Cardiac arrest is the leading cause of death in the United States. By reviewing and analyzing the successes and failures of resuscitation efforts, it has been possible to identify critical components which have come to be known as the “Chain of Survival:” Early Recognition, Early CPR, Early Defibrillation, Early ALS, and Early Post Resuscitative Care. A failure in any one of the five links will result in a failed resuscitation. Early Recognition is the beginning of the resuscitation effort and includes a number of related components. Witnessed cardiac arrests, those that are seen or heard to occur, have a significantly higher chance of survival than those which are unwitnessed. Properly identifying agonal gasps: irregular, forceful, reflexive breaths which can occur during cardiac arrest, is key to recognition of arrest and activation of the emergency response system. Emergency dispatchers trained to recognize cardiac arrest, as well as to initiate Early CPR via telephonic instruction, have been identified as key personnel in the resuscitation effort. Once professional rescuers have been dispatched, response delays due to distance and traffic can be costly. The use of new technologies like GPS and traffic signal preemption (as well as the use of Police, Fire and EMS in conjunction) has been shown to make it possible to get qualified persons to the scene of a cardiac arrest more safely and more quickly. Once on scene, early, high quality CPR has been shown to dramatically improve survival. After just 8 minutes without assistance, a victim of cardiac arrest has a near zero percent chance of survival. CPR of high quality has been shown to help maintain survivability until more definitive care can be obtained. Early Defibrillation is another key component to survival in many cardiac arrests. While CPR can sustain organ function briefly, cardiac arrest is rarely reversed without defibrillation. Increasingly widespread prevalence of public automated external defibrillators (AEDs) has made Early Defibrillation easier. Furthermore, increased use of AEDs by lay and professional rescuers has called into question the value of more traditional, higher risk interventions like intubation and medication administration. Early ALS interventions have been a staple of resuscitation for decades, but there is little data to support the use of these interventions during cardiac arrest. Early Post-Resuscitative Care, however, has been shown to be an area where invasive ALS interventions can and do make a difference in improved survival. By looking at the body of research for links in the Chain of Survival, opportunities for improvement of resuscitation were identified. Persons who spend significant time around an individual at high risk for heart disease should be educated on possible precipitating symptoms of a myocardial infarct or other early signs of potential cardiac arrest. Persons likely to encounter a cardiac arrest should likewise be trained not only in how to recognize cardiac arrest (through the combination of unresponsiveness and abnormal breathing) but also to initiate basic care via compressions-only CPR. Emergency dispatchers should be increasingly trained to recognize cardiac arrest, as well how to effectively provide dispatcher assisted CPR. The focus of these efforts should be high quality CPR and the early deployment of defibrillation. The use of AEDs by bystanders should be encouraged whenever possible. The emphasis on CPR and use of an AED should be paramount, with invasive ALS interventions eschewed for the simpler and more effective therapies. Once ROSC has been obtained, the use of ALS interventions in unstable patients has been shown not only to prevent death due to transient hemodynamic instability, but also to improve the likelihood of survival with little to no neurological deficit. By embracing the chain of survival, and identifying the critical areas in need of research and improvement, it is possible to provide recommendations that may lead to improved survival from cardiac arrest.

