Resuscitation
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Observational Study
Coronary angiographic findings and outcomes in patients with sudden cardiac arrest without ST-elevation myocardial infarction: A SWEDEHEART study.
Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) has a substantial mortality rate and the acute coronary syndrome constitutes the major cause. Post-resuscitation electrocardiogram ST-elevation SCA (STE-SCA) is a strong indication for emergency coronary angiography, but the role of early angiography and PCI in patients without ST-elevation (NSTE-SCA) remains to be established. This paper aimed to describe this patient group and evaluate the prognostic effect of early PCI in a large nationwide cohort of NSTE-SCA patients undergoing coronary angiography. ⋯ In resuscitated SCA patients without ST-elevation who underwent coronary angiography, this large retrospective study found severe coronary artery stenosis in 43.9% but found no clear benefit of early PCI. Prospective randomized controlled trials are needed to accurately define the role of coronary angiography and PCI in post-resuscitation care.
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Observational Study
A smartphone application for dispatch of lay responders to out-of-hospital cardiac arrests.
Dispatch of lay volunteers trained in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and equipped with automated external defibrillators (AEDs) may improve survival in cases of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). The aim of this study was to investigate the functionality and performance of a smartphone application for locating and alerting nearby trained laymen/women in cases of OHCA. ⋯ A smartphone application can be used to alert CPR-trained lay volunteers to OHCAs for CPR. Further improvements are needed to shorten the time to defibrillation before EMS arrival.
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Currently, the decision to initiate extracorporeal life support for patients who suffer cardiac arrest due to accidental hypothermia is essentially based on serum potassium level. Our goal was to build a prediction score in order to determine the probability of survival following rewarming of hypothermic arrested patients based on several covariates available at admission. ⋯ In this large retrospective study we found that our score was superior to dichotomous triage based on serum potassium level in assessing which hypothermic patients in cardiac arrest would benefit from extracorporeal life support. External validation of our findings is required.
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We aimed to validate retrospectively the accuracy of simplified electroencephalography (EEG) monitoring derived from the bispectral index (BIS) monitor in post-cardiac arrest (CA) patients. ⋯ Using a simple classification system, raw simplified EEG derived from a BIS monitoring device is comparable to standard EEG monitoring. Moreover, investigators without EEG experience were capable to identify SE in post-CA patients. Future studies will be warranted to confirm our results and to determine the added value of using simplified BIS EEG in terms of prognostic and therapeutic implications.
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Observational Study
Neighborhood characteristics, bystander automated external defibrillator use, and patient outcomes in public out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.
Automated external defibrillators (AEDs) can be used by bystanders to provide rapid defibrillation for patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). Whether neighborhood characteristics are associated with AED use is unknown. Furthermore, the association between AED use and outcomes has not been well characterized for all (i.e. shockable and non-shockable) public OHCAs. ⋯ Specific neighborhood characteristics were associated with bystander AED use in OHCA. Bystander AED use was associated with an increase in favorable functional outcome.