Abstract 156: Clinical Significance Of Left Ventricular Systolic Dysfunction After Cardiac Arrest

Abstract

Introduction: Post-resuscitative transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) in cardiac arrest survivors has led to increased identification of left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVSD). We sought to evaluate the association between LVSD and in-hospital outcomes. Methods: This is a retrospective review of all cardiac arrest patients with TTE documenting left ventricular systolic function during admission to a single tertiary care center between 2015 and 2020. We used a multivariable logistic regression adjusted for age, sex, race, cardiac arrest location, witnessed arrest, initial rhythm, etiology, and Charlson Comorbidity Index to evaluate the association between LVSD and in-hospital outcomes. LVSD was defined as ejection fraction (EF) < 40% on TTE. Good neurologic outcome was defined as Cerebral Performance Categories 1-2. High vasopressor need was defined as peak norepinephrine-equivalent dose > 1mcg/kg/min within 72 hours of arrest. Use of antiarrhythmic was defined as any dose of amiodarone, esmolol, or lidocaine within 72 hours of arrest. Results: Of 477 cardiac arrest patients, 321 (67.3%) met inclusion and were included in the analysis. Mean age was 60.4 ± 16.9 years with most being male (n= 192, 59.8%) and Caucasian (n=203, 63.2%). The majority had out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (n=212, 66%) and presented with a non-shockable rhythm (n=220, 68.5%). LVSD was more common in patients with shockable rhythm (48.5% (n =49) vs 22.6% (n= 49), p<0.001). There was no difference in survival to hospital discharge, good neurologic outcome, or progression to brain death for patients with LVSD compared to those without (OR [95% CI] 1.04 [0.57-1.86], 0.87 [0.46-1.62], and 1.84 [0.70-4.79], respectively). LVSD was associated with increased use of antiarrhythmics (OR 2.85 [1.55-5.26]) and high vasopressor requirement (OR 1.81 [1.08-3.05]). Conclusion: LVSD was common in cardiac arrest patients, particularly those with shockable rhythm arrest, and was associated with increased vasopressor or antiarrhythmic use. There was no association between LVSD and survival to hospital discharge, functional neurologic outcome, or progression to brain death.