Essential features of designating out-of-hospital cardiac arrest as a reportable event: a scientific statement from the American Heart Association Emergency Cardiovascular Care Committee; Council on Cardiopulmonary, Perioperative, and Critical Care; Council on Cardiovascular Nursing; Council on Clinical Cardiology; and Quality of Care and Outcomes Research Interdisciplinary Working Group

Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest in Apparently Healthy, Young Adults

Importance

Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest incidence in apparently healthy adults younger than 40 years ranges from 4 to 14 per 100 000 person-years worldwide. Of an estimated 350 000 to 450 000 total annual out-of-hospital cardiac arrests in the US, approximately 10% survive.

Observations

Among young adults who have had cardiac arrest outside of a hospital, approximately 60% die before reaching a hospital (presumed sudden cardiac death), approximately 40% survive to hospitalization (resuscitated sudden cardiac arrest), and 9% to 16% survive to hospital discharge (sudden cardiac arrest survivor), of whom approximately 90% have a good neurological status (Cerebral Performance Category 1 or 2). Autopsy-based studies demonstrate that 55% to 69% of young adults with presumed sudden cardiac death have underlying cardiac causes, including sudden arrhythmic death syndrome (normal heart by autopsy, most common in athletes) and structural heart disease such as coronary artery disease. Among young adults, noncardiac causes of cardiac arrest outside of a hospital may include drug overdose, pulmonary embolism, subarachnoid hemorrhage, seizure, anaphylaxis, and infection. More than half of young adults with presumed sudden cardiac death had identifiable cardiovascular risk factors such as hypertension and diabetes. Genetic cardiac disease such as long QT syndrome or dilated cardiomyopathy may be found in 2% to 22% of young adult survivors of cardiac arrest outside of the hospital, which is a lower yield than for nonsurvivors (13%-34%) with autopsy-confirmed sudden cardiac death. Persons resuscitated from sudden cardiac arrest should undergo evaluation with a basic metabolic profile and serum troponin; urine toxicology test; electrocardiogram; chest x-ray; head-to-pelvis computed tomography; and bedside ultrasound to assess for pericardial tamponade, aortic dissection, or hemorrhage. Underlying reversible causes, such as ST elevation myocardial infarction, coronary anomaly, and illicit drug or medication overdose (including QT-prolonging medicines) should be treated. If an initial evaluation does not reveal the cause of an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, transthoracic echocardiography should be performed to screen for structural heart disease (eg, unsuspected cardiomyopathy) or valvular disease (eg, mitral valve prolapse) that can precipitate sudden cardiac death. Defibrillator implant is indicated for young adult sudden cardiac arrest survivors with nonreversible cardiac causes including structural heart disease and arrhythmia syndromes.

Conclusions and Relevance

Cardiac arrest in apparently healthy adults younger than 40 years may be due to inherited or acquired cardiac disease or noncardiac causes. Among young adults who have had cardiac arrest outside of a hospital, only 9% to 16% survive to hospital discharge. Sudden cardiac arrest survivors require comprehensive evaluation for underlying causes of cardiac arrest and cardiac defibrillator should be implanted in those with nonreversible cardiac causes of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.

Observational study of sudden cardiac arrest risk (OSCAR): Rationale and design of an electronic health records cohort

Background

Out-of-hospital sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) is a major cause of mortality and improved risk prediction is needed. The Observational Study of Sudden Cardiac Arrest Risk (OSCAR) is an electronic health records (EHR)-based cohort study of patients receiving routine medical care in the Cedars-Sinai Health System (CSHS) in Los Angeles County, CA designed to evaluate predictors of SCA. This paper describes the rationale, objectives, and study design for the OSCAR cohort.

Methods and Results

The OSCAR cohort includes 379,833 Los Angeles County residents with at least one patient encounter at CSHS in each of two consecutive calendar years from 2016 to 2020. We obtained baseline cohort characteristics from the EHR from 2012 until the start of follow-up, including demographics, vital signs, clinical diagnoses, cardiac tests and imaging, procedures, laboratory results, and medications. Follow-up will continue until Dec. 31, 2025, with an expected median follow-up time of ∼ 7 years. The primary outcome is out-of-hospital SCA of likely cardiac etiology attended by Los Angeles County Emergency Medical Services (LAC-EMS). The secondary outcome is total mortality identified using California Department of Public Health - Vital Records death certificates. We will use conventional approaches (diagnosis code algorithms) and artificial intelligence (natural language processing, deep learning) to define patient phenotypes and biostatistical and machine learning approaches for analysis.

Conclusions

The OSCAR cohort will provide a large, diverse dataset and adjudicated SCA outcomes to facilitate the derivation and testing of risk prediction models for incident SCA.

Short-term exposures to temperature and risk of sudden cardiac death in women: A case-crossover analysis in the Nurses' Health Study

Background

Sudden cardiac death (SCD) is a major source of mortality and is the first manifestation of heart disease for most cases. Thus, there is a definite need to identify risk factors for SCD that can be modified on the population level. Short-term exposures to temperature have been implicated as a potential risk factor. Our objective was to determine if short-term temperature exposures were associated with increased risk of SCD in a US-based time-stratified case-crossover study.

Methods

A total of 465 cases of SCD were identified among participants of the prospective Nurses' Health Study (NHS). Control days were selected from all other matching days of the week within the same month as the case day. Average ambient temperature on the current day (Lag0) and preceding 27 days (Lags1-27) was determined at the residence level using 800-m resolution estimates. Conditional logistic distributed lag nonlinear models (DLNMs) were used to assess the relative risk (RR) of the full range of temperature exposures over the lag period.

Results

Warmer exposures in the days before event and colder temperatures 21-28 days prior were associated with increased risks of SCD. These results were driven by associations in regions other than the Northeast and among married women.

Conclusions

Both warm and cold ambient temperatures are suggestively associated with risks of SCD among middle-aged and older women living across the United States.

Establishing the Korean Out-of-Hospital cardiac arrest registry (KOHCAR)

Background

The Korean out-of-hospital cardiac arrest registry (KOHCAR) serves as the basis for a chain of survival monitoring and quality improvement programs for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). This study describes the development history and current status of KOHCAR.

Methods/design

The KOHCAR, initiated in 2008, is a population-based OHCA registry that captures all emergency medical service (EMS)-assessed OHCA cases, regardless of etiology. The KOHCAR represents complete nationwide data and aligns with South Korea's comprehensive plan for cardiovascular disease, which has a legal basis. The KOHCAR is a collaboration between the National Fire Agency (NFA) and the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA). The NFA identifies OHCA patients and provides prehospital information after integrating various EMS records, whereas the KDCA collects hospital information and clinical outcomes through a medical record review. Comprehensive Utstein variables, including patient and arrest characteristics, prehospital and hospital management, and survival outcomes, were collected.

