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Background In the recent years, an increasing number of patients with multiple comorbidities (e.g. coronary artery disease, diabetes, hypertension) presents to the operating room. The clinical risk factors are accompanied by underlying vascular-endothelial dysfunction, which impairs microcirculation and may predispose to end-organ dysfunction and impaired postoperative outcome. Whether preoperative endothelial dysfunction identifies patients at risk of postoperative complications remains unclear. In this prospective observational study, we tested the hypothesis that impaired flow-mediated dilation (FMD), a non-invasive surrogate marker of endothelial function, correlates with Days at Home within 30 days after surgery (DAH30). DAH30 is a patient-centric metric that captures postoperative complications and importantly also hospital re-admissions. Methods Seventy-one patients scheduled for major abdominal surgery were enrolled. FMD was performed pre-operatively prior to major abdominal surgery and patients were dichotomised at a threshold value of 10%. FMD was then correlated with DAH30 (primary endpoint) and postoperative complications (secondary endpoints). Results DAH30 did not differ between patients with reduced FMD and normal FMD (14 (4) (median (IQR)) vs. 15 (8), P = 0.8). Similary, no differences between both groups were found for CCI (normal FMD: 21 (30) (median (IQR)), reduced FMD: 26 (38), P = 0.4) or frequency of major complications (normal FMD: 7 (19%) (n (%)), reduced FMD: 12 (35%), P = 0.12). The regression analyses revealed that FMD in combination with ASA status and surgery duration had no additional significant predictive effect for DAH30, CCI or Clavien-Dindo score. Conclusion FMD does not add predictive value with regards to DAH30, CCI or Clavien-Dindo score within our study cohort of patients undergoing abdominal surgery. Trial registration The study was registered in the German Clinical Trials Register (DRKS00005472), prospectively registered on 25/11/2013.

Widespread use of smartphones allows automatic geolocalization (i.e., transmission of location data) in countless apps. Until now, this technology has not been routinely used in connection with an emergency call in which location data play a decisive role This study evaluated a new software automatically providing emergency medical service (EMS) dispatchers with a caller's geolocation. We hypothesized that this technology will provide higher accuracy, faster dispatching of EMS and a faster beginning of thoracic compressions in a cardiac arrest scenario.Approval from the local Ethics Committee was obtained. 108 simulated emergency calls reporting a patient in cardiac arrest were conducted at 54 metropolitan locations, which were chosen according to a realistic pattern. At each location, a conventional emergency call, with an oral description of the location, was given first; subsequently, another call using an app with automatic geolocation was placed. Accuracy of localization, time to location, time to EMS dispatch and time to first thoracic compression were compared between both groups.The conventional emergency call was always successful (n = 54). Emergency call via app worked successfully in n = 46 cases (85.2%). Automatic geolocation was provided to EMS in all these n = 46 cases (100%). Deviation from estimated position to actual position was 1173.5 ± 4343.1 m for conventional and 65.6 ± 320.5 m for automatic geolocalization (p 0.001). In addition, time to localization was significantly shorter using automatic geolocalization (34.7 vs. 71.7 s, p 0.001). Time to first thoracic compression was significantly faster in the geolocalization group (83.0 vs. 122.6 s; p 0.001).This pilot study showed that automatic geolocalization leads to a significantly shorter duration of the emergency call, significantly shorter times until the beginning of thoracic compressions, and a higher precision in determining the location of an emergency.

Telephone-assisted cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is an effective and proven tool to improve patient survival and outcome after cardiac arrest, and is therefore recommended in international resuscitation guidelines. A new technology that provides the emergency medical services (EMS) dispatcher with a video livestream from a smartphone during telephone-assisted CPR was investigated to assess whether a correct judgment of CPR quality is feasible.After Ethics Committee approval, we conducted this study from August to September 2018 in the University Hospital of Cologne and its metropolitan area. Our study team set up a full-scale resuscitation mannequin on 54 study sites. Video telephony between caller and EMS dispatcher was established, and CPR was initiated with randomized common quality issues concerning compression frequency, compression depth, and compression point. It was evaluated whether the dispatcher recognized correct and incorrect resuscitation performance.Forty-six video calls were established successfully. EMS dispatching staff identified correct compression frequency (100-120/min) in 87.5% of the cases, too low frequency (80/min) was correctly identified in 92%, and too high frequency (140/min) in 58.5%, respectively. Correct compression depth (5-6 cm) was identified in 70.6%, shallow compressions (3cm) in 92.9% and a continuous decrease of depth in 100% of all cases. Correct compression point was identified in 87.5%, incorrect epigastric compression in 92.3%, incomplete release in 58.8%.A video livestream from a smartphone can support an EMS dispatcher's assistance in resuscitation. Typical resuscitation mistakes, like incorrect compression frequency or depth, and incorrect compression points could be recognized and corrected efficiently via video livestream.

BACKGROUND Despite intensive research, cardiac arrest remains a leading cause of death. It is of paramount importance to undertake every possible effort to increase the overall quality of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and improve patient outcome. CPR initiated by a bystander is one of the key factors in survival of such an incident. Telephone-assisted CPR (T-CPR) has proved to be an effective measure in improving layperson resuscitation. OBJECTIVE We hypothesised that adding video-telephony to the emergency call (video-CPR, V-CPR) enhances the quality of layperson resuscitation. DESIGN This randomised controlled simulation trial was performed from July to August 2018. Laypersons were randomly assigned to video-assisted (V-CPR), telephone-assisted (T-CPR) or control (unassisted CPR) groups. Participants were instructed to perform first aid on a mannequin during a simulated cardiac arrest. SETTING This study was conducted in the Skills Lab of the University Hospital of Cologne. PARTICIPANTS One hundred and fifty healthy adult volunteers. INTERVENTION The participants received a smartphone to call emergency services, with Emergency Eye video-call in V-CPR group, and normal telephone functionality in the other groups. T-CPR and V-CPR groups received standardised CPR assistance via phone. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Our primary endpoint was resuscitation quality, quantified by compression frequency and depth, and correct hand position. RESULTS Mean compression frequency of V-CPR group was 106.4 ± 11.7 min, T-CPR group 98.9 ± 12.3 min (NS), unassisted group 71.6 ± 32.3 min (P

The authors hypothesized that, compared with conventional ultrasound (CUS), the use of a novel navigated ultrasound (NUS) technology would increase success rates and decrease performance times of vascular access procedures in a gel phantom model.A prospective, randomized, crossover study.A university Hospital.Participants were 44 anesthesiologists with varying clinical experience.Anesthesiologists performed in-plane and out-of-plane vascular access procedures using both NUS and CUS for needle visualization in a gel phantom model.Procedure time was measured from needle insertion to verbalization of final needle positioning by the participants, and successful needle placement into the simulated vessel was verified by aspiration of simulated blood. By employing ultrasound navigation capabilities in addition to real-time ultrasound imaging during in-plane/long-axis vascular access procedures, median procedure time showed a nonsignificant decrease (7.5 seconds v 13.0 seconds; p = 0.028), and the observed increase in procedure success rate (90.9% v 100%; p = 0.125) did not reach statistical significance. For out-of-plane/short-axis vascular access procedures, a significant reduction in median procedure time (5.0 seconds v 11.5 seconds; p0.001) and a significant increase in procedure success rate (75% v 100%; p0.001) were achieved by using navigation technology combined with real-time ultrasound.NUS technology improved the performance times and success rates of vascular access procedures conducted by anesthesiologists in a gel phantom model.