The effect of hydrocortisone on the outcome of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients: a pilot study

OBJECTIVE: Several studies have disclosed the importance of serum adrenocorticotropic hormone and cortisol levels in resuscitation. The objective of this study was to observe the effect of hydrocortisone on the outcome of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) patients. DESIGN: Prospective, nonrandomized, open-labeled clinical trial. SETTING: Emergency department (ED) of National Taiwan University Hospital. PATIENTS AND PARTICIPANTS: Ninety-seven nontraumatic adult OHCA victims. INTERVENTIONS: Serum adrenocorticotropic hormone and total cortisol levels were examined in all patients. The hydrocortisone group (n = 36) received 100 mg intravenous hydrocortisone during resuscitation, and the nonhydrocortisone group (n = 61) received 0.9% saline as placebo. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: Comparison of return of the spontaneous circulation (ROSC) rates between the 2 groups was analyzed. The hydrocortisone group had a significantly higher ROSC rate than the nonhydrocortisone group (61% vs 39%, P = .038). Hydrocortisone administration within 6 minutes after ED arrival led to an increased ROSC rate (90% vs 50%, P = .045). The hydrocortisone and nonhydrocortisone groups did not differ in the development of electrolyte disturbances, gastrointestinal tract bleeding, or infection during early postresuscitation period (gastrointestinal bleeding: 41% vs 46%, P = .89; infection: 50% vs 75%, P = .335). There was no significant difference between the hydrocortisone and nonhydrocortisone groups in terms of 1- and 7-day survival and hospital discharge rates. CONCLUSIONS: Hydrocortisone treatment during resuscitation, particularly when administrated within 6 minutes of ED arrival, may be associated with an improved ROSC rate in OHCA patients.     

Resuscitation for patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest: Singapore

AIM: To evaluate characteristics and outcome of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) patients presenting to the Emergency Department (ED), and to examine factors that could be used to determine to prolong or abort resuscitation for these patients. METHOD: All OHCA patients presenting to the ED were studied over a three-month period from November 2001 through January 2002. Patient with traumatic cardiac arrest were excluded. Data were collected from the ambulance case records, ED resuscitation charts, and the ED Very High Frequency (VHF) radio case-log sheet. Information collected included the patient's demographic characteristics, timings (time from call to ambulance arrival on scene, time from arrival at scene to departure from scene, time from scene to arrival in the ED) recorded in the pre-hospital setting, the outcome of the resuscitation, and the final outcome for patients who survived ED resuscitation. RESULTS: Ninety-three non-traumatic patients with an OHCA were studied during the three-month period. Of the 93 patients, 15 (16.1%) survived ED resuscitation, and one survived to hospital discharge. There were no statistically significant differences for age, race, or gender with regards to the outcome of the resuscitation. The initial cardiac rhythms were asystole (65), pulseless electrical activity (21), and ventricular fibrillation (7). Fourteen (15%) received bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). All seven patients with return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) on arrival in the ED survived ED resuscitation. The ambulance took an average of 11.80 +/- 3.36 minutes for the survivors and 11.8 +/- 4.22 minutes for the non-survivors from the time of call to get to these patients. The average of the scene times was 12.5 +/- 4.61 minutes for the survivors and 12.0 +/- 4.02 minutes for the non-survivors. Transport time from the scene to the ED took an average of 39.1 +/- 8.32 minutes for the survivors and 37.2 +/- 9.00 minutes for the non-survivors. CONCLUSION: The survival rate for patients with OHCA after ED resuscitation is similar to the results from other studies. There is a need to increase the awareness and delivery of basic life support by public education. Automatic External Defibrillators (AED) should be available widely to ensure that the chance of early defibrillation is increased. Prolonged resuscitation efforts appear to be futile for OHCA patients if the time from cardiac arrest until arrival in the ED is > or = 30 minutes coupled with no ROSC, and if continuous asystole has been documented for > 10 minutes.     

