Chest Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Research Articles

Atrial Cannulation During Resuscitative Clamshell Thoracotomy.

Resuscitative thoracotomy and clamshell thoracotomy are performed in the setting of traumatic arrest with the intent of controlling hemorrhage, relieving tamponade, and providing open chest cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Historically, return of spontaneous circulation rates for penetrating traumatic arrest as well as out of hospital survival have been reported as low as 40% and 10%. Vascular access can be challenging in patients who have undergone a traumatic arrest and can be a limiting step to effective resuscitation. Atrial cannulation is a well-established surgical technique in cardiac surgery. Herein, we present a case series detailing our application of this technique in the context of acute trauma resuscitation during clamshell thoracotomy for traumatic arrest in the emergency department. A retrospective case series of atrial cannulation during traumatic arrest was conducted in Charlotte, NC at Carolinas Medical Center an urban level 1 trauma center. The mean rate of return of spontaneous circulation in our series, 60%, was greater than previously published upper limit of return of spontaneous circulation for penetrating causes of traumatic arrest. Intravenous access can be difficult to establish in the hypovolemic and exsanguinating patient. Traditional methods of vascular access may be insufficient in the setting of central vascular injury. Atrial appendage cannulation during atrial cannulation is a quick and reliable technique to achieve vascular access that employs common methods from cardiac surgery to improve resuscitation of traumatic arrest.

Successful ECMO-assisted open chest cardiopulmonary resuscitation in a postpartum patient with delayed amniotic fluid embolism

BackgroundAmniotic fluid embolism (AFE) is a rare but potentially dangerous severe obstetrics complication, which is accompanied by an incidence between 1.9 and 6.1 per 100,000 births.Case presentationHere, we report an AFE case after cesarean delivery diagnosed on a cardiac arrest complicated by acute respiratory distress syndrome and coagulopathy. Diagnosis, risk factors and pathophysiology for AFE have been fully discussed, besides, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in the early management of cardiac arrest was used, describing the indication, efficacy and successful performed of open-chest cardiopulmonary resuscitation for the patient.ConclusionIn AFE with cute cardiovascular collapse, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support can be considered as the alternative therapies.

Retrospective study of gross and histopathologic lesions associated with closed chest cardiopulmonary resuscitation in dogs.

To investigate and characterise the incidence of iatrogenic complications secondary to closed chest cardiopulmonary resuscitation in dogs. Necropsy reports and histologic sections of tissues were retrospectively examined from 180 dogs that had received closed chest cardiopulmonary resuscitation to determine lesions associated with resuscitation. The most common complication was pulmonary haemorrhage (81/163, 49.7%, 95% confidence interval: 42.1 to 57.3), although only nine dogs had pulmonary haemorrhage of at least moderate severity. Liver fractures occurred in 16 of 180 cases (8.9%, 95% confidence interval: 5.5 to 14.0). Blood loss of >15% of blood volume into the abdomen and/or thorax occurred in 13 of 180 cases (7.2%, 95% confidence interval: 4.2 to 12.1). Significant haemorrhage secondary to cardiopulmonary resuscitation may decrease the chances of achieving the return of spontaneous circulation or may cause or compound ischemic damage to critical organs if the return of spontaneous circulation is achieved. Following successful cardiopulmonary resuscitation, animals should be screened for cavitary or pulmonary haemorrhage, as significant haemorrhage could be a factor in recurrence of cardiac arrest.