Discussion

The KOHCAR has significantly contributed to improving OHCA survival rates in South Korea; however, the COVID-19 pandemic has posed challenge. To address the post-pandemic survival rate decline, there is a need to enhance data utilization, expand data sources, and tailor communication with diverse stakeholders.

Racial Disparities in Ion Channelopathies and Inherited Cardiovascular Diseases Associated With Sudden Cardiac Death

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) continues to be the most common cause of death worldwide, and cardiac arrhythmias account for approximately one half of these deaths. The morbidity and mortality from CVD have been reduced significantly over the past few decades; however, disparities in racial or ethnic populations still exist. This review is based on available literature to date and focuses on known cardiac channelopathies and other inherited disorders associated with sudden cardiac death in African American/Black subjects and the role of epigenetics in phenotypic manifestations of CVD, and illustrates existing disparities in treatment and outcomes. The review also highlights the knowledge gaps that limit understanding of the manifestation of phenotypic abnormalities across racial or ethnic groups and discusses disparities associated with device underuse in the management of patients at risk for sudden cardiac death. We discuss factors related to reports in the United States, that the overall mortality attributed to CVD and the number of out-of-hospital cardiac arrests are higher among African American/Black subjects when compared with other racial or ethnic groups. African American/Black subjects are disproportionally affected by CVD, including cardiac arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death, thus highlighting a major concern in this population that remains underrepresented in clinical trials with limited genetic testing and device underuse. The proposed solutions include (1) early identification of genetic variants, which is crucial in tailoring a preventive management strategy; (2) inclusion of diverse racial or ethnic groups in clinical trials; (3) compliance with guideline-directed medical treatment and referral to cardiovascular subspecialists; and (4) training and mentoring of underrepresented junior faculty in cardiovascular health disparities research.

A national population-based study of patients, bystanders and contextual factors associated with resuscitation in witnessed cardiac arrest: insight from the french RéAC registry

Background

In out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA), bystander initiated cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) increases the chance of return of spontaneous circulation and survival with a favourable neurological status. Socioeconomic disparities have been highlighted in OHCA field. In areas with the lowest average socioeconomic status, OHCA incidence increased, and bystander CPR decreased. Evaluations were performed on restricted geographical area, and European evaluation is lacking. We aimed to analyse, at a national level, the impact of area-level social deprivation on the initiation of CPR in case of a witnessed OHCA.

Methods

We included all witnessed OHCA cases with age over 18 years from July 2011 to July 2018 form the OHCA French national registry. We excluded OHCA occurred in front of rescue teams or in nursing home, and patients with incomplete address or partial geocoding. We collected data from context, bystander and patient. The area-level social deprivation was estimated by the French version of the European Deprivation Index (in quintile) associated with the place where OHCA occurred. We assessed the associations between Utstein variables and social deprivation level using a mixed-effect logit model with bystander-initiated CPR.

Results

We included 23,979 witnessed OHCA of which 12,299 (51%) had a bystander-initiated CPR. More than one third of the OHCA (8,326 (35%)) occurred in an area from the highest quintile of social deprivation. The higher the area-level deprivation, the less the proportion of bystander-initiated CPR (56% in Quintile 1 versus 48% in Quintile 5). The In the multivariable analysis, bystander less often began CPR in areas with the highest deprivation level, compared to those with the lowest deprivation level (OR=0.69, IC95%: 0.63-0.75).

Conclusions

The level of social deprivation of the area where OHCA occurred was associated with bystander-initiated CPR. It decreased in the more deprived areas although these areas also concentrate more younger patients.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12889-021-12269-4.

Factors Predisposing to Survival After Resuscitation for Sudden Cardiac Arrest

BACKGROUND

In the POST SCD study, the authors autopsied all World Health Organization (WHO)-defined sudden cardiac deaths (SCDs) and found that only 56% had an arrhythmic cause; resuscitated sudden cardiac arrests (SCAs) were excluded because they did not die suddenly. They hypothesized that causes underlying resuscitated SCAs would be similarly heterogeneous.

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to determine the causes and outcomes of resuscitated SCAs.

METHODS

The authors identified all out-of-hospital cardiac arrests (OHCAs) from February 1, 2011, to January 1, 2015, of patients aged 18 to 90 years in San Francisco County. Resuscitated SCAs were OHCAs surviving to hospitalization and meeting WHO criteria for suddenness. Underlying cause was determined by comprehensive record review.

RESULTS

The authors identified 734 OHCAs over 48 months; 239 met SCA criteria, 133 (55.6%) were resuscitated to hospitalization, and 47 (19.7%) survived to discharge. Arrhythmic causes accounted for significantly more resuscitated SCAs overall (92 of 133, 69.1%), particularly among survivors (43 of 47, 91.5%), than WHO-defined SCDs in POST SCD (293 of 525, 55.8%; p < 0.004 for both). Among resuscitated SCAs, arrhythmic cause, ventricular tachycardia/fibrillation initial rhythm, and white race were independent predictors of survival. None of the resuscitated SCAs due to neurologic causes survived.

CONCLUSIONS

In this 4-year countywide study of OHCAs, only one-third were sudden, of which one-half were resuscitated to hospitalization and 1 in 5 survived to discharge. Arrhythmic cause predicted survival and nearly one-half of nonsurvivors had nonarrhythmic causes, suggesting that SCA survivors are not equivalent to SCDs. Early identification of nonarrhythmic SCAs, such as neurologic emergencies, may be a target to improve OHCA survival.

Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging for Nonischemic Cardiac Disease in Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest Survivors Treated with Targeted Temperature Management: A Multicenter Retrospective Analysis

(1) Background: Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging is an emerging tool for investigating nonischemic cardiomyopathies and cardiac systemic disease. However, data on the cardiac arrest population are limited. This study aimed to evaluate the usefulness of CMR imaging in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) survivors treated with targeted temperature management (TTM). (2) Methods: We conducted the retrospective observational study using a multicenter registry of adult non-traumatic comatose OHCA survivors who underwent TTM between January 2010 and December 2019. Of the 949 patients, 389 with OHCA of non-cardiac cause, 145 with significant lesions in the coronary artery, 151 who died during TTM, 81 without further evaluation due to anticipated poor neurological outcome, and 51 whose etiology is underlying disease were excluded. In 36 of the 132 remaining patients, the etiologies included variant angina, long QT syndrome, and complete atrioventricular block in ancillary studies. Fifty-six patients were diagnosed idiopathic ventricular fibrillation without CMR. (3) Results: CMR imaging was performed in the remaining 40 patients with cardiac arrest of unknown cause. The median time from cardiac arrest to CMR imaging was 10.1 days. The CMR finding was normal in 23 patients, non-diagnostic in 12, and abnormal in 5, which suggested non-ischemic cardiomyopathy but did not support the final diagnosis. (4) Conclusions: CMR imaging may not be useful for identifying unknown causes of cardiac arrest in OHCA survivors treated with targeted temperature management without definitive diagnosis even after coronary angiography, echocardiography, and electrophysiology studies. However, further large-scale studies will be needed to confirm these findings.