Significant factors in predicting sustained ROSC in paediatric patients with traumatic out-of-hospital cardiac arrest admitted to the emergency department

BACKGROUND: Paediatric patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) due to trauma pose difficult challenges in resuscitation. Trauma is a major cause of OHCA in children. The aim of this study was to determine which factors were related to predicting a sustained return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) in paediatric OHCA patients with trauma. METHOD: This retrospective study comprised 115 paediatric patients (56 traumatic and 59 non-traumatic OHCA patients) aged younger than 18 years who had been admitted to the emergency department (ED) from January 2000 to December 2004. We analysed the demographic data and the factors that may have influenced sustained ROSC in the group of OHCA paediatric patients with trauma. The non-trauma group was established as a control group. Survival analysis was used to compare differences in survival rate between trauma and non-trauma OHCA patients. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was used to determine the significant in-hospital CPR duration related to sustained ROSC. RESULTS: Initial cardiac rhythm on arrival (P=0.005) and the duration of in-hospital CPR (P<0.001) were significant factors. Patients with PEA or VF had higher rate of sustained ROSC than those with asystole (PEA: P=0.003, VF: P=0.03). In the survival analysis, OHCA children with trauma had a lower chance of survival than non-trauma children as the interval from the scene to the ER increased (P=0.008). Based on the ROC analysis, the cut-off values of in-hospital CPR duration were 25min in OHCA paediatric patients with trauma. CONCLUSION: Several significant factors relating to sustained ROSC were determined in the OHCA paediatric patients with trauma; most importantly, we found that in-hospital CPR may have to be performed for at least 25min to enable a spontaneous circulation to return.     

Evaluation of a hospital-wide resuscitation team: does it increase survival for in-hospital cardiopulmonary arrest?

OBJECTIVE: To assess the impact (defined not only with regard to patient outcome but also to record keeping for evaluation of care) of a formal, structured resuscitation team for in-hospital cardiopulmonary resuscitation over the year following its creation. METHODS: This is a "before and after" study in which charts of all patients needing resuscitation during the two-year period were reviewed and data arranged in the Utstein Style of in-hospital reporting of cardiac arrests. The review was limited to adults (> or = 18 years of age) in nonICU settings. RESULTS: A total of 220 events were identified. Demographics and presenting rhythms for the two periods under review were similar. For the period of August 1996-August 1997 (group 1), there were 70 resuscitation events recorded with a return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) rate of 21/70 (30%). For the period of August 1997-August 1998 (group 2), 150 events were recorded and the ROSC rate was significantly higher 87/150 (58%)) (P=0.0002). ROSC after ventricular fibrillation and ventricular tachycardia was similar in both groups (50 vs 57%) (P = 1.00) but an improvement in survival was seen in group 2 from events of bradycardia perfusing rhythm (25% vs 84%) (P = 0.0003). Survival from PEA/Asystole was also improved during period 2 (18 vs 48%) (P = 0.013). Survival to discharge was seen in 3/50 (6%) of patients in period 1 and 18/102 (18%) of patients in period 2 (P = 0.09). CONCLUSIONS: The formation of a structured, formalized hospital resuscitation team was associated with an increase in the number of recorded events, in the number of patients experiencing ROSC and in the percentage of patients who were discharged from the hospital. Facilities with no formal resuscitation team or with no skilled, practiced resuscitator on their current team should consider implementation of a similar strategy.     

Hepatic portal venous gas associated with poor outcome in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients

Objectives: To determine the incidence of sonographic hepatic portal venous gas (HPVG) and to clarify the relationship between the presence of HPVG and clinical outcomes in patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). Methods: From April 2002 to January 2003, patients with non-traumatic OHCA were prospectively enrolled in a tertiary medical centre in Taipei, Taiwan. Emergency abdominal sonography during resuscitation was performed to detect the presence of HPVG within the first 10 min on arrival of the emergency department (ED). Results: HPVG was detected in 16 (36%) of the 44 patients enrolled in this study. The patients with HPVG were older (P=0.039), their cardiac arrest was witnessed less frequently (P=0.01), they received more prolonged resuscitation (P=0.008), and needed more accumulated doses of adrenaline (epinephrine) (P=0.002). These patients had a considerably lower incidence of return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) (P<0.001), less survival to hospital admission (P<0.001), less 24 h survival (P<0.001) and less survival to discharge (P=0.036). In a multiple regression analysis, HPVG was noted as an independent factor negatively associated with ROSC. Conclusion: HPVG is not uncommon in patients receiving resuscitation for OHCA and is associated with poor outcome in these patients.     

