Prehospital Return Of Spontaneous Circulation Research Articles

Characteristics, outcomes, and prognostic factors in patients with hanging-induced out-of-hospital cardiac arrest: An analysis of a nationwide registry in Japan

AimTo investigate the characteristics, outcomes, and prognostic factors of patients with hanging-induced out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). MethodsWe analysed data from a population-based Japanese nationwide OHCA registry (2021–2022), comparing patients aged ≥18 years with hanging-induced OHCA to those with other OHCA causes. The primary outcome was 1-month favourable neurological outcomes. Prognostic factors for hanging-induced OHCA were identified using multivariable logistic regression analysis. ResultsOf 263,426 OHCAs, 7,878 (3.0 %) were hanging-induced, with an incidence of 3.1 per 100,000 person-years. Patients with hanging-induced OHCA were younger (median age; 58 vs. 81 years), more frequently males (60.2 % vs. 57.5 %), and less likely to have a witness (1.7 % vs. 42.1 %) and initial shockable rhythm (0.4 % vs. 5.9 %). The chance of 1-month favourable neurological outcomes was significantly lower in patients with hanging-induced OHCA than those with other OHCA causes (0.4 % vs. 2.5 %). Factors associated with favourable neurological outcomes included younger age, witnessed arrest, initial non-asystole cardiac rhythm, and prehospital return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC). Patients with initial non-asystole rhythm and prehospital ROSC had an 11.1 % probability of favourable neurological outcomes, whereas 97.1 % of patients lacking these characteristics had only a 0.1 % probability. ConclusionsPrognosis following hanging-induced OHCAs was significantly worse compared to OHCAs of other causes. While some patients with initial non-asystole rhythm and prehospital ROSC may benefit from cardiopulmonary resuscitation, most lack these favourable features and have an exceedingly low chance of achieving favourable neurological outcomes at 1-month post-arrest.

Abstract Su607: Which would be major? witnessed collapse or bystander resuscitation?

Background: Witnessed collapse and bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) are two variables commonly used to predict outcomes in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). Some published studies have shown that bystander CPR were not significantly associated with outcomes after confounders adjusted. This may imply that witnessed collapse would be a superior prognostic factors beyond bystander CPR. Hypothesis: Witnessed collapse and bystander CPR may not contribute equally to prehospital return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC), and the former may be major. Aims: To investigate four prediction models for prehospital ROSC using stratification of the witnessed collapse and bystander CPR. Methods: The study enrolled OHCA patients treated by the emergency medical service (EMS) from January 2010 to December 2022 in three EMS systems in Taiwan. Data were extracted from the records of each medical service encounter, including patient demographics, dispatch timing, prehospital management, witnessed collapse and bystander CPR. The primary outcome was any prehospital ROSC. Patients were stratified into four groups by witnessed collapse (with/without) and bystander CPR (with/without) status, namely W+B+, W-B+, W+B- and W-B-. Prehospital ROSC prognostication were identified using multivariable logistic regression analysis. Results: The analysis comprised 17,323 patients, among whom 1,165 (6.7%) achieved prehospital ROSC. The W+B+ group demonstrated the highest prehospital ROSC rate at 13.0%, as compared with the other groups significantly (9.0%, 3.4%, and 4.1%, as depicted in Image 1). Stratification of the prehospital ROSC model (Image 2) indicated that the W+B+ group had several common predictors including age, traumatic arrest, no-flow time, public access defibrillation (PAD), and resuscitation events. However, certain predictors in other groups were removed during regression process. Notably, no-flow time significantly influenced prehospital ROSC only in the W+B+ and W+B- groups. Conversely, in the W-B- group, most variables had minimal impact on prehospital ROSC, reflecting the limited effectiveness of traditional predictors within this subgroup. Conclusion: The significance of witnessed collapse as a prognostic factor may be equal to or even greater than that of bystander CPR. Further studies are needed to confirm.

Abstract 4137905: The association between prehospital epinephrine administration and short-term outcomes in patients with shockable out-of-hospital cardiac arrest and extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation: a propensity matched analysis

Background: In out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) patients with an initial shockable rhythm, epinephrine increases the likelihood of return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC), but its effect on neurological outcome remains uncertain. Epinephrine administered before extracorporeal resuscitation (ECPR), which is a non-pharmacological method to obtain ROSC, may have worsened neurological outcome. Aim: To evaluate the impact of prehospital epinephrine administration on the prognosis of OHCA patients undergoing ECPR. Methods: This is a retrospective analysis of a cohort study from a multicenter, prospective registry of 81234 OHCA patients between 2014 and 2021. After the application of exclusion criteria, 1061 OHCA patients with an initial shockable rhythm and who underwent ECPR were eligible for this study. The primary outcome was favorable neurological outcome at 30 days after the OHCA and the secondary outcome was ROSC during transfer. Patients who did and did not receive prehospital epinephrine were propensity score-matched on the basis of age, gender, witness arrest, bystander-initiated CPR, dispatcher-assisted CPR, advanced airway management, call-to-defibrillation interval, year and district. Results: Among 1061 eligible patients, 442 patients received epinephrine and 619 patients did not. Matching was successful in achieving covariate balance as shown by a standardized difference of <10% for all variables (329 matched pairs). The proportion of patients with prehospital ROSC was significantly higher in those who received prehospital epinephrine than those who did not (36 [8%] vs 31 [5%]; adjusted odds ratio [OR] after propensity score-matching, 1.96 [95% CI 1.05-3.67], p=0.03). The proportion of patients with favorable neurological outcome at 30 days was not significantly lower in those who received prehospital epinephrine than those who did not (34 [8%] vs 78 [13%]; adjusted OR after propensity score-matching, 0.78 [95% CI 0.45-1.37], p=0.39). Conclusion: In patients with shockable OHCA and ECPR, prehospital epinephrine administration was significantly associated with increased ROSC before hospital arrival and not significantly with decreased favorable neurological outcome at 30 days.

