A 65-year-old male patient had a witnessed collapse and severe chest pain. The ambulance service initiated manual CPR. Initial rhythm strip analysis demonstrated asystole. After eight minutes, the fire service arrived at the site. Following 20 minutes of manual CPR, an MCCD and a resuscitator were attached (Figure 6 ).\nVentilation frequency varied around 100 breaths per minute, despite being attached to an MCCD and resuscitator. For approximately 36 seconds there was a decrease in the respiratory rate to 40 breaths per minute. This may be due to a leak in airway management, airway obstruction or the patient requiring a higher airway pressure than 15 cm H2O. Smaller variances in the respiratory rate (down to approx. 95 br/min for some seconds) occurred several times. Nevertheless, the etCO2 was almost constant around 40 mmHg. Epinephrine was administered several times. After 24 minutes of CPR, the patient had ROSC and was transported to a nearby hospital. A pulmonary embolism was diagnosed, and despite thrombolysis, the patient was subsequently declared deceased.
A 55-year-old intoxicated male patient collapsed outside. The paramedic ambulance was first on scene, and initial resuscitation was commenced. Initially, the patient was ventilated manually via a facemask and bag. Upon arrival of the fire service, LUCAS 2® and Oxylator® HD were attached (Figure 4 ).\nIn this case the patient was ventilated manually for the first three minutes with a respiratory frequency of 16–19 breaths per minute. Initially, etCO2 was 20 mmHg decreasing to 15 mmHg in the first three minutes. Oxygen saturation was between 60% and 80%. After three minutes the respiratory rate increased to 100 breaths per minute by activating the automatic mode of the Oxylator® HD. Later on, the respiratory rate decreased to 30 breaths/minute, due to a leak or airway obstruction. The end-tidal CO2 increased when in automatic mode to 15–30 mmHg. The oxygen saturation was recorded for a short period of time and was 79%. The patient was defibrillated twice, and epinephrine was administered. After 30 minutes of CPR, the patient was declared deceased by the emergency physician.