Resuscitation
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We investigated the national early warning scores (NEWSs) and related outcomes of patients in a tertiary referral center's multidisciplinary emergency department (ED). Patients were further categorized into three groups: triaged directly to intensive care unit (EDICU), triaged to general ward with later ICU admission (EDwardICU) and triaged to general ward (EDward). NEWSs and subsequent outcomes among these sub groups were compared. ⋯ ED-NEWS is independently associated with in-hospital and 30-day mortality with acceptable discrimination capability. Direct and late ICU admissions occurred with comparable NEWSs at admission.
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A do-not-attempt-resuscitation order is issued when it is against the wishes of the patient that cardiopulmonary resuscitation is performed, or when the chance of good quality survival is minimal. Therefore it is essential for physicians to make an objective prearrest prediction of the outcome after an in-hospital cardiac arrest (IHCA). Our aim was external validation of the Good Outcome Following Attempted Resuscitation (GO-FAR) score in a population based setting. ⋯ The GO-FAR score has satisfactory discrimination, but assessment of the calibration shows that neurologically intact survival is systematically underestimated. Therefore, only with caution should it without model update be taken into clinical practice in settings similar to ours.
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Rapid response systems are commonly employed by hospitals to identify and respond to deteriorating patients outside of the intensive care unit. Controversy exists about the benefits of rapid response systems. ⋯ Rapid responses may improve some meaningful outcomes, although these findings remain controversial. These systems may also improve care for patients at the end of life. Rapid response systems are expected to continue evolving with novel developments in monitoring technologies, risk prediction informatics, and work in human factors.
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Shockable cardiac rhythms are associated with improved outcomes among out-of-hospital cardiac arrests (OHCA). Initial cardiac rhythm may also be predictive of a short preceding no-flow duration. We examined the relationship between no-flow duration and initial cardiac rhythm, which may demonstrate the urgency in rescuer response and assist with candidacy evaluation for extracorporeal-cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR). ⋯ The odds of a shockable initial rhythm declined with each additional minute of no-flow time, highlighting the importance of early access to defibrillation. Among those with initial shockable rhythms, the preceding no-flow duration was highly likely to be under 10 min, which may inform decisions about ECPR candidacy among select patients with unwitnessed arrests.
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Observational Study
Prognostic value of serum phosphate level in adult patients resuscitated from cardiac arrest.
Several studies have reported increased levels of phosphate after cardiac arrest. Given the relationship between phosphate level and the severity of ischaemic injury reported in previous studies, higher phosphate levels may be associated with worse outcomes. We investigated the prognostic value of phosphate level after the restoration of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) in adult cardiac arrest patients. ⋯ A higher phosphate level after ROSC was independently associated with poor outcome at hospital discharge in adult cardiac arrest patients. However, given its modest prognostic performance, phosphate level should be used in combination with other prognostic indicators.