Enhanced external counterpulsation improves cardiac function in Beagles after cardiopulmonary resuscitation

The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of enhanced external counterpulsation (EECP) on the cardiac function of beagle dogs after prolonged ventricular fibrillation. Twenty-four adult male beagles were randomly divided into control and EECP groups. Ventricular fibrillation was induced in the animals for 12 min, followed by 2 min of cardiopulmonary resuscitation. They then received EECP therapy for 4 h (EECP group) or not (control group). The hemodynamics was monitored using the PiCCO2 system. Blood gas and hemorheology were assessed at baseline and at 1, 2, and 4 h after return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC). The myocardial blood flow (MBF) was quantified by ¹⁸F-flurpiridaz PET myocardial perfusion imaging at baseline and 4 h after ROSC. Survival time of the animals was recorded within 24 h. Ventricular fibrillation was successfully induced in all animals, and they achieved ROSC after cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Survival time of the control group was shorter than that of the EECP group [median of 8 h (min 8 h, max 21 h) vs median of 24 h (min 16 h, max 24 h) (Kaplan Meyer plot analysis, P=0.0152). EECP improved blood gas analysis findings and increased the coronary perfusion pressure and MBF value. EECP also improved the cardiac function of Beagles after ROSC in multiple aspects, significantly increased blood flow velocity, and decreased plasma viscosity, erythrocyte aggregation index, and hematocrit levels. EECP improved the hemodynamics of beagle dogs and increased MBF, subsequently improving cardiac function and ultimately improving the survival time of animals after ROSC.

Out of hospital cardiac arrest: when to resuscitate

Introduction

This study explores why resuscitation is withheld when mobile emergency medical team arrive at the scene of a cardiac arrest.

Methods

We conducted a prospective, observational study in pre hospital emergency services. We included adults' patients, with a suspicion of non-traumatic cardiac arrest (CA) in an out of hospital environment, who received or not cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) by our mobile emergency medical service teams. An analytic study was conducted in order to identify independent factors that could influence the decision to resuscitate OHCA.

Results

During study, 228 patients were enrolled, the mean age was 64 +/- 14 years and 59% were men. Eighteen patients (8%) received bystander CPR by witnesses. The median time elapsed to arrive at the scene was 13 [8-25] min. The median “noflow” was 22 [10-34] min. The resuscitation decision was taken by the mobile EMS staff for 106 patients (46.5%). For other patients, the decision not to resuscitate was motivated solely by the finding of a confirmed state of death in an elderly patient (p = 0.045). The predictive decision factor for resuscitation was the no flow time less than 18.5 min, Odds Ratio adjusted with 95% confidence interval to: 1.38 (1.24 - 3.55) (p <0.001). Overall out of hospital survival rate was 17% of resuscitated patients.

Conclusion

The decision to resuscitate a cardiac arrest outside of the hospital depends more on the “no flow” time than on the presumed etiologies.

Prospective Countywide Surveillance and Autopsy Characterization of Sudden Cardiac Death: POST SCD Study

BACKGROUND

Studies of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest and sudden cardiac death (SCD) use emergency medical services records, death certificates, or definitions that infer cause of death; thus, the true incidence of SCD is unknown. Over 90% of SCDs occur out-of-hospital; nonforensic autopsies are rarely performed, and therefore causes of death are presumed. We conducted a medical examiner-based investigation to determine the precise incidence and autopsy-defined causes of all SCDs in an entire metropolitan area. We hypothesized that postmortem investigation would identify actual sudden arrhythmic deaths among presumed SCDs.

METHODS

Between February 1, 2011, and March 1, 2014, we prospectively identified all incident deaths attributed to out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (emergency medical services primary impression, cardiac arrest) between 18 to 90 years of age in San Francisco County for autopsy, toxicology, and histology via medical examiner surveillance of consecutive out-of-hospital deaths, all reported by law. We obtained comprehensive records to determine whether out-of-hospital cardiac arrest deaths met World Health Organization (WHO) criteria for SCD. We reviewed death certificates filed quarterly for missed SCDs. Autopsy-defined sudden arrhythmic deaths had no extracardiac cause of death or acute heart failure. A multidisciplinary committee adjudicated final cause.

RESULTS

All 20 440 deaths were reviewed; 12 671 were unattended and reported to the medical examiner. From these, we identified 912 out-of-hospital cardiac arrest deaths; 541 (59%) met WHO SCD criteria (mean 62.8 years, 69% male) and 525 (97%) were autopsied. Eighty-nine additional WHO-defined SCDs occurred within 3 weeks of active medical care with the death certificate signed by the attending physician, ineligible for autopsy but included in the countywide WHO-defined SCD incidence of 29.6/100 000 person-years, highest in black men (P<0.0001). Of 525 WHO-defined SCDs, 301 (57%) had no cardiac history. Leading causes of death were coronary disease (32%), occult overdose (13.5%), cardiomyopathy (10%), cardiac hypertrophy (8%), and neurological (5.5%). Autopsy-defined sudden arrhythmic deaths were 55.8% (293/525) of overall, 65% (78/120) of witnessed, and 53% (215/405) of unwitnessed WHO-defined SCDs (P=0.024); 286 of 293 (98%) had structural cardiac disease.

CONCLUSIONS

Forty percent of deaths attributed to stated cardiac arrest were not sudden or unexpected, and nearly half of presumed SCDs were not arrhythmic. These findings have implications for the accuracy of SCDs as defined by WHO criteria or emergency medical services records in aggregate mortality data, clinical trials, and cohort studies.

Myocardial dysfunction after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest: predictors and prognostic implications

We aim to determine the incidence of early myocardial dysfunction after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, risk factors associated with its development, and association with outcome. A retrospective chart review was performed among consecutive out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) patients who underwent echocardiography within 24 h of return of spontaneous circulation at three urban teaching hospitals. Our primary outcome is early myocardial dysfunction, defined as a left ventricular ejection fraction < 40% on initial echocardiogram. We also determine risk factors associated with myocardial dysfunction using multivariate analysis, and examine its association with survival and neurologic outcome. A total of 190 patients achieved ROSC and underwent echocardiography within 24 h. Of these, 83 (44%) patients had myocardial dysfunction. A total of 37 (45%) patients with myocardial dysfunction survived to discharge, 39% with intact neurologic status. History of congestive heart failure (OR 6.21; 95% CI 2.54-15.19), male gender (OR 2.27; 95% CI 1.08-4.78), witnessed arrest (OR 4.20; 95% CI 1.78-9.93), more than three doses of epinephrine (OR 6.10; 95% CI 1.12-33.14), more than four defibrillations (OR 4.7; 95% CI 1.35-16.43), longer duration of resuscitation (OR 1.06; 95% CI 1.01-1.10), and therapeutic hypothermia (OR 3.93; 95% CI 1.32-11.75) were associated with myocardial dysfunction. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation immediately initiated by healthcare personnel was associated with lower odds of myocardial dysfunction (OR 0.40; 95% CI 0.17-0.97). There was no association between early myocardial dysfunction and mortality or neurological outcome. Nearly half of OHCA patients have myocardial dysfunction. A number of clinical factors are associated with myocardial dysfunction, and may aid providers in anticipating which patients need early diagnostic evaluation and specific treatments. Early myocardial dysfunction is not associated with neurologically intact survival.

