Resuscitation
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Multicenter Study
Effect of Gender on Outcome of Out of Hospital Cardiac Arrest in the Resuscitation Outcomes Consortium.
This study examined the relationship between gender and outcomes of non-traumatic out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). ⋯ Women who suffer OHCAs have lower rates of survival and have unfavourable Utstein predictors. When survival is adjusted for these predictors survival is similar between men and women except in younger women suggesting that age modifies the association of gender and survival from OHCA; a result that supports a protective hormonal effect among premenopausal women.
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Observational Study
Awakening Following Cardiac Arrest: Determined by the Definitions Used or the Therapies DELIVERED?
To investigate patterns of neurologic "awakening" in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) patients using different criteria for prognostication post-arrest. ⋯ Patients undergoing therapeutic hypothermia achieve meaningful neurologic "awakening" beyond 72 h post-arrest. Use of different criteria for the assessment of neurologic "awakening" can yield different prognostication predictions which calls for standardization and validation of a single definition of "awakening" by the resuscitation community.
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The use of mild therapeutic hypothermia (TH) in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) with shockable rhythms is recommended and widely used. However, it is unclear whether TH is associated with better outcomes in non-shockable rhythms. ⋯ In a nationwide observational study, TH is associated with better neurological outcome and higher survival to discharge. The effect of TH is greatest in witnessed OHCA patients with PEA as the initial ECG rhythm.
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Following successful resuscitation from cardiac arrest (CA), neurological impairment and other types of organ dysfunction cause significant morbidity and mortality-a condition termed post-cardiac arrest syndrome. Whole-body ischemia/reperfusion with oxygen debt activates immunologic and coagulation pathways increasing the risk of multiple organ failure and infection. We here examined the role of the pro-inflammatory cytokine macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) in post-cardiac arrest syndrome. ⋯ High MIF levels were associated with elevated 60-days-mortality and high MIF predicted mortality after CA. We found a close relation between circulating MIF levels and cellular damage, but not with an inflammatory syndrome.
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Approximately half of the survivors of cardiac arrest have cognitive impairments due to hypoxic brain injury. To describe the outcome after a cardiac arrest, the Cerebral Performance Category (CPC) is frequently used. Although widely used, its validity is still debatable. ⋯ The 'Structured CPC' can be used as an instrument to measure the level of functioning after cardiac arrest.