The European trauma course – trauma teaching goes European
The World Health Organization (WHO) has identified trauma as the major health care challenge of our century, claiming more productive life years worldwide than any other disease [1]. In the European Union (EU), injury accounts for 15 % of all deaths before the age of 60 years and is the fourth most common cause of death, with more than 235,000 deaths each year from injuries, equating to 600 injury fatalities per day [2]. In children, adolescents and young adults, accident and injury rates are even higher, being the leading cause of death in these age groups. Mortality from trauma in the EU has fallen 20 % in the past 20 years, to a rate of 63.7 per 100,000 in 2010 [3]. This reduction is par…
European Resuscitation Council Guidelines 2021: Cardiac arrest in special circumstances
These European Resuscitation Council (ERC) Cardiac Arrest in Special Circumstances guidelines are based on the 2020 International Consensus on Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Science with Treatment Recommendations. This section provides guidelines on the modifications required to basic and advanced life support for the prevention and treatment of cardiac arrest in special circumstances; specifically special causes (hypoxia, trauma, anaphylaxis, sepsis, hypo/hyperkalaemia and other electrolyte disorders, hypothermia, avalanche, hyperthermia and malignant hyperthermia, pulmonary embolism, coronary thrombosis, cardiac tamponade, tension pneumothorax, toxic agents), special settings (operating ro…
European Resuscitation Council Guidelines for Resuscitation 2015
Summary of changes since 2010 Guidelines The main changes in the ERC Guidelines 2015 in comparison with the Guidelines 20101are summarised below:Special causes•Survival after an asphyxia-induced cardiac arrest is rare and survivors often have severe neurological impairment. During CPR, early effective ventilation of the lungs with supplementary oxy-gen is essential.•A high degree of clinical suspicion and aggressive treatment can prevent cardiac arrest from electrolyte abnormalities. The new algorithm provides clinical guidance to emergency treatment of life-threatening hyperkalaemia.•Hypothermic patients without signs of cardiac instability(systolic blood pressure ≥90 mmHg, absence of vent…