Resuscitation registers: How many active registers are there and how many collect data on paediatric cardiac arrests?

BACKGROUND

Cardiac arrest, particularly in children, often has a poor outcome and international guidelines highlight significant gaps in the evidence base for effective resuscitation. Whilst randomised controlled trials for some interventions can be justified, they are not appropriate for many aspects of resuscitation. Therefore, guidelines must use other sources of data such as epidemiological evidence from cardiac arrest registries, to improve the efficacy of resuscitation. The aim of our study was to identify existing national cardiac arrest registries and document key information about the registries, including whether they contain data on paediatric arrests.

METHODS

Key bibliographic databases were searched for papers about or using data from cardiac arrest registries. Two reviewers independently screened the search results for relevant papers. A list of registers named in the papers was compiled and information obtained from the papers and the websites of registers where possible.

RESULTS

Twenty three active national or large regional cardiac arrest registries were identified. These included five international collaborations and 10 registries that cover a population of at least 10 million people. Twelve registries are based in Europe, five in North America, four in Asia and two in Australasia. The registries vary in their organisation, but the majority (20) defer to the Utstein reporting guidelines for cardiac arrest. Registries covered populations between 0.4 and 174.5 million and contained between 100 and 605,505 records. Sixteen collected data on out-of-hospital arrests only; three in-hospital arrests only; and four included both. For ten registers the number of paediatric arrests was available and ranged from 56 to 3900.

CONCLUSIONS

To our knowledge this report contains the most complete list of active national and large regional cardiac arrest registries. Register data support current guidelines on effective resuscitation however, even the largest registries include relatively small numbers, particularly of paediatric events. A less fragmented approach has the potential to improve the utility of registration data for the benefit of patients.

Cardiac Channelopathies and Sudden Death: Recent Clinical and Genetic Advances

Sudden cardiac death poses a unique challenge to clinicians because it may be the only symptom of an inherited heart condition. Indeed, inherited heart diseases can cause sudden cardiac death in older and younger individuals. Two groups of familial diseases are responsible for sudden cardiac death: cardiomyopathies (mainly hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, dilated cardiomyopathy, and arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy) and channelopathies (mainly long QT syndrome, Brugada syndrome, short QT syndrome, and catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia). This review focuses on cardiac channelopathies, which are characterized by lethal arrhythmias in the structurally normal heart, incomplete penetrance, and variable expressivity. Arrhythmias in these diseases result from pathogenic variants in genes encoding cardiac ion channels or associated proteins. Due to a lack of gross structural changes in the heart, channelopathies are often considered as potential causes of death in otherwise unexplained forensic autopsies. The asymptomatic nature of channelopathies is cause for concern in family members who may be carrying genetic risk factors, making the identification of these genetic factors of significant clinical importance.

Implementation of a high-performance cardiopulmonary resuscitation protocol at a collegiate emergency medical services program

Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) is a significant public health issue. Although OHCA occurs relatively infrequently in the collegiate environment, educational institutions with on-campus emergency medical services (EMS) agencies are uniquely positioned to provide high-quality resuscitation care in an expedient fashion. Georgetown University's on-campus EMS program recently updated its medical protocols to reflect the latest literature in resuscitation science. In a high-performance CPR (HPCPR) resuscitation, minimally interrupted chest compressions are emphasized, along with a coordinated team-based approach.

EuReCa and international resuscitation registries

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

This review outlines knowledge on the epidemiology of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) internationally and the contribution that resuscitation registries make to OHCA research. The review focuses on recent advances in the European Cardiac Arrest Registry project, EuReCa.

RECENT FINDINGS

Although literature describing the epidemiology of OHCA has proliferated in recent years, a 2010 systematic review by Berdowski et al. remains a most important publication, allowing international comparison of OHCA incidence and outcome. Recent literature supports the view that resuscitation registers are excellent sources of data on OHCA. Notable publications describe geographic variation in incidence, improvements in survival and the utility of registers in the development of survival prediction models.

SUMMARY

Data from resuscitation registries are an invaluable source of information on the incidence, management and outcome of OHCA. Registries can be used to generate hypotheses for clinical research and registry data may even be used to facilitate clinical trials. To develop international research collaboration, registries must be based on the same dataset and definitions, and include descriptions of data collection methodologies and emergency medical service (EMS) configurations. If such standardization can be achieved, the possibility of an international resuscitation registry might be realized, leading to important OHCA research opportunities worldwide.

Breakthrough in cardiac arrest: reports from the 4th Paris International Conference

Jean-Luc Diehl The French Intensive Care Society organized on 5th and 6th June 2014 its 4th "Paris International Conference in Intensive Care", whose principle is to bring together the best international experts on a hot topic in critical care medicine. The 2014 theme was "Breakthrough in cardiac arrest", with many high-quality updates on epidemiology, public health data, pre-hospital and in-ICU cares. The present review includes short summaries of the major presentations, classified into six main chapters: Epidemiology of CA Pre-hospital management Post-resuscitation management: targeted temperature management Post-resuscitation management: optimizing organ perfusion and metabolic parameters Neurological assessment of brain damages Public healthcare.

Using a cardiac arrest registry to measure the quality of emergency medical service care: decade of findings from the Victorian Ambulance Cardiac Arrest Registry

BACKGROUND

Although the value of clinical registries has been well recognized in developed countries, their use for measuring the quality of emergency medical service care remains relatively unknown. We report the methodology and findings of a statewide emergency medical service surveillance initiative, which is used to measure the quality of systems of care for patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Between July 1, 2002, and June 30, 2012, data for adult out-of-hospital cardiac arrest cases of presumed cardiac cause occurring in the Australian Southeastern state of Victoria were extracted from the Victorian Ambulance Cardiac Arrest Registry. Regional and temporal trends in bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation, event survival, and survival to hospital discharge were analyzed using logistic regression and multilevel modeling. A total of 32,097 out-of-hospital cardiac arrest cases were identified, of whom 14,083 (43.9%) received treatment by the emergency medical service. The risk-adjusted odds of receiving bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (odds ratio [OR], 2.96; 95% confidence interval, 2.62-3.33), event survival (OR, 1.55; 95% confidence interval, 1.30-1.85), and survival to hospital discharge (OR, 2.81; 95% confidence interval, 2.07-3.82) were significantly improved by 2011 to 2012 compared with baseline. Significant variation in rates of bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation and survival were observed across regions, with arrests in rural regions less likely to survive to hospital discharge. The median OR for interhospital variability in survival to hospital discharge outcome was 70% (median OR, 1.70).

