Resuscitation Attempts Research Articles

Resuscitation of people with a do-not-resuscitate order: when does it happen and what are the outcomes?

Abstract Background Do-not-resuscitate (DNR) orders allow competent individuals to state their wishes to not receive resuscitation. Despite the existence of a DNR order, resuscitative efforts may still occur. Purpose To identify rates and outcomes of resuscitation attempts for people with DNR orders. Methods The statewide out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) registry in Victoria, Australia (population 6.5 million) identified rates of DNR orders and resuscitative efforts in ≥60-year-olds from 2006-2021. Results Of 47,322 patients ≥60 years old with OHCA, 2,688 (5.7%) had a DNR order. DNR order was communicated to emergency call-takers in only 332 (12.4%) cases. Bystander resuscitation was commenced in 1,074 (40.0%) patients, with EMS terminating efforts in 346 (32.2%) patients on arrival but commencing resuscitation in 189 others. Strongest predictors of bystander resuscitation were shockable rhythm (OR 7.75, 95% CI 5.04-11.9) and OHCA in public location (OR 4.8, 95% CI 2.0-11.3). Predictors of EMS terminating resuscitation efforts were OHCA in residential aged care facility (OR 1.93, 95% CI 1.47-2.5) and older age (OR 1.02, 95% CI 1.00-1.04). Transfer to hospital was undertaken in 107 patients, with strongest predictors being return of spontaneous circulation (OR 91.1, 95% CI 51.7-160.7) and witnessed OHCA (OR 7.5, 95% CI 3.9-14.5). Only 7 (0.3%) transported patients survived to discharge, with 5 deceased at 12-month follow-up. Conclusion Approximately 5% of EMS-attended OHCAs in ≥60-year-olds involve a patient with a DNR order, with low rates of awareness of DNR orders. Resuscitation is commenced in 47% of patients, and 4% are transported to hospital with very poor outcomes. Strategies to communicate DNR status and respect patients’ autonomy are extremely important.

Validating the GO-FAR score: predicting in-hospital cardiac arrest outcomes in the Middle East

Introduction and aimExternal validations of the Good Outcome Following Attempted Resuscitation (GO-FAR) score have been in populations where Do Not Attempt Resuscitation (DNAR) is practised. We aim to externally validate the GO-FAR score in a population without a DNAR order.MethodsWe studied patients ≥ 18 years old who had an In-hospital cardiac arrest (IHCA) with known outcomes at Al Ain Hospital from January 2017 to December 2019, excluding those who died in the emergency department. Studied variables included demography, location, response time, code duration, initial rhythm, primary diagnosis, admission vital signs, GO FAR score variables, discharge status, and functional outcomes as determined by the cerebral performance category score ranging from 1 (good cerebral performance) to 5 (brain death).Results366 patients were studied; 66.7% were males. The median (IQR) age was 70 (55–81) years. Cardiac and respiratory causes were the primary diagnoses in 89 (24.6%) and 67 (18.5%), respectively. IHCA occurred in critical areas such as the intensive care unit, high dependency unit and coronary care unit in 206 (80.8%) patients. The majority, 308 (91.8%), had a non-shockable rhythm, and a return of spontaneous circulation was achieved in 159 (43.4%) of the patients. Thirty-one (8.5%) patients survived to hospital discharge, and 20 (5.5%) patients had cerebral performance category scores of 1 and 2. The area under the curve of the ROC for survival to discharge with good functional outcome was 0.74 (95% CI 0.59–0.88). The best cut-off point for predicting survival with a good neurological outcome was a GO-FAR score of < 4, having a sensitivity of 0.81, a specificity of 0.7, a positive likelihood ratio of 2.7 and a negative likelihood ratio of 0.27.ConclusionsA GO-FAR score of less than 4 predicts survival with a good neurological outcome in a healthcare system with an all-inclusive patient population with no DNAR practice.

Navigating parental disagreement: ethical analysis and a proposed approach.

