Physio-Control announces LIFENET System 5.0, partnership with AirStrip Technologies

Today at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2010, Physio-Control announced the release of LIFENET 5.0 and a new partnership with AirStrip Technologies.

New features available in LIFENET 5.0 include:

• LIFENET Consult – iPhone application allows physicians to perform rapid consults and provides decision support remotely to EMS and hospital care teams. The LIFENET Consult app is available for download from the iPhone App Store.
• LIFENET OnePush – Automated protocol activation, notifies necessary caregivers and allows hospital teams more time to prepare for incoming patients.
• LIFENET ePCR Delivery – Enables efficient and secure remote delivery of electronic patient care records (ePCR) to hospital printers or electronic medical record systems.
• LIFENET Asset –Provides LIFEPAK device overview and management across entire fleet including automated alerts on device status, usage information, management of setup options and software updates.
• Enhanced data integration – Enables EMS and hospitals to capture more patient data and combine it for a more-complete view of the patient.

If you're not familiar with AirStrip Technologies some of their mobile wireless solutions were featured in this TED Med talk in October 2009: Eric Topol: The wireless future of medicine.





This post was derived in part from a press release sent by Physio-Control with whom the Cardiology & Electrocardiography Experts blog has no conflict of interest.

60 year old male CC: Syncope

Here is yet another awesome case courtesy of Christopher Watford who writes the My Variables Only Have 6 Letters blog.

One of these days Christopher is going to say (in his best Darth Vader voice), "Once you were the teacher but now I am the master!" and it will be completely justified.

EMS is called to evaluate a 60 year old male patient who experienced a syncopal episode.

On arrival the patient is found sitting in the front seat of his car. He is ashen gray and cold to the touch.

He is in moderate respiratory distress.

Past medical history: Brochitis
Medications: None

Breath sounds: clear bilaterally

Vital signs are assessed.

RR: 30
Pulse: 118 (weak and rapid)
BP: 108/64
SpO2: 88 on RA (increases to 94 on oxygen via NC @ 4 LPM)

BGL: 79

The patient states that he "can't afford to go to the hospital."

The cardiac monitor is attached.

A 12-lead ECG is captured.

What do you think is wrong with this guy?

*** Update 12/20/2010 ***

This gentleman was diagnosed with bilateral pulmonary emboli. He was admitted to the hospital on Lovenox (enoxaparin). After almost signing out AHA he was persuaded to stay by a doctor and nurse who informed him in no uncertain terms that he would die if he left.

The most suggestive ECG findings were:

• Sinus tachycardia
• S1Q3T3 (S-wave in lead I, Q-wave in lead III, inverted T-wave in lead III)
• Possible beginnings of an acute right ventricular strain pattern in the right precordial leads

It's important to note that the most common ECG abnormality associated with PE is sinus tachycardia.