CONCLUSIONS

Between 2002 and 2012, there have been significant improvements in bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation and survival outcome for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients in Victoria, Australia. However, regional survival disparities and interhospital variability in outcomes pose significant challenges for future improvements in care.

American Heart Association Response to the 2015 Institute of Medicine Report on Strategies to Improve Cardiac Arrest Survival

The American Heart Association (AHA) commends the recently released Institute of Medicine (IOM) report, Strategies to Improve Cardiac Arrest Survival: A Time to Act (2015). The AHA recognizes the unique opportunity created by the report to meaningfully advance the objectives of improving outcomes for sudden cardiac arrest. For decades, the AHA has focused on the goal of reducing morbidity and mortality from cardiovascular disease though robust support of basic, translational, clinical, and population research. The AHA also has developed a rigorous process using the best available evidence to develop scientific, advisory, and guideline documents. These core activities of development and dissemination of scientific evidence have served as the foundation for a broad range of advocacy initiatives and programs that serve as a foundation for advancing the AHA and IOM goal of improving cardiac arrest outcomes. In response to the call to action in the IOM report, the AHA is announcing 4 new commitments to increase cardiac arrest survival: (1) The AHA will provide up to $5 million in funding over 5 years to incentivize resuscitation data interoperability; (2) the AHA will actively pursue philanthropic support for local and regional implementation opportunities to increase cardiac arrest survival by improving out-of-hospital and in-hospital systems of care; (3) the AHA will actively pursue philanthropic support to launch an AHA resuscitation research network; and (4) the AHA will cosponsor a National Cardiac Arrest Summit to facilitate the creation of a national cardiac arrest collaborative that will unify the field and identify common goals to improve survival. In addition to the AHA’s historic and ongoing commitment to improving cardiac arrest care and outcomes, these new initiatives are responsive to each of the IOM recommendations and demonstrate the AHA’s leadership in the field. However, successful implementation of the IOM recommendations will require a timely response by all stakeholders identified in the report and a coordinated approach to achieve our common goal of improved cardiac arrest outcomes.

Daily FOUR score assessment provides accurate prognosis of long-term outcome in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest

BACKGROUND

The accurate prediction of outcome after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) is of major importance. The recently described Full Outline of UnResponsiveness (FOUR) is well adapted to mechanically ventilated patients and does not depend on verbal response.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the ability of FOUR assessed by intensivists to accurately predict outcome in OHCA.

METHODS

We prospectively identified patients admitted for OHCA with a Glasgow Coma Scale below 8. Neurological assessment was performed daily. Outcome was evaluated at 6 months using Glasgow-Pittsburgh Cerebral Performance Categories (GP-CPC).

RESULTS

Eighty-five patients were included. At 6 months, 19 patients (22%) had a favorable outcome, GP-CPC 1-2, and 66 (78%) had an unfavorable outcome, GP-CPC 3-5. Compared to both brainstem responses at day 3 and evolution of Glasgow Coma Scale, evolution of FOUR score over the three first days was able to predict unfavorable outcome more precisely. Thus, absence of improvement or worsening from day 1 to day 3 of FOUR had 0.88 (0.79-0.97) specificity, 0.71 (0.66-0.76) sensitivity, 0.94 (0.84-1.00) PPV and 0.54 (0.49-0.59) NPV to predict unfavorable outcome. Similarly, the brainstem response of FOUR score at 0 evaluated at day 3 had 0.94 (0.89-0.99) specificity, 0.60 (0.50-0.70) sensitivity, 0.96 (0.92-1.00) PPV and 0.47 (0.37-0.57) NPV to predict unfavorable outcome.

CONCLUSION

The absence of improvement or worsening from day 1 to day 3 of FOUR evaluated by intensivists provides an accurate prognosis of poor neurological outcome in OHCA.

Optimizing neurologically intact survival from sudden cardiac arrest: a call to action

The U.S. national out-of-hospital and in-hospital cardiac arrest survival rates, although improving recently, have remained suboptimal despite the collective efforts of individuals, communities, and professional societies. Only until very recently, and still with inconsistency, has focus been placed specifically on survival with pre-arrest neurologic function. The reality of current approaches to sudden cardiac arrest is that they are often lacking an integrative, multi-disciplinary approach, and without deserved funding and outcome analysis. In this manuscript, a multidisciplinary group of authors propose practice, process, technology, and policy initiatives to improve cardiac arrest survival with a focus on neurologic function.

Quality of life and functional outcomes 12 months after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest

BACKGROUND

Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) is a significant global health problem. There has been considerable investment in improving the emergency medical response to OHCA, with associated improvements in survival. However, concern remains that survivors have a poor quality of life. This study describes the quality of life of OHCA survivors at 1-year postarrest in Victoria, Australia.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Adult OHCA patients who arrested between 2010 and 2012 were identified from the Victorian Ambulance Cardiac Arrest Registry. Paramedics attended 15 113 OHCA patients of which 46.3% received an attempted resuscitation. Nine hundred and twenty-seven (13.2%) survived to hospital discharge of which 76 (8.2%) died within 12 months. Interviews were conducted with 697 (80.7%) patients or proxies, who were followed-up via telephone interview, including the Glasgow Outcome Scale-Extended, the 12-item short form health survey, and the EuroQol. The majority (55.6%) of respondents had a good recovery via the Glasgow Outcome Scale-Extended≥7 (41.1% if patients who died postdischarge were included and nonrespondents were assumed to have poor recovery). The mean EuroQol index score for respondents was 0.82 (standard deviation, 0.19), which compared favorably with an adjusted population norm of 0.81 (standard deviation, 0.34). The mean 12-item short form Mental Component Summary score for patients was 53.0 (standard deviation, 10.2), whereas the mean Physical Component Summary score was 46.1 (standard deviation, 11.2).

CONCLUSIONS

This is the largest published study assessing the quality of life of OHCA survivors. It provides good evidence that many survivors have an acceptable quality of life 12 months postarrest, particularly in comparison with population norms.

Roadway proximity and risk of sudden cardiac death in women

BACKGROUND

Sudden cardiac death (SCD) is a major source of mortality and is the first manifestation of heart disease for the majority of cases. Thus, there is a definite need to identify risk factors for SCD that can be modified at the population level. Exposure to traffic, measured by residential roadway proximity, has been shown to be associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Our objective was to determine whether roadway proximity was associated with an increased risk of SCD and to compare that risk with the risk of other coronary heart disease outcomes.

