Emergency Cold Sleep on the Way

[Border Reiver]

This is something I've been involved in for the last year through the European Resuscitation Council.

Dr. Lance Becker, possibly the world's foremost expert in resus technique has uncovered evidence that cell death in humans takes much longer than previously thought (up to an hour). This has resulted in a gradual change in CPR protocols and ACLS protocols to reflect the lesser requirement for oxygen and the need to just keep the blood flowing.

Now Dr. Becker reckons that sudden reperfusion of oxygen into the cells may cause cell death and what is required is an induced hypothermic state with slow reperfusion. To this end he is developing a method of quick freezing patients in the field with a form of "anti-freeze" in the blood. And it seems to work. Soon my ambulance might have an emergency low berth instead of a defibrillator.

 

[chshrkt]

I too read about this development in the discovery of a supposed human hibernation response.

I am starting the path to get my RN and it is very exciting to think that this may one day indeed lead to emergency low berths on ambulances and helicoptors (for those rescues that take place far from a major metropolitan area)!

 

[Gruffty]

I am starting the path to get my RN

Don't do it! It's not worth it!

 

[Border Reiver]

As far as my current protocol is concerned we aim to get to an arrest within eight and a half minutes. According to Becker this does not affect the "cell death", a simple restart is in order (if that can be described as simple).

So far Becker's hibernation procedures have only been done in a controlled hospital environment and there is a big difference between that and the emergency environment. We often get criticised by physicians for our intubation skills but trying to get a tube into someone's airway that is lying jammed behind the bathroom door is a little trickier than on the table at hospital. So if Becker's magic goo is too difficult to administer it may be rejected for another plan.

There are an number of amazing trauma devices that have been rejected for use by my service as they just aren't effective as "scoop and run" for beating that golden hour. Still I can dream of grav powered stretchers incorporating an emergency low berth.

 

[chshrkt]

I was a firefighter and EMT back in the 80s, so I am right there with you on the "scoop and run". At least your not like the French who try to save a patient in a non-sterile environment (read: auto accident scene).

NOT that there's anything wrong with that! It's just not what I would want to happen if I were in an accident.

I am hoping that as the technology is improved (in the hospital for instance), it will be able to filter down to EMS. I too am a dreamer.

 

[chshrkt]

Originally posted by Gruffty:

Originally posted by chshrkt: I am starting the path to get my RN

Don't do it! It's not worth it!

Heh, thanks for the words of encouragement.

After trudging through the IT world for the past 10 years, only to get outsourced to Brazil (NOT that there's anything wrong with Brazil; beautiful country and beautiful people), it was time to start working on my dream of working in an ER, or LifeFlight.