Shared decision-making in pediatrics can be problematic when disagreements arise. The impermissible-permissible-obligatory (I-P-O) framework helps define the limits of parental authority when clinicians disagree with parents. There is little guidance in the literature, however, on making critical clinical decisions when parents disagree with each other. We use a clinical case involving parental disagreement over resuscitation at borderline gestational age to provide context for an analysis of several potential approaches based on established ethical principles of pediatric decision-making. We identify four potential options for delivery room care: (1) Defer to the pregnant parent; (2) withhold resuscitation unless both parents agree to it; (3) attempt resuscitation if either parent requests it; (4) decide about resuscitation using a framework of advisability. The merits and flaws of each approach are discussed. We propose an expansion of the I-P-O framework that uses consideration of clinical details, an assessment of the patient's best interest, and parental values to determine clinical advisability to guide decision-making in the setting of parental discordance.

Unwanted cardiopulmonary resuscitation against patients' "Do Not Attempt Resuscitation" orders in community settings in Japan: A narrative review.

We aimed to synthesize existing research to elucidate the underlying factors and causes responsible for the high prevalence of unwanted cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) occurring outside a hospital setting in Japan despite patients' Do Not Attempt Resuscitation (DNAR) orders. We conducted a narrative review by searching PubMed, EMBASE, and Scopus for English literature, and Google Scholar for Japanese literature. The key factors we identified included lack of documentation of resuscitation preferences, variation in the perception of other life-sustaining measures associated with DNAR, non-inclusion of the patient in discussions of goals of care, unlegislated and unstandardized DNAR orders, emergency medical service activation by the family or facility, the Fire Service Act that mandates life-saving measures irrespective of the presence of advance directives, fire department protocols and CPR decision-making, and death pronouncement authorization limited to physicians. This study identified the multifaceted factors and the potential triggers for unwanted CPR despite DNAR orders. These findings underscore the urgent need for comprehensive interventions encompassing educational initiatives, ethical considerations, systemic reforms, and legal adjustments to prevent future unwanted CPRs in Japan. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2024; ••: ••-••.

Do Not Attempt Resuscitation (DNAR) Status Awareness Among Healthcare Staff For Patient's Under Their Care: A Clinical Audit

Abstract Background The HSE National Consent policy recommends service providers should develop specific mechanisms for the documentation and dissemination of decisions relating to resuscitation. The local hospital guidelines state DNAR orders should be clearly documented in the patient’s records and communicated to relevant staff at nursing handover and clinical rounds. This audit aims to ensure DNAR status is known or easily accessible by healthcare staff if a cardiac arrest occurs. The population age of the wards audited are predominantly &amp;gt;80 years. Methods A questionnaire was distributed to all nursing and medical staff working on the designated wards over a two-week period via SurveyMonkey QRcode (33 responses). The questionnaire contained five multiple choice questions with rating scale responses. Charts containing DNAR forms were reviewed alongside corresponding nursing handover sheet during this period (27 charts). Results 6% of healthcare staff were very confident of DNAR status of patients under their care at the time of survey without accessing medical notes/handover sheet, increasing to 24% with access. 18% reported DNAR status is very easily found in both the medical chart and nursing notes. 82% report the coloured DNAR form (used 56% of the time) is much easier to locate than the photocopy. 89% of forms were attached to the front of medical charts, 7% attached to admission note and 4% unfiled. 33% of patients with signed DNAR forms did not have DNAR status recorded on the nursing handover sheet. Conclusion The confidence among healthcare staff regarding DNAR status of patients under their care is low. This audit highlights that an explicit and reproducible system to relay DNAR information between healthcare staff is not in place. Recommendations for this clinical site include; only keeping original coloured DNAR forms on the ward, ensuring completed forms are at the front of patient charts and creating a DNAR status column on medical and nursing handover sheets.

