Biomedical subjects

Robert Sebastian Hoke

Publications and source records attributed to Robert Sebastian Hoke.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

A reference automated external defibrillator provider course for Europe.

BACKGROUND: Scientific evidence is scarce in relation to the effectiveness of different methods of teaching automated external defibrillator (AED) use to laypeople. A reference course is needed in order to test new courses or methods against a comparative standard. OBJECTIVE: To propose a reference AED provider course that can be used as a comparator when testing new courses or teaching methods. METHODS: All national resuscitation councils that are represented in the European Resuscitation Council were sent a questionnaire about the AED provider courses run by them or under their auspices. RESULTS: Sixteen national resuscitation councils responded to the enquiry. Apart from the individual course timetables, there was remarkable consistency amongst the European countries as regards organisation, structure, content and methods. CONCLUSIONS: A reference AED provider course for laypeople, based on a synthesis of existing European courses, is suggested as a tool for research. Prior completion of a basic life support provider course is mandatory. Course duration is 2 h 45 min (excluding breaks), with 1 h 40 min practice time for the participants, 25 min for theory, 20 min for practical demonstrations by the instructor and 20 min for introduction, discussion and closure. A manual is distributed at the start of the course. The ratio of instructors to participants is one to six. Lectures are interactive between the instructor and the class. AED use is practised in groups of six participants. Participants prove their competency by means of a formal test that simulates a cardiac arrest scenario. Using this course as a comparator during research into the methodology of AED teaching would provide a reference against which other courses could be tested.

Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation↗

PubMed2006

A reference basic life support provider course for Europe.

BACKGROUND: Good scientific evidence is scarce in relation to the effectiveness of different methods of teaching basic life support (BLS) to the general public. In order to test new courses or methods a reference course is needed as a comparative standard. OBJECTIVE: To propose a reference BLS provider course that can be used as a comparator when testing new courses or teaching methods. METHODS: All national resuscitation councils that are represented in the European Resuscitation Council (ERC) were sent a questionnaire about the BLS provider courses run by them or under their auspices. RESULTS: Sixteen national resuscitation councils responded to the enquiry. Their responses regarding organisation, structure, content and methods of the courses were found to be remarkably consistent between European countries. Few issues had a high variance. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the responses received, a reference BLS provider course for lay persons is suggested as a tool for research. The course duration is 3 h 15 min (excluding breaks), with 2 h 15 min practice time for the participants, 30 min for theory and 20 min for practical demonstrations by the instructor. A manual is distributed at the start of the course. The ratio of instructors to participants is one to six. The lectures are interactive between the instructor and the participants. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is practised on manikins in groups of six. A formal BLS scenario test may be held at the end of the course as part of a research study or if the candidates so request. It is suggested that by using this reference course during research into lay person BLS teaching, it will be easier to make comparisons between different studies.

Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation↗

PubMed2004

Skeletal chest injuries secondary to cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

OBJECTIVE: To review the evidence on the incidence of rib and sternal fractures after conventional closed-chest compression in the treatment of cardiac arrest in adults and children, and after active compression-decompression cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ACD-CPR). METHODS: Medline search and additional review of the cited literature in the articles found. RESULTS: Reports on conventional CPR in adults suggest an incidence of rib fractures ranging from 13 to 97%, and of sternal fractures from 1 to 43%. Reports on CPR in children suggest an incidence of rib fractures of 0-2%, and no sternal fractures. ACD-CPR has been reported as causing rib fractures in 4-87%, and sternal fractures in 0-93% of cases. CONCLUSIONS: Sound methodological studies on thoracic fractures due to chest compression do not exist and the available studies cannot be compared one with another. In infants and toddlers, manual CPR rarely causes skeletal chest injuries. In adults, sternal fractures occur in at least one-fifth and rib fractures as well as rib and/or sternal fractures in at least one-third of the patients during conventional CPR. There is no compelling evidence to show that an increased complication rate is associated with ACD-CPR. Rib or sternal fractures are unlikely to increase mortality, as they rarely cause severe internal organ damage. Further prospective studies are desirable to assess complications by post-mortem examinations that explicitly address them. In particular, clinical evaluation of mechanical CPR devices should be accompanied by a thorough assessment of the associated complications because data specific to this modality are not available.

Adult↗