A Morphometric Study of Adult Human Sterna from the Galloway Osteological Collection

Background: Morphometric knowledge of the sternum is of great significance in cardiac surgery as variations in sternal dimensions have been considered a risk factor for translocation of suture material during median sternotomy, leading to poor outcomes. Fatalities attributed to subnor- mal sternal thickness have also been reported during sternal biopsies. Fractures of the sternum secondary to chest injury or cardio-pulmonary resuscitation may also be influenced by sternal thickness. Elongated xiphoid process can be mistaken for an epigastric mass which can be painful on palpation. Morphometric studies of African sterna are rare. The objective is to the study sought to describe the morphometry of adult sterna from the Galloway bone collection, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda. Subjects and Methods: This study employed a descriptive cross sectional design to collect and analyze quantitative data. Eighty five dry adult sterna (75 males and 10 females) were examined at the Department of Human Anatomy, Makerere University. Data analysis at univariate and bivariate levels were performed using SPSS version 21.0 statistical software. Results:A significant difference in the average length of the mesosternum was found between males at 94.6 mm (SD 11.2) and females at 82.2 mm (SD 15.2) (P=0.002). Two cases (9.5%) presented with elongated xiphoid process and one (1.2%) with subnormal mesosternal thickness. Conclusions: Our study highlights the importance of knowledge of the sternal morphometry in sex identification, physical examination, sternal puncture and other thoracic procedures, calling for increased awareness of the findings.

Abstract 142: Evaluation of Clinical Efficacy and Safety of a Newly Developed Automated Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Device; A Porcine Cardiac Arrest Model

Background: Various automated compression device (ACD) have been adopted by emergency medical services (EMS) worldwide to ensure cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) quality. We developed a new ACD with a manual adjustment function according to compression depth and rate. This study aimed to compare the CPR quality and chest injury caused between the new ACD and a conventional device (LUCAS, Physio-Control, Sweden). Methods: A randomized experimental trial using each eight pigs for ACD and Lucas group were performed to compare the CPR quality, outcomes, and safety. After 1-minute of untreated electrical-induced ventricular fibrillation, followed by 8-minutes of basic life support, and 20-minutes of advanced cardiac life support including epinephrine infusion were provided under mechanical ventilation. Hemodynamic parameters were obtained and observed end-tidal CO2 (ETCO2) were continuously measured from endotracheal tube as study outcome. Mixed model analysis and repeated measure ANOVA were used to compare the difference of hemodynamic parameters and observed ETCO2. We examined the all pigs for gross pathologic findings (number of lung contusion, laceration, bone fracture, and hematoma in the thoracic cavity) after CPR procedures through open thoracotomy. Results: There was no significant difference for hemodynamic parameters such as mean arterial pressure, 29.4 mmHg in ACD group versus 35.3 mmHg in Lucas group (p-value= 0.39). Observed ETCO2 between ACD and Lucas group were 18.0 and 26.8 mmHg (p-value=0.24). Repeated measure ANOVA for observed ETCO2 did not show significant difference (17.6 versus 26.0, p-value= 0.29). The gross pathologic findings through open thoracotomy examination after CPR showed insignificant difference of injury number in chest cavity and wall (7.63 versus 9.38, p-value= 0.49). Conclusions: Hemodynamic parameters and observed ETCO2 were slightly better in Lucas group than new ACD group. However, the statistical significances were not found in the porcine experimental mechanical models.

Forensic Aspects of Probable Life-Threatening Complications of Closed Chest Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation in Non-Traumatic Patients

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)is a life-saving procedure that can also cause many life-threatening injuries to patients. The complications that can arise from the application of CPR are confronted by the existing legal system as a medical error and since forensic pathologists often encounter various types of CPR-related injuries during autopsies, they must be able to distinguish between CPR-related injuries and those caused by other factors. The aim of the present study was to analyze the findings of autopsy reports of patients who received CPR to determine the frequency of its related life-threatening injuries and to determine the possible factors that affect and increase the risk of these injuries. The study included 58 non-traumatic death cases that had undergone CPR and CPR-related injuries were determined based on X ray CT interpretation reports. The results concluded that the advanced life support was provided in the vast majority of cases (70.7%). The mean duration of CPR provided was (22.0 ± 12.35 & 21.5 ± 13.56 min.) in males and females respectively and defibrillation procedure took place in 79.3% of cases.The most common complications detected were the thoracic cage complications where the costal injuries were the most frequent complications in 48.4% of cases, mid-clavicular rib fracture was the most frequent one and 66.7% of sternal fractures were detected at the level of the third rib. Males were more susceptible to rib and sternal fractures than females. The factors of age, gender and CPR duration were found to have an effect on the increased risk of life-threatening injuries. The risk of injury increases especially when the compression depth exceeded 6 cm. and CPR duration exceeds 30 min. The present study concluded that CPR complications may decrease the patient’s chance of survival and can cause death by itself. The present study recommend detailed post-mortem studies on CPR related life-threatening injuries on a trial of their prevention.

