ABSTRACT
AIMS: Evaluation of the efficacy of prehospital non-invasive ventilation (NIV) in patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and cardiogenic pulmonary edema (CPE). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Consecutive patients who were prehospitally treated by Emergency Physicians using NIV were prospectively included. A step-by-step approach escalating NIV-application from continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) to continuous positive airway pressure supplemented by pressure support (CPAP-ASB) and finally bilevel inspiratory positive airway pressure (BIPAP) was used. Patients were divided into two groups according to the prehospital NIV-treatment-time (NIV-group 1: ≤15â¯min, NIV-group 2: >15â¯min). In addition, a historic control group undergoing standard care was created. Endpoints were heart rate, peripheral oxygen saturation, breathing rate, systolic blood pressure, and a dyspnea score. RESULTS: A total of 99 patients were analyzed (NIV-group 1: nâ¯=â¯41, NIV-group 2: nâ¯=â¯58). The control group consisted of 30 patients. The majority of NIV-patients (90%) received CPAP-ASB, while CPAP without ASB was conducted in 8% and BIPAP-ventilation in 2% of all cases. Technical application of NIV lasted 6.1⯱â¯3.8â¯min. NIV-treatment-time was as follows: NIV-group 1: 13.1⯱â¯3.2â¯min, NIV-group 2: 22.8⯱â¯5.9â¯min. Differences between baseline- and hospital admission values of all endpoints showed significantly better improvement in NIV-groups compared to the control group (pâ¯<â¯0.001). The stabilizing effect of NIV in terms of vital parameters was comparable between both NIV-groups, independent of the duration of treatment (n.s.). CONCLUSION: Prehospital NIV-treatment should be performed in patients with COPD-exacerbation and CPE, even if the distance between emergency scene and hospital is short.
Subject(s)
Emergency Medical Services/methods , Noninvasive Ventilation/methods , Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive/complications , Pulmonary Edema/complications , Respiratory Insufficiency/therapy , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Disease Progression , Female , Germany , Hemodynamics , Hospitals , Humans , Male , Prospective Studies , Respiratory Insufficiency/etiologyABSTRACT
500000 people die from unintentional drowning each year worldwide. Drowning accidents occur to humans of every age, while fatal drowning is the leading cause of death among boys 5 to 14 years of age. In Germany, however, most drowning victims are elderly people. Considering the multitude of accident settings, ranging from bathing accidents in lakes to shipwrecks at sea, professional first responders need to adapt to various scenarios. This article summarizes the pathophysiology of drowning, particular features of prehospital life support and current knowledge on the further therapy of victims of near fatal drowning accidents.
Subject(s)
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation/methods , Emergency Medical Services/methods , Hyperthermia, Induced/methods , Near Drowning/diagnosis , Near Drowning/therapy , Respiratory Insufficiency/therapy , Combined Modality Therapy/methods , Evidence-Based Medicine , Germany , Humans , Pulmonary Surfactants/therapeutic use , Respiratory Insufficiency/diagnosis , Respiratory Insufficiency/etiology , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
The endothelial glycocalyx (GLX) is pivotal to vascular barrier function. We investigated the consequences of GLX degradation on pulmonary microvascular perfusion and, prompted by evidence that hydroxyethyl starch (HES) improves microcirculation, studied the effects of two HES preparations during GLX diminution. C57 BL/6 black mice lungs were explanted and perfused with 1-mL/min buffer solution containing autologous erythrocytes (red blood cells) at a hematocrit of 5%. Microvessel perfusion was quantified by video fluorescence microscopy at 0 and 90 min. To register interstitial edema, alveolar septal width was quantified. Pulmonary artery pressure (PAP), airway pressure, and left atrial pressure were recorded continuously. Lungs were randomly assigned to four groups (each n = 5): (i) control: no treatment, (ii) HEP1: heparinase I (1 mU/mL) was injected for GLX degradation, (iii) HES 130, and (iv) HES 200: one third of perfusion fluid was exchanged for 6% HES 130/0.4 or 10% HES 200/0.5 before GLX degradation. Analysis of variance on ranks and pairwise multiple comparisons were used for statistics, P < 0.05. Compared with control, GLX degradation effected perfusion failure in microvessels, increased PAP, and facilitated interstitial edema formation after a 90-min period of perfusion. In contrast to HES 200/0.5, pretreatment with HES 130/0.4 attenuated all of these consequences. Sequelae of GLX degradation in lung include perfusion failure in microvessels, interstitial edema formation, and increase in PAP. We assume that these effects are a consequence of vascular barrier dysfunction. Beneficial effects of HES 130/0.4 are presumably a result of its lower red blood cell bridging capacity compared with HES 200/0.5.
