Effective cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is partly dependent on the adequacy of manual chest compressions, but they are limited by interruptions and less than ideal conditions such as during transport. Mechanical chest compression devices have been developed that improve organ perfusion vs manual compressions in experimental studies, but there is little evidence of their clinical effectiveness and safety compared to manual compressions.
A systematic review and meta-analysis found that the healthcare-associated pneumonia concept was based on low-quality evidence confounded by publication bias and does not accurately identify antibiotic-resistant pathogens.
Implementation of an evidence-based extubation-readiness bundle was associated with a decrease in mechanical ventilation days and pneumonia in brain-injured patients.
At this time, ventricular fibrillation (VF) early after acute myocardial infarction (MI) is not an indication alone for an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) therapy. However, there is concern that despite the efficacy of mechanical and pharmacological therapy for acute MI, the risk of subsequent sudden cardiac death (SCD) in patients with VF complicating acute MI may be higher and the guidelines should be revisited.
Filling case management vacancies can be challenging, and directors often have to decide whether to recruit nurses with no experience, or experienced case managers with the mindset of their previous employer.