METHODS AND RESULTS

A total of 523 cases of SCD were identified over 26 years of follow-up among 107 130 members of the prospective Nurses' Health Study. We calculated residential distance to roadways at all residential addresses from 1986 to 2012. In age- and race-adjusted models, women living within 50 m of a major roadway had an elevated risk of SCD (hazard ratio=1.56; 95% confidence interval, 1.18-2.05). The association was attenuated but still statistically significant after controlling for potential confounders and mediators (hazard ratio=1.38; 95% confidence interval, 1.04-1.82). The equivalent adjusted hazard ratios for nonfatal myocardial infarction and fatal coronary heart disease were 1.08 (95% confidence interval, 0.96-1.23) and 1.24 (95% confidence interval, 1.03-1.50), respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Among this sample of middle-aged and older women, roadway proximity was associated with elevated and statistically significant risks of SCD and fatal coronary heart disease, even after controlling for other cardiovascular risk factors.

Fallat ME. Withholding or termination of resuscitation in pediatric out-of-hospital traumatic cardiopulmonary arrest

This multiorganizational literature review was undertaken to provide an evidence base for determining whether or not recommendations for out-of-hospital termination of resuscitation could be made for children who are victims of traumatic cardiopulmonary arrest. Although there is increasing acceptance of out-of-hospital termination of resuscitation for adult traumatic cardiopulmonary arrest when there is no expectation of a good outcome, children are routinely excluded from state termination-of-resuscitation protocols. The decision to withhold resuscitative efforts in a child under specific circumstances (decapitation or dependent lividity, rigor mortis, etc) is reasonable. If there is any doubt as to the circumstances or timing of the traumatic cardiopulmonary arrest, under the current status of limiting termination of resuscitation in the field to persons older than 18 years in most states, resuscitation should be initiated and continued until arrival to the appropriate facility. If the patient has arrested, resuscitation has already exceeded 30 minutes, and the nearest facility is more than 30 minutes away, involvement of parents and family of these children in the decision-making process with assistance and guidance from medical professionals should be considered as part of an emphasis on family-centered care, because the evidence suggests that either death or a poor outcome is inevitable.

Adenosine, lidocaine, and Mg2+ (ALM™) increases survival and corrects coagulopathy after eight-minute asphyxial cardiac arrest in the rat

INTRODUCTION

No drug therapy has demonstrated improved survival following cardiac arrest (CA) of cardiac or noncardiac origin. In an effort to translate the cardiorescue properties of Adenocaine (adenosine and lidocaine) and magnesium sulfate (ALM) from cardiac surgery and hemorrhagic shock to resuscitation, we examined the effect of ALM on hemodynamic rescue and coagulopathy following asphyxial-induced CA in the rat.

METHODS

Nonheparinized animals (400-500 g, n = 39) were randomly assigned to 0.9% saline (n = 12) and 0.9% saline ALM (n = 10) groups. After baseline data were acquired, the animal was surface cooled (33°C-34°C) and the ventilator line clamped for 8 min inducing CA; 0.5 mL of solution was injected intravenously followed by 60-s chest compressions (300/min), and rats were rewarmed. Return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC), mean arterial pressure, heart rate, and rectal temperature were recorded for 2 h. Additional rats were randomized for rotation thromboelastometry measurements (n = 17).

RESULTS

Rats treated with ALM had a significant survival benefit (100% ALM vs. 67% controls achieved ROSC) and generated a higher mean arterial pressure than did controls after 75 min (81 vs. 72 mmHg at 120 min, P < 0.05). In all rats, rotation thromboelastometry lysis index decreased during CA, implying hyperfibrinolysis. Control ROSC survivors displayed hypocoagulopathy (prolonged EXTEM/INTEM clotting time, clot formation time, prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time), decreased maximal clot firmness, lowered elasticity, and lowered clot amplitudes but no change in lysis index. These coagulation abnormalities were corrected by ALM at 120 min after ROSC.

CONCLUSIONS

Small bolus of 0.9% NaCl ALM improved survival and hemodynamics following nonhemorrhagic, asphyxial CA and corrected prolonged clot times and clot retraction compared with controls.

Withholding or termination of resuscitation in pediatric out-of-hospital traumatic cardiopulmonary arrest

This multiorganizational literature review was undertaken to provide an evidence base for determining whether recommendations for out-of-hospital termination of resuscitation could be made for children who are victims of traumatic cardiopulmonary arrest. Although there is increasing acceptance of out-of-hospital termination of resuscitation for adult traumatic cardiopulmonary arrest when there is no expectation of a good outcome, children are routinely excluded from state termination-of-resuscitation protocols. The decision to withhold resuscitative efforts in a child under specific circumstances (decapitation or dependent lividity, rigor mortis, etc) is reasonable. If there is any doubt as to the circumstances or timing of the traumatic cardiopulmonary arrest, under the current status of limiting termination of resuscitation in the field to persons older than 18 years in most states, resuscitation should be initiated and continued until arrival to the appropriate facility. If the patient has arrested, resuscitation has already exceeded 30 minutes, and the nearest facility is more than 30 minutes away, involvement of parents and family of these children in the decision-making process with assistance and guidance from medical professionals should be considered as part of an emphasis on family-centered care because the evidence suggests that either death or a poor outcome is inevitable.

Global health and emergency care: a resuscitation research agenda--part 2

At the 2013 Academic Emergency Medicine global health consensus conference, a breakout session to develop a research agenda for resuscitation was held. Two articles are the result of that discussion. This second article addresses data collection, management, and analysis and regionalization of postresuscitation care, resuscitation programs, and research examples around the world and proposes a strategy to strengthen resuscitation research globally. There is a need for reliable global statistics on resuscitation, international standardization of data, and development of an electronic standard for reporting data. Regionalization of postresuscitation care is a priority area for future research. Large resuscitation clinical research networks are feasible and can give valuable data for improvement of service and outcomes. Low-cost models of population-based research, and emphasis on interventional and implementation studies that assess the clinical effects of programs and interventions, are needed to determine the most cost-effective strategies to improve outcomes. The global challenge is how to adapt research findings to a developing world situation to have an effect internationally.

Adult out-of-hospital cardiac arrest based on chain of survival in Taoyuan County, northern Taiwan

BACKGROUND

Most out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) studies have been conducted in developed countries or metropolitan areas, and few in developing countries or rural areas.

OBJECTIVES

The aims of this study were to determine the weak links in the chain of survival and to estimate the outcomes of OHCA patients in Taoyuan, a nonmetropolitan area in Taiwan.

METHODS

A retrospective review and analysis of OHCA data was conducted. The three outcomes were whether a return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) was achieved, whether the patient survived to admission, or whether the patient survived to hospital discharge.

RESULTS

From April to December 2008, 1048 OHCA patients were resuscitated, and 712 (67.9%) adult cardiac patients were used in this study. Among these 712 patients, 17.8% achieved ROSC (95% confidence interval [CI] 15.2-20.8%), 16.3% survived to admission (95% CI 13.6-19.0%), and 1.4% survived to discharge (95% CI 0.5-2.3%). Factors significantly associated with the three outcomes were witness status, response time to emergency medical services, and whether the patient had a shockable rhythm. Bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) did not add a notable benefit to the outcomes of OHCA.

