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Stefan Beckers

Publications and source records attributed to Stefan Beckers.

6 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Incidence of cross-border emergency care and outcomes of cardiopulmonary resuscitation in a unique European region.

BACKGROUND: Emergency medical service (EMS) systems in Europe have developed differently due to legal, educational and organisational aspects. The aim of the present study was to compare cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) outcomes and characteristics in three differently organised and staffed EMS systems in close vicinity. METHODS: We analysed the charts of patients treated in the EMS systems of the cities of Aachen (Germany), Heerlen (The Netherlands) and Eupen (Belgium), retrospectively. Main outcome measures were the rate of return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC), hospital discharge and cerebral performance after 1 year. Furthermore, factors influencing neurological outcome and the incidence of cross-border emergency assistance were assessed. RESULTS: Of 852 patients found unresponsive with no palpable pulse and/or the absence of breathing, CPR was performed in 322 patients. The overall rate of ROSC was 44.1 and 13.7% of patients were discharged alive. A good neurological outcome was observed in 95.5% of survivors. The rate of ventricular fibrillation was significantly higher (46.9% versus 21.9 and 21.2%, p < 0.05) and the total amount of epinephrine given during CPR significantly lower (4.5+/-5.2 mg versus 9.8+/-10.8 and 8.4+/-6.2 mg, p < 0.05) in the Dutch system. No significant differences in outcome variables were observed between the systems. Neurological outcome was favourable when the arrest was witnessed, occurred in a public place, the initial rhythm was shockable, a low total amount of adrenaline (epinephrine) was given and the call-response interval was short. In 1.2% of the cases cross-border emergency care was provided. CONCLUSIONS: Despite medical and organisational discrepancies, outcomes of CPR in three neighbouring EMS systems are comparable. Neurological outcome is influenced by demographical, organisational and medical factors. Cross-border emergency assistance for CPR is almost undetectable and needs improvement.

Belgium↗
PubMed2005

Evaluation of a new approach to implement structured, evidence-based emergency medical care in undergraduate medical education in Germany.

Since June 2002, revised regulations in Germany allow medical faculties to implement new curricular concepts. The medical faculty of the Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule (RWTH) Aachen, Germany, decided to start a major reform experiment in winter 2003, focussing on an interdisciplinary integration of organs and organ systems such as the cardiovascular or respiratory system. Furthermore, students will have contact with patients at an early stage of their studies. Thus, re-organisation of course contents should lead to a chance to improve practical experience. With the public having the right to expect that physicians and all physicians in training possess a basic knowledge of emergency medical care and the necessary skills to manage acute problems, it was decided to start the first year of the Medical Reform Curriculum Aachen with 3 weeks interdisciplinary introduction into emergency medical care. The task consisted of defining interdisciplinary core objectives and the need to implement teaching and learning principles necessary for further education. Due to this, the content of this course should have practical relevance for the students concerning their practical experiences in the future. The result is an introductory course in emergency medical care in the first semester, coordinated with the lectures. Besides skill training on basics of emergency medical care (basic life support (BLS), early defibrillation), practical training in other lifesaving techniques (e.g., immobilisation skills) and basic principles of daily clinical care are included. In addition, personal safety and a standard algorithm for assessing the patient are covered by problem-based learning sessions. The course evaluation data clearly showed acceptance of the new approach and enhances possibilities of extending implementation of relevant topics concerning emergency medical care within the Medical Reform Curriculum Aachen.

Curriculum↗
PubMed2005

Minimal instructions improve the performance of laypersons in the use of semiautomatic and automatic external defibrillators.