“Do-not-resuscitate orders: a clinical ethics perspective” medicolegal and bioethics

Closed chest cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), having been so successful after its introduction in the operating room for saving lives of anesthetized patients, was adopted for use in the intensive care units, then hospital-wide, and finally to out of hospital patients. This has lead to ethical dilemmas involving patients who must themselves request discontinuation of artificial organ function devices and treatments, or placing family members in the difficult positions of having to make those decisions for their unconscious and suffering relatives. In this review, the Ethical principles on which physicians, hospitals, patients, and surrogate decision makers rely in order to apply their perceived moral obligations to provide patient safety, comfort, and treatment are examined with particular emphasis on do not resuscitate orders (DNR). It is clear that DNR does not equate with do not treat.

Clinical Ethics of the Do-Not-Resuscitate (DNR) Order and Other Advanced Directives in Anesthesia and ICU

Closed chest cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), having been so successful after its introduction in the operating room for saving lives of anesthetized patients, was adopted for use in the intensive care units, then hospital-wide, and finally to out of hospital patients. This has lead to ethical dilemmas involving patients who must themselves request discontinuation of artificial organ function devices and treatments, or placing family members in the difficult positions of having to make those decisions for their unconscious and suffering relatives. In this review, the Ethical principles on which physicians, hospitals, patients, and surrogate decision makers rely in order to apply their perceived moral obligations to provide patient safety, comfort, and treatment are examined with particular emphasis on do not resuscitate orders (DNR). It is clear that DNR does not equate with do not treat.

Measured Progress in Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation.

> “…inspiration is easy. Implementation is the hard part.” > > –Bob Taylor, Taylor Guitars Eight months after Kouwenhoven et al1 published their 1960 landmark report of successful closed chest cardiac compressions for 2 children and 2 adults who developed perioperative cardiac arrest,1 a cardiologist provided that same closed chest cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) in the operating suite after my 4-year-old brother experienced cardiac arrest during induction of anesthesia. My brother is alive today because of published resuscitation science applied to practice. In 1961, Peter Safar proposed combining mouth-to-mouth ventilation with closed chest compressions in a poster for the Pennsylvania chapter of the American Heart Association (AHA), and the ABCs of CPR were born. In 1966, the National Academy of Sciences–National Research Council conference on CPR charged the AHA with teaching CPR to healthcare providers. In 1973, the second conference on CPR and Emergency Cardiovascular Care recommended expanding teaching of CPR to the lay public. This conference also recommended that the AHA establish resuscitation guidelines based on scientific data and develop standards for basic and advanced life support training. The American Red Cross and other organizations, such as the Citizen CPR Foundation, soon supported the lay rescuer CPR training effort. Great enthusiasm existed for the potential of CPR, but little scientific data on which to base recommendations, with more emphasis on teaching CPR skills than on measuring CPR outcomes. By 1991, the chain of survival provided a metaphor for the priorities of resuscitation and training, emphasizing early bystander recognition of cardiac arrest and access to the emergency medical …

