Initial bradycardia in hypotensive (hemorrhagic) patients in a prehospital setting – does it have a prognostic value?

Introduction. Some studies have shown that the presence of bradycardia in hemorrhage-caused-hypotension is associated with a better prognosis. The aim of this retrospective study was to compare bradycardic and tachycardic responses to hemorrhaging in a pre-hospital setting and to evaluate the outcome. Patients and methods. All patiens were adults (>18 years) with tachycardia and bradycardia hypotension (hemorrhaging) in a pre-hospital setting. We compared a tachycardic group with a bradycardic group using the following criteria: age, gender, APACHE II on admission, trauma vs. non-trauma patients, outcome (survival) and the use of vasopressors. Results. Over a two year period, 107 patients were screened. The tachycardic group was younger in age than the bradycardic group. Tachycardia was significantly more common in males. The bradycardic group had better APACHE II on admission and also better outcome (survival). Mortality was lower in bradycardic patients than in tachycardic patients. Conclusion. Bradycardia is a real phenomenon in hemorrhaging patients in a prehospital setting. It might be associated with both better APACHE II on admission and better outcome

Comparison of APACHE II, MEES and Glasgow Coma Scale in patients with nontraumatic coma for prediction of mortality

INTRODUCTION: There are numerous prehosital descriptive scoring systems, and it is uncertain whether they are efficient in assessing of the severity of illness and whether they have a prognostic role in the estimation of the illness outcome (in comparison with that of the prognostic scoring system Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation [APACHE] II). The purpose of the present study was to assess the value of the various scoring systems in predicting outcome in nontraumatic coma patients and to evaluate the importance of mental status measurement in relation to outcome. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In a prehospital setting, postintervention values of the Mainz Emergency Evaluation System (MEES) and Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) were measured for each patient. The APACHE II score was recorded on the day of admission to the hospital. This study was undertaken over a 2-year period (from January 1996 to October 1998), and included 286 consecutive patients (168 men, 118 women) who were hospitalized for nontraumatic coma. Patients younger than 16 years were not included. Their age varied from 16 to 87 years, with mean ± standard deviation of 51.8 ± 16.9 years. Sensitivity, specificity and correct prediction of outcome were measured using the χ(2) method, with four severity scores. The best cutoff point in each scoring system was determined using the Youden index. The difference in Youden index was calculated using the Z score. For each score, the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was obtained. The difference in ROC was calculated using the Z score. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: For prediction of mortality, the best cutoff points were 19 for APACHE II, 18 for MEES and 5 for GCS. The best cutoffs for the Youden index were 0.63 for APACHE II, 0.61 for MEES and 0.65 for GCS. The correct prediction of outcome was achieved in 79.9% for APACHE II, 78.3% for MEES and 81.9% for GCS. The area under the ROC curve (mean ± standard error) was 0.86 ± 0.02 for APACHE II, 0.84 ± 0.06 for MEES and 0.88 ± 0.03 for GCS. There were no statistically significant differences among APACHE II, MEES and GCS scores in terms of correct prediction of outcome, Youden index or area under ROC curve. CONCLUSIONS: APACHE II is not much better than prehospital descriptive scoring systems (MEES and GCS). APACHE II and MEES should not replace GCS in assessment of illness severity or in prediction of mortality in nontraumatic coma. For the assessment of mortality, the GCS score provides the best indicator for these patients (simplicity, less time-consuming and effective in an emergency situation

Initial bradycardia in hypotensive (hemorrhagic) patients in a prehospital setting – does it have a prognostic value?

Introduction. Some studies have shown that the presence of bradycardia in hemorrhage-caused-hypotension is associated with a better prognosis. The aim of this retrospective study was to compare bradycardic and tachycardic responses to hemorrhaging in a pre-hospital setting and to evaluate the outcome. Patients and methods. All patiens were adults (>18 years) with tachycardia and bradycardia hypotension (hemorrhaging) in a pre-hospital setting. We compared a tachycardic group with a bradycardic group using the following criteria: age, gender, APACHE II on admission, trauma vs. non-trauma patients, outcome (survival) and the use of vasopressors. Results. Over a two year period, 107 patients were screened. The tachycardic group was younger in age than the bradycardic group. Tachycardia was significantly more common in males. The bradycardic group had better APACHE II on admission and also better outcome (survival). Mortality was lower in bradycardic patients than in tachycardic patients. Conclusion. Bradycardia is a real phenomenon in hemorrhaging patients in a prehospital setting. It might be associated with both better APACHE II on admission and better outcome

Erythropoietin in post-resuscitation neurological recovery: is there light at the end of the tunnel?

Studies show that erythropoietin, besides its critical role in hematopoiesis, provides neuroprotection in hypoxic-ischemic cerebral injury. Antiapoptotic, anti-inflammatory, angiogenetic, and neurotrophic properties of erythropoietin could increase indications, currently restricted to anemia in chronic renal failure and cancer, to hypoxic-ischemic cerebral insult. In the adult and neonatal animal model of hypoxic-ischemic cerebral injury, erythropoietin significantly reduces infarct size with attenuation of brain damage, and preservation of cortical integrity. The first human study on the impact of erythropoietin in stroke victims showed that erythropoietin is safe and well tolerated at high doses, and associated with improved neurological outcome. Even with intravenous application, concentrations of erythropoietin in cerebrospinal fluid of these patients were many-fold higher than in non-treated patients. In successfully resuscitated cardiac arrest victims overall neurological recovery remains poor despite improved cardiopulmonary resuscitation strategies. Post-resuscitation care needs further advances in order to improve final outcome. Through promotion of neuroangiogenesis, inhibition of hypoxia-induced apoptosis in neurons, and thus support of the survival of neurons in the ischemic brain, erythropoietin could be used to improve functional recovery of these patients. Nevertheless, optimal molecular forms of EPO, therapeutic doses, and treatment time window have to be determined in order to lower the incidence of adverse effects and still preserve neuroprotective properties

