Survival rates in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients transported without prehospital return of spontaneous circulation: An observational cohort study

Background

Some Emergency Medical Services currently use just one component of the Universal Termination of Resuscitation (TOR) Guideline, the absence of prehospital return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC), as the single criteria to terminate resuscitation, which may deny transport to potential survivors.

Objective

This study aimed to report the survival to hospital discharge rate in non-traumatic, adult out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) patients transported to hospital without a prehospital ROSC.

Methods

An observational study of OHCA patients without a prehospital ROSC who met the Universal TOR Guideline for transport to hospital with ongoing resuscitation. Multivariable logistic regression was used to determine the association of each variable with survival to hospital discharge.

Results

Of 20,207 OHCA treated by EMS, 3374 (16.4%) did not have a prehospital ROSC but met the Universal TOR guideline for transport to hospital with ongoing resuscitation. Of these patients, 122 (3.6%) survived to hospital discharge. Survival to discharge was associated with initial shockable VF/VT rhythms (OR 5.07; 95% CI 2.77–9.30), EMS-witnessed arrests (OR 3.51; 95% CI 1.73–7.15), bystander-witnessed arrests (OR 2.11; 95% CI 1.18–3.77), and public locations (OR 1.57; 95% CI 1.02–2.40).

Conclusion

In OHCA patients without a prehospital ROSC who met the Universal TOR Guideline for transport with ongoing resuscitation survival rates were above the 1% futility rate. Employing only the lack of ROSC as criteria for termination of resuscitation may miss survivors after OHCA.     

Regionalisation of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest care for patients without prehospital return of spontaneous circulation

Study objectives

The aim of this study was to evaluate the risk of prolonged transportation against the benefit of treatment in high-volume centres for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) patients without prehospital return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC).

Methods

This study used a nationwide EMS-assessed OHCA database (2006–2008). Patients with cardiac aetiology were selected from the registry. A high-volume centre was defined as a hospital that received an average of more than 33 cases per year. OHCA patients without prehospital ROSC were divided into subgroups according to their destination (high-volume centre vs. low-volume centre) and transport interval. The rates of survival to discharge were compared among these groups using multivariate logistic regression analysis.

Results

During the study period, 54,499 OHCA patients were assessed by EMS in Korea. Of these patients, prehospital resuscitation was attempted for 29,345 patients with presumed cardiac origin. After excluding cases with inappropriate time data, 27,662 cases were selected for further analysis. 15,885 (57.4%) patients were transported to low-volume centres while the rest were transported to high-volume centres. The rate of survival to discharge was 1.43% and 4.78%, respectively. A multivariate analysis indicated that even with a longer transport interval (TI)(TI 5–9 min vs. TI 0–4 min), the high-volume centres presented a better overall outcome.

Conclusion

A higher rate of survival to discharge was demonstrated when OHCA patients without prehospital ROSC were transported to high-volume rather than low-volume centres. The rate was still significantly higher when the transportation time was longer compared with that of low-volume centres.     

Cardiac arrest survival is rare without prehospital return of spontaneous circulation

Abstract Background. Emergency medical services (EMS) are crucial in the management of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). Despite accepted termination-of-resuscitation criteria, many patients are transported to the hospital without achieving field return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC). Objective. We examine field ROSC influence on OHCA survival to hospital discharge in two large urban EMS systems. Methods. A retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data was conducted. Data collection is a component of San Antonio Fire Department's comprehensive quality assurance/quality improvement program and Cincinnati Fire Department's participation in the Cardiac Arrest Registry to Enhance Survival (CARES) project. Attempted resuscitations of medical OHCA and cardiac OHCA for San Antonio and Cincinnati, respectively, from 2008 to 2010 were analyzed by city and in aggregate. Results. A total of 2,483 resuscitation attempts were evaluated. Age and gender distributions were similar between cities, but ethnic profiles differed. Cincinnati had 17% (p = 0.002) more patients with an initial shockable rhythm and was more likely to initiate transport before field ROSC. Overall survival to hospital discharge was 165 of 2,483 (6.6%). More than one-third (894 of 2,483, 36%) achieved field ROSC. Survival with field ROSC was 17.2% (154 of 894) and without field ROSC was 0.69% (11 of 1,589). Of the 11 survivors transported prior to field ROSC, nine received defibrillation by EMS. No asystolic patient survived to hospital discharge without field ROSC. Conclusion. Survival to hospital discharge after OHCA is rare without field ROSC. Resuscitation efforts should focus on achieving field ROSC. Transport should be reserved for patients with field ROSC or a shockable rhythm.     