Outcome of patients receiving CPR in the ED of an urban academic hospital

BackgroundThe success of Closed Chest Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CC-CPR) degrades with prolonged times. Open Chest CPR (OC-CPR) is an alternative that may lead to superior coronary and cerebral perfusion. It is critical to determine when continued CC-CPR is unlikely to be successful to justify initiating OC-CPR as rescue therapy. The purpose of this study is to review CC-CPR outcomes to define a time threshold for attempting OC-CPR. MethodsWe identified all adult non-trauma patients diagnosed with cardiac arrest, ventricular fibrillation, ventricular tachycardia and asystole from 1/1/10-12/31/14. We collected demographics, cardiac rhythm, resuscitation duration, survival to hospital discharge and neurological outcome. Using time to ROSC after ED arrival and good neurological outcome, we explored various times as triggers for attempting OC-CPR. ResultsAmong 242 cases of CPR, 205 cases were out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). Mean age was 63.7 (±16.9),woman comprised 29.8% (72/242), and median prehospital CPR time was 30 min (20-44). Patients suffering ED arrest had improved ROSC (54.1% vs. 12.7%, p<0.001) and survival to hospital discharge rates (37.8% vs. 2.9%, p<0.001) compared to OHCA. Patients achieving ROSC had median total CPR duration of 18 minutes (10 minutes of pre-hospital CPR) compared with patients without ROSC who had 45 minutes (30 pre-hospital) respectively. No patient receiving > 10 minutes of CPR in the ED survived to hospital discharge. ConclusionIn patients suffering OHCA and requiring CC-CPR in the ED, overall survival rate to good neurologic function is low. OC-CPR could potentially be attempted after 10 minutes of CC-CPR in the ED.

The Physiology of Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation.

Outcomes after cardiac arrest remain poor more than a half a century after closed chest cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) was first described. This review article is focused on recent insights into the physiology of blood flow to the heart and brain during CPR. Over the past 20 years, a greater understanding of heart-brain-lung interactions has resulted in novel resuscitation methods and technologies that significantly improve outcomes from cardiac arrest. This article highlights the importance of attention to CPR quality, recent approaches to regulate intrathoracic pressure to improve cerebral and systemic perfusion, and ongoing research related to the ways to mitigate reperfusion injury during CPR. Taken together, these new approaches in adult and pediatric patients provide an innovative, physiologically based road map to increase survival and quality of life after cardiac arrest.

Chest compressions and cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Why do we need technical or physical training?

Chest compressions and cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Why do we need technical or physical training?

Resuscitation after cardiac arrest in a septic porcine model: adding vasopressin vs epinephrine alone administration.

BackgroundVasopressin administration has been tested in cardiac arrest. However it has not been tested when cardiac arrest occurs in certain circumstances, as in sepsis, where it may have a major role. The aim of the study was to investigate survival after cardiac arrest in a septic porcine model compared with healthy animals and to explore the effectiveness of adding vasopressin vs epinephrine alone administration.MethodsThirty five healthy piglets of both genders were studied. The piglets were randomly assigned into three groups: group A (n = 8), group B (n = 14), group C (n = 13). Animals of groups B and C were given endotoxin to mimic a septic state before arrest. We applied the same resuscitation protocol to all pigs but we replaced the first dose of epinephrine with vasopressin in pigs of group C. Following surgical preparation and 30 min resting period, baseline measurements were recorded. In order to assess tissue oxygenation, we implemented Near Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS) with the vascular occlusion technique (VOT) in thirteen lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated animals, occluding abdominal aorta and inferior vena cava. Afterwards, LPS (100 μg/kg) was infused in a 30 min period to animals of groups B and C and normal saline to group A. New NIRS measurements were obtained again. Subsequently, we provoked ventricular fibrillation (VF). After 3 min of untreated VF, open chest cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) was performed manually. Primary end point was the restoration of spontaneous circulation (ROSC).ResultsThe chance of ROSC for the groups A, B and C was 75%, 35.7%, and 30.7% respectively. A significant difference in ROSC was established between septic (group B + C) and non septic piglets (group A) (P = 0.046). Vasopressin administration had no effect in outcome. LPS administration decreased oxygen consumption rate, as assessed by NIRS, in peripheral tissues (22.6 ± 7.2. vs 18.5 ± 7.2, P = 0.07).ConclusionSeptic piglets have fewer chances to survive after cardiac arrest. No difference in outcome was observed when the first dose of epinephrine was replaced with vasopressin to treat cardiac arrest in the LPS-treated animals.