DNAR: All or Nothing: Impact of Education Sessions Re-Audit in a Model 3 Hospital

Abstract Background Do Not Attempt Resuscitation (DNAR) orders are implemented to obviate inappropriate Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) in patients with low chances of survival post-CPR. However, ambiguity regarding ceilings of care for patients with a DNAR order can arise. This re-audit aimed to review DNAR and ceilings of care documentation according to national HSE guidelines after education sessions, comparing results with the pre-education audit in a Model 3 Hospital. Methods A point-prevalence chart review of thirty-one adult medical inpatients with a DNAR order was conducted after two education sessions were held for Non-Consultant Hospital Doctors (NCHDs) and Consultants. Results Of all thirty-one charts, 35% documented DNAR status in the medical notes, with 32% documenting the reasoning for DNAR status, both of which were unchanged from the first audit cycle. There was an increase in documentation of patient discussion (61% versus 45%) and reasons if this was excluded (66% versus 41%). There was no change in documentation of patient relatives’ discussion (48%) but there was an increase in the reasons if this was excluded (25% versus 18%). There was an overall increase in ceilings of care documentation for ICU admission (three-fold increase), intubation (two-fold increase), inotropic support, and comfort measures, but rates of documentation were still less than 15%. This elucidates the efficacy of education sessions in improving DNAR documentation adherence. Recent studies have highlighted uncertainty among NCHDs regarding treatment escalation in acutely unwell patients in the absence of adequately filled DNAR orders and clear documentation of ceilings of care. Therefore, we posit the introduction of a Ceilings of Care document, akin to the United Kingdom’s Medical Advance Plan. Conclusion Accurate recording of DNAR status and ceilings of care is essential for quality care and treatment escalation. While simple education strategies have proven beneficial in enhancing compliance, additional efforts are needed to enhance ceilings of care documentation.

2320 DNAR: all or nothing: impact of education sessions Re-audit

Abstract Introduction Do Not Attempt Resuscitation (DNAR) orders are implemented to obviate inappropriate Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) in patients with low chances of survival post-CPR. However, ambiguity regarding ceilings of care for patients with a DNAR order can arise. This re-audit aimed to review DNAR and ceilings of care documentation according to national Irish Health Service Executive (HSE) guidelines after education sessions in a Model 3 Hospital. Methods A point-prevalence chart review of thirty-one adult medical inpatients with a DNAR order was conducted after two education sessions were held for Non-Consultant Hospital Doctors (NCHDs) and Consultants. Results Of all thirty-one charts, 35% documented DNAR status in the medical notes, with 32% documenting the reasoning for DNAR status, both unchanged from the first audit cycle. There was an increase in documentation of patient discussion (61% versus 45%) and reasons if this was excluded (66% versus 41%). There was no change in documentation of patient relatives’ discussion (48%) but there was an increase in the reasons if this was excluded (25% versus 18%). There was an overall increase in ceilings of care documentation for ICU admission (three-fold increase), intubation (two-fold increase), inotropic support, and comfort measures, but rates of documentation were still less than 15%. Discussion This audit elucidates the efficacy of education sessions in improving DNAR documentation adherence. Recent studies have highlighted uncertainty among NCHDs regarding treatment escalation in acutely unwell patients in the absence of adequately filled DNAR orders and clear documentation of ceilings of care. We posit the introduction of a Ceilings of Care document, akin to the United Kingdom’s Medical Advance Plan. Conclusion Accurate recording of DNAR status and ceilings of care is essential for quality care and treatment escalation. While simple education strategies have proven beneficial in enhancing compliance, additional efforts are needed to enhance ceilings of care documentation.

Identifying Prevalence and Potential Predictors of Do-Not-Attempt-Resuscitation Orders to Facilitate Preoperative Discussions on Code Status.

Do Not Attempt Resuscitation (DNAR) orders allow patients with life-threatening conditions to decline resuscitation efforts should the need arise. The American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) recommends discussions with patients on their code status to clarify and honor their goals of care perioperatively. This project sought to determine the prevalence of DNAR orders and to identify the demographics and potential clinical predictors of DNAR status at the beginning and end of admission, which would help anesthesiologists at our center facilitate these discussions. Factors associated with DNAR status at beginning and at end of hospital stay were determined through univariate logistic regressions. For DNAR status at beginning and end of hospital admission, variables assessed were age at arrival, race, sex, palliative consult, use of palliative care service, length of stay in days, presence of surgery, presence of emergent surgery, care level, and medical service. Approximately 2.4 percent of the sample had an active DNAR order at the beginning of their hospital admission compared to 7.4 percent at the end of hospital admission. Factors significantly associated with DNAR status at the beginning of the hospital stay were consistent with prior literature (age, palliative care consult or service). However, factors significantly associated with DNAR status at the end of hospital stay that were notable included length of stay, undergoing emergent surgery, higher level of care, and being on the oncology service and medical respiratory intensive care unit. This retrospective study allows anesthesiologists at our institution to identify patients who may benefit from a more comprehensive perioperative discussion about code status based on certain clinical characteristics, which may improve quality of care by preventing unwanted resuscitative measures that do not align with a patient's goals of care.