Clinical consequences of the introduction of mechanical chest compression in the EMS system for treatment of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest-a pilot study

AIM: To evaluate the outcome among patients suffering from out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) after the introduction of mechanical chest compression (MCC) compared with standard cardiopulmonary resuscitation (SCPR) in two emergency medical service (EMS) systems. METHODS: The inclusion criterion was witnessed OHCA. The exclusion criteria were age < 18 years, the following judged etiologies behind OHCA: trauma, pregnancy, hypothermia, intoxication, hanging and drowning or return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) prior to the arrival of the advanced life support (ALS) unit. Two MCC devices were allocated during six-month periods between four ALS units for a period of two years (cluster randomisation). RESULTS: In all, 328 patients fulfilled the criteria for participation and 159 were allocated to the MCC tier (the device was used in 66% of cases) and 169 to the SCPR tier. In the MCC tier, 51% had ROSC (primary end-point) versus 51% in the SCPR tier. The corresponding values for hospital admission alive (secondary end-point) were 38% and 37% (NS). In the subset of patients in whom the device was used, the percentage who had ROSC was 49% versus 50% in a control group matched for age, initial rhythm, aetiology, bystander-/crew-witnessed status and delay to CPR. The percentage of patients discharged alive from hospital after OHCA was 8% versus 10% (NS) for all patients and 2% versus 4%, respectively (NS) for the patients in the subset (where the device was used and the matched control population). CONCLUSION: In this pilot study, the results did not support the hypothesis that the introduction of mechanical chest compression in OHCA improves outcome. However, there is room for further improvement in the use of the device. The hypothesis that this will improve outcome needs to be tested in further prospective trials.     

The effect of team-based CPR on outcomes in out of hospital cardiac arrest patients: A meta-analysis

Objectives

The objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to determine the effects of team cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on outcomes of patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA).

Factors affecting short- and long-term prognosis among 1069 patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest and pulseless electrical activity.

AIMS: To describe the epidemiology, resuscitation factors and prognosis among a consecutive population of patients suffering from out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) where pulseless electrical activity (PEA) was the first arrhythmia recorded on emergency medical services (EMS) arrival. METHODS: Analysis of data collected prospectively on all patients regardless of age succumbing to OHCA during 1980-1997 in the community of Gothenburg where EMS initiated resuscitative measures. RESULTS: 4662 patients with OHCA were attended by the EMS during the study period. Of these, 1069 (23%) were judged as having PEA as the first recorded arrhythmia; 158 (15%) of these were admitted alive to hospital and 26 (2.4%) were discharged alive. Survivors to discharge had a significantly larger share of bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) (28 vs. 8%, P=0.008), significantly higher levels of consciousness (8% awake vs. 0%, P<0.001) and higher median systolic blood pressure (145 vs. 106 mmHg, P<0.001) on arrival at hospital. No patient with unwitnessed cardiac arrest and PEA over 80 years old survived. CONCLUSION: Survival among patients suffering from OHCA and PEA is poor, especially among the elderly unwitnessed cases and those who do not receive bystander CPR. The latter seems to be of utmost importance among these patients.     

Utstein style analysis of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest--bystander CPR and end expired carbon dioxide