Modulation of nitric oxide expression with methylene blue does not improve outcome after hypovolemic cardiac arrest

Aim of the study We recently reported that female sex protects against cerebral and cardiac injury after hypovolemic cardiac arrest (CA), independent of sex hormone effects. As female sex was also associated with a smaller increase in inducible and neuronal nitric oxide synthase (NOS), we hypothesised that nitric oxide inhibition with methylene blue (MB) improves the outcome, primarily in male animals. Methods Twenty sexually immature piglets (10 males and 10 females) were bled to mean arterial blood pressure of 35 mmHg, and were subjected to 2 min of untreated CA followed by 8 min of open chest cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Volume resuscitation was started during CPR with intravenous administration of 3 ml kg −1 hypertonic saline-dextran. Methylene blue was then administered as bolus of 2.5 mg kg −1 over 20 min, followed by 1.5 mg kg −1 infusion over 40 min. Historical data from 21 animals were used as control (no MB). Hemodynamic parameters, myocardial injury (troponin I), and short-term survival (3-h) were evaluated. Histopathological evaluation of heart specimens was performed. Results There were no differences between male and female animals in survival or resuscitation rate. After CA female piglets had significantly greater systolic and mean arterial pressures, and had lower troponin I plasma concentrations compared to male piglets, with or without MB. No difference was observed in histopathological analysis of heart specimens between sexes. Conclusions After resuscitation from hypovolemic CA, female sex protects against cardiac injury, independent of sex hormones. Modulation of NO expression with MB does not improve survival or myocardial histological injury in either sex.

Characteristics of hemodynamics during closed chest cardiopulmonary resuscitation

Objective To study the hemodynamics during closed chest cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CCCPR) in dogs in order to unravel the mechanism. Method Twelve healthy mongrel dogs were selected to make animal model of ventricular fibrillation induced by electric shock on the chest wall. Closed-chest cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CCCPR) was initiated four minutes after ventricular fibrillation appeared according to American Heart Guidelines in 2005 for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiovascular Rescue. After CPR for 2 minutes, 1mg epinephrine was injected intravenously. The central venous pressure (CVP), the aortic pressure (AOP)and the invasive electrocardiogram (ECG) were used to monitor continuously before ventricular fibrillation and the entire course of CPR. The coronary perfusion pressure (CPP) was calculated. The changes in aortic diastolic pressure (ADP) and CPP produced by chest compression or the injection of epinephrine were analyzed. The aortic pressure and the central venous pressure were recorded simultaneously during CPR. A chart was made and the CPP was calculated with the software Chart5Ch. The hemodynamic changes produced by the administration of epinephrine were studied. Data were analyzed with paired Student t test. P ＜ 0.05 was considered as a significant difference. Results Two kinds of hemodynamic effects of CPR were observed. In 8 dogs (8/12) , the aortic pressure changed synchronously with the CVP, and the CPP was almost zero, and in other 4 dogs (4/12), the aortic pressure increased and the CVP remained unchanged with presence of the CPP. After the administration of epinephrine, the AOP and the CPP increased significantly. The Aortic systolic pressure(ASP) increased from (66± 14) mmHg to(107 ± 28) mmHg, (P = 0. 001). The Aortic diastolic pressure (ADP) increased from (25 ±2.2) mmHg to(45 ± 13) mmHg (P =0.001). And the coronary perfusion pressure (CPP) increased from (2.8± 3.8) mmHg to (29 ± 13) mmHg (P ＜ 0.001). The 95 % confidential interval of the added value of the ASP,ADP and CPPwere (21.1-59.1), (10.2-28.3) and (16.7-35.7), respectively. Conclusions The thoracic pump mechanism is the primary role in the closed chest Cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Epinephrine can increase ADP and CPP and has the capability to break the balance between aortic pressure and central venous pressure, increasing the rate of successful cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Key words: Cardiopulmonary resuscitation; Closed chest; Hemodynamics; Epinephrine; Mechanism

Could we use abdominal compressions rather than chest compression in patients who arrest after cardiac surgery?