Trajectories in Intensity of Medical Interventions at the End of Life: Clustering Analysis in a Pediatric, Single-Center Retrospective Cohort, 2013-2021.

Pediatric deaths often occur within hospitals and involve balancing aggressive treatment with minimization of suffering. This study first investigated associations between clinical/demographic features and the level of intensity of various therapies these patients undergo at the end of life (EOL). Second, the work used these data to develop a new, broader spectrum for classifying pediatric EOL trajectories. Retrospective, single-center study, 2013-2021. Four hundred sixty-one bed tertiary, stand-alone children's hospital with 112 ICU beds. Patients of age 0-26 years old at the time of death. None. Of 1111 included patients, 85.7% died in-hospital. Patients who died outside the hospital were older. Among the 952 in-hospital deaths, most occurred in ICUs (89.5%). Clustering analysis was used to distinguish EOL trajectories based on the presence of intensive therapies and/or an active resuscitation attempt at the EOL. We identified five simplified categories: 1) death during active resuscitation, 2) controlled withdrawal of life-sustaining technology, 3) natural progression to death despite maximal therapy, 4) discontinuation of nonsustaining therapies, and 5) withholding/noninitiation of future therapies. Patients with recent surgical procedures, a history of organ transplantation, or admission to the Cardiovascular ICU had more intense therapies at EOL than those who received palliative care consultations, had known genetic conditions, or were of older age. In this retrospective study of pediatric EOL trajectories based on the intensity of technology and/or resuscitation discontinued at the EOL, we have identified associations between these trajectories and patient characteristics. Further research is needed to investigate the impact of these trajectories on families, patients, and healthcare providers.

Do differences in emergency medical services (EMS) response time to an arrest account for the survival differences between EMS-witnessed and bystander-witnessed out of hospital cardiac arrest?

IntroductionOut-of-hospital cardiac arrests (OHCA) witnessed by Emergency Medical Services (EMS) are reported to have more favourable survival than bystander-witnessed arrests, even after adjusting for patient and arrest factors known to be associated with increased OHCA survival. This study aims to determine whether the survival advantage in EMS-witnessed arrests can be attributed to differences in the EMS response time to the arrest. MethodsUsing registry data we conducted a retrospective, population-based cohort study of bystander- and EMS-witnessed OHCAs of medical aetiology who received an EMS resuscitation attempt in Western Australia between 2018–2021. EMS response time to arrest was assumed to be zero for EMS-witnessed arrests. Multivariable logistic regression was used to compare 30-day OHCA survival by witness and bystander CPR (B-CPR) status, adjusting for EMS response time to arrest, and patient and arrest characteristics. ResultsOf 2,130 OHCA cases, 510 (23.9%) were EMS-witnessed and 1620 were bystander-witnessed: 1318/1620 (81.4%) with B-CPR, and 302/1620 (18.6%) with no B-CPR. The median EMS response time to bystander-witnessed arrests who received B-CPR was 9.9 [Q1,Q3: 7.4, 13.3] minutes. After adjusting for the EMS response time and patient and arrest factors, 30-day survival remained significantly lower in both the bystander-witnessed group with B-CPR (aOR 0.56; 95% CI 0.34 – 0.91) and bystander-witnessed group without B-CPR (aOR 0.23; 95% CI 0.11 – 0.46). ConclusionAn increased EMS response time does not fully account for the higher OHCA survival in EMS-witnessed arrests compared to bystander-witnessed arrests.

Impact of Bystander Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation on Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest Outcome in Vietnam.