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this prospective cohort study was to describe the outcome for patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in Maribor (Slovenia) over a 4 year period using a modified Utstein style, and to investigate elementary knowledge of basic life support among potential bystanders in our community. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Through the prehospital and the hospital database system we followed up a consecutive group of patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) between January 2001 and December 2004. We investigated the effects of various factors on outcome in OHCA, especially partial end-tidal CO2 pressure (petCO2), efficacy of bystander CPR and their elementary knowledge of basic life support (BLS). We also examined motivation among potential bystanders and possible implementation for BLS education in our community. RESULTS: OHCA was confirmed in 592 patients. Advanced cardiac life support was initiated in 389 patients, of which 277 were of cardiac aetiology. In 287 patients the event was bystanders witnessed and lay-bystander basic life support was performed only in 83 (23%). After treating OHCA by a physician-based prehospital medical team ROSC was obtained in 61%, the ROSC on admission was 50% and the overall survival to discharge was 21%. Initial petCO2 (OR: 22.04; 95%CI: 11.41-42.55), ventricular fibrillation or pulseless ventricular tachycardia as initial rhythm (OR: 2.13; 95%CI: 1.17-4.22), bystander CPR (OR: 2.55; 95%CI: 1.13-5.73), female sex (OR: 3.08; 95%CI: 1.49-6.38) and arrival time (OR: 1.29; 95%CI: 1.11-1.82) were associated with improved ROSC when using multivariate analysis. Using the same method we found that bystander CPR (OR: 5.05; 95%CI: 2.24-11.39), witnessed arrest (OR: 9.98; 95%CI: 2.89-34.44), final petCO2 (OR: 2.37; 95%CI: 1.67-3.37), initial petCO2 (OR: 1.61; 95%CI: 1.28-2.64) and arrival time (OR: 1.39; 95%CI: 1.33-1.60) were associated with improved survival. A questionnaire to potential bystanders has revealed disappointing knowledge about BLS fundamentals. On the other side, there is a welcomed willingness of potential bystanders to take BLS training and to follow dispatchers instructions by telephone on how to perform CPR. CONCLUSION: After OHCA in a physician-based prehospital setting in our region, the overall survival to discharge was 21%. The potential bystander in our community is generally poorly educated in performing CPR, but willing to gain knowledge and skills in BLS and to follow dispatchers instructions. Arrival time, witnessed arrest, bystander CPR, initial petCO2 and final petCO2 were significantly positively related with ROSC on admission and with survival. Prehospital data from this and previous studies provide strong support for a petCO2 of 1.33 kPa to be a resuscitation threshold in the field. In our opinion the initial value of petCO2 should be included in every Utstein style analysis.     

The incidence of “load&go” out-of-hospital cardiac arrest candidates for emergency department utilization of emergency extracorporeal life support: A one-year review

BackgroundThe outcome of patients after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) is poor and gets worse after prolonged resuscitation. Recently introduced attempts like an early installed emergency extracorporeal life support (E-ECLS) in patients with persisting cardiac arrest at the emergency department (ED) are tried. The “Vienna Cardiac Arrest Registry” (VICAR) was introduced August 2013 to collect Utstein-style data. The aim of this observational study was to identify the incidence of patients which fulfil “load&go”-criteria for E-ECLS at the ED.MethodsVICAR was retrospectively analyzed for following criteria: age <75 years; witnessed OHCA; basic life support; ventricular fibrillation/ventricular tachycardia; no return-of-spontaneous-circulation (ROSC) within 15 min of advanced-life-support, which were supposed as potential optimal criteria for “load&go” plus successful E-ECLS treatment at the ED. The observation period was from August 1, 2013 to July 31, 2014.ResultsOver 948 OHCA patients registered during the study period; data were exploitable for 864 patients. Of all patients, “load&go”-criteria were fulfilled by 55 (6%). However, 96 (11%) were transported with on-going CPR to the ED. Of these 96 patients, only 16 (17%) met the “load&go”-criteria. Similarly, among the 96 patients, 12 adults were treated with E-ECLS at the ED, with only 5 meeting the criteria. Among these 12 patients, favourable neurological outcome (CPC 1/2) was obtained in 1 patient without criteria.ConclusionFurther promotion of these criteria within the ambulance crews is needed. May be these criteria could serve as a decision support for emergency physicians/paramedics, which patients to transport with on-going CPR to the ED for E-ECLS.     

The effect of different relieving methods on the outcome of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients with nontraumatic hemopericardium in the ED

Aims

This study aimed to assess the impact of different methods of draining nontraumatic hemopericardium on outcome from patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA), identify independent predictors of return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC), and examine the ineffective rate of decompression based on subxiphoid pericardiotomy (SP) and percutaneous pericardial catheter drainage (PCD).

Methods

Adult patients with OHCA who presented to the ED between May 1, 2000, and October 30, 2006, with moderate to massive nontraumatic hemopericardium were recruited and stratified into 4 groups according to the relieving methods of hemopericardium. Charts were reviewed for various demographic data, resuscitation records, management, and outcome. Patient outcome was recorded as survival to hospital discharge and ROSC, as primary end points. Effective decompression was recorded as a secondary end point. We compared the outcome between the groups.