Bakgrund: Ett hjärtstopp sker plötsligt och kan drabba vem som helst. Livräddande insatser måste påbörjas så fort som möjligt om det ska finnas en chans för personen att överleva. Efter en traumatisk upplevelse som ett hjärtstopp är det viktigt att personen får rätt omvårdnad och stöd för att komma tillbaka till ett liv med nya förutsättningar och upplevelser.    Syfte: Syftet var att utforska patienters upplevelser och erfarenheter efter att ha överlevt ett hjärtstopp.   Metod: En litteraturöversikt enligt Fribergs metod med tio kvalitativa vetenskapliga artiklar. PubMed och Cinahl Complete är databaserna som använts under artikelsökningen.  Resultat: Tre teman identifierades i resultatet: lära känna en ny kropp, ny identitet samt att komma hem. I resultatet framkom det att patienter som har överlevt ett hjärtstopp ofta får fysiska och psykiska begränsningar. Många upplevde svårigheter efter att ha bli utskrivna från sjukhuset då kontakten med sjukvården blev mindre frekvent. Deltagarna i studierna kände en stor tacksamhet att de överlevt.  Sammanfattning: Hjärtstoppet innebar stora förändringar i livet på flera olika plan. Mycket handlade om att anpassa sig till en ny verklighet där ångest och rädsla ständigt var närvarande i början av återhämtningen. Osäkerheten kring vad deras kroppar skulle klara av, framför allt vid ökad aktivitet, upplevdes svår att hantera. Tidig start av hjärt- och lungräddning var livsavgörande och därför bör utbildning i detta ha en hög prioritet i samhället. / Background: A cardiac arrest occurs suddenly and can happen to anyone. Life-saving efforts must be started as soon as possible if there is a chance for the person to survive. After a traumatic experience such as a cardiac arrest, it is important that the person receives proper care and support to return to a life with new conditions and experiences.   Aim: The purpose was to explore patients' experiences after surviving a cardiac arrest.   Method: A literature review according to Friberg's method with ten qualitative scientific articles. PubMed and Cinahl Complete are the databases used during article search.   Results: Three themeswere identified in the results: getting to know a new body, new identity and coming home. The results showed that patients who have survived a cardiac arrest often live with physical and mental limitations. Many found it difficult to be discharged from the hospital, as contact with healthcare became less frequent. However, the participants in the studies felt a great deal of gratitude that they survived.   Conclusion: The cardiac arrest meant major changes in life on several different levels. Much was about adapting to a new reality where anxiety and fear were constantly present at the beginning of the recovery. The uncertainty about what their body can handle, especially with increased activity, was found to be difficult to handle. Early onset of cardiopulmonary resuscitation was vital and therefore education in this should be a high priority in society.   Keywords: New body, physical limitations, fear, insecurity, gratitude

Introduktion: En av de vanligaste dödsorsakerna i Europa är hjärtstopp. Vid ett hjärtstopp slutar hjärtat att pumpa blod och syrebrist uppstår. En livsviktig intervention är hjärt- och lungräddning. Chanserna att överleva ett hjärtstopp har ökat, trots detta har de som överlevt ofta både fysiska och psykiska nedsättningar. Depression och ångest är vanligt förekommande för de som överlevt ett hjärtstopp. Konsekvenserna påverkar överlevarnas livskvalitet och den psykosociala hälsan försämras. Det är viktigt att sjuksköterskan har kompetens inom området för att kunna ge hjärtstoppsöverlevare personcentrerad omvårdnad.  Syfte: Syftet var att beskriva vilka upplevelser patienter har efter att ha överlevt ett hjärtstopp. Metod: Arbetet hade en beskrivande design med en allmän litteraturöversikt som metod. Tolv kvalitativa artiklar valdes ut som undersökte patienters upplevelser av att ha överlevt ett hjärtstopp. Resultat: I resultatet framkom tio subkategorier och fem kategorier: Konsekvenser av ett hjärtstopp; Det nya normala; Individuella behov; Att omvärdera livet; Tacksamhet. Hjärtstoppsöverlevarna upplevde konsekvenser efter hjärtstoppet, vilket hade en stor påverkan på livet. Det nya normala beskriver sökandet efter en ny identitet samt information om hjärtstoppet. Överlevarna hade individuella behov rörande information om händelsen, rehabilitering och stöd från omgivningen. Existentiella tankar om livet, döden samt ny livsstil tas upp i att omvärdera livet. Tacksamhet utgick från överlevarnas tacksamhet angående deras nya chans i livet.  Slutsats: Patienter som har överlevt ett hjärtstopp har både positiva och negativa upplevelser. Utmaningar som patienterna möter under återhämtningsprocessen är individuella, men gemensamt för majoriteten är de existentiella tankarna som uppstår samt en känsla av tacksamhet. / Introduction: One of the most common causes of death in Europe is cardiac arrest. During a cardiac arrest (CA), the heart stops pumping blood and oxygen deficiency occurs. A vital intervention is cardiopulmonary resuscitation. The chances of surviving a cardiac arrest have increased, but those who survive often have both physical and mental impairments. Depression and anxiety are common after CA. The consequences affect the quality of life and psychosocial health deteriorates. It is important that the nurse has expertise in the field in order to provide CA survivors with personcentered care. Aim: The aim was to describe the experiences patients have after surviving a CA. Method: A descriptive design with a general literature review was applied. Twelve qualitative articles were selected that examined patients experiences of having survived a CA. Result: The result revealed ten subcategories and five categories: Consequences of a CA; The new normal; Individual needs; To re-evaluate life; Gratitude. The survivors experienced consequences after the CA, which had a major impact on life. The new normal describes the search of a new identity and information about the CA. The survivors had individual needs regarding information about the incident, rehabilitation and support. Existential thoughts about life, death and new lifestyles are addressed in re-evaluating life. Gratitude was based on the survivors gratitude for their new chance at life. Conclusion: Patients who survived CA have both positive and negative experiences. Challenges during the recovery process are individual, but common to the majority are the existential thoughts that arise and a feeling of gratitude.