CONCLUSIONS

The survival rate of OHCA patients in nonmetropolitan Taiwan was very low (1.4%). Lower witnessed rate, lower bystander CPR rate, and longer response interval in remote areas are the main causes of inferior survival rate.

A Poor Association Between Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest Location and Public Automated External Defibrillator Placement

Introduction

Much attention has been given to the strategic placement of automated external defibrillators (AEDs). The purpose of this study was to examine the correlation of strategically placed AEDs and the actual location of cardiac arrests.

Methods

A retrospective review of data maintained by the Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems (MIEMSS), specifically, the Maryland Cardiac Arrest Database and the Maryland AED Registry, was conducted. Location types for AEDs were compared with the locations of out-of-hospital cardiac arrests in Howard County, Maryland. The respective locations were compared using scatter diagrams and r2 statistics.

Results

The r2 statistics for AED location compared with witnessed cardiac arrest and total cardiac arrests were 0.054 and 0.051 respectively, indicating a weak relationship between the two variables in each case. No AEDs were registered in the three most frequently occurring locations for cardiac arrests (private homes, skilled nursing facilities, assisted living facilities) and no cardiac arrests occurred at the locations where AEDs were most commonly placed (community pools, nongovernment public buildings, schools/educational facilities).

Conclusion

A poor association exists between the location of cardiac arrests and the location of AEDs.

LevyMJ, SeamanKG, MillinMG, BissellRA, JenkinsJL. A poor association between out-of-hospital cardiac arrest location and public automated external defibrillator placement. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2013;28(4):1-6.

Call for a sudden cardiac death registry: should reporting of sudden cardiac death be mandatory?

There is currently no central mandatory pediatric sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) registry in the United States. Perhaps the time is right to actively endorse and develop a pediatric SCD registry, in collaboration with other agencies, advocacy groups, and organizations. This registry, if well constructed, thorough, and validated, would serve not only important SCD epidemiologic purposes but also provide the seed bed for closer collaboration with medical examiners and coroners and enhance critical cascade testing for identification of genotypically and/or phenotypically affected family members.

Firearms, youth homicide, and public health

Homicide is seven times as common among U.S. non-Hispanic Black as among non-Hispanic White youth ages 15 to 24 years. In 83% of these youth homicides, the murder weapon is a firearm. Yet, for more than a decade, the national public health position on youth violence has been largely silent about the role of firearms, and tools used by public health professionals to reduce harm from other potential hazards have been unusable where guns are concerned. This deprives already underserved populations from the full benefits public health agencies might be able to deliver. In part, political prohibitions against research about direct measures of firearm control and the absence of valid public health surveillance are responsible. More refined epidemiologic theories as well as traditional public health methods are needed if the U.S. aims to reduce disparate Black-White youth homicide rates.

Primary outcomes for resuscitation science studies: a consensus statement from the American Heart Association

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The guidelines presented in this consensus statement are intended to serve researchers, clinicians, reviewers, and regulators in the selection of the most appropriate primary outcome for a clinical trial of cardiac arrest therapies. The American Heart Association guidelines for the treatment of cardiac arrest depend on high-quality clinical trials, which depend on the selection of a meaningful primary outcome. Because this selection process has been the subject of much controversy, a consensus conference was convened with national and international experts, the National Institutes of Health, and the US Food and Drug Administration.

METHODS

The Research Working Group of the American Heart Association Emergency Cardiovascular Care Committee nominated subject leaders, conference attendees, and writing group members on the basis of their expertise in clinical trials and a diverse perspective of cardiovascular and neurological outcomes (see the online-only Data Supplement). Approval was obtained from the Emergency Cardiovascular Care Committee and the American Heart Association Manuscript Oversight Committee. Preconference position papers were circulated for review; the conference was held; and postconference consensus documents were circulated for review and comments were invited from experts, conference attendees, and writing group members. Discussions focused on (1) when after cardiac arrest the measurement time point should occur; (2) what cardiovascular, neurological, and other physiology should be assessed; and (3) the costs associated with various end points. The final document underwent extensive revision and peer review by the Emergency Cardiovascular Care Committee, the American Heart Association Science Advisory and Coordinating Committee, and oversight committees.

RESULTS

There was consensus that no single primary outcome is appropriate for all studies of cardiac arrest. The best outcome measure is the pairing of a time point and physiological condition that will best answer the question under study. Conference participants were asked to assign an outcome to each of 4 hypothetical cases; however, there was not complete agreement on an ideal outcome measure even after extensive discussion and debate. There was general consensus that it is appropriate for earlier studies to enroll fewer patients and to use earlier time points such as return of spontaneous circulation, simple "alive versus dead," hospital mortality, or a hemodynamic parameter. For larger studies, a longer time point after arrest should be considered because neurological assessments fluctuate for at least 90 days after arrest. For large trials designed to have a major impact on public health policy, longer-term end points such as 90 days coupled with neurocognitive and quality-of-life assessments should be considered, as should the additional costs of this approach. For studies that will require regulatory oversight, early discussions with regulatory agencies are strongly advised. For neurological assessment of post-cardiac arrest patients, researchers may wish to use the Cerebral Performance Categories or modified Rankin Scale for global outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS

Although there is no single recommended outcome measure for trials of cardiac arrest care, the simple Cerebral Performance Categories or modified Rankin Scale after 90 days provides a reasonable outcome parameter for many trials. The lack of an easy-to-administer neurological functional outcome measure that is well validated in post-cardiac arrest patients is a major limitation to the field and should be a high priority for future development.

Multicenter cohort study of out-of-hospital pediatric cardiac arrest

OBJECTIVES

To describe a large cohort of children with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest with return of circulation and to identify factors in the early postarrest period associated with survival. These objectives were for planning an interventional trial of therapeutic hypothermia after pediatric cardiac arrest.

METHODS

A retrospective cohort study was conducted at 15 Pediatric Emergency Care Applied Research Network clinical sites over an 18-month study period. All children from 1 day (24 hrs) to 18 yrs of age with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest and a history of at least 1 min of chest compressions with return of circulation for at least 20 mins were eligible.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

One hundred thirty-eight cases met study entry criteria; the overall mortality was 62% (85 of 138 cases). The event characteristics associated with increased survival were as follows: weekend arrests, cardiopulmonary resuscitation not ongoing at hospital arrival, arrest rhythm not asystole, no atropine or NaHCO3, fewer epinephrine doses, shorter duration of cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and drowning or asphyxial arrest event. For the 0- to 12-hr postarrest return-of-circulation period, absence of any vasopressor or inotropic agent (dopamine, epinephrine) use, higher lowest temperature recorded, greater lowest pH, lower lactate, lower maximum glucose, and normal pupillary responses were all associated with survival. A multivariate logistic model of variables available at the time of arrest, which controlled for gender, age, race, and asystole or ventricular fibrillation/ventricular tachycardia anytime during the arrest, found the administration of atropine and epinephrine to be associated with mortality. A second model using additional information available up to 12 hrs after return of circulation found 1) preexisting lung or airway disease; 2) an etiology of arrest drowning or asphyxia; 3) higher pH, and 4) bilateral reactive pupils to be associated with lower mortality. Receiving more than three doses of epinephrine was associated with poor outcome in 96% (44 of 46) of cases.

