Biomedical subjects

A Pottle

Publications and source records attributed to A Pottle.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2002

Survival to discharge following open chest cardiac compression (OCCC). A 4-year retrospective audit in a cardiothoracic specialist centre--Royal Brompton and Harefield NHS Trust, United Kingdom.

OBJECTIVE: To review the use of Open Chest Cardiac Compression (OCCC) techniques in postcardiac surgical patients in one specialist cardiothoracic centre in the UK. METHODS: A 4-year retrospective audit (April 1995--March 1999) of all cardiac arrest victims and resuscitation practice across two specialist cardiothoracic hospitals. Audit outcomes related to initial survival and survival to discharge, arrest rhythm, reasons for resternotomy, surgical procedure prior to resternotomy and time elapsed from original surgery to resternotomy. RESULTS: Seventy-two patients (adult and paediatric) suffering cardiac arrest received OCCC following cardiac surgery. Thirty-three patients initially survived (46%) and 12 patients survived to discharge (17%). DISCUSSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS: In the absence of current European Resuscitation Council guidelines, we adopted recommendations for resternotomy to be performed after 5 min of unsuccessful conventional CPR and OCCC initiated. An adapted ERC algorithm incorporating these recommendations can provide much needed direction in postcardiac surgery cardiac arrest victims.

Adult↗

PubMed2000

Does resuscitation training affect outcome from cardiac arrest?

It is established that basic life support (BLS) is performed inadequately by both nursing and medical staff and that the ability to retain these skills, once trained, is low. In addition, the initial success rate from cardiopulmonary arrest is poor. By implementing the advanced life support (ALS) course and providing frequent updates on resuscitation skills and management, it is expected that cardiac arrest outcome results should improve. This data is from a 4 year audit of in-hospital cardiac arrest within an adult patient group between January 1993 and December 1996. The average return response of all audit forms was 86.5%. The total sample consisted of 367 separate arrests where the initial rhythm was documented as either ventricular fibrillation (VF)/ventricular tachycardia (VT) (58.3%), asystole (21.7%), electromechanical dissociation (EMD) (7.0%) and other (13.0%). Initial success was defined as return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC). This was achieved in 75.0% of all resuscitation attempts. Within the VF/VT group, successful outcome remained consistent over the 4-year period with an ROSC of 85%. Successful outcome remained consistent in the EMD group, however, the number of arrests was small. Within the asystole group, initial survival increased from 47.5% in 1993-1994 to 67.5% in 1995-1996. These results suggest that BLS and ALS training may only have an impact on initial survival from cardiac arrest.

Adult↗

PubMed1990

Nursing practice. To visit--or not to visit.

In many settings, restrictions remain on visiting times in hospitals and in particular in coronary care units. This paper questions the appropriateness of restricted visiting times, examines relevant literature on the subject, and describes a small-scale project conducted in the author's own unit. The results of the study suggested that visiting times needed to be reviewed if the well-being of patients was to be enhanced.

Critical Care↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Tough decisions.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Decision Making↗