Barbara Vantroyen

Publications

• 2.71

  Impact points

  Dispatcher-assisted telephone cardiopulmonary resuscitation using a French-language compression-only protocol in volunteers with or without prior life support training: A randomized trial.

  Alexandre Ghuysen, Daniela Collas, Samuel Stipulante, Anne-Francoise Donneau, Gary Hartstein, Tony Hosmans, Barbara Vantroyen, Vincent D'Orio

  Resuscitation. 10/2010; 82(1):57-63.

  Due to the recent interest in hands-only protocols for dispatcher-assisted cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and the lack of any validated algorithms in French, our primary objective was to evaluate a new French-language protocol in terms of its efficacy to help previously untrained volunteers in ... [more] Due to the recent interest in hands-only protocols for dispatcher-assisted cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and the lack of any validated algorithms in French, our primary objective was to evaluate a new French-language protocol in terms of its efficacy to help previously untrained volunteers in performing basic life support efforts of appropriate quality, and secondarily to investigate its potential utility in subjects with previous training. Untrained volunteers were recruited among adults in a public movie centre and previously trained volunteers among undergraduate nursing students. Participants were randomly assigned to 'phone CPR' versus 'no phone CPR' by drawing sets of envelopes. Primary outcome measures were the results of the Cardiff evaluation test; the secondary measures were global scoring of a complete 5min period of CPR, in a manikin model of cardiac arrest. Out of 146 volunteers assessed for eligibility, 36 previously untrained candidates declined participation. 110 participants, distributed into four groups, completed the study: the previously untrained non-guided group (group A, n=30), the previously untrained guided group (group B, n=30), the previously trained non-guided group (group C, n=25) and the previously trained guided group (group D, n=25). Results of the Cardiff test and global evaluation of CPR performance revealed a significant improvement in group B as compared with group A, approaching the level of the group C. Previously trained guided bystanders had the best CPR scores, notably because of an improvement in the quality of airway management. When used by dispatchers, this new French-language algorithm offers the opportunity to help previously untrained bystanders initiate CPR. The same protocol may serve to guide volunteers with prior basic life support training to reach their best CPR performance.

• [Ketamine as a party drug]

  M P Vroegop, R T M van Dongen, B Vantroyen, C Kramers

  Nederlands tijdschrift voor geneeskunde. 10/2007; 151(37):2039-42.

  Ketamine is a new party drug, which is easy to obtain. For this reason, it is possible that physicians will be increasingly confronted with users that have medical problems. Relatively few cases of ketamine intoxication with a fatal outcome have been reported thus far. Ketamine is very hallucinogeni... [more] Ketamine is a new party drug, which is easy to obtain. For this reason, it is possible that physicians will be increasingly confronted with users that have medical problems. Relatively few cases of ketamine intoxication with a fatal outcome have been reported thus far. Ketamine is very hallucinogenic; people can experience unpleasant flashbacks even weeks after the drug has been eliminated from the body. Ketamine has a short half-life; the elimination half-life is about 2.5 h. A serious intoxication can lead to aspiration, acidosis, rhabdomyolysis, epileptic seizures, respiratory depression, and cardiac arrest. Ketamine is frequently used as a party drug in combination with other substances. As a result, the chance of untoward effects is increased. Anaesthetists use ketamine for short surgical procedures, sedation and analgesia. It is also used more and more often as an analgesic in patients who do not respond well to opioids.
• 2.71

  Impact points

  European first aid guidelines.

  Stijn Van de Velde, Paul Broos, Marc Van Bouwelen, Rudy De Win, An Sermon, Johann Verduyckt, André Van Tichelen, Door Lauwaert, Barbara Vantroyen, Christina Tobback, [......], Gabor Göbl, Susanne Schunder, Koenraad Monsieurs, Joost Bierens, Pascal Cassan, Enrico Davoli, Marc Sabbe, Grace Lo, Maaike De Vries, Bert Aertgeerts

  Resuscitation. 03/2007; 72(2):240-51.

  AIM: Our objectives were to determine the most effective, safe, and feasible first aid (FA) techniques and procedures, and to formulate valid recommendations for training. We focussed on emergencies involving few casualties, where emergency medical services or healthcare professionals are not immedi... [more] AIM: Our objectives were to determine the most effective, safe, and feasible first aid (FA) techniques and procedures, and to formulate valid recommendations for training. We focussed on emergencies involving few casualties, where emergency medical services or healthcare professionals are not immediately present at the scene, but are available within a short space of time. Due to time and resource constraints, we limited ourselves to safety, emergency removal, psychosocial FA, traumatology, and poisoning. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) was not included because guidelines are already available from the European Resuscitation Council (ERC). The FA guidelines are intended to provide guidance to authors of FA handbooks and those responsible for FA programmes. These guidelines, together with the ERC resuscitation guidelines, will be integrated into a European FA Reference Guide and a European FA Manual. METHODS: To create these guidelines we used an evidence-based guideline development process, based on the methodology of the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN). RESULTS: The recommendations cover FA for bleeding, wounds, burns, spinal and head trauma, musculoskeletal trauma, and poisoning, as well as safety and psychosocial FA. CONCLUSIONS: Where good evidence was available, we were able to turn science into practice. Where evidence was lacking, the recommendations were consensus-based. These guidelines provide systematically developed recommendations and justifications for the procedures and techniques that should be included in FA manuals and training programmes.