A best evidence topic in cardiac surgery was written according to a structured protocol. The question addressed was whether abdominal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) could be used instead of external cardiac massage either to protect the recent sternotomy or while chest compressions are not possible whilst a sternotomy is being performed. Altogether 386 papers were found using the reported search, of which 10 represented the best evidence to answer the clinical question. The authors, journal, date and country of publication, patient group studied, study type, relevant outcomes and results of these papers are tabulated. Patients who arrest after cardiac surgery and require chest reopening will have a period of no external chest compression and therefore, no cerebral or coronary perfusion. In addition, if a patient arrests prior to cardiac surgery there will be a period of time performing the sternotomy during which there will be no external compressions. We found only one paper in a porcine model that looked at the effectiveness of abdominal only CPR although it did show that abdominal CPR was actually 60% better than chest CPR. Interposed abdominal and chest compressions has been much more extensively studied and has been shown to be significantly better in return of spontaneous circulation than chest compressions alone. We conclude that currently there is very little evidence to support abdominal only CPR although these studies may support the concept that it may potentially increase the coronary and cerebral perfusion pressure.

Definitive management of acute cardiac tamponade secondary to blunt trauma

Blunt cardiac injuries are a leading cause of fatalities following motor-vehicle accidents. Injury to the heart is involved in 20% of road traffic deaths. Structural cardiac injuries (i.e. chamber rupture or perforation) carry a high mortality rate and patients rarely survive long enough to reach hospital. Chamber rupture is present at autopsy in 36-65% of death from blunt cardiac trauma, whereas in clinical series it is present in 0.3-0.9% of cases and is an uncommon clinical finding. Patients with large ruptures or perforations usually die at the scene or in transit--the rupture of a cardiac cavity, coronary artery or intrapericardial portion of a major vein or artery is usually instantly fatal because of acute tamponade. The small, rare, remaining group of patients who survive to hospital presentation usually have tears in a cavity under low pressure and prompt diagnosis and surgery can now lead to a survival rate of 70-80% in experienced trauma centres. As regional trauma systems evolve, patients with severe, but potentially survivable cardiac injury are surviving to ED. Two distinct syndromes are apparent--haemorrhagic shock and cardiac tamponade. Any patient with severe chest trauma, hypotension disproportionate to estimated loss of blood or with an inadequate response to fluid administration should be suspected of having a cardiac cause of shock. For patients with severe hypotension or in extremis, the treatment of choice is resuscitative thoracotomy with pericardotomy. Closed chest cardiopulmonary resuscitation is ineffective in these circumstances. Blunt traumatic cardiac injury presenting with shock is associated with a poor prognosis. The majority of survivors of blunt or penetrating cardiac injury present to the ED/trauma centre with vital signs. The main pathophysiologic determinant for most survivors is acute pericardial tamponade. The presence of normal clinical signs or normal ECG studies does not exclude tamponade. In recent years the widespread availability and use of ultrasound for the initial assessment of severely injured patients has facilitated the early diagnosis of cardiac tamponade and associated cardiac injuries. Two cases of survival from blunt traumatic cardiac trauma are described in the present paper to demonstrate survivability in the context of rapid assessment and intervention.

