responders (P = 0.0006). The median peak ET-1 level was 2.71 pg/mL [interquartile range (IQR) 1.06-4.40] in nonresponders and 1.69 pg/mL (IQR 0.99-2.35) in responders. ET-1 levels were inversely associated with epinephrine response with a median posterior odds ratio (OR) of a coronary perfusion pressure response of 0.72 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.48-1.06) for each one-unit increase in ET-1 and a probability that the associated OR is <1 of 0.95. Peak ET-1 levels predict a lack of a hemodynamic response to epinephrine during treatment of cardiac arrest during ischemic VF.

Markers of progenitor cell recruitment and differentiation rise early during ischemia and continue during resuscitation in a porcine acute ischemia model.

Clinical administration of bone marrow-derived stem cells in the setting of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) leads to improved left ventricular ejection fraction. Thymosin beta-4 (TB4) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) are linked to adult epicardial progenitor cell mobilization and neovascularization and is cardioprotective after myocardial ischemia. This study investigated the time course of TB4 and VEGF during AMI, cardiac arrest, and resuscitation. Fifteen anesthetized and instrumented domestic swine underwent balloon occlusion of the proximal left anterior descending coronary artery. During occlusion, venous blood samples were collected from the right atrium at 5-min intervals until 15 min after the onset of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Plasma levels of TB4, VEGF, and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9, selected as a marker for remodeling and repair) were measured by ELISA. Generalized linear mixed models were employed to model the time-dependent change in plasma concentration. All variables were natural log transformed, except TB4 values, to normalize distributions. Fifteen animals successfully underwent balloon occlusion of the left anterior descending coronary artery and samples were collected from these subjects. The average onset of spontaneous ventricular fibrillation was 28 min. TB4, VEGF, and MMP-9 demonstrated a statistically significant, time-dependent increase in concentration during ischemia. Following arrest and throughout the first 15 min of resuscitation, MMP-9 had an unchanged rate of rise when compared with the prearrest, ischemic period, with VEGF showing a deceleration in its time-dependent concentration trajectory and TB4 demonstrating an acceleration. Endogenous TB4 and VEGF increase shortly after the onset of AMI and increase through cardiac arrest and resuscitation in parallel to remodeling proteases. These markers continue to rise during successful resuscitation and may represent an endogenous mechanism to recruit undifferentiated stem cells to areas of myocardial injury.

Treatment preferences: impact of risk and benefit in decision-making.

Understanding treatment preferences of seriously ill patients is complex. Previous studies have shown a correlation between the burden and outcome of a treatment and the likelihood a patient will accept a given intervention. In this study the Willingness to Accept Life Sustaining Treatment (WALT) survey was used in a predominantly Latino population receiving care at a large urban safety net hospital. Eligible patients were cared for by one of four clinics: (1) human immunodeficiency virus (HIV); (2) geriatrics; (3) oncology; or (4) cardiology. Hypothetical scenarios reflecting outcomes of resuscitation were presented and patients were given information on the burden and outcome of treatment. They were then given the option of accepting or declining treatment; 237 completed the survey. Patients in our study were willing to accept a high level of cognitive (vegetative state) and functional (bed-bound) impairment even when the chance of recovery was exceedingly low.

Racial/ethnic differences in bystander CPR in Los Angeles, California.

BACKGROUND: Bystander CPR (BCPR) has been demonstrated to improve rates of return of spontaneous circulation, survival to hospital admission, and quality of life in survivors. While previous studies have shown that African Americans are less likely to receive BCPR than Caucasians even after adjusting for variables such as socioeconomic status, BCPR rates in Latinos have not been reported. OBJECTIVE: To describe BCPR rates in an urban African American and Latino population as compared to Caucasians. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of the Cardiac Arrest Resuscitation Evaluation in Los Angeles (CARE-LA) database combined with the California Death Statistical Master File (CDSMF). The combined database included location, race/ethnicity/ethnic background, witnessed status, socioeconomic status, and other variables that have previously been associated with differing rates of BCPR. RESULTS: There were 814 individuals included in the final study group (53% Caucasian, 28% African American, 19% Latino). African Americans and Latinos were younger than the Caucasians, had more events in the home and had a bystander CPR rate of 13% compared to 24% for the Caucasians (OR=0.47 (95%CI: 0.30-0.74) for African Americans and OR=0.48 (95%CI:0.28-0.80) for the Latinos). Bystander CPR was found to be an independent predictor of survival to hospital discharge and, after adjustment, Latino ethnicity was associated with lower rates of bystander CPR (OR 0.45 (95%CI:0.22-0.92)). CONCLUSION: After adjusting for other variables, Latinos in Los Angeles receive bystander CPR at approximately half the rate of Caucasians.

