[Relation between grip strength of independent elders and functional decline following an emergency department visit : a pan-Canadian study]

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether grip strength and fear of falling are associated with functional decline at 3 or 6 months after a minor trauma assessed in the emergency department.

METHOD

Prospective multicenter cohort study of patient's aged 65 years and older, independent for activities of daily living, consulting the emergency department for minor trauma. Functional status, fear of falling, and grip strength measurements were collected. Functional decline was measured at 3 and 6 months.

STATISTICS

Two groups were compared : one with functional decline, the other without. A ROC curve explored the predictive power of grip strength and initial fear of falling on the occurrence of functional decline.

RESULTS

Participants were 74.7 years old, 52 % men. Initial peak grip strengths were identical (p superior to 0.05). Grip strength and fear of falling were not predictive of functional decline (p = 0.55 and p = 0.53). However, fear of falling was associated with functional decline (OR: 1.141 95 % CI [1.032-1.261]; p = 0.009).

CONCLUSION

In the autonomous elder with minor trauma in the emergency department, grip strength is not associated with subsequent functional decline. But fear of falling is associated with decline at 6 months.

Évaluation des éléments perturbateurs lors de réanimation cardiopulmonaire aux urgences

Introduction : La simulation est un outil d’enseignement en médecine qui a montré un bénéfice entre autres pour l’apprentissage de la réanimation cardiopulmonaire (RCP). Cependant, la RCP simulée peut différer grandement de la RCP en conditions réelles. Le but de cette étude exploratoire était d’identifier des éléments perturbateurs susceptibles d’intervenir lors d’une RCP.

Méthodes : Il s’agit d’une étude transversale anonyme par questionnaire distribué par courrier électronique aux urgentistes de cinq services d’urgences à Paris. Le questionnaire comprenait des questions sur les éléments perturbateurs lors d’une RCP. D’autres questions ont exploré les différences perçues entre la RCP simulée et la RCP réelle. Les résultats sont exprimés sous forme de pourcentages et moyennes (± écart-type).

Résultats : Sur 100 médecins interrogés, 43 (43 %) réponses ont été analysées. Cinquante-trois pour cent étaient des femmes âgées en moyenne de 32 ± 3 ans. Les éléments perturbateurs de la RCP dans la vie réelle étaient principalement les interruptions de tâches provenant du personnel non médical (n = 16 ; 37 %), de la famille du patient (n = 5 ; 12 %), des autres spécialistes (n = 5 ; 12 %) et des appels téléphoniques (n = 2 ; 5 %). La saturation du flux patient des urgences (n = 12 ; 28 %) a également été mentionnée comme perturbateur. Les médecins ont aussi déclaré que certaines compétences techniques et non techniques étaient plus difficiles à réaliser dans la vie réelle que lors de simulations.

Conclusion : Cette étude exploratoire a permis d’identifier des éléments perturbateurs rencontrés dans des cas réels de RCP qui pourront être intégrés aux sessions de simulation afin d’en augmenter le réalisme.

[Improving vital organs perfusion by the respiratory pump: physiology and clinical use]

OBJECTIVE

In this article, we review the effects of the respiratory pump to improve vital organ perfusion by the use of an inspiratory threshold device.

DATA SOURCES

Medline and MeSH database.

STUDY SELECTION

All papers with a level of proof of I to III have been used.

DATA EXTRACTION

The analysis of the papers has focused on the physiological modifications induced by intrathoracic pressure regulation.

DATA SYNTHESIS

Primary function of breathing is to provide gas exchange. Studies of the mechanisms involved in animals and humans provide the physiological underpinnings for "the other side of breathing": to increase circulation to the heart and brain. We describe studies that focus on the fundamental relationship between the generation of negative intrathoracic pressure during inspiration through a low-level of resistance created by an impedance threshold device and the physiologic effects of a respiratory pump. A decrease in intrathoracic pressure during inspiration through a fixed resistance resulting in an intrathoracic pressure of -7 cmH2O has multiple physiological benefits including: enhanced venous return, cardiac stroke volume and aortic blood pressure; lower intracranial pressure; resetting of the cardiac baroreflex; elevated cerebral blood flow oscillations and increased tissue blood flow/pressure gradient.

CONCLUSION

The clinical and animal studies support the use of the intrathoracic pump to treat different clinical conditions: hemorrhagic shock, orthostatic hypotension, septic shock, and cardiac arrest.