Impact of hypotension after return of spontaneous circulation on survival in patients of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest

Objective

To investigate the relationship between hypotension in the first 3 h after return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) in patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.

Hormonal responses upon return of spontaneous circulation after cardiac arrest: a retrospective cohort study

Introduction  

Cardiac arrest is often fatal and can be extremely stressful to patients, even if spontaneous rhythm is returned. The purpose of this study was to analyze the hormonal response after return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC).     

Intravenous vs. intraosseous access and return of spontaneous circulation during out of hospital cardiac arrest

Introduction

Guidelines endorse intravenous (IV) and intraosseous (IO) medication administration for cardiac arrest treatment. Limited clinical evidence supports this recommendation. A multiagency, retrospective study was performed to determine the association between parenteral access type and return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) in out of hospital cardiac arrest.

Body temperature changes are associated with outcomes following in-hospital cardiac arrest and return of spontaneous circulation

Introduction

Spontaneous changes in body temperature after return of circulation (ROSC) from cardiac arrest are common, but the association of these changes with outcomes in hospitalized patients who survive to 24 h post-ROSC is not known. We tested the hypothesis that adults who experience temperature lability in the first 24 h have worse outcomes compared with those who maintain normothermia.

Materials and methods

A prospective observational study from a multicenter registry of cardiac arrests (National Registry of Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) from 355 US and Canadian hospitals. 14,729 adults with return of circulation from a pulseless cardiac arrest. We excluded those who died or were discharged before 24 h post-event, those made Do-Not-Resuscitate (DNR) within 24 h of event, those that had a preceding trauma, and those with multiple cardiac arrests. Finally, we included only subjects that had both a lowest (T_min) and highest (T_max) body temperature value recorded during the first 24-h after ROSC, resulting in a study sample of 3426 patients.

Results

After adjustment for potential covariates, there was a lower odds of survival in those having an episode of hypothermia (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 0.62; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.48–0.80), those having an episode of hyperthermia (OR, 0.67; 95% CI, 0.48–0.80), and those having an episode of both (OR, 0.59; 95% CI, 0.39–0.91). Among those who survived to discharge, there was also a lower odds of favorable neurologic performance in those who had an episode of hyperthermia (OR, 0.71; 95% CI, 0.51–0.98).

Conclusions

Episodes of temperature lability following in-hospital resuscitation from cardiac arrest are associated with lower odds of surviving to discharge. Hyperthermia is also associated with fewer patients leaving the hospital with favorable neurologic performance. Further studies should identify whether therapeutic control over changes in body temperature after in-hospital cardiac arrest improves outcomes.     

Tenecteplase and return of spontaneous circulation after refractory cardiopulmonary arrest

Even with the benefit of cardiopulmonary resuscitation, the prognosis of cardiac arrest remains poor. Multiple case series describe survival with the use of thrombolytic therapy for refractory cardiac arrest. Presumably thrombolysis treats that subset of cardiac arrest cases resulting from fulminant pulmonary embolism, or perhaps massive myocardial infarctions. Published reports to date have dealt exclusively with streptokinase, urokinase, reteplase, or recombinant tissue plasminogen activator. The authors report the first case of return of spontaneous circulation with the administration of tenecteplase. Tenecteplase is a recently developed reengineered isomer of tissue plasminogen activator that possesses many properties of the ideal cardiac arrest thrombolytic agent. It is bolus dosed, stable at room temperature before reconstitution, and is compatible with most other advanced cardiac life support medications. Because of clinical equivalency and its logistical advantages, tenecteplase should be evaluated as an alternative to other thrombolytics in future trials involving cardiac arrest.     