The presence of an Emergency Airway Response Team and its effects on in-hospital Code Blue.

The survival rate from in-hospital cardiac arrest due to pulseless electrical activity (PEA)/asystole in our institution was higher than expected (70%). It was the impression of the Emergency Department-led Code Blue Team (CBT) that many of these patients were actually suffering respiratory arrests before their cardiac events. To address this, the facility developed an early intervention team focused on early airway intervention-the Emergency Airway Response Team (EART). The objective of this study was to assess the effect of early intervention in patients during the "pre-Code Blue" period, specifically with regard to airway stabilization. Our hypothesis was that there would be fewer CBT calls (cardiac arrests) due to PEA and asystole and that the survival from these events would decrease. This was a retrospective review of all cardiac arrests responded to by the CBT and EART for a period of 2 years. Charts were reviewed for the initial presenting rhythm (as defined by the Utstein Format) and event survival for the 12-month period immediately before and immediately after the establishment of the EART (Time Periods 1 and 2, respectively). The total number of CBT calls decreased by 15%, return of spontaneous circulation from any rhythm decreased by 9%, and survival to discharge decreased by 8% (p = non-significant). The number of CBT calls specifically for asystole/PEA decreased by 8%. Deaths in hospital were significantly associated with Period 2 (odds ratio 1.84; 95% confidence interval 1.03-3.28) after adjusting for age, gender, and presenting rhythms. The total number of CBT calls decreased slightly with the creation of the Emergency Airway Response Team. Return of spontaneous circulation and survival to hospital discharge after cardiac arrest due to asystole/PEA were significantly decreased, suggesting early intervention may have benefit.

Paramedic knowledge, attitudes, and training in end-of-life care.

INTRODUCTION: Paramedics often are asked to care for patients at the end of life. To do this, they must communicate effectively with family and caregivers, understand their legal obligations, and know when to withhold unwanted interventions. The objectives of this study were to ascertain paramedics' attitudes toward end-of-life (EOL) situations and the frequency with which they encounter them; and to compare paramedics' preparation during training for a variety of EOL care skills. METHODS: A written survey was administered to a convenience sample of paramedics in two cities: Denver, Colorado and Los Angeles, California. Questions addressed: (1) attitudes toward EOL decision-making in prehospital settings; (2) experience (number of EOL situations experienced in the past two years); (3) importance of various EOL tasks in clinical practice (pronouncing and communicating death, ending resuscitation, honoring advance directives (ADs)); and (4) self-assessed preparation for these EOL tasks. For each task, importance and preparation were measured using a four-point Likert scale. Proportions were compared using McNemar chi-square statistics to identify areas of under- or over-preparation. RESULTS: Two hundred thirty-six paramedics completed the survey. The mean age was 39 years (range 22-59 years), and 222 (94%) were male. Twenty percent had >20 years of experience. Almost all participants (95%; 95% CI = 91-97%) agreed that prehospital providers should honor field ADs, and more than half (59%; 95% CI = 52-65%) felt that providers should honor verbal wishes to limit resuscitation at the scene. Ninety-eight percent of the participants (95% CI = 96-100%) had questioned whether specific life support interventions were appropriate for patients who appeared to have a terminal disease. Twenty-six percent (95% CI = 20-32%) reported to have used their own judgment during the past two years to withhold or end resuscitation in a patient who appeared to have a terminal disease. Significant discrepancies between the importance in practice and the level of preparation during training for the four EOL situations included: (1) understanding ADs (75% very important vs. 40% well prepared; difference 35%: 95% CI = 26-43%); (2) knowing when to honor written ADs (90% very important vs. 59% well-prepared; difference 31%: 95% CI = 23-38%); and (3) verbal ADs (75% very important vs. 54%well-prepared, difference 21%: 95% CI = 12-29%); and (4) communicating death to family or friends (79% very important vs. 48% well prepared, difference 31%: 95% CI = 23-39%). Paramedics' preparation in EOL skills was significantly lower than that for clinical skills such as endotracheal intubation or defibrillation. CONCLUSIONS: There is a need to include more training in EOL care into prehospital training curricula, including how to verify and apply ADs, when to withhold treatments, and how to discuss death with victims' family or friends.

Activity sampling in the assessment of patients with total joint arthroplasty.