Patients experiencing an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) frequently do not receive bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC). In this study we sought to determine the prevalence of OHCA patients in Vietnam who received bystander CPR and its effects on survival outcomes. We performed a multicenter, retrospective observational study of patients (≥18years) presenting with OHCA at three major hospitals in an LMIC from February 2014-December 2018. We collected data on the hospital and patient characteristics, the cardiac arrest events, the emergency medical services (EMS) system, the therapy methods, and the outcomes and compared these data, before and after pairwise 1:1 propensity score matching, between patients who received bystander CPR and those who did not. Upon admission, we assessed factors associated with good neurological survival at hospital discharge in univariable and multivariable logistic models. Of 521 patients, 388 (74.5%) were men, and the mean age was 56.7years (SD 17.3). Although most cardiac arrests (68.7%, 358/521) occurred at home and 78.8% (410/520) were witnessed, a low proportion (22.1%, 115/521) of these patients received bystander CPR. Only half of the patients were brought by EMS (8.1%, 42/521) or private ambulance (42.8%, 223/521), 50.8% (133/262) of whom had resuscitation attempts. Before matching, there was a significant difference in good neurological survival between patients who received bystander CPR (12.2%, 14/115) and patients who did not (4.7%, 19/406; P < .001). After matching, good neurological survival was absent in all OHCA patients who did not receive CPR from a bystander. The multivariable analysis showed that bystander CPR (adjusted odds ratio: 3.624; 95% confidence interval 1.629-8.063) was an independent predictor of good neurological survival. In our study, only 22.1% of total OHCA patients received bystander CPR, which contributed significantly to a low rate of good neurological survival in Vietnam. To improve the chances of survival with good neurological functions of OHCA patients, more people should be trained to perform bystander CPR and teach others as well. A standard program for emergency first-aid training is necessary for this purpose.

Do Not Attempt Resuscitation (DNAR) Orders in an Older-Age Psychiatric Hospital

Do Not Attempt Resuscitation (DNAR) Orders in an Older-Age Psychiatric Hospital

A case series of forearm compartment syndrome complicating transradial cardiac catheterization

BackgroundAcute compartment syndrome following a transradial coronary approach is rare. However, as the incidence of coronary arterial disease increases due to lifestyle factors and multiple comorbidities, transradial coronary angiography has become more common for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes in cardiovascular centers. Despite its rarity, we encountered two cases of acute compartment syndrome within a 1-week interval in the cardiology unit of a tertiary hospital.Case presentationThe first case involved a 75-year-old woman diagnosed with non-ST elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI). A coronary angiogram was performed via an uncomplicated right radial artery puncture. Following the procedure, the patient experienced significant swelling in the right forearm. An emergency fasciotomy release of the right forearm was conducted, revealing a gushing hematoma upon entering the flexor compartment. Fortunately, the wound healed well two months postoperatively with no functional deficits. In the second case, an 80-year-old man presented with severe angina pectoris upon exertion and was diagnosed with NSTEMI. The following day, he developed compartment syndrome in the left forearm, necessitating an emergency fasciotomy. Intraoperative examination revealed muscle bulging within the forearm compartments accompanied by extensive hematoma. Postoperatively, a deranged coagulation profile caused oozing from the wound. However, since there was no arterial bleeding, a compression dressing was applied. This led to a gradual drop in hemoglobin levels and worsened his heart condition. Despite resuscitative efforts and attempts to correct the coagulopathy, the patient experienced cardiorespiratory arrest and succumbed to ischemic heart disease in failure.ConclusionClinicians must remain vigilant in identifying this potentially limb-threatening condition. Patients with pre-existing anticoagulant therapy and underlying atherosclerotic disease are at a higher risk of bleeding complications. Implementing effective hemostasis techniques and promptly managing swelling can help prevent the occurrence of compartment syndrome. Timely assessment and maintaining a high level of clinical suspicion are paramount. If necessary, early consideration of decompressive fasciotomy is essential to avert catastrophic outcomes.