Correlation between initial serum levels of lactate after return of spontaneous circulation and survival and neurological outcomes in patients who undergo therapeutic hypothermia after cardiac arrest

ObjectivesWe analysed the relationship between serum levels of lactate within 1 h of return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) and survival and neurological outcomes in patients who underwent therapeutic hypothermia (TH).MethodsThis was a multi-centre retrospective and observational study that examined data from the first Korean Hypothermia Network (KORHN) registry from 2007 to 2012. The inclusion criteria were out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) and examination of serum levels of lactate within 1 h after ROSC, taken from KORHN registry data. The primary endpoint was survival outcome at hospital discharge, and the secondary endpoint was poor neurological outcome (Cerebral Performance Category, CPC, 3–5) at hospital discharge. Initial lactate levels and other variables collected within 1 h of ROSC were analysed via multivariable logistic regression.ResultsData from 930 cardiac arrest patients who underwent TH were collected from the KORHN registry. In a total of 443 patients, serum levels of lactate were examined within 1 h of ROSC. In-hospital mortality was 289/443 (65.24%), and 347/443 (78.33%) of the patients had CPCs of 3–5 upon hospital discharge. The odds ratios of lactate levels for CPC and in-hospital mortality were 1.072 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.026–1.121) and 1.087 (95% CI = 1.031–1.147), respectively, based on multivariate ordinal logistic regression analyses.ConclusionHigh levels of lactate in serum measured within 1 h of ROSC are associated with hospital mortality and high CPC scores in cardiac arrest patients treated with TH.     

The prognostic value of continuous amplitude-integrated electroencephalogram applied immediately after return of spontaneous circulation in therapeutic hypothermia-treated cardiac arrest patients

Introduction

The purpose of this study was to examine the prognostic value of continuous amplitude-integrated electroencephalogram (aEEG) applied immediately after return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) in therapeutic hypothermia (TH)-treated cardiac arrest patients.

Methods

From September 2010 to August 2011, we prospectively studied comatose patients treated with TH after cardiac arrest who were monitored with aEEG. Monitoring at the forehead was applied as soon as possible after ROSC in the emergency department and continued until recovery of consciousness, death, or 72 h after ROSC. Neurological outcome was assessed with the Cerebral Performance Category (CPC) scale at hospital discharge, and good neurological outcome was defined as a CPC score of 1 or 2.

Results

A total of 55 TH-treated patients were included. Monitoring started at a median of 96 min after ROSC (interquartile range, 49–174). At discharge, 28 patients had a CPC of 1–2, and 27 patients had a CPC of 3–5. Seventeen patients had a continuous normal voltage (CNV) trace at the start of monitoring, and this voltage was strongly associated with a good outcome (16/17 [94.1%]; sensitivity and specificity of 57.1 and 96.3%, respectively). No development of a CNV trace within the recorded period accurately predicted a poor outcome (21/21 [100%]; sensitivity and specificity of 77.8 and 100%, respectively).

Conclusions

An initial CNV trace in aEEG applied to forehead immediately after ROSC is a good early predictor of a good outcome in TH-treated cardiac arrest patients. Conversely, no development of a CNV trace within 72 h is an accurate and reliable predictor of a poor outcome with a false-positive rate of 0%.     

Cerebral oximetry and return of spontaneous circulation after cardiac arrest: A systematic review and meta-analysis

AimThe prediction of return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) during resuscitation of patients suffering of cardiac arrest (CA) is particularly challenging. Regional cerebral oxygen saturation (rSO₂) monitoring through near-infrared spectrometry is feasible during CA and could provide guidance during resuscitation.MethodsWe conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis on the value of rSO₂ in predicting ROSC both after in-hospital (IH) or out-of-hospital (OH) CA. Our search included MEDLINE (PubMed) and EMBASE, from inception until April 4th, 2015. We included studies reporting values of rSO₂ at the beginning of and/or during resuscitation, according to the achievement of ROSC.ResultsA total of nine studies with 315 patients (119 achieving ROSC, 37.7%) were included in the meta-analysis. The majority of those patients had an OHCA (n = 225, 71.5%; IHCA: n = 90, 28.5%). There was a significant association between higher values of rSO₂ and ROSC, both in the overall calculation (standardized mean difference, SMD –1.03; 95%CI –1.39,–0.67; p < 0.001), and in the subgroups analyses (rSO₂ at the beginning of resuscitation: SMD –0.79; 95%CI –1.29,–0.30; p = 0.002; averaged rSO₂ value during resuscitation: SMD –1.28; 95%CI –1.74,–0.83; p < 0.001).ConclusionsHigher initial and average regional cerebral oxygen saturation values are both associated with greater chances of achieving ROSC in patients suffering of CA. A note of caution should be made in interpreting these results due to the small number of patients and the heterogeneity in study design: larger studies are needed to clinically validate cut-offs for guiding cardiopulmonary resuscitation.     