Hypothermia is increasingly being used as a treatment modality for many conditions. Therapeutic hypothermia is any technique in which the body temperature is lowered for reducing oxygen demand and metabolic rate as a means to prevent or minimize organ damage. The purpose of this thesis is to describe current applications of therapeutic hypothermia, including types of cooling techniques, patients who benefit from hypothermia, target temperature, and associated side effects. There are two clinical situations where large randomized studies have demonstrated benefit of therapeutic hypothermia in humans. The first is in treatment of neonates with asphyxia, and the second is for treating survivors of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. Most cooling research focuses on treatment with mild to moderate hypothermia, 32°C - 34°C. Noninvasive cooling methods include the traditional ice packs, fans, alcohol baths, and cooling blankets not attached to any monitoring device. Invasive cooling techniques consist of the infusion of ice-cold fluids, ice slurries, endovascular, and nasopharyngeal cooling. Patients treated with therapeutic hypothermia require close monitoring due to the increased risk of infections, skin break down, vital sign changes such as bradycardia, and electrolyte balances such as hypokalemia. Optimal depth and duration of hypothermia and optimal rate of re-warming are unknown. Further nursing research is needed for induced hypothermia guidelines as well as education.

The purpose of this literature review is to discuss the mechanisms of a cardiac arrest and how it contributes to the high-risk classification of congenital heart disease patients. While assessing the diagnoses process and types of treatments applied to cardiac arrest and congenital heart disease separately, we further explain this information’s significance by combining their incidence rates and analyzing their associations as it relates to surgical operations. A narrative review of studies is conducted in pediatrics and adults to reveal distinctions in lesion characteristics and interventions, as well as limitations that permit inconsistencies in data reports on health outcomes. There is not adequate research and data collection in reference to perioperative cardiac arrest in congenital heart disease patients and the aim of this paper is to highlight the need for further studies and to present current research that has been conducted to fill the gaps of this global health issue.