The association of recent simulation training and clinical experience of team leaders with cardiopulmonary resuscitation quality during in-hospital cardiac arrest

ObjectiveWe aimed to investigate the association of recent team leader simulation training (<6 months) and years of clinical experience (≥4 years) with chest compression quality during in-hospital cardiac arrest (IHCA). MethodsThis cohort study of IHCA in four Danish hospitals included cases with data on chest compression quality and team leader characteristics. We assessed the impact of recent simulation training and experienced team leaders on longest chest compression pause duration (primary outcome), chest compression fraction (CCF), and chest compression rates within guideline recommendations using mixed effects models. ResultsOf 157 included resuscitation attempts, 45% had a team leader who recently participated in simulation training and 66% had an experienced team leader. The median team leader experience was 7 years [Q1; Q3: 4; 11]. The median duration of the longest chest compression pause was 16 s [10; 30]. Having a team leader with recent simulation training was associated with significantly shorter longest pause durations (difference: −7.11 s (95%-CI: −12.0; −2.2), p = 0.004), a higher CCF (difference: 3% (95%-CI: 2.0; 4.0%), p < 0.001) and with less guideline compliant chest compression rates (odds ratio: 0.4 (95%-CI: 0.19; 0.84), p = 0.02). Having an experienced team leader was not associated with longest pause duration (difference: −1.57 s (95%-CI: −5.34; 2.21), p = 0.42), CCF (difference: 0.7% (95%-CI: −0.3; 1.7), p = 0.17) or chest compression rates within guideline recommendations (odds ratio: 1.55 (95%-CI: 0.91; 2.66), p = 0.11). ConclusionRecent simulation training of team leaders, but not years of team leader experience, was associated with shorter chest compression pauses during IHCA.

Delayed Diagnosis of Vasopressor-induced Symmetrical Peripheral Gangrene in Septic Shock Patient

Vasopressors are powerful vasoconstrictors used in critically ill patients to raise blood pressure after volume resuscitation attempts fail. These medications, while lifesaving, carry the risk of severe and under-reported side effects, digital ischemia, and gangrene due to decreased digital perfusion. We here present a case of vasopressin-induced digital gangrene in a female patient who underwent elective surgery for nephrolithiasis without any pre-existing peripheral vascular disease or smoking. The patient developed bilateral upper and lower limb symmetrical acronecrosis. The causality assessment as per the World Health Organisation – Uppsala Monitoring Centre scale was suggestive of a “Possible adverse” event. The patient denied surgical intervention, eventually developed multiorgan failure, and died of cardiopulmonary arrest. Although lifesaving, vasopressors due to alpha constricting activity can cause severe limb ischemia with dreadful consequences. These drugs should be used judiciously with careful monitoring and tapering as soon as possible when the condition improves. The consequences could be dreadful if timely surgical intervention and measures are not taken.

Knowledge and barriers of out of hospital cardiac arrest bystander intervention and public access automated external defibrillator use in the Northeast of England: a cross-sectional survey study.

Intervention by members of the public during an out of hospital cardiac arrest (OHAC) including resuscitation attempts and accessible automated external defibrillator (AED) has been shown to improve survival. This study aimed to investigate the OHCA and AED knowledge and confidence, and barriers to intervention, of the public of North East England, UK. This study used a face-to-face cross-sectional survey on a public high street in Newcastle, UK. Participants were asked unprompted to explain what they would do when faced with an OHCA collapse. Chi-Square analysis was used to test the association of the independent variables sex and first aid trained on the participants' responses. Of the 421 participants recruited to our study, 82.9% (n = 349) reported that they would know what to do during an OHCA collapse. The most frequent OHCA action mentioned was call 999 (64.1%, n = 270/421) and 58.2% (n = 245/421) of participants reported that they would commence CPR. However, only 14.3% (n = 60/421) of participants spontaneously mentioned that they would locate an AED, while only 4.5% (n = 19/421) recounted that they would apply the AED. Just over half of participants (50.8%, n = 214/421) were first aid trained, with statistically more females (57.3%, n = 126/220)than males (43.9%, n = 87/198)being first aiders (p = 0.01 χ2 = 7.41). Most participants (80.3%, n = 338/421) knew what an AED was, and 34.7% (n = 326/421) reported that they knew how to use one, however, only 11.9% (n = 50/421) mentioned that they would actually shock a patient. Being first aid trained increased the likelihood of freely recounting actions for OHCA and AED intervention. The most common barrier to helping during an OHCA was lack of knowledge (29.9%, n = 126/421). Although most participants reported they would know what to do during an OHCA and had knowledge of an AED, low numbers of participants spontaneously mentioned specific OHCA and AED actions. Improving public knowledge would help improve the public's confidence of intervening during an OHCA and may improve OHCA survival.

Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest Following the COVID-19 Pandemic

Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) health care provision may be a good indicator of the recovery of the health care system involved in OHCA care following the COVID-19 pandemic. There is a lack of data regarding outcomes capable of verifying this recovery. To determine whether return to spontaneous circulation, overall survival, and survival with good neurological outcome increased in patients with OHCA since the COVID-19 pandemic was brought under control in 2022 compared with prepandemic and pandemic levels. This observational cohort study was conducted to examine health care response and survival with good neurological outcome at hospital discharge in patients treated following OHCA. A 3-month period, including the first wave of the pandemic (February 1 to April 30, 2020), was compared with 2 periods before (April 1, 2017, to March 31, 2018) and after (January 1 to December 31, 2022) the pandemic. Data analysis was performed in July 2023. Emergency medical services (EMS) serving a population of more than 28 million inhabitants across 10 Spanish regions participated. Patients with OHCA were included if participating EMS initiated resuscitation or continued resuscitation initiated by a first responder. The pandemic was considered to be under control following the official declaration that infection with SARS-CoV-2 was to be considered another acute respiratory infection. The main outcomes were return of spontaneous circulation, overall survival, and survival at hospital discharge with good neurological outcome, expressed as unimpaired or minimally impaired cerebral performance. A total of 14 732 patients (mean [SD] age, 64.2 [17.2] years; 10 451 [71.2%] male) were included, with 6372 OHCAs occurring during the prepandemic period, 1409 OHCAs during the pandemic period, and 6951 OHCAs during the postpandemic period. There was a higher incidence of OHCAs with a resuscitation attempt in the postpandemic period compared with the pandemic period (rate ratio, 4.93; 95% CI, 4.66-5.22; P < .001), with lower incidence of futile resuscitation for OHCAs (2.1 per 100 000 person-years vs 1.3 per 100 000 person-years; rate ratio, 0.81; 95% CI, 0.71-0.92; P < .001). Recovery of spontaneous circulation at hospital admission increased from 20.5% in the pandemic period to 30.5% in the postpandemic period (relative risk [RR], 1.08; 95% CI, 1.06-1.10; P < .001). In the same way, overall survival at discharge increased from 7.6% to 11.2% (RR, 1.45; 95% CI, 1.21-1.75; P < .001), with 6.6% of patients being discharged with good neurological status (Cerebral Performance Category Scale categories 1-2) in the pandemic period compared with 9.6% of patients in the postpandemic period (RR, 1.07; 95% CI, 1.04-1.10; P < .001). In this cohort study, survival with good neurological outcome at hospital discharge following OHCA increased significantly after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Perceptions and experiences of community-based healthcare professionals in the state of Qatar having do not attempt resuscitation discussions during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The values and attitudes of healthcare professionals influence their handling of "do-not-attempt-resuscitation" (DNAR) orders, as does that of the families they interact with. The aim of this study was to describe attitudes, perceptions, and practices among community-based medical practitioners towards discussing cardiopulmonary resuscitation and DNAR orders with patients and their relatives, and to investigate if the COVID-19 pandemic affected their practice in having these discussions. This is a researcher-developed online survey-based study which aimed to recruit a convenience sample of respondents from a total population of 106 healthcare professionals working for the Mobile Healthcare Service (MHS), Hamad Medical Corporation Ambulance Service in the State of Qatar. 33 family physicians, 38 nurses, and 20 paramedics (n = 91) responded to the questionnaire, of who around 40, 8, and 50%, respectively, had engaged in Do Not Attempt Resuscitation discussions during their work with MHS. 15% of physicians who had experience with Do Not Attempt Resuscitation discussions in Qatar felt that the family or patient were not open to having such discussions. 90% of paramedics thought that Do Not Attempt Resuscitation was a taboo topic for their patients in Qatar, and this view was shared by 75% of physicians and 50% of nurses. Per the responses, the COVID-19 pandemic had not affected the likelihood of most of the physicians or nurses (and 50% of the paramedics) identifying patients with whom having a Do Not Attempt Resuscitation discussion would be clinically appropriate. Overall, for all three groups, the COVID-19 pandemic did not affect the likelihood of identifying patients with whom a Do Not Attempt Resuscitation discussion would be clinically appropriate. We found that the greatest barriers in having Do Not Attempt Resuscitation discussions were perceived to be the religious or cultural beliefs of the patient and/or their family, along with the factor of feeling the staff member did not know the patient or their family well enough. All three groups said they would be more likely to have a conversation about Do Not Attempt Resuscitation if barriers were addressed.