Carvedilol Mitigates Adverse Effects of Epinephrine During Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation

Earlier studies have implicated the adverse effects of beta- and alpha(1)-adrenergic receptors during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Because carvedilol is both a nonselective beta- and alpha1-selective adrenergic receptor-blocking agent, we hypothesized that pretreatment with carvedilol would convert the actions of epinephrine to that of a selective alpha2-agonist. Ventricular fibrillation (VF) was induced in Sprague-Dawley rats weighing approximately 500 g. Animals were randomized to 4 groups of 5 animals each: (1) placebo pretreatment and epinephrine treatment, (2) carvedilol pretreatment and placebo treatment, (3) carvedilol pretreatment and epinephrine treatment, and (4) placebo pretreatment and placebo treatment. Carvedilol (50 microg/kg) was injected as a bolus into the right atrium 15 minutes before VF was induced. VF was untreated for 8 minutes, after which CPR (chest compression and mechanical ventilation) was begun. Epinephrine (30 microg/kg) was injected into the right atrium 2 minutes after the start of CPR. Electrical defibrillation was attempted after 14 minutes of VF. All but 2 animals were successfully resuscitated. Approximately equivalent increases in coronary perfusion pressure from 23 +/- 1 mm Hg to 30 +/- 3 mm Hg were observed after the injection of epinephrine independently of carvedilol pretreatment. Carvedilol pretreatment followed by epinephrine treatment reduced early postresuscitation ventricular ectopy (116 +/- 147 vs 834 +/- 380, P < .01) and minimized increases in arterial blood lactate at 5 minutes after resuscitation (10.9 +/- 2.1 mmol/L vs 17.4 +/- 3.5 mmol/L, P < .01). The postresuscitation cardiac index measured 4 hours later was increased (307 +/- 43 mL x min(-1) x kg(-1) vs 210 +/- 6 mL x min(-1) x kg(-1), P < .05). Left ventricular diastolic pressures were decreased (6 +/- 1 vs 14 +/- 1 mm Hg, P < .05). Animals pretreated with carvedilol survived longer (71 +/- 1 vs 45 +/- 22 hours, P < .05) and with less postresuscitation neurologic deficit. After beta- and alpha1-adrenergic blockade with carvedilol before inducing cardiac arrest, epinephrine administered during CPR yielded better postresuscitation myocardial and neurologic functions and significantly increased postresuscitation survival.

Traumatic asphyxia or Perthe's syndrome. Six cas reports

Perthe's syndrome or traumatic asphyxia is a clinical syndrome associating cervicofacial cyanosis, petechia and subconjonctival hemorrhage to neurological symptoms. This syndrome appears after severe and transient compressive blunt chest injury. A Valsalva maneuver is necessary before thoracic compression for the development of this syndrome. The treatment includes rapid chest decompression and cardiopulmonary resuscitation. The prognosis is good but a prolonged thoracic compression could lead to cerebral anoxia and neurological sequelae. We report six cases of Perthe's syndrome most of them resulting from thoracic compression after road traffic accidents. All of them made a good prognosis.

Severe hypothermia with cardiac arrest: Complete neurologic recovery in a 4-year-old child

A 4-year-old girl was lost for 17 hours in a snowstorm. Upon discovery, her core temperature was 72°F (22°C). While undergoing endotracheal intubation in the emergency department, she experienced sudden ventricular fibrillation and cardiac arrest. Closed chest cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) was instituted, and standard rewarming measures were begun. Despite this, neither core temperature, nor the patient's arrhythmia, changed. An infraumbilical “mini-laparotomy” incision was made, with placement of a large silicone peritoneal dialysis catheter into the abdomen. This was then connected to a rapid infuser device, with the delivery of 1L of warmed, normal saline every 90 seconds. The core temperature reached 29°C in 15 minutes, and a palpable pulse was detected. Lavage was continued until core temperature reached 34°C, at which time transport to the pediatric intensive care unit was arranged. She was extubated the next day and discharged home, on the fourth hospital day, with apparent complete neurologic recovery. This is the first report of the successful use of rapid high-volume peritoneal lavage for the treatment of accidental severe hypothermia in a pediatric patient. J Pediatr Surg 36:1590-1592. Copyright © 2001 by W.B. Saunders Company.