Bakgrund: Plötslig oväntat hjärtstopp står för 15–20% av dödsfallen i västvärlden. Att drabbas av ett hjärtstopp innebär ett akut tillstånd för personen och kräver omedelbara åtgärder. De senaste decennierna syns en tydlig trend i att allt fler överlever hjärtstopp, detta på grund av ökad kunskap om hjärt- och lungräddning samt förbättrad sjukvård. Att överleva ett hjärtstopp innebär ofta fysiska, psykiska och existentiella svårigheter och det är viktigt att sjuksköterskan har god kunskap och kompetens inom detta område för att kunna ge hjärtstoppsöverlevare en personcentrerad och bra vård.  Syfte: Att belysa personers upplevelser av att överleva ett hjärtstopp.  Metod: En litteraturstudie med kvalitativ design baserad på 9 kvalitativa studier från PubMed och CINAHL. Studierna analyserades med Fribergs femstegsmodell.  Resultat: I resultatet visade på två huvudkategorier: Att lära sig leva ett förändrat liv och betydelsen av information och stöd samt sju underkategorier. I resultatet framkom upplevelser av kaos, förvirring och minnesproblem vid uppvaknandet. Kroppsförändringar och psykiska svårigheter medförde att överlevarna var tvungna att anpassa sig till ett nytt liv. Rehabiliteringen var varierande och många önskade ett ökat stöd. Familjens roll blev central i återhämtningsprocessen.  Konklusion: Litteraturstudien betonar behovet av stöd för hjärtstoppsöverlevares fysiska, psykiska och existentiella utmaningar. Stödgrupper och anhöriga är väsentliga, och bristen på generella rutiner för rehabilitering och uppföljning riskerar att missa viktiga symtom. God vård kräver förståelse från sjuksköterskor och annan personal för överlevarens specifika utmaningar. / Background: Sudden cardiac arrest accounts for 15–20% of deaths in the Western world. Improved knowledge of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and improvements in healthcare have increased survival rates. However, surviving a cardiac arrest often entails physical, psychological, and existential challenges. Nurses need comprehensive knowledge to provide person-centered care to survivors.  Aim: To illuminate individuals experiences of surviving a cardiac arrest.  Methods: A literature review based on nine qualitative studies from PubMed and CINAHL. The studies were analyzed with Friberg’s five-step model.  Results: Two main categories emerged: "Learning to live a changed life" and "The importance of information and support," with seven subcategories. The result showed that experiences of chaos, confusion, and memory issues emerged upon awakening. Survivors had to adapt to new lives due to physical and psychological changes. Rehabilitation experiences varied, emphasizing the desire for increased support. Family played a central role in the recovery process.  Conclusion: The literature review emphasizes the need for support for cardiac arrest survivors, acknowledging their physical, psychological, and existential challenges. Support groups and family involvement are crucial, and the absence of standardized rehabilitation and follow-up procedures may overlook significant symptoms. Providing effective care requires healthcare professionals, including nurses, to comprehend the specific challenges faced by survivors.

No description available.

Introdução: Parada Cardiorrespiratória (PCR) é uma emergência médica, quando ocorrer fora do ambiente hospitalar, o imediato atendimento à vítima é vital. A imediata Reanimação Cardiopulmonar (RCP), no ambiente extra-hospitalar é muito importante. A denominação aeroespacial reúne ambiente aéreo (cabine de aeronaves pressurizadas, altitude) e, espacial (ambiente com microgravidade, flutuação). No ambiente aéreo, importa a condição hipobárica e a hipóxia resultante. Quanto ao ambiente espacial, importa a condição de microgravidade e a incapacidade de exercer força e peso, como na superfície terrestre. Estes, e outros aspectos da RCP aeroespacial, são abordados no presente estudo. Objetivos: Ambiente aéreo: avaliar a qualidade do ar expirado, por um socorrista, durante RCP, em ambiente hipobárico, e, avaliar a suplementação de oxigênio para o socorrista, como forma de correção da mistura gasosa expirada, na altitude. Ambiente espacial: avaliar a eficácia de uma nova posição para RCP, por um só indivíduo, sem auxílio, na microgravidade. Materiais e Métodos: Utilizou-se uma câmara hipobárica, para a simulação da altitude, no ambiente aéreo. A RCP foi avaliada ao nível do mar e na altitude de 8.000 pés. Vôos parabólicos foram utilizados para a simulação de microgravidade. Um manequim foi o modelo de PCR em ambos os ambientes. No ambiente aéreo, avaliou-se a oferta