INTRODUCTION: There is evidence that use of automated external defibrillators (AEDs) by laypersons improves rates of survival from cardiac arrest, but there is no consensus on the optimal content and duration of training for this purpose. In this study we examined the use of semiautomatic or automatic AEDs by laypersons who had received no training (intuitive use) and the effects of minimal general theoretical instructions on their performance. METHODS: In a mock cardiac arrest scenario, 236 first year medical students who had not previously attended any preclinical courses were evaluated in their first study week, before and after receiving prespecified instructions (15 min) once. The primary end-point was the time to first shock for each time point; secondary end-points were correct electrode pad positioning, safety of the procedure and the subjective feelings of the students. RESULTS: The mean time to shock for both AED types was 81.2 +/- 19.2 s (range 45-178 s). Correct pad placement was observed in 85.6% and adequate safety in 94.1%. The time to shock after instruction decreased significantly to 56.8 +/- 9.9 s (range 35-95 s; P < or = 0.01), with correct electrode placement in 92.8% and adequate safety in 97%. The students were significantly quicker at both evaluations using the semiautomatic device than with the automatic AED (first evaluation: 77.5 +/- 20.5 s versus 85.2 +/- 17 s, P < or = 0.01; second evaluation: 55 +/- 10.3 s versus 59.6 +/- 9.6 s, P < or = 0.01). CONCLUSION: Untrained laypersons can use semiautomatic and automatic AEDs sufficiently quickly and without instruction. After one use and minimal instructions, improvements in practical performance were significant. All tested laypersons were able to deliver the first shock in under 1 min.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

S-100 protein and neurohistopathologic changes in a porcine model of acute lung injury.

BACKGROUND: Survivors of acute respiratory distress syndrome exhibit neuropsychological sequelae that might be attributable to hippocampal damage. The authors sought to determine the effects of hypoxemia in a pig model of acute lung injury on the hippocampal region and the release of S-100 protein in comparison to a control group in which hypoxemia was induced by reducing the inspired oxygen fraction. METHODS: Hypoxemia was induced in 14 female pigs by repeated lung lavages (lung injury group; n = 7) or by reducing the inspired oxygen fraction (hypoxia-only group; n = 7). Hemodynamic variables, gas exchange, and serum concentrations of S-100 protein were measured at baseline, after induction of acute lung injury, and subsequently for 12 h. Animals were euthanized, and the brains were removed for histopathologic examination. RESULTS: Comparable blood gases were seen in both groups. Serum S-100 protein concentrations were comparable for both groups at baseline. At all other time points, S-100 concentrations were significantly higher in the lung injury group. Neuropathologic examination showed basophilic and shrunken neurons of the pyramidal cell layer in the hippocampal CA1 subregion of all pigs in the lung injury group. Few abnormalities were seen in the hypoxia-only group. CONCLUSIONS: The same degree of hypoxemia induced in a lavage model of acute lung injury results in greater brain damage assessed by S-100 protein and histopathologic findings when compared to a group in which hypoxemia at the same degree was induced by reducing the inspired oxygen fraction. This suggests that acute lung injury leads to neuropathologic changes independent of hypoxemia.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Neurological emergencies as causes of accidents.

OBJECTIVES: A large number of people throughout Europe are involved in accidents every year. Neurological emergencies as the underlying cause of accidents are poorly investigated. This retrospective chart review study was performed to evaluate the incidence of such events. METHODS: We retrospectively screened the records of the database of our physician-staffed emergency medical service for a 2-year period of time for patients involved in accidents suspicious of having had a neurological incident leading to the accident. The admission diagnoses of these records were compared with the final diagnosis as taken from the hospital records. Additional demographical (gender, age, time of accident) and medical (Glasgow Coma Scale, Injury Severity Score, National Advisory Committee on Aeronautics-Score) data were evaluated and analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 1545 records associated with accidents were screened, identifying 110 (7.1%) cases eligible for analysis. Fifty-four patients had seizure (49.1%), 7 stroke (6.3%) and 2 suffered from intracerebral hemorrhage (1.8%). The admission diagnosis made by the physician was confirmed in 91.8% of the cases. Accidents with concomitant neurological event happened significantly more frequent between 9 and 12 am. No differences were observed in demographic or medical data for patients with acute neurological event prior to the accident. CONCLUSION: Neurological emergencies, particularly epilepsy, stroke and intracerebral hemorrhage are causes of accidents which have to be considered more often than expected and happen most frequently in the morning. Other demographical and medical data provide no additional information for emergency medical personnel to specifically identify such patients. Nevertheless, emergency physicians seem to be highly skilled in finding the correct diagnosis.

Accidents↗