Objective. A combination of vasopressin and epinephrine may be more effective than epinephrine alone in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), but evidence is lacking to make clinical recommendations. This meta-analysis compares the efficacy of vasopressin and epinephrine used together versus epinephrine alone in cardiac arrest (CA). Methods. We searched MEDLINE and EMBASE for randomized trials c...

BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to measure chest compression decay during simulated advanced life support (ALS) in a cardiac arrest manikin model. METHODS 19 paramedic teams, each consisting of three paramedics, performed ALS for 12 minutes with the same paramedic providing all chest compressions. The patient was a resuscitation manikin found in ventricular fibrillation (VF). The first s...

We have previously reported that methylene blue (MB) can counteract hydrogen sulfide (H2S) intoxication-induced circulatory failure. Because of the multifarious effects of high concentrations of H2S on cardiac function, as well as the numerous properties of MB, the nature of this interaction, if any, remains uncertain. The aim of this study was to clarify 1) the effects of MB on H2S-induced car...

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE In experimental studies infusion of hypertonic saline during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) increased resuscitation success rate and improved myocardial and cerebral reperfusion during CPR. We tested the feasibility and the safety of this new therapeutic measure in a randomised, preclinical pilot study. METHODS The study was performed in the EMS system of Bonn afte...

Abstract Background Extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR) has shown potential as a salvage therapy for patients with refractory out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). Despite growing interest in and body of literature on ECPR OHCA, robust evidence patient eligibility is still lacking. Purpose To describe the survival, neurological outcome, adherence to national consensus respect u...

AIM To assess the frequency of cardiac arrest and outcomes and predictors of survival after cardiopulmonary resuscitation in hospitalized patients. METHODS We prospectively analyzed the data on all patients who experienced cardiac arrest while hospitalized at the Split University Hospital between January and December 2003. Data were collected on patients' demographic characteristics, etiology...