Results

A total of 1491 OHCA resuscitation records were prospective collected. There were 23 OHCA patients with moderate to massive nontraumatic hemopericardium. The overall ROSC rate was 39.1% (9/23). There was a clear difference in the ROSC rate between 4 groups (P < .05). The overall rate of survival to hospital discharge was 4.3% (1/23). There was no significant difference in the rate of survival to hospital discharge between the groups. Relieving methods was an independent predictor of ROSC in OHCA patients with nontraumatic hemopericardium (odds ratio, 0.17; 95% confidence interval, 0.4-0.70). There was a significant statistical difference in adequate relief of hemopericardium based on SP and PCD (P < .01).

Conclusion

The early effective decompression method is associated with an increased rate of ROSC for OHCA patients with nontraumatic hemopericardium. Subxiphoid pericardiotomy has a better effective decompression of hemopericardium than PCD.     

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.     

Neurological outcomes in patients transported to hospital without a prehospital return of spontaneous circulation after cardiac arrest

Introduction

As emergency medical services (EMS) personnel in Japan are not allowed to perform termination of resuscitation in the field, most patients experiencing an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) are transported to hospitals without a prehospital return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC). As the crucial prehospital factors for outcomes are not clear in patients who had an OHCA without a prehospital ROSC, we aimed to determine the prehospital factors associated with 1-month favorable neurological outcomes (Cerebral Performance Category scale 1 or 2 (CPC 1–2)).

Methods

We analyzed the data of 398,121 adult OHCA patients without a prehospital ROSC from a prospectively recorded nationwide Utstein-style Japanese database from 2007 to 2010. The primary endpoint was 1-month CPC 1–2.

Results

The rate of 1-month CPC 1–2 was 0.49%. Multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that the independent variables associated with CPC 1–2 were the following nine prehospital factors: (1) initial non-asystole rhythm (ventricular fibrillation (VF): adjusted odds ratio (aOR), 9.37; 95% confidence interval (CI), 7.71 to 11.4; pulseless ventricular tachycardia (VT): aOR, 8.50; 95% CI, 5.36 to 12.9; pulseless electrical activity (PEA): aOR, 2.75; 95% CI, 2.40 to 3.15), (2) age <65 years (aOR, 3.90; 95% CI, 3.28 to 4.67), (3) arrest witnessed by EMS personnel (aOR, 2.82; 95% CI, 2.48 to 3.19), (4) call-to-hospital arrival time <24 minutes (aOR, 2.58; 95% CI, 2.22 to 3.01), (5) arrest witnessed by any layperson, (6) physician-staffed ambulance, (7) call-to-response time <5 minutes, (8) prehospital shock delivery, and (9) presumed cardiac cause. When four crucial key factors (with an aOR >2.0 in the regression model: initial non-asystole rhythm, age <65 years, EMS-witnessed arrest, and call-to-hospital arrival time <24 minutes) were present, the rates of 1-month CPC 1–2 and 1-month survival were 16.1% and 23.2% in initial VF, 8.3% and 16.7% in pulseless VT, and 3.8% and 9.4% in PEA, respectively.

Conclusions

In OHCA patients transported to hospitals without a prehospital ROSC, nine prehospital factors were significantly associated with 1-month CPC 1–2. Of those, four are crucial key factors: initial non-asystole rhythm, age <65 years, EMS-witnessed arrest, and call-to-hospital arrival time <24 minutes.     

Emergency Department inter-hospital transfer for post-cardiac arrest care: Initial experience with implementation of a regional cardiac resuscitation center in the United States

Objective

The American Heart Association recently recommended regional cardiac resuscitation centers (CRCs) for post-resuscitation care following out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). Our objective was to describe initial experience with CRC implementation.

Methods

Prospective observational study of consecutive post-resuscitation patients transferred from community Emergency Departments (EDs) to a CRC over 9 months. Transfer criteria were: OHCA, return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC), and comatose after ROSC. Incoming patients were received and stabilized in the ED of the CRC where advanced therapeutic hypothermia (TH) modalities were applied. Standardized post-resuscitation care included: ED evaluation for cardiac catheterization, TH (33–34 °C) for 24 h, 24 h/day critical care physician support, and evidence-based neurological prognostication. Prospective data collection utilized the Utstein template. The primary outcome was survival to hospital discharge with good neurological function [Cerebral Performance Category 1 or 2].