de oxigênio expirada (boca-a-boca), pelo socorrista à vítima. Em microgravidade foi avaliada a efetividade da posição estudada, abraço da vítima com as pernas e o uso das mesmas, como apoio para a RCP, através da profundidade (mm), e freqüência (por minuto), das compressões torácicas e, da ventilação (volume de ar em mililitros). Resultados: Pressão de oxigênio cai de +108,3 mmHg (nível do mar), para +72,3 mmHg (8.000 pés). Com suplementação o valor é +108,0 mmHg. RCP em microgravidade: + 41,3 mm, + 80,2 /min, (sem ventilação). Massagem + ventilação (+ 44,0 mm, + 68,3 /min, + 491,0 ml de ar). Conclusões: Existe importante redução na oferta de oxigênio, à vítima de PCR, em altitude de 8.000 pés. Suplementação de oxigênio ao socorrista, 4 litros/minuto, por óculos nasal, pode corrigir esta redução. A posição proposta, para o ambiente espacial, deve ser considerada com uma possibilidade de RCP na microgravidade. / Introduction: Cardiac arrest (CA) is a medical emergency, and when occurring outside the hospital environment, immediate victim’s assistance is vital. Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) at the extra-hospital environment is very important. Aerospace denomination joins an aerial environment (pressurized airplane cabins, altitude), and space (microgravity environment, floating). Within the aerial environment, hypobaric condition and resulting hypoxia do matter. Considering the space environment, microgravity condition and the inability to exert force and weight such as at the surface level, are important. Those and other aspects of aerospace CPR are approached in this present study. Objectives: Aerial environment: To evaluate the quality of exhaled air from the practitioner, during CPR within a hypobaric environment, and to assess supplemental oxygen offer to the practitioner as a form of correcting the exhaled gas mixture at altitude. Space environment: To assess the efficacy of a new CPR position, for a sole, unassisted individual at microgravity. Material and Methods: A hypobaric chamber for aerial environment altitude simulation was employed. CPR was assessed at sea level and at the altitude of 8,000 feet. Parabolic flights were employed for microgravity simulation. A CPR manikin was the model for both environments. At the aerial environment, exhaled (mouth-to-mouth) oxygen offer by the practitioner to the victim was assessed. In microgravity, the effectiveness of the studied position, which consisted of securing the victim with the legs and using them for CPR restraint, was evaluated by depth (millimeters), and frequency (per minute) of chest compressions, and ventilation (air volume in milliliters). Results: Oxygen pressure falls from ± 108.3 mmHg (at sea level) to ± 72.3 mmHg (8,000 feet). With supplementation, the value is ± 108.0 mmHg. CPR in microgravity: ± 41.3 mm, ± 80.2/minute (without ventilation). Massage + ventilation (± 44.0 mm, ± 68.3/minute, ± 491.0 ml of air). Conclusions: There is an important reduction of oxygen offer to the CPR victim at the altitude of 8,000 feet. Oxygen supplementation to the medic assistant at 4 liters/minute through nasal cannulae may correct such reduction. The proposed position for the spatial environment should be considered as a possibility for CPR at microgravity.

Introdução: Parada Cardiorrespiratória (PCR) é uma emergência médica, quando ocorrer fora do ambiente hospitalar, o imediato atendimento à vítima é vital. A imediata Reanimação Cardiopulmonar (RCP), no ambiente extra-hospitalar é muito importante. A denominação aeroespacial reúne ambiente aéreo (cabine de aeronaves pressurizadas, altitude) e, espacial (ambiente com microgravidade, flutuação). No ambiente aéreo, importa a condição hipobárica e a hipóxia resultante. Quanto ao ambiente espacial, importa a condição de microgravidade e a incapacidade de exercer força e peso, como na superfície terrestre. Estes, e outros aspectos da RCP aeroespacial, são abordados no presente estudo. Objetivos: Ambiente aéreo: avaliar a qualidade do ar expirado, por um socorrista, durante RCP, em ambiente hipobárico, e, avaliar a suplementação de oxigênio para o socorrista, como forma de correção da mistura gasosa expirada, na altitude. Ambiente espacial: avaliar a eficácia de uma nova posição para RCP, por um só indivíduo, sem auxílio, na microgravidade. Materiais e Métodos: Utilizou-se uma câmara hipobárica, para a simulação da altitude, no ambiente aéreo. A RCP foi avaliada ao nível do mar e na altitude de 8.000 pés. Vôos parabólicos foram utilizados para a simulação de microgravidade. Um manequim foi o modelo de PCR em ambos os ambientes. No ambiente