Resuscitation
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To develop a simple scoring model that identifies individuals satisfying the termination of resuscitation (TOR) rule but having potential to achieve favourable neurological outcome following out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). ⋯ A simple scoring model comprising age, first documented cardiac rhythm, and transport time effectively stratified the likelihood of achieving favourable neurological outcome in patients satisfying the BLS TOR rule.
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Improving rates of organ donation among patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest who do not survive is an opportunity to save countless lives. The objectives of this scientific statement were to do the following: define the opportunity for organ donation among patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest; identify challenges and opportunities associated with organ donation by patients with cardiac arrest; identify strategies, including a generic protocol for organ donation after cardiac arrest, to increase the rate and consistency of organ donation from this population; and provide rationale for including organ donation as a key clinical outcome for all future cardiac arrest clinical trials and registries. ⋯ All health systems should develop, implement, and evaluate protocols designed to optimise organ donation opportunities for patients who have an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest and failed attempts at resuscitation.
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Post-cardiac arrest patients are vulnerable to hypoxic-ischaemic brain injury (HIBI), but HIBI may not be identified until computed tomography (CT) scan of the brain is obtained post-resuscitation and stabilization. We aimed to evaluate the association of clinical arrest characteristics with early CT findings of HIBI to identify those at the highest risk for HIBI. ⋯ Signs of HIBI are commonly seen on CT head within 6 hours of OHCA, occurring in approximately half of patients, and are associated with CPR duration. Determining risk factors for abnormal CT findings can help clinically identify patients at higher risk for HIBI and target interventions appropriately.