Results

Twenty-seven patients transferred from 11 different hospitals were included. The majority (21/27 [78%]) had arrest characteristics suggesting poor prognosis for survival (i.e. asystole/pulseless electrical activity initial rhythm, absence of bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation, or an unwitnessed cardiac arrest). The median (IQR) time from transfer initiation to reaching TH target temperature was 7 (5–13) h. Ten (37%) patients survived to hospital discharge, and of these 9/10 (90% of survivors, 33% of all patients) had good neurological function.

Conclusions

Despite a high proportion of patients with cardiac arrest characteristics suggesting poor prognosis for survival, we found that one-third of CRC transfers survived with good neurological function. Further research to determine if regional CRCs improve outcomes after cardiac arrest is warranted.     

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.     

Endotracheal intubation versus supraglottic airway insertion in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest

OBJECTIVE: To simplify airway management and minimize cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) chest compression interruptions, some emergency medical services (EMS) practitioners utilize supraglottic airway (SGA) devices instead of endotracheal intubation (ETI) as the primary airway adjunct in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). We compared the outcomes of patients receiving ETI with those receiving SGA following OHCA. METHODS: We performed a secondary analysis of data from the multicenter Resuscitation Outcomes Consortium (ROC) PRIMED trial. We studied adult non-traumatic OHCA receiving successful SGA insertion (King Laryngeal Tube, Combitube, and Laryngeal Mask Airway) or successful ETI. The primary outcome was survival to hospital discharge with satisfactory functional status (Modified Rankin Scale ≤3). Secondary outcomes included return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC), 24-h survival, major airway or pulmonary complications (pulmonary edema, internal thoracic or abdominal injuries, acute lung injury, sepsis, and pneumonia). Using multivariable logistic regression, we studied the association between out-of-hospital airway management method (ETI vs. SGA) and OHCA outcomes, adjusting for confounders. RESULTS: Of 10,455 adult OHCA, 8487 (81.2%) received ETI and 1968 (18.8%) received SGA. Survival to hospital discharge with satisfactory functional status was: ETI 4.7%, SGA 3.9%. Compared with successful SGA, successful ETI was associated with increased survival to hospital discharge (adjusted OR 1.40; 95% CI: 1.04, 1.89), ROSC (adjusted OR 1.78; 95% CI: 1.54, 2.04) and 24-h survival (adjusted OR 1.74; 95% CI: 1.49, 2.04). ETI was not associated with secondary airway or pulmonary complications (adjusted OR 0.84; 95% CI: 0.61, 1.16). CONCLUSIONS: In this secondary analysis of data from the multicenter ROC PRIMED trial, ETI was associated with improved outcomes over SGA insertion after OHCA.     

Exploring which patients without return of spontaneous circulation following ventricular fibrillation out-of-hospital cardiac arrest should be transported to hospital?

Background

Currently many emergency medical services (EMS) that provide advanced cardiac life support (ACLS) at scene do not routinely transport out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) patients without sustained return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC). This is due to logistical difficulties and historical poor outcomes. However, new technology for mechanical chest compression has made transport to hospital safer and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR) enabling further intervention, may result in ROSC. We aimed to explore the characteristics and outcomes of patients with OHCA who were transported to hospital with ongoing CPR in the absence of ROSC, who might benefit from this new technology.

Methods and results

The Victorian Ambulance Cardiac Arrest Registry (VACAR) was searched for adult OHCA with an initial shockable rhythm between 2003 and 2012. There were 5593 OHCA meeting inclusion criteria. Analysis was performed on 3095 (55%) of patients who did not achieve sustained ROSC in the field. Of these only 589 (20%) had ongoing CPR to hospital. There was a significant decline in rates of transport over the study period. Predictors of transport with ongoing CPR included younger patients, decreased time to first shock and intermittent ROSC prior to transport. Survival to hospital discharge occurred in 52 (9%) of patients who had ongoing CPR to hospital.

Conclusion

In an EMS that provides ACLS at scene, patients without ROSC in the field who receive CPR to hospital have poor outcomes. Developing a system which provides safe transport with ongoing CPR to a hospital that provides ECPR, should be considered.     

Clinical and cardiac features of patients with subarachnoid haemorrhage presenting with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest

Background

Subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH) is known as one of the aetiologies of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). However, the mechanisms of circulatory collapse in these patients have remained unclear.