• Survival after a lethal dose of arsenic trioxide.

  Barbara Vantroyen, J F Heilier, Agnes Meulemans, Arnold Michels, J P Buchet, Steven Vanderschueren, V Haufroid, Marc Sabbe

  Journal of toxicology. Clinical toxicology. 02/2004; 42(6):889-95.

  A case of a 27-year-old woman who ingested 9000 mg arsenic trioxide (As2O3) is reported. Classical symptoms of an acute arsenicum (As) poisoning such as gastrointestinal cramps, vomiting, diarrhea, ECG changes and disturbed liver function tests were observed. The absorption of the ingested As was mi... [more] A case of a 27-year-old woman who ingested 9000 mg arsenic trioxide (As2O3) is reported. Classical symptoms of an acute arsenicum (As) poisoning such as gastrointestinal cramps, vomiting, diarrhea, ECG changes and disturbed liver function tests were observed. The absorption of the ingested As was minimalized by a continuous gastric irrigation with highly concentrated NaHCO3 and intestinal cleansing with NaHCO3 and polyethyleneglycol was performed. Forced diuresis, BAL (2,3-dimercaptopropanol) and DMSA (meso-2,3-dimercaptosuccinic acid) were started and therapy to enhance the formation of methylated As derivatives, which are potentially less toxic and which can be excreted more easily, was then administered. The patient survived this massive dose of ingested inorganic As with only polyneuropathy one year later.
• 0.73

  Impact points

  Acquired C1-esterase inhibitor deficiency: a rare cause of episodic acute abdominal pain and ascites.

  Barbara Vantroyen, Daniel C Knockaert

  European journal of emergency medicine : official journal of the European Society for Emergency Medicine. 10/2003; 10(3):246-9.

  C1-esterase inhibitor deficiency is a rare yet classic medical cause of acute abdominal pain mimicking a surgical emergency. A hereditary form and a very rare acquired form of the disease exist, and both give rise to a similar clinical syndrome despite a different pathogenic mechanism. We describe a... [more] C1-esterase inhibitor deficiency is a rare yet classic medical cause of acute abdominal pain mimicking a surgical emergency. A hereditary form and a very rare acquired form of the disease exist, and both give rise to a similar clinical syndrome despite a different pathogenic mechanism. We describe a typical case of acquired C1-esterase inhibitor deficiency in a 65-year-old woman presenting with recurrent acute abdomen and ascites who had undergone two negative surgical interventions before diagnosis was eventually established. Both the diagnostic and therapeutic approach to this rare condition should be known by emergency physicians for two reasons: (1) it may present as an acute abdominal emergency resulting in unnecessary surgical intervention; and (2) it may cause life-threatening upper airway obstruction as a result of laryngeal oedema.
• 1.07

  Impact points

  Management of essential thrombocythemia during pregnancy with aspirin, interferon alpha-2a and no treatment. A comparative analysis of the literature.

  B Vantroyen, D Vanstraelen

  Acta haematologica. 02/2002; 107(3):158-69.

  It is advisable to treat essential thrombocythemia (ET) during pregnancy, because elevated platelet counts can lead to maternal and fetal complications. In order to establish which therapy is more favorable, we undertook a review of the literature. In addition to our own case, we found 27 reports wh... [more] It is advisable to treat essential thrombocythemia (ET) during pregnancy, because elevated platelet counts can lead to maternal and fetal complications. In order to establish which therapy is more favorable, we undertook a review of the literature. In addition to our own case, we found 27 reports which described 75 cases with 143 pregnancies. We discussed the complications of ET during pregnancy and postpartum, fetal outcome and the therapeutic strategies. Considering the clear risk of complications during pregnancy -- especially the occurrence of spontaneous abortion in the first trimester -- and the risk of intrauterine fetal death, we believe all patients should at least be treated with aspirin unless there is a contraindication. Platelet reduction with interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) might be able to further reduce the complications of ET during pregnancy and to improve fetal outcome (data from 14 patients). After treatment with IFN-alpha, sufficient numbers of umbilical cord blood stem cells can be collected.