Quantitative assessment of patient activity is important in evaluating the outcomes of joint prostheses, and such methods are gaining popularity. The single greatest impediment to quantitative activity assessment is patient compliance. How many days of sampling are necessary to provide reliable and accurate estimates of walking activity? The current study analyzes how well sampling for 4 consecutive days of activity compares to assessing activity for 7 or more days with the same pedometer in 131 patients with either a total hip or total knee prosthesis. The mean steps per day obtained throughout the full-length sampling (7-123 days) was strongly correlated to the one obtained from the random consecutive 4-day sample (r2 = 0.94, P < .001) with only 5 outliers. The 4-day activity assessment gave an underestimation of 4.7% (P = .5). The number of outliers increased with fewer days of sampling. Monitoring activity for 4 consecutive days yields a quantitative assessment that is within 5% of a sampling of 7 or more days.

A prospective, population-based study of the epidemiology and outcome of out-of-hospital pediatric cardiopulmonary arrest.

BACKGROUND: This study reports the epidemiologic features, survival rates, and neurologic outcomes of the largest population-based series of pediatric out-of-hospital cardiopulmonary arrest patients with prospectively collected data. METHODS: Secondary analysis of data from a prospective, interventional trial of out-of-hospital pediatric airway management conducted from 1994 to 1997 (Gausche M, Lewis RJ, Stratton SJ, et al. JAMA. 2000;283:783-790). Consecutive out-of-hospital patients from 2 large urban counties in California <12 years old or 40 kg in bodyweight who were determined by paramedics to be pulseless and apneic were included. Main outcome measures included survival to hospital discharge, patient demographics, arrest etiology, arrest rhythm, event intervals, and neurologic outcomes. RESULTS: In 599 patients, 601 events were studied (54% were <1 year old, 58% were male). Return of spontaneous circulation was achieved in 29%; 25% were admitted to the hospital, and 8.6% (51) survived to hospital discharge. The most prevalent etiologies were sudden infant death syndrome and trauma; these resulted in relatively higher mortality. Respiratory etiologies and submersions followed; these resulted in relatively lower mortality. Twenty-six percent of the arrests were witnessed by citizens, and an additional 8% were witnessed by rescue personnel. Witnessed arrests had a higher survival rate (16%). Thirty-one percent of patients received bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation, which was not demonstrated to result in improved survival rates. Arrest rhythms were asystole (67%), pulseless electrical activity (24%), and ventricular fibrillation (9%); children with the latter 2 rhythms had better survival rates. One third of the survivors (16 of 51) had good neurologic outcome, none of whom received >3 doses of epinephrine or were resuscitated for >31 minutes in the emergency department. CONCLUSIONS: The 8.6% survival rate after out-of-hospital pediatric cardiopulmonary arrest is poor. Administration of >3 doses of epinephrine or prolonged resuscitation is futile.

Knee strength after total knee arthroplasty.

Fifty-two knees in normal healthy subjects and 32 knees more than 2 years after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) were evaluated. Average isometric extension peak torque values in TKA patients were reduced by up to 30.7% (P=.01). Isometric flexion peak torque values in patients with TKA were, on average, 32.2% lower than those from control subjects throughout the motion arc (P=.004). Knee Society Functional Scores were positively correlated to the average isometric extension peak torque (r=0.57; P=.004) and negatively correlated to the average isometric hamstring to quadriceps (H/Q) ratio (r=-0.78, P<.0001). Relatively greater quadriceps strength was associated with a better functional score. Older TKA patients (>/=70 years) generated lower isometric extension peak torque values in terminal extension than younger TKA patients (>24.2%; P=.05). Higher body mass index (BMI) was associated with relative quadriceps weakness (r=0.44; P=.007). These results suggest that more thorough rehabilitation after TKA would improve functional outcomes.

The effect of total knee arthroplasty design on extensor mechanism function.

The effect of total knee arthroplasty design on extensor mechanism function was evaluated prospectively in a consecutive, single-surgeon series. Group 1 knees (n = 83) were implanted with a prosthesis that has a multiradius femoral component, and group 2 knees (n = 101) were implanted with a femoral prosthesis that has a single flexion-extension axis. Group 2 knees gained flexion more rapidly: At 6 weeks, the average flexion for was 94.5 degrees for group 1 and 107.1 degrees for group 2 (P<.001). Significantly more patients with group 2 knees were able to arise from a 16-inch (low) chair without using their arms starting at 6 weeks, and a difference was maintained through 2 years (90% vs 73%; P=.003). Patients with group 2 knees had significantly less anterior knee pain when rising from a seated position starting at 6 weeks, and a difference was maintained through 2 years (1% vs 22%; P=.001).