Factors associated with sustained return of spontaneous circulation in children after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest of noncardiac origin

Purpose

The study aimed to determine the factors predictive of sustained return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) in children with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) of noncardiac origin.

Methods

Eighty children were included in this retrospective study. The variables that lead to sustained ROSC and those that do not lead to sustained ROSC were analyzed. Survival analyses, including chance of achieving sustained ROSC and sum duration of ROSC, were conducted according to the duration of in-hospital cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).

Results

Etiologies of noncardiac OHCA differed significantly across different age groups (P < .001). Only 8.8% of children had initial arrest rhythms that were shockable. Predictors of sustained ROSC included the initial cardiac rhythm (P = .002), a shorter period between collapse and the first chest compression (P = .002), a shorter in-hospital CPR duration (P = .004), and prehospital CPR (P = .007). In children where ROSC was initially sustained, those with in-hospital CPR of more than 20 minutes, ROSC was sustained for less time (P < .001).

Conclusions

Few children with noncardiac OHCA present with shockable cardiac rhythms. Furthermore, long-term ROSC is difficult to maintain in children who receive in-hospital CPR for more than 20 minutes.     

Association of delay to first intervention with return of spontaneous circulation in a swine model of cardiac arrest

OBJECTIVE: No single drug improves survival after cardiac arrest, despite success in animal studies. We sought to determine the duration of circulatory arrest after which maximal drug treatment and a rescue shock would fail to achieve return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC). DESIGN/SUBJECTS: Retrospective analysis of 271 swine (20-30 kg) resuscitation attempts during ventricular fibrillation. Protocols were divided into five categories: immediate countershock, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) with standard-dose drugs, CPR alone, CPR and high-dose epinephrine (CPR+HDE) (0.1 mg/kg), and CPR with a drug cocktail (CPR+DC) of propanolol (1 mg), epinephrine (adrenaline) (0.1 mg/kg) and vasopressin (40IU). Time to first CPR, time to first drug administration, time to first shock, and protocol were examined as predictors of ROSC using logistic regression with Hosmer-Lemeshow test of fit. Probability of ROSC was calculated from logistic curves. MAIN RESULTS: ROSC occurred in 119 of the 271 swine (44%). Time to first drug and the CPR+DC group were predictors of ROSC. Time to first CPR, the CPR+DC group, and the CPR+HDE group were also predictors of ROSC. Time to first rescue shock, the CPR+DC group, and the CPR+HDE groups were predictors of ROSC. In the CPR+DC group, 50% ROSC occurred at a first CPR time of 13.4 min, first drug time of 14.1 min and first rescue shock time of 17.5 min. CONCLUSIONS: Pre-shock delivery of CPR+DC increases the likelihood of ROSC, and reaches 50% with a time of drug delivery of 14.1 min. ROSC rates of 50% may be achievable using an optimized resuscitation in experimental CPR.     

Predictors for outcome among cardiac arrest patients: the importance of initial cardiac arrest rhythm versus time to return of spontaneous circulation,a retrospective cohort study

Background

In the past decade, early treatment of cardiac arrest (CA) victims has been improved in several ways, leading to more optimistic over all prognoses. However, the global survival rate after out-of-hospital CA (OHCA) is still not more than 5-10%. With a better knowledge of the predictors for outcome among CA patients, we can improve the management of CA, in order to strengthen the leads in the chain of survival.

Methods

A retrospective cohort study including 172 CA patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) in Odense University Hospital (OUH) in a three-year period was conducted. We determined the 90-day mortality and neurological outcome at discharge for CA patients treated with therapeutic hypothermia (TH), in regard to determine the importance of the predictors for mortality and neurological outcome, with emphasize on combining initial rhythm and time to return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC).

Results

The overall mortality was 44% and a favorable neurological outcome was seen among 52%. Strong predictors for survival and favorable neurological outcome were ventricular tachycardia/ventricular fibrillation (VT/VF) as initial rhythm, cardiac etiology and time to ROSC < 20 minutes. Age < 60 years was a predictor for survival only. Patients with the combination of VT/VF and ROSC < 20 minutes had undeniably the best chance of both survival and a favorable neurological outcome.

Conclusions

We found significant predictors for both survival and neurological outcome, in which an initial rhythm of VT/VF and a cardiac etiology were the strongest.     