Methods and results

We examined 244 consecutive OHCA patients transferred to our emergency department. Head computed tomography was performed on all patients and revealed the existence of SAH in 14 patients (5.9%, 10 females). Among these, sudden collapse was witnessed in 7 patients (50%). On their initial cardiac rhythm, all 14 patients showed asystole or pulseless electrical activity, but no ventricular fibrillation (VF). Return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) was obtained in 10 of the 14 patients (14.9% of all ROSC patients) although all resuscitated patients died later. The ROSC rate in patients with SAH (71%) was significantly higher than that of patients with either other types of intracranial haemorrhage (25%, n = 2/8) or presumed cardiovascular aetiologies (22%, n = 23/101) (p < 0.01). On electrocardiograms, ST-T abnormalities and/or QT prolongation were found in all 10 resuscitated patients. Despite their electrocardiographic abnormalities, only 3 patients showed echocardiographic abnormalities.

Conclusions

The frequency of SAH in patients with all causes of OHCA was about 6%, and in resuscitated patients was about 15%. The initial cardiac rhythm revealed no VF even though half had a witnessed arrest. A high ROSC rate was observed in patients with SAH, although none survived to hospital discharge.     

Relationship between Time-to-ROSC and Survival in Out-of-hospital Cardiac Arrest ECPR Candidates: When is the Best Time to Consider Transport to Hospital?

Objective: Extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR) may improve outcomes for refractory out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). Transport of intra-arrest patients to hospital however, may decrease CPR quality, potentially reducing survival for those who would have achieved return-of-spontaneous-circulation (ROSC) with further on-scene resuscitation. We examined time-to-ROSC and patient outcomes for the optimal time to consider transport. Methods: From a prospective registry of consecutive adult non-traumatic OHCA's, we identified a hypothetical ECPR-eligible cohort of EMS-treated patients with age ≤ 65, witnessed arrest, and bystander CPR or EMS arrival < 10 minutes. We assessed the relationship between time-to-ROSC and survival, and constructed a ROC curve to illustrate the ability of a pulseless state to predict non-survival with conventional resuscitation. Results: Of 6,571 EMS-treated cases, 1,206 were included with 27% surviving. Increasing time–to–ROSC (per minute) was negatively associated with survival (adjusted OR 0.91; 95%CI 0.89–0.93%). The yield of survivors per minute of resuscitation increased from commencement and started to decline in the 8th minute. Fifty percent and 90% of survivors had achieved ROSC by 8.0 and 24 min, respectively, at which times the probability of survival for those with initial shockable rhythms was 31% and 10%, and for non-shockable rhythms was 5.2% and 1.6%. The ROC curve illustrated that the 16th minute of resuscitation maximized sensitivity and specificity (AUC = 0.87, 95% CI 0.85–0.89). Conclusion: Transport for ECPR should be considered between 8 to 24 minutes of professional on-scene resuscitation, with 16 minutes balancing the risks and benefits of early and later transport. Earlier transport within this window may be preferred if high quality CPR can be maintained during transport and for those with initial non-shockable rhythms.     

Out of hospital cardiac arrests--the experience of one hospital in Singapore.

In Singapore, all public emergency ambulances are equipped with semi-automatic external defibrillators and the crew is trained in their use. This is the first paper from Singapore reporting the survival rate in patients presenting to an urban public hospital with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) who developed out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). All consecutive patients who presented to the ED of a public hospital with OHCA or ACS were surveyed from 1 April 1999 to 30 September 1999. There were 392 patients among whom 115 (28.5%) had OHCA. There was no significant difference in age and gender distribution between the OHCA and non-OHCA patients. More than 2/3 of the OHCA patients had no report of chest pain or breathlessness before they collapsed. Forty five (39.1%) of the 115 OHCA patients were noted to have initial rhythms of ventricular tachycardia (VT) or ventricular fibrillation (VF) and received pre-hospital defibrillation. The mean time from collapse to first DC shock was 12.07+/-7.2 min. Twenty (17.4%) of the OHCA patients had return of spontaneous circulation after resuscitation in the ED. Four patients (3.5%), all with an initial rhythm of VF were discharged alive from the hospital. Much remains to be done to reduce the time interval to first DC shock for the OHCA group.