Rapid Sequence Intubation in the Pre-Hospital Setting – Difference Between Trauma and Nontrauma Patients

Aim. To determine, in a prospective observational study, whether there are differences in the practice of rapid sequence intubation (RSI) and to ascertain the characteristics between trauma and non-trauma patients that were intubated in a prehospital setting. Methods. Included were patients (18 years and over) who were not in cardiac arrest and who underwent RSI and were transported to hospital. From January 2000 to December 2006 we intubated 636 patients in cardiac arrest, 159 critically ill non-trauma patients and 142 trauma patients. Placement of an endotracheal tube was confirmed by capnography. We compared medical and trauma groups of intubated patients. We used the two-independent sample t-test, Chi-square test and Wilcoxon-Mann Whitney test for statistical analysis. Results. Statistical differences between groups (medical vs. trauma): initial main arterial pressure (104.9 +/- 34.6 vs. 90.7 +/- 24.8; p=0.01), blood glucose levels (9.2 +/- 3.5 vs. 5.9 +/- 1.9; p=0.011), administration of colloids (13,1 % vs. 70,2; p=0.003) and Hyperhaes (2.5 % vs.17.6 %; p=0.001), male gender (62.3 vs 81.6; p=0.014), rate of RSI (71.1 % vs. 96.4 %; p<0.001), initial GCS distribution 3-4/5-8/9-15 (30.9 % /61.6 % /7.5 % vs 11.7 % /60,2 % /28,1 %; p<0.001), initial pet CO2 (49,5 +/- 8,4 mmHg vs. 32,8 +/- 5.4 mmHg; p=0.007), APACHE II first day of hospitalization (25,9 +/- 4.9 vs. 20,8 +/- 3.6; p=0.002) and hospital mortality (78/159 (49.1 %) vs. 44/142 (30.1 %); p=0.023). We also analyzed the number of intubation attempts, intubation success rate, perceived difficulty of intubation and side effects with complications. The hospital survival analysis showed that survivors are younger (54.2 +/- 19.9 vs. 62.3 +/-18.8; p=0.019), have a higher rate of RSI (175/179(97.7 %) vs. 75/122(61.6 %); p=0.002) and have a better (lower) APACHE II score (19.9 +/-3.6 vs.28.3 +/- 4.6; p=0.002). We found the highest mortality rate in the subgroup of patients with non-traumatic intracranial hemorrhage (58.8 %, 60/102). Conclusion. In non-trauma, critically ill patients we found a lower rate of RSI, more patients with an initial GCS of 3-4, higher APACHE II first day, higher initial pet CO2 and higher hospital mortality than in trauma patients

The dynamic pattern of end-tidal carbon dioxide during cardiopulmonary resuscitation: difference between asphyxial cardiac arrest and ventricular fibrillation/pulseless ventricular tachycardia cardiac arrest

Introduction: Partial pressure of end-tidal carbon dioxide (PetCO2) during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) correlates with cardiac output and consequently has a prognostic value in CPR. In our previous study we confirmed that initial PetCO2 value was significantly higher in asphyxial arrest than in ventricular fibrillation/pulseless ventricular tachycardia (VF/VT) cardiac arrest. In this study we sought to evaluate the pattern of PetCO2 changes in cardiac arrest caused by VF/VT and asphyxial cardiac arrest in patients who were resuscitated according to new 2005 Guidelines. Methods: The study included two cohorts of patients: cardiac arrest due to asphyxia with initial rhythm asystole or pulseless electrical activity (PEA), and cardiac arrest due to arrhythmia with initial rhythm VF or pulseless VT. PetCO2 was measured for both groups immediately after intubation and repeatedly every minute, both for patients with or without return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC). We compared the dynamic pattern of PetCO2 between groups. Results: Between June 2006 and June 2009 resuscitation was attempted in 325 patients and in this study we included 51 patients with asphyxial cardiac arrest and 63 patients with VF/VT cardiac arrest. The initial values of PetCO2 were significantly higher in the group with asphyxial cardiac arrest (6.74 +/- 4.22 kPa versus 4.51 +/- 2.47 kPaP = 0.004). In the group with asphyxial cardiac arrest, the initial values of PetCO2 did not show a significant difference when we compared patients with and without ROSC (6.96 +/- 3.63 kPa versus 5.77 +/- 4.64 kPaP = 0.313). We confirmed significantly higher initial PetCO2 values for those with ROSC in the group with primary cardiac arrest (4.62 +/- 2.46 kPa versus 3.29 +/- 1.76 kPaP = 0.041). A significant difference in PetCO2 values for those with and without ROSC was achieved after five minutes of CPR in both groups. In all patients with ROSC the initial PetCO2 was again higher than 1.33 kPa. Conclusions: The dynamic pattern of PetCO2 values during out-of-hospital CPR showed higher values of PetCO2 in the first two minutes of CPR in asphyxia, and a prognostic value of initial PetCO2 only in primary VF/VT cardiac arrest. A prognostic value of PetCO2 for ROSC was achieved after the fifth minute of CPR in both groups and remained present until final values. This difference seems to be a useful criterion in prehospital diagnostic procedures and attendance of cardiac arrest