Appropriateness of recommended chest compression depths for cardiopulmonary resuscitation based on chest computed tomography parameters among Thai population: A multicenter retrospective study.

Aim: We evaluated the appropriateness of various chest compression (CC) depths among Thai population by comparing the calculated heart compression fraction (HCF) using mathematical methods based on chest computed tomography (CT) measurements. Methods: This multicenter retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted from September 2014 to December 2020. Chest parameters included external anteroposterior diameter (EAPD), internal anteroposterior diameter (IAPD), heart anteroposterior diameter (HAPD), and non-cardiac soft tissue measured at the level of maximum left ventricular diameter (LVmax). We compared the HCFs as calculated from CT parameters using different CC depths at 5 cm, 6 cm, 1/4 of EAPD, and 1/3 of EAPD, with further subgroup analysis stratified by sex and BMI. Results: A total of 2927 eligible adult patients with contrast-enhanced chest CT were included. The study group had mean age of 60.1 ± 14.7 years, mean BMI of 22 ± 4.4 kg/m2, and were 57% males. The mean HCFs were 41.5%, 53.5%, 42.4%, and 62.6%, for CC depths of 50 mm, 60 mm, 1/4 of EAPD, and 1/3 of EAPD respectively. HCF was significantly lower in male patients for all CC depths. Advanced age and higher BMI showed significant correlation with lower HCF for CC depths of 50 mm and 60 mm. Conclusion: The CC depth measure of 50-60 mm demonstrated efficacy in maintaining HCF and coronary perfusion in the general population except for geriatric and obese individuals. Adjusting CC depth to 1/4-1/3 of the EAPD yielded better outcomes. Future research should prioritize determining individualized CC depths based on EAPD proportion.

Cancer Patients Are at High Risk of Mortality if Presenting with Sepsis at an Emergency Department.

BACKGROUND: Sepsis is an emergency condition with high mortality and morbidity rate. There are limited data on the association of cancer as a risk factor for mortality in sepsis patients in the emergency department (ED). MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective study was conducted at the ED, Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand. The study period was between January 1st and December 31st, 2014. The inclusion criteria were as follows: adult patients over 15 years of age who presented at the ED with suspicion of sepsis, received treatment at the ED, and whose blood culture was found to be positive. Clinical data were recorded from medical records including the Mortality in Emergency Department Sepsis score (MEDS score). The primary outcome of this study was mortality at one month. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to identify independent factors associated with death. RESULTS: During the study period, there were 775 eligible patients. The two most common pathogens identified from blood cultures were Staphylococcus aureus (193 patients; 24.9%) and Escherichia coli (158 patients; 20.4%). At one month after presenting at the ED, 110 patients (14.2%) had died. There were four significant factors for death, having cancer, being on an endotracheal tube, initial diagnosis of bacteremia, and high MED scores. Having cancer had an adjusted OR of 2.12 (95% CI of 1.29, 3.47). CONCLUSIONS: Cancer patients have double the risk of mortality if presenting with sepsis at the ED.