[Analysis of care in cardiorespiratory arrest in an emergency medical unit]

[Evaluation of a training model for health professionals in the care of critical patients: AIPCAP Study]

Objetivo

Evaluar la validez, aceptabilidad e impacto en el nivel de conocimientos y de habilidades de profesionales sanitarios de Atención Primaria de un modelo formativo para mejorar la atención del paciente crítico.

Diseño

Estudio multicéntrico de intervención cuasiexperimental.

Emplazamiento

En 8 equipos de Barcelona.

Participantes

En total 272 profesionales.

Intervenciones

Programa formativo con 48 simulacros de infarto agudo de miocardio (IAM) y de ictus.

Mediciones principales

Con una checklist se evaluaron las habilidades en el abordaje del paciente crítico, el efecto de la formación en los conocimientos de los participantes y la satisfacción. La formación se realizó tras 2 series de simulacros (infarto agudo de miocardio + ictus). En la segunda serie se efectuaron 3 evaluaciones: in situ, una semana después y a las 3 semanas. Se analizó la concordancia y la fiabilidad. Las diferencias de medias se analizaron mediante la t de Student para datos emparejados.

Resultados

Se respondieron 449 tests de conocimientos; la mayor puntuación se obtuvo al finalizar cada simulacro (3,89 [DE 1,01] vs. 3,21 [DE 1,09]). Obtuvieron mejores puntuaciones los médicos que las enfermeras (3,81 [DE 0,87] vs. 3,32 [DE 1,15]), y los profesionales con la especialidad finalizada que los MIR (3,6 [DE 1,08] vs. [DE 1,18]).

La puntuación media de la checklist en la primera evaluación fue de 7,7 puntos (DE 1,56), que mejoró hasta llegar a 9,1 puntos (DE 0,78).

El índice kappa fue mayor de 0,40 en todos los casos.

Conclusiones

Una metodología formativa para manejar urgencias en Atención Primaria con simulacros es válida, fiable y bien aceptada. Mejora el nivel de conocimientos y habilidades de los profesionales participantes.

Recommendations in dispatcher-assisted bystander resuscitation from emergency call center

Dispatch-assisted bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest has been shown as an effective measure to improve the survival of this process. The development of a unified protocol for all dispatch centers of the different emergency medical services can be a first step towards this goal in our environment. The process of developing a recommendations document and the realization of posters of dispatch-assisted cardiopulmonary resuscitation, agreed by different actors and promoted by the Spanish Resuscitation Council, is presented.

[Epidemiological characteristics of out-of-hospital cardiorespiratory arrest recorded by the 061 emergencies system (SAMU) in the Balearic Islands (Spain), 2009-2012]

OBJECTIVE

To describe the epidemiology of out-of-hospital cardiorespiratory arrest (OHCA) and identify factors associated with recovery of spontaneous circulation (ROSC).

DESIGN

Observational study of OHCA registered on a continuous basis in the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) database during 2009-2012.

SETTING

The islands of Mallorca, Ibiza, Menorca and Formentera (Balearic Islands, Spain).

PATIENTS

OHCA in patients ≥ 18 years of age. The main variables were: Patient sex, age, probable cause, place of arrest, bystander, witnessed, basic life support (BLS), shockable rhythm, intervention time, semi-automatic defibrillator (AED), duration of cardiopulmonary arrest (CA), and ROSC. Independent variables were defined according to the Utstein protocol, and the dependent variable was defined as ROSC.

RESULTS

The EMS treated 1170 OHCAs (28/100,000 persons-year). We included 1130 CA. The mean age was 61.4 years (73.4% males). Most CA (72.3%) were of cardiac etiology, and 84.7% were witnessed. A total of 840 (74.3%) received BLS and 400 (47.6%) did so before arrival of the EMS (45 by bystander relatives). AED was available in 330 cases CA (29.2%) (96 with shockable rhythm). The interval between emergency call and BLS and between emergency call and advanced life support was 8.4 and 15.8min, respectively. Shockable rhythm was monitored in 257 CAs (22.7%). ROSC occurred in 261 (23.1%). Factors associated with ROSC were age, shockable rhythm, BLS before EMS arrival, and CA duration less than 30min.

CONCLUSION

The incidence rate of the OHCA is low. The proportion of patients receiving BLS from relatives was low. Age, shockable rhythm and BSL before EMS arrival were associated with ROSC.

Factors associated with mortality in out-of-hospital cardiac arrests attended in basic life support units in the Basque Country (Spain)

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES

To describe the epidemiological characteristics of cardiac arrests attended in basic life support units in the Basque Country (Spain) and look for factors associated with failure of cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

METHODS

We conducted an observational study during 18 months, including all out-of-hospital cardiopulmonary resuscitation provided by basic life support units. The variables defined in the Utstein-style were considered as independent and mortality as the dependent variable. We applied descriptive and analytical statistics and evaluated the magnitude of the association using a logistic regression model, which included variables with P<.05 in the bivariate analysis.

RESULTS

Of 1050 cardiac arrests attended, 15.7% of patients were revived in situ. The presumed etiology was cardiac in 55.3% of cases and 71.4% occurred at home. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation was started before the arrival of the ambulance in 22.9% of cases and in 18.2% the rhythm of presentation was shockable. Variables associated with lower mortality were: shockable rhythms (relative risk=0.44; P=.003), patient aged<65 years (relative risk=0.44; P=.002), time to cardiopulmonary resuscitation<8 min (relative risk=0.56; P=.039), and out-of-home events (relative risk=0.55; P=.031).

CONCLUSIONS

Cardiac arrest survival was low. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation before the arrival of the ambulance was rare. A shockable rhythm, age younger than 65 years, early cardiopulmonary resuscitation efforts, and a location away from home were associated with longer survival. It is necessary to develop strategies designed to reduce ambulance response time and educate the public in basic resuscitation.