CONCLUSIONS

Multiple factors were identified as associated with survival after out-of-hospital pediatric cardiac arrest with the return of circulation. Additional information available within a few hours after the return of circulation may diminish outcome associations of factors available at earlier times in regression models. These factors should be considered in the design of future interventional trials aimed to improve outcome after pediatric cardiac arrest.

Report from J-PULSE multicenter registry of patients with shock-resistant out-of-hospital cardiac arrest treated with nifekalant hydrochloride

BACKGROUND

Nifekalant hydrochloride (NIF) is an intravenous class-III antiarrhythmic agent that purely blocks the K(+)-channel without inhibiting β-adrenergic receptors. The present study was designed to investigate the feasibility of NIF as a life-saving therapy for out-of-hospital ventricular fibrillation (VF).

METHODS AND RESULTS

The Japanese Population-based Utstein-style study with basic and advanced Life Support Education study was a multi-center registry study with 4 participating institutes located at the northern urban area of Osaka, Japan. Eligible patients were those treated with NIF because of out-of-hospital VF refractory to 3 or more precordial shocks and intravenous epinephrine. Between February 2006 and February 2007, 17 patients were enrolled for the study. The time from a call for emergency medical service to the first shock was 12(6-26)min. The time from the first shock to the NIF administration was 25.5(9-264)min and the usage dose of NIF was 25(15-210)mg. When excluding 3 patients in whom percutaneous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation was applied before NIF administration, the rate of return of spontaneous circulation was 86% and the rate of admission alive to the hospital was 79%. One patient developed torsade de pointes.

CONCLUSIONS

Intravenous administration of NIF seems to be feasible as a potential therapy for advanced cardiac life-support in patients with out-of-hospital VF, and therefore further study is warranted.

Feasibility of intra-arrest hypothermia induction: A novel nasopharyngeal approach achieves preferential brain cooling

AIM

In patients with cardiopulmonary arrest, brain cooling may improve neurological outcome, especially if applied prior to or during early reperfusion. Thus it is important to develop feasible cooling methods for pre-hospital use. This study examines cerebral and compartmental thermokinetic properties of nasopharyngeal cooling during various blood flow states.

METHODS

Ten swine (40+/-4kg) were anesthetized, intubated and monitored. Temperature was determined in the frontal lobe of the brain, in the aorta, and in the rectum. After the preparatory phase the cooling device (RhinoChill system), which produces evaporative cooling in the nasopharyngeal area, was activated for 60min. The thermokinetic response was evaluated during stable anaesthesia (NF, n=3); during untreated cardiopulmonary arrest (ZF, n=3); during CPR (LF, n=4).

RESULTS

Effective brain cooling was achieved in all groups with a median cerebral temperature decrease of -4.7 degrees C for NF, -4.3 degrees C for ZF and -3.4 degrees C for LF after 60min. The initial brain cooling rate however was fastest in NF, followed by LF, and was slowest in ZF; the median brain temperature decrease from baseline after 15min of cooling was -2.48 degrees C for NF, -0.12 degrees C for ZF, and -0.93 degrees C for LF, respectively. A median aortic temperature change of -2.76 degrees C for NF, -0.97 for LF and +1.1 degrees C for ZF after 60min indicated preferential brain cooling in all groups.

CONCLUSION

While nasopharyngeal cooling in swine is effective at producing preferential cerebral hypothermia in various blood flow states, initial brain cooling is most efficient with normal circulation.

Regional Systems of Care for Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest

Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest continues to be an important public health problem, with large and important regional variations in outcomes. Survival rates vary widely among patients treated with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest by emergency medical services and among patients transported to the hospital after return of spontaneous circulation. Most regions lack a well-coordinated approach to post–cardiac arrest care. Effective hospital-based interventions for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest exist but are used infrequently. Barriers to implementation of these interventions include lack of knowledge, experience, personnel, resources, and infrastructure. A well-defined relationship between an increased volume of patients or procedures and better outcomes among individual providers and hospitals has been observed for several other clinical disorders. Regional systems of care have improved provider experience and patient outcomes for those with ST-elevation myocardial infarction and life-threatening traumatic injury. This statement describes the rationale for regional systems of care for patients resuscitated from cardiac arrest and the preliminary recommended elements of such systems. Many more people could potentially survive out-of-hospital cardiac arrest if regional systems of cardiac resuscitation were established. A national process is necessary to develop and implement evidence-based guidelines for such systems that must include standards for the categorization, verification, and designation of components of such systems. The time to do so is now.

Sudden cardiac death: epidemiology and risk factors

Sudden cardiac death (SCD) is an important public-health problem with multiple etiologies, risk factors, and changing temporal trends. Substantial progress has been made over the past few decades in identifying markers that confer increased SCD risk at the population level. However, the quest for predicting the high-risk individual who could be a candidate for an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator, or other therapy, continues. In this article, we review the incidence, temporal trends, and triggers of SCD, and its demographic, clinical, and genetic risk factors. We also discuss the available evidence supporting the use of public-access defibrillators.

Defining and setting national goals for cardiovascular health promotion and disease reduction: the American Heart Association's strategic Impact Goal through 2020 and beyond

This document details the procedures and recommendations of the Goals and Metrics Committee of the Strategic Planning Task Force of the American Heart Association, which developed the 2020 Impact Goals for the organization. The committee was charged with defining a new concept, cardiovascular health, and determining the metrics needed to monitor it over time. Ideal cardiovascular health, a concept well supported in the literature, is defined by the presence of both ideal health behaviors (nonsmoking, body mass index <25 kg/m(2), physical activity at goal levels, and pursuit of a diet consistent with current guideline recommendations) and ideal health factors (untreated total cholesterol <200 mg/dL, untreated blood pressure <120/<80 mm Hg, and fasting blood glucose <100 mg/dL). Appropriate levels for children are also provided. With the use of levels that span the entire range of the same metrics, cardiovascular health status for the whole population is defined as poor, intermediate, or ideal. These metrics will be monitored to determine the changing prevalence of cardiovascular health status and define achievement of the Impact Goal. In addition, the committee recommends goals for further reductions in cardiovascular disease and stroke mortality. Thus, the committee recommends the following Impact Goals: "By 2020, to improve the cardiovascular health of all Americans by 20% while reducing deaths from cardiovascular diseases and stroke by 20%." These goals will require new strategic directions for the American Heart Association in its research, clinical, public health, and advocacy programs for cardiovascular health promotion and disease prevention in the next decade and beyond.