TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2013//
TI  - Factors affecting survival from avalanche burial-a randomized prospective porcine pilot study
JO  - Resuscitation
A1  - Paal, Peter
A1  - Strapazzon, Giacomo
A1  - Braun, Patrick
A1  - Ellmauer, Peter Paul
A1  - Schroeder, Daniel Carl
A1  - Sumann, Guenther
A1  - Werner, Andreas
A1  - Wenzel, Volker
A1  - Falk, Markus
A1  - Brugger, Hermann
SP  - 239
EP  - 243
VL  - 84
IS  - 2
N2  - Background and aim: The majority of avalanche victims who sustain complete burial die within 35min due to asphyxia and injuries. After 35min, survival is possible only in the presence of a patent airway, and an accompanying air pocket around the face may improve survival. At this stage hypothermia is assumed to be an important factor for survival because rapid cooling decreases oxygen consumption; if deep hypothermia develops before cardiac arrest, hypothermia may be protective and prolong the time that cardiac arrest can be survived. The aim of the study was to investigate the combined effects of hypoxia, hypercapnia and hypothermia in a porcine model of avalanche burial. METHODS: Eight piglets were anaesthetised, intubated and buried under snow, randomly assigned to an air pocket (n=5) or ambient air (n=3) group. RESULTS: Mean cooling rates in the first 10min of burial were -19.7±4.7°C h(-1) in the air pocket group and -13.0±4.4°C h(-1) in the ambient air group (P=0.095); overall cooling rates between baseline and asystole were -4.7±1.4°C h(-1) and -4.6±0.2°C h(-1) (P=0.855), respectively. In the air pocket group cardiac output (P=0.002), arterial oxygen partial pressure (P=0.001), arterial pH (P=0.002) and time to asystole (P=0.025) were lower, while arterial carbon dioxide partial pressure (P=0.007) and serum potassium (P=0.042) were higher compared to the ambient air group. CONCLUSION: Our results demonstrate that hypothermia may develop in the early phase of avalanche burial and severe asphyxia may occur even in the presence of an air pocket.<p />  <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 0300-9572
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.resuscitation.2012.06.019
ID  - ref1
ER  -