AimsSurvival to hospital discharge after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) varies widely. This study describes short-term survival after OHCA in a region with an extensive care path and a follow-up of 1 year.MethodsConsecutive patients ≥16 years admitted to the emergency department between April 2011 and December 2012 were included. In July 2014 a follow-up took place. Socio-demographic data, characteristics of the OHCA and interventions were described and associations with survival were determined.ResultsTwo hundred forty-two patients were included (73 % male, median age 65 years). In 76 % the cardiac arrest was of cardiac origin and 52 % had a shockable rhythm. In 74 % the cardiac arrest was witnessed, 76 % received bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation and in 39 % an automatic external defibrillator (AED) was used. Of the 168 hospitalised patients, 144 underwent therapeutic procedures. A total of 105 patients survived until hospital discharge. Younger age, cardiac arrest in public area, witnessed cardiac arrest, cardiac origin with a shockable rhythm, the use of an AED, shorter time until return of spontaneous circulation, Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) ≥13 during transport and longer length of hospital stay were associated with survival. Of the 105 survivors 72 survived for at least 1 year after cardiac arrest and 6 patients died.ConclusionA survival rate of 43 % after OHCA is achievable. Witnessed cardiac arrest, cardiac cause of arrest, initial cardiac rhythm and GCS ≥13 were associated with higher survival.

SummaryPlasma clotting factor VII and plasma fibrraogen have been claimed äs mdependent nsk factors for occlusive caidiovasculai disease The aim of this study was to mvestigate whethei these coagulation paiameters affect early atheioscleiosis, additional to their possible effect on aitenal throrabosisWe used high-iesolution quantitative ultrasonography to measme carotid mtiraa-media thickness in 121 healthy volunteers, aged 18 to 56 years It has pieviously been demonstiated that an incieased aitery wall thickness is seen in advanced atheioscleiosis To validate our method ology foi relatively young individuals, we assessed the association of intima-media thickness with the nsk-factor Status of out subjects, by tncluding classical cardiovascular nsk factors, e g age, sex, serum cholesterol, smoking habits and blood pressure Theieaftei, we studied the effect of factor VII and fibrmogen plasma levels on carotid intimamedia thickness, äs well äs that of polymoiphisms of the factoi VII and fibrmogen genes All classical nsk factois except smoking and family histoiy were associated with intima media thickness When adjusted for by multivanate linear regiesston analysis, age, blood piessure and cholestetol appeaied to be mdependent deteirmnants of mtima-media Ihickness Factor VII and fibrmogen levels showed no association m multivanate analysis with intima-media thickness We conclude that aiteiy wall thickness measurement by ultrasound is a useful tool to mvestigate the lole of clotting factois in eaily atheioscleiosis Factoi VII and fibimö-gen levels m young and middle-aged volunteeis have no association with eaily ai therosclerotic vessel wall changes

The autopsy rate in young SD cases in the Netherlands is low and few families undergo cardiogenetic evaluation to detect inherited cardiac diseases. Two different interventions did not improve this suboptimal situation substantially.

Background: It is unknown if ambulance paramedics adequately assess neurological deficits used for prehospital stroke scales to detect anterior large-vessel occlusions. We aimed to compare prehospital assessment of these stroke-related deficits by paramedics with in-hospital assessment by physicians. Methods: We used data from 2 prospective cohort studies: the LPSS (Leiden Prehospital Stroke Study) and PRESTO study (Prehospital Triage of Patients With Suspected Stroke). In both studies, paramedics scored 9 neurological deficits in stroke code patients in the field. Trained physicians scored the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) at hospital presentation. Patients with transient ischemic attack were excluded because of the transient nature of symptoms. Spearman rank correlation coefficient (r s ) was used to assess correlation between the total prehospital assessment score, defined as the sum of all prehospital items, and the total NIHSS score. Correlation, sensitivity and specificity were calculated for each prehospital item with the corresponding NIHSS item as reference. Results: We included 2850 stroke code patients. Of these, 1528 had ischemic stroke, 243 intracranial hemorrhage, and 1079 stroke mimics. Correlation between the total prehospital assessment score and NIHSS score was strong (r s =0.70 [95% CI, 0.68–0.72]). Concerning individual items, prehospital assessment of arm (r s =0.68) and leg (r s =0.64) motor function correlated strongest with corresponding NIHSS items, and had highest sensitivity (arm 95%, leg 93%) and moderate specificity (arm 71%, leg 70%). Neglect (r s =0.31), abnormal speech (r s =0.50), and gaze deviation (r s =0.51) had weakest correlations. Neglect and gaze deviation had lowest sensitivity (52% and 66%) but high specificity (84% and 89%), while abnormal speech had high sensitivity (85%) but lowest specificity (65%). Conclusions: The overall prehospital assessment of stroke code patients correlates strongly with in-hospital assessment. Prehospital assessment of neglect, abnormal speech, and gaze deviation differed most from in-hospital assessment. Focused training on these deficits may improve prehospital triage.

Background Ambulance drivers in the Netherlands are trained to drive as fluent as possible when transporting a head injured patient to the hospital. Acceleration and deceleration have the potential to create pressure changes in the head that may worsen outcome. Although the idea of fluid shift during braking causing intra cranial pressure (ICP) to rise is widely accepted, it lacks any scientific evidence. In this study we evaluated the effects of driving and deceleration during ambulance transportation on the intra cranial pressure in supine position and 30° upright position. Methods Participants were placed on the ambulance gurney in supine position. During driving and braking the optical nerve sheath diameter (ONSD) was measured with ultrasound. Because cerebro spinal fluid percolates in the optical nerve sheath when ICP rises, the diameter of this sheath will distend if ICP rises during braking of the ambulance. The same measurements were taken with the headrest in 30° upright position. Results Mean ONSD in 20 subjects in supine position increased from 4.80 (IQR 4.80–5.00) mm during normal transportation to 6.00 (IQR 5.75–6.40) mm (p < 0.001) during braking. ONSD’s increased in all subjects in supine position. After raising the headrest of the gurney 30° mean ONSD increased from 4.80 (IQR 4.67–5.02) mm during normal transportation to 4.90 (IQR 4.80–5.02) mm (p = 0.022) during braking. In 15 subjects (75%) there was no change in ONSD at all. Conclusions ONSD and thereby ICP increases during deceleration of a transporting vehicle in participants in supine position. Raising the headrest of the gurney to 30 degrees reduces the effect of breaking on ICP.