Effects of ethanol on systemic hemodynamics in a porcine model of accidental hypothermia.

OBJECTIVES: Accidental hypothermia is frequently associated with ethanol intoxication. Each has independent effects on systemic hemodynamics, but their combined effects are poorly understood. We aimed to describe the hemodynamic effects of ethanol intoxication in a model of severe hypothermia and rewarming. METHODS: Anesthetized pigs was assigned to control (n=8) or ethanol groups (ETOH) (n=7, 3 mg/kg of ethanol via an orogastric tube). Subjects were cooled to 25°C using ice packs and then warmed to baseline core temperature with passive external and active core rewarming. RESULTS: In the ETOH group, peak serum ethanol concentration was 202 mg/dL at 25°C. Ethanol had no effect on time of cooling or rewarming. In both the control and ETOH, there were similar maximal decreases in mean arterial pressure (from 94±24 to 50±15 mm Hg and 100±27 to 31±12 mm Hg, respectively), ventricular contractility (rate of maximal left ventricular pressure rise from 5731±1462 to 2610±596 mm Hg/s and 6832±1384 to 1937±437 mm Hg/s, respectively), and cardiac output (from 2.14±0.8 to 0.53±0.3 L/min and 2.93±0.9, to 0.44±0.2 L/min, respectively; all P<.001). After rewarming, only in the ETOH group were persistent decreases in mean arterial pressure (59±14 mm Hg), contractility (3982±1573 mm Hg/s), and cardiac output (1.6±0.9 L/min, all P<.03) observed. CONCLUSIONS: Hypothermia caused significant adverse effects on cardiac function and systemic hemodynamics, which returned to baseline with rewarming. Ethanol intoxication had no additional effects on systemic hemodynamics during cooling; however, it caused more prolonged depression of cardiac function and adverse effects on systemic hemodynamics during rewarming. These data may have implications for resuscitation of ethanol-intoxicated victims of accidental hypothermia.

Hospital response to a major freeway bridge collapse.

BACKGROUND: We describe the hospital system response to the Interstate 35W bridge collapse in Minneapolis into the Mississippi River on August 1, 2007, which resulted in 13 deaths and 127 injuries. Comparative analysis of response activities at the 3 hospitals that received critical or serious casualties is provided. METHODS: First-hand experiences of hospital physicians, issues identified in after-action reports, injury severity scores, and other relevant patient data were collected from the 3 hospitals that received seriously injured patients, including the closest hospitals to the collapse on each side of the river. RESULTS/DISCUSSION: Injuries were consistent with major acceleration/deceleration force injuries. The most critical patients arrived first at each hospital, suggesting appropriate prehospital triage. Capacity of the health care system was not overwhelmed and the involved hospitals generally reported an overresponse by staff. Communication and patient tracking problems occurred at all of the hospitals. Situational awareness was limited due to the scope of structural collapse and incomplete information from the scene. CONCLUSIONS: Hospitals were generally satisfied with their surge capacity and incident management plan activation. Issues such as communications, patient tracking, and staff overreporting that have been identified in past incidents also were problematic in this event. Hospitals will need to address deficiencies and build on successful actions to cope with future, potentially larger incidents.