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New guidance on take-home naloxone for community overdose responders

The Canadian Medical Association Journal published new guidance on take-home naloxone distribution and use by community overdose responders in Canada. The guidance prioritizes preserving life and mitigating harms, and is the result of a collaborative process involving diverse stakeholders from across the country.

SourceCanadian Medical Association Journal·JournalCanadian Medical Association Journal·TypeLiterature review·DateAug 28, 2023

Activating volunteer system increases bystander CPR, AED use and improves survival

A study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology found that alerting volunteers can increase bystander CPR and AED use, leading to improved survival rates. The volunteer system increased rates of CPR and defibrillation in out-of-hospital cardiac arrests, giving victims a higher chance of receiving early care.

SourceAmerican College of Cardiology·JournalJournal of the American College of Cardiology·TypeObservational study·DateJul 10, 2023

CPR mannikins used in instructive social media posts lack diversity, influencing patient outcomes and disparities in training and care

A study found that CPR mannikins depicted in public social media accounts are predominantly white, lean men, lacking representation of diverse groups. The lack of diversity in these models may influence disparities in training and care for patients experiencing out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.

SourceElsevier·JournalCanadian Journal of Cardiology·TypeObservational study·DateNov 21, 2022

Cardiac arrest survival rate rising

The study found that the probability of surviving cardiac arrest outside hospital has more than doubled in 30 years, from approximately 5% to 11%. The improvement is attributed to increased CPR training and better healthcare resources. However, ambulance delays and an increase in difficult-to-treat cases are hindering further progress.

SourceUniversity of Gothenburg·JournalEuropean Heart Journal·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateAug 26, 2022

Black nursing home residents, those under age 65 more likely to have repeat transfers to hospital, MU study finds

A new study by University of Missouri found that Black nursing home residents and those under 65 are significantly more likely to experience repeat hospital transfers. This phenomenon can be attributed to various factors including 'full-code' status regarding end-of-life care, comorbidities, and inadequate staffing. The study suggests ...

SourceUniversity of Missouri-Columbia·JournalBMC Health Services Research·TypeMeta-analysis·DateJul 1, 2022

UCLA neuroscientists use electrical stimulation to restore breathing in surgery patients undergoing opioid-based anesthesia

Researchers administered epidural electrical stimulation (EES) to patients with degenerative spine diseases undergoing surgery, improving respiratory control and depth of breathing. The study provides proof of principle for using EES as an alternative treatment to combat opioid-induced respiratory depression.

SourceUniversity of California - Los Angeles Health Sciences·JournalThe Journal of Physiology·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 31, 2022

Australian study set to guide the treatment of critically ill patients worldwide

A large clinical trial involving over 5,000 patients found that commonly used saline solution is as effective at keeping people alive and their organs functioning as more expensive balanced solutions. The study's results provide greater certainty about the safety and benefits of saline solution for treatment.

SourceGeorge Institute for Global Health·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateJan 18, 2022

CHOP researchers find bystander CPR with rescue breathing leads to better outcomes in pediatric cardiac arrest

A new study by Children's Hospital of Philadelphia finds that bystander CPR using only chest compression has similar outcomes to not using CPR at all for infants experiencing cardiac arrest. In contrast, children who received CPR with rescue breathing had nearly 1.5 times better neurological outcomes.

SourceChildren's Hospital of Philadelphia·JournalJournal of the American College of Cardiology·DateAug 30, 2021

Who is the girl behind the face of CPR?

Resusci Annie is a plaster death mask created from an unknown woman found in the River Seine in 19th century Paris. Her face has been used in CPR training for over 50 years, helping to save an estimated 2.5 million lives, and inspiring songs like Michael Jackson's Smooth Criminal.

SourceBMJ Group·JournalThe BMJ·DateDec 10, 2020

New study shows which medical procedures pose COVID-19 risk to health-care providers

A new study has identified autopsy, airway suctioning, and cardiopulmonary resuscitation as aerosol-generating procedures that require enhanced personal protective equipment. The research aims to prevent healthcare workers from becoming infected with COVID-19, protecting them from severe disease and maintaining staffing levels during t...

SourceUniversity of Alberta Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry·JournalBMJ Open Respiratory Research·DateOct 13, 2020

New CT scanning method may improve heart massage

A new CT scanning method developed by researchers from Aarhus University and University of Leicester has shown how the chest and abdominal region of a deceased person move during simulated heart massage. This detailed information can help clarify important physiological mechanisms and improve resuscitation techniques.

SourceAarhus University·JournalResuscitation·DateAug 6, 2020

Patients overestimate the success of CPR

Research found patients significantly overestimating CPR success and understating its negative impact. Clinicians should discuss CPR with patients to clarify success rates and risks before consent is given. The study highlighted the importance of informed decision-making in end-of-life care.

SourceBMJ Group·JournalEmergency Medicine Journal·DateJul 13, 2020

First-ever analysis of video recorded CPR improves resuscitation outcomes in emergency departments

Researchers developed a novel approach called MTV-CPR to video record and review CPR practices, leading to improved survivorship rates for cardiac arrest patients. The study found that the use of video recording and team-focused strategy increased the return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) rate from 26% to 41%.

SourceNorthwell Health·JournalJournal of the American Heart Association·DateMar 10, 2020

Getting to the heart of epinephrine use in pediatric cardiac arrest patients

Researchers found that prehospital epinephrine administration was associated with improved return of circulation in pediatric patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. However, there was no significant improvement in 1-month survival rates. The study suggests that prehospital epinephrine administration should be included in interna...

SourceOsaka University·JournalJournal of the American College of Cardiology·DateJan 14, 2020