The association between intra-arrest therapeutic hypothermia and return of spontaneous circulation among individuals experiencing out of hospital cardiac arrest

Introduction

Therapeutic hypothermia has been shown to improve both mortality and neurologic outcomes following pulseless ventricular tachycardia and fibrillation. Animal data suggest intra-arrest induction of therapeutic hypothermia (IATH) improves frequency of return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC). Our objective was to evaluate the association between IATH and ROSC.

Methods

This was a retrospective analysis of individuals experiencing non-traumatic cardiac arrest in a large metropolitan area during a 12-month period. Six months into the study a prehospital IATH protocol was instituted whereby patients received 2000 ml of 4 °C normal saline directly after obtaining IV/IO access. The main outcome variables were prehospital ROSC, survival to admission, and to discharge. A secondary analysis was conducted to assess the relationship between the quantity of cold saline infused and the likelihood of prehospital ROSC.

Results

551 patients met inclusion criteria with all the elements available for data analysis. Rates of prehospital ROSC were 36.5% versus 26.9% (OR 1.83; 95% CI 1.19-2.81) in patients who received IATH versus normothermic resuscitation respectively. While the frequency of survival to hospital admission and discharge were increased among those receiving IATH, the differences did not reach statistical significance. The secondary analysis found a linear association between the amount of cold saline infused and the likelihood of prehospital ROSC.

Conclusion

The infusion of 4 °C normal saline during the intra-arrest period may improve rate of ROSC even at low fluid volumes. Further study is required to determine if intra-arrest cooling has a beneficial effect on rates of ROSC, mortality, and neurologic function.     

休克指数和修正休克指数评估心脏骤停自主循环恢复患者的预后

目的 评价休克指数和体温修正休克指数(以下简称“修正休克指数”)评估心脏骤停后自主循环恢复患者预后的价值.方法 以心肺复苏Utstien模式前瞻性注册登记并分析111例院内心脏骤停经心肺复苏恢复自主循环患者的生命体征等资料,以进一步评价休克指数和修正休克指数评估其预后的价值.结果 收缩压、心率在成活出院组与死亡组患者组间差异无统计学意义,P＞0.05.死亡组患者休克指数和修正休克指数[(1.109±0.428)和(1.082 ±0.410)]明显高于成活出院组[(0.899±0.303)和(0.844 ±0.265)],P＜0.05.修正休克指数＞1.1的患者死亡风险比为5.4,明显高于收缩压＜90 mm Hg组(1.6)和心率＞100次/min组(3.1),P＞0.05.休克指数＞1.1预测该组患者死亡风险的比值比为2.8.结论 休克指数和修正休克指数是易于记忆和获取的有效评价指标,有助于预测诸如心脏骤停循环恢复患者最终死亡或成活出院等病情预后.     

Erythropoietin administration facilitates return of spontaneous circulation and improves survival in a pig model of cardiac arrest

Background

In addition to its role in the endogenous control of erythropoiesis, recombinant human erythropoietin (rh-EPO) has been shown to exert tissue protective properties in various experimental models. However, its role in the cardiac arrest (CA) setting has not yet been adequately investigated.

Aim

The aim of this study is to examine the effect of rh-EPO in a pig model of ventricular fibrillation (VF)-induced CA.

Methods

Ventricular fibrillation was electrically induced in 20 piglets and maintained untreated for 8 minutes before attempting resuscitation. Animals were randomized to receive rh-EPO (5000 IU/kg, erythropoietin [EPO] group, n = 10) immediately before the initiation of chest compressions or to receive 0.9% Sodium chloride solution instead (control group, n = 10).

Results

Compared with the control, the EPO group had higher rates of return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) (100% vs 60%, P = .011) and higher 48-hour survival (100% vs 40%, P = .001). Diastolic aortic pressure and coronary perfusion pressure during cardiopulmonary resuscitation were significantly higher in the EPO group compared with the control group. Erythropoietin-treated animals required fewer number of shocks in comparison with animals that received normal saline (P = .04). Furthermore, the neurologic alertness score was higher in the EPO group compared with that of the control group at 24 (P = .004) and 48 hours (P = .021).

Conclusion

Administration of rh-EPO in a pig model of VF-induced CA just before reperfusion facilitates ROSC and improves survival rates as well as hemodynamic variables.