1.Improving cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) performance using an audio-visual feedback device for healthcare providers in an emergency department setting in Malaysia: a quasi-experimental study
Ganasan Chelladurai ; Abd Muhaimin Noor Azhar ; Ridzuan Mohd Isa ; Aidawati Bustam ; Rashidi Ahmad ; Murallitharan Munisamy
The Medical Journal of Malaysia 2020;75(5):514-518
Introduction: Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) remains
the primary mechanism of resuscitation for cardiac arrest
victims. However, the quality of delivery of CPR varies
widely in different settings, possibly affecting patient
outcomes. This study is aimed to determine the efficacy of
an audio-visual (AV) CPR feedback device in improving the
quality of CPR delivered by healthcare providers.
Methods: This pre-post, single-arm, quasi-experimental
study randomly sampled 140 healthcare providers working
in the Emergency Department of Hospital Ampang, Malaysia.
Parameters of CPR quality, namely chest compression rate
and depth were compared among participants when they
performed CPR with and without an AV CPR feedback
device. The efficacy of the AV CPR feedback device was
assessed using the Chi-square test and Generalised
Estimating Equations (GEE) models.
Results: The use of an AV CPR feedback device increased
the proportion of healthcare providers achieving
recommended depth of chest compressions from 38.6%
(95% Confidence Interval, 95%CI: 30.5, 47.2) to 85.0%
(95%CI: 78.0, 90.5). A similar significant improvement from
39.3% (95%CI: 31.1, 47.9) to 86.4% (95%CI: 79.6, 91.6) in the
recommended rate of chest compressions was also
observed. Use of the AV CPR device significantly increased
the likelihood of a CPR provider achieving recommended
depth of chest compressions (Odds Ratio, OR=13.01;
95%CI: 7.12, 24.01) and rate of chest compressions
(OR=13.00; 95%CI: 7.21, 23.44).
Conclusion: The use of an AV CPR feedback device
significantly improved the delivered rate and depth of chest
compressions closer to American Heart Association (AHA)
recommendations. Usage of such devices within real-life
settings may help in improving the quality of CPR for
patients receiving CPR
2.Ultrasound findings of plasma leakage as imaging adjunct in clinical management of dengue fever without warning signs
Xin Tian Chai ; Kamarul Aryffin Baharuddin ; Shaik Farid Abdull Wahab ; Andey Rahman ; Ridzuan Mohd Isa ; Ab Hamid Siti-Azrin
The Medical Journal of Malaysia 2020;75(6):635-641
ed as outpatients. Ultrasonographyevidence of plasma leakage either pleural effusion,thickened gallbladder wall, ascites or pericardial effusionwere compared with clinical findings and laboratoryparameters for plasma leakage. Results: Of the 83 dengue patients, eventually 72.3% haddengue fever with warning signs and 6.0% had severedengue fever. There were 38 patients who had subclinicalplasma leakage at initial presentation, 84.2% and 7.9% ofthem then progressed to dengue fever with warning signsand severe dengue respectively. There was a minimalagreement between serial bedside ultrasound andhaematocrit level in the detection of plasma leakage(observed kappa 0.135). Conclusions: Serial bedside ultrasound is an adjunctprocedure to physical examination and may detect plasmaleakage earlier compared to haemoconcentration. The earlyusage of serial ultrasound is of paramount importance indetecting dengue patients who are at risk of progressing tosevere dengue.
3.Administration of tranexamic acid for victims of severe trauma within pre-hospital care ambulance services (PHCAS) in Malaysia
Shah Jahan Mohd Yussof ; Shamila Mohamad Ali ; Nurul Azlean Norzan ; Mohd Amin Mohidin ; Anandakumar Krishnan ; Ahmad Ibrahim Kamal Batcha ; Ahmad Tajuddin Mohamad Nor ; Aik Howe Teo ; Mohamed Saed Mian ; Fatahul Laham Mohamed ; Ridzuan Mohd Isa ; Mohd Idzwan Zakaria ; Mohd Khairizam Mohd Yusoff ; Joseph Mathew ; Mark Fitzgerald ; Sabariah Faizah Jamaluddin ; Kiat Kee Gan
The Medical Journal of Malaysia 2019;74(4):300-306
Introduction: Trauma is a Global threat and the 5th highest
cause of all-cause mortality in Malaysia caused
predominantly due to road traffic accidents. Majority of
trauma victims are young adults aged between 21-40 years
old. In Malaysia, 24 out of 100,000 population die annually
due to trauma, rating us amongst the highest in South East
Asia. These alarming figures justify aggressive preventive
and mitigation strategies. The aim of this paper is to
promote the implementation of evidence-based
interventions that will reduce the rate of preventable death
because of trauma. Tranexamic acid is one of the few
interventions in the early management of severe trauma with
level-one evidence. Tranexamic acid has been proven to
reduce all causes of mortality and mortality due to bleeding.
Evidence proves that it is most effective when administered
early, particularly within the 1st hour of trauma. This
proposed guideline is formulated based upon quality
evidence from multicentre studies, clinical practices in other
countries and consideration of the local demographic
factors with the intent of enabling an easy and simple
pathway to administer tranexamic acid early in the care of
the severely injured.
Conclusion: The guideline highlights select pre-hospital
criteria’s and the methods for drug administration. The
authors recognise that some variants may be present
amongst certain institutions necessitating minor
adaptations, nevertheless the core principles of advocating
tranexamic acid early in the course of pre-hospital trauma
should be adhered to.