aéreo, avaliou-se a oferta de oxigênio expirada (boca-a-boca), pelo socorrista à vítima. Em microgravidade foi avaliada a efetividade da posição estudada, abraço da vítima com as pernas e o uso das mesmas, como apoio para a RCP, através da profundidade (mm), e freqüência (por minuto), das compressões torácicas e, da ventilação (volume de ar em mililitros). Resultados: Pressão de oxigênio cai de +108,3 mmHg (nível do mar), para +72,3 mmHg (8.000 pés). Com suplementação o valor é +108,0 mmHg. RCP em microgravidade: + 41,3 mm, + 80,2 /min, (sem ventilação). Massagem + ventilação (+ 44,0 mm, + 68,3 /min, + 491,0 ml de ar). Conclusões: Existe importante redução na oferta de oxigênio, à vítima de PCR, em altitude de 8.000 pés. Suplementação de oxigênio ao socorrista, 4 litros/minuto, por óculos nasal, pode corrigir esta redução. A posição proposta, para o ambiente espacial, deve ser considerada com uma possibilidade de RCP na microgravidade. / Introduction: Cardiac arrest (CA) is a medical emergency, and when occurring outside the hospital environment, immediate victim’s assistance is vital. Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) at the extra-hospital environment is very important. Aerospace denomination joins an aerial environment (pressurized airplane cabins, altitude), and space (microgravity environment, floating). Within the aerial environment, hypobaric condition and resulting hypoxia do matter. Considering the space environment, microgravity condition and the inability to exert force and weight such as at the surface level, are important. Those and other aspects of aerospace CPR are approached in this present study. Objectives: Aerial environment: To evaluate the quality of exhaled air from the practitioner, during CPR within a hypobaric environment, and to assess supplemental oxygen offer to the practitioner as a form of correcting the exhaled gas mixture at altitude. Space environment: To assess the efficacy of a new CPR position, for a sole, unassisted individual at microgravity. Material and Methods: A hypobaric chamber for aerial environment altitude simulation was employed. CPR was assessed at sea level and at the altitude of 8,000 feet. Parabolic flights were employed for microgravity simulation. A CPR manikin was the model for both environments. At the aerial environment, exhaled (mouth-to-mouth) oxygen offer by the practitioner to the victim was assessed. In microgravity, the effectiveness of the studied position, which consisted of securing the victim with the legs and using them for CPR restraint, was evaluated by depth (millimeters), and frequency (per minute) of chest compressions, and ventilation (air volume in milliliters). Results: Oxygen pressure falls from ± 108.3 mmHg (at sea level) to ± 72.3 mmHg (8,000 feet). With supplementation, the value is ± 108.0 mmHg. CPR in microgravity: ± 41.3 mm, ± 80.2/minute (without ventilation). Massage + ventilation (± 44.0 mm, ± 68.3/minute, ± 491.0 ml of air). Conclusions: There is an important reduction of oxygen offer to the CPR victim at the altitude of 8,000 feet. Oxygen supplementation to the medic assistant at 4 liters/minute through nasal cannulae may correct such reduction. The proposed position for the spatial environment should be considered as a possibility for CPR at microgravity.

Successfull cardiopulmonary resuscitation is an essential life-saving tool; nevertheless, general ischemia during cardiac arrest may trigger different pathways that could turn even into a fatal damage; this condition is called post-cardiac arrest syndrome. It has been repeatedly shown that oxidative stress (OS) plays one of the key roles in the development of ischemia-reperfusion injury. However, current evidence on the possible participation of OS in the pathogenesis of post-cardiac arrest syndrome is insufficient. We tested following hypotheses: (i) ischaemia-reperfusion injury after cardiac arrest is accompanied by OS and (ii) mild therapeutical hypothermia decreases OS cardiac arrest. In the experimental part of our work we studied the effects of hypothermia and normothermia on hemodynamic parameters, markers of organ damage and on the OS burden in porcine model of cardiac arrest. Furthermore, we compared the effects of hypothermia with ischaemic postconditioning and nitric oxide administration in the porcine model of extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation. We found protective effects of hypothermia on all major endpoints including OS in comparison with normothermia; moreover, hypothermia improved also selected variables compared to ischemic postconditioning and nitric oxide. In the...