Resuscitation
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Sudden arrhythmic death syndrome (SADS), defined as sudden cardiac death (SCD) with a morphologically normal heart, is an important cause of sudden death. Hypoperfusion due to cardiac arrest followed by successful cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) may induce histologic changes that mimic pathologic conditions. Detailed characterisation of such features and whether they could confound SADS diagnosis are not described. ⋯ We provide a comprehensive characterisation of hypoperfusion-related changes in the heart following successful CPR with survival, which are time related. These features can lead to diagnostic confusion among pathologists but knowledge of history of resuscitation with survival should help with general and expert pathology assessment and improve SADS diagnostic yield, prompting genetic screening of decedents' relatives.
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This study investigated the changes in quality of life (QOL) after in-hospital cardiopulmonary arrest (IHCA) among survivors and examined the association between worsening QOL and 3-year all-cause mortality. ⋯ Approximately one-third of IHCA survivors experienced worsening QOL (decreased household income, unemployment, and acquired disability) at 1-year follow-up after IHCA in South Korea. Although overall worsening of QOL was not associated with 3-year all-cause mortality, acquired disability was associated with increased 3-year all-cause mortality among IHCA survivors.
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This study aimed to examine coronary angiography (CAG) findings, percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) results and outcomes in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients (OHCA) without return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) on admission to hospital. ⋯ OHCA patients without ROSC on admission to hospital had higher acute coronary occlusion rates than patients with prehospital ROSC. PCI is feasible with a high success rate in patients without ROSC. Despite prolonged resuscitation times, meaningful survival in patients admitted without ROSC is achievable.