The CPR Coach: A Major Innovation in Modern Resuscitation – A Comprehensive Guide for Emergency Physicians
It’s 3 AM in the emergency department when the code blue alarm sounds. A 45-year-old patient in cardiac arrest has just arrived. As in the majority of North American hospitals, the reality is striking: despite advances in resuscitation, only 25% of patients in in-hospital cardiac arrest survive to discharge. The statistics are even more alarming: […]
Pulse Check During Cardiac Arrest: An In-depth Analysis of Clinical Challenges
Emergency medicine relies on precise and rapid actions, where every second can make the difference between life and death. Among these essential actions, pulse check during cardiac arrest paradoxically represents one of the most complex, even for experienced healthcare professionals. This reality, long underestimated, deserves an in-depth analysis to understand its implications in cardiac arrest […]
IO vs IV Access in Prehospital Cardiac Arrest: An In-Depth Analysis of the PARAMEDIC-3 Study
The history of emergency medicine is marked by debates about best practices in resuscitation. Vascular access in cardiac arrest represents one of the oldest and most persistent of these debates. From the introduction of intraosseous (IO) access in the 1920s by Drinker and colleagues, to its renaissance in the 1980s, the emergency medical community has […]
Mechanical vs Manual CPR: Beyond the Controversy – A Focus on Chest Compression Quality
High-quality cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) remains the cornerstone of cardiac arrest management. Despite decades of technique and protocol improvements, survival rates after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) remain low, varying from 5% to 50% depending on studies and contexts. In North America, the incidence of EMS-treated OHCA is estimated at 52.1 cases per 100,000 person-years [1]. More […]
Pediatric Bradycardia Management in Emergency Medicine: A PALS-Based Approach
Symptomatic bradycardia represents a critical medical emergency in pediatrics, requiring rapid recognition and appropriate intervention. Unlike adults, bradycardia in children is most often respiratory or hypoxic in origin, highlighting the crucial importance of the sequence of interventions. According to American Heart Association (AHA) data, approximately 16,000 children suffer cardiac arrest annually in the United States, […]
Adult Cardiac Arrest ACLS Algorithm: Complete Guide for Emergency Physicians
Cardiac arrest remains one of the leading causes of mortality worldwide, with over 40,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests (OHCA) occurring each year in Canada. In response to this reality, Heart and Stroke has developed and continues to refine the Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) algorithm for adult cardiac arrest. This algorithm has become the cornerstone of […]
Chest Compression Interruptions During Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation: Causes, Consequences and Minimization Strategies
High-quality cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is a crucial element for improving survival chances of cardiac arrest patients. Over the past decades, numerous studies have demonstrated the importance of minimizing chest compression interruptions to optimize coronary and cerebral perfusion. However, despite recommendations from scientific societies, chest compression interruptions remain frequent during cardiac arrest management, both in hospital […]
The CASA Protocol: Optimizing Ultrasound in Cardiac Arrest without Compromising CPR
Cardiac arrest remains a critical medical emergency where every second counts. The introduction of ultrasound in cardiac arrest management has opened new diagnostic and therapeutic perspectives. However, its use must not compromise the quality of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). The CASA (Cardiac Arrest Sonographic Assessment) protocol has been developed to integrate ultrasound effectively and safely into […]
Chest Compression Pauses During Pediatric CPR: A Key Survival Factor
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is a crucial element in the management of cardiac arrests, particularly in children. A recent study published in Circulation sheds new light on the importance of chest compression pauses during in-hospital pediatric CPR. Let’s examine in detail the results of this study and their implications for clinical practice. Study Context Each […]
Epinephrine in Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest: In-Depth Analysis of the PARAMEDIC2 Study and Its Implications for Clinical Practice
Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) remains one of the most formidable challenges in our practice, with generally low survival rates despite advances in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and post-cardiac arrest care. The use of epinephrine in this context has long been a cornerstone of our protocols, but its effectiveness and impact on neurological outcomes have been questioned […]