Parental supporter in pediatric resuscitation: A mixed-method study with Delphi and analytic hierarchy process.

Providing support to parents is an evidence-based practice and a crucial part of family-centered nursing care. However, it is not clear who and how to provide the best support to parents during and after their child's resuscitation attempts. This study was conducted to explore the characteristics and roles of parental supporters responsible for caring for parents during and after their child's resuscitation. This is a mixed-method study combining the Delphi technique and the Analytic Hierarchy Process. A list of potentially important items describing the characteristics and roles of parental supporters caring for parents during and after pediatric resuscitation was developed through qualitative interviews with parents and members of the resuscitation team, and a thorough literature search. Then, the Delphi round was conducted with key experts. In the final step, the Analytic Hierarchy Process was used for ranking items in the order of their importance. A list with 69 items describing the characteristics and roles of parental supporters was developed. 15 items (21.74%) were related to the "Characteristics of parental supporter" category; 8 items (11.59%) were related to the "Roles of a parental supporter during resuscitation" category; 13 items (18.84%) were related to the "Roles of a parental supporter after successful resuscitation" category; 23 items (33.34%) were related to the "Roles of a parental supporter after unsuccessful resuscitation" category; and 10 items (14.49%) were related to the "Roles of a parental supporter after unsuccessful resuscitation with help of other staff of the hospital" category. The findings of this study can be used to develop guidelines that include parental supporter characteristics and roles to support parents during and after their child's resuscitation according to family-centered care practices in pediatric settings. Study findings indicate the need for the presence of a parental supporter during and after pediatric resuscitation, whether witnessed by the parents or not. Knowledge regarding the characteristics and roles of parental supporters can be used in practice to uphold family-centered nursing care during critical situations.

Lethal threat in the use of glass doors at home: A case report

BackgroundVarious instruments, including glass fragments, can inflict sharp-force damage, resulting in injuries ranging from superficial wounds to life-threatening trauma. This case report explores the lethal consequences of a 78-year-old man accidentally sustaining a stabbed-incised wound after falling against an ordinary glass door, leading to fatal bleeding from the subclavian artery. Case Report:The man's fall caused a sharp-edged glass fragment to penetrate his neck, resulting in a fatal outcome despite resuscitation attempts. Autopsy Findings:The autopsy revealed a transected subclavian artery, additional injuries to the thorax. Notably, the type of glass used in construction played a crucial role in the severity of injuries, emphasizing the need for safety standards and awareness in architectural design. DiscussionThe discussion delves into the historical use of annealed glass in construction and the evolution of safety standards for architectural glazing materials. A comparison between annealed and tempered glass underscores the importance of the latter in preventing severe injuries. The prevalence of annealed glass in older constructions raises concerns, given its propensity to cause larger and more dangerous shards upon breakage. The report highlights cases of glass-related fatalities, emphasizing the unexpected dangers associated with glass-topped furniture. ConclusionsRecommendations include the adoption of safety glass in new constructions, particularly in residences with elderly occupants, and the installation of night lights to mitigate the risk of injuries from glass and other furniture. The report contributes to enhancing understanding in forensic pathology, emphasizing the evolving role of glass in fatal incidents.