Abstract Su605: Return of Spontaneous Circulation after Transport with Ongoing Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation: Is Transport Always Futile?

Introduction: Despite validated Termination of Resuscitation (TOR) rules for Out of Hospital Cardiac Arrest (OHCA) some OHCA patients are transported prior to Return of Spontaneous Circulation (ROSC), sometimes with long transport times. There are certain therapies unavailable in the prehospital setting which could make transport prior to ROSC beneficial for some OHCA patients. Hypothesis: We hypothesized that longer transport times for patients with ongoing Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) would be associated with progressively lower probability of achieving ROSC. Aims: To determine if there is a transport time interval beyond which ROSC becomes so unlikely that transport time could be determinant factor for TOR. Methods: We performed a retrospective study of the 2020-2022 NEMSIS national prehospital dataset. We included adult OHCA patients that did not have ROSC prehospital, were transported to the hospital, and had outcome and timestamp data available. We calculated transport time for each encounter and stratified encounters into 5-minute transport time intervals. We defined our outcome as ROSC after transport. We used multivariable logistic regression evaluating the association between 5-minute increases in transport time and ROSC. We performed a secondary analysis of patients that met termination of resuscitation (TOR) criteria (unwitnessed OHCA with no CPR or AED placement prior to EMS arrival). Results: Of 1,409,692 OHCAs, we included 137,957 OHCAs that were transported without prehospital ROSC. The median transport time was 8.9 minutes (IQR 5.4-13.8), and 17,957 (13.1%) had ROSC after hospital arrival. In 5-minute intervals from 0-30 minutes, ROSC rates were 13.5%, 13.1%, 12.0%, 11.1%, 12.1%, and 13.9%. Odds of ROSC per 5-minute increase in transport time was 1.00 (95% CI 1.00-1.00). For patients that met field TOR criteria, rates of ROSC for each 5-minute interval from 0-30 minutes were 9.2%, 8.7%, 7.6%, 5.9%, 6.1%, 4.2%, 7.5%. Odds of ROSC per 5-minute increase in transport time was 0.93 (95% CI 0.88-0.98). Conclusion: In this dataset we were unable to identify a transport time interval up to 30 mins beyond which transport is futile, even in patients who were transported despite meeting the universal TOR rule. Decision to transport based on case-by-case OHCA characteristics could have influenced results. Further research is needed to identify the subset of patient in whom transport prior to ROSC may be beneficial.

Clinical Significance of Whole-Body Computed Tomography Scans in Pediatric Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest Patients Without Prehospital Return of Spontaneous Circulation.

Background. Whole-body computed tomography (WBCT) is commonly employed for primary screening in pediatric patients experiencing out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) without prehospital return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC). This study aimed to evaluate the cause of OHCA on WBCT and compare WBCT findings between ROSC and non-ROSC groups in non-traumatic pediatric OHCA cases in an emergency department setting. Methods. A retrospective analysis was conducted on 27 pediatric patients (mean age: 32.4 months; median age: 10 months) who experienced non-traumatic OHCA without prehospital ROSC and were transported to our tertiary care hospital between January 2013 and December 2023. WBCT scans were performed to investigate the cause of OHCA, with recorded findings in the head, chest, abdomen, and subcutaneous tissues. Results. In all cases, the direct causes of OHCA were undetermined, and WBCT identified no fatal findings. Statistical comparisons of CT findings between the ROSC and non-ROSC groups revealed significant differences. The non-ROSC group had a higher incidence of brain swelling, loss of cerebral gray-white matter differentiation, symmetrical lung consolidation/ground-glass opacity, cardiomegaly, hyperdense aortic walls, narrowed aorta, gas in the mediastinum, and hepatomegaly compared to the ROSC group. Conclusions. Although WBCT did not reveal the direct cause of OHCA, several CT findings were significantly more frequent in the non-ROSC group, including brain swelling, loss of cerebral gray-white matter differentiation, symmetrical lung consolidation/ground-glass opacity, cardiomegaly, hyperdense aortic wall, narrowed aorta, gas in the mediastinum, and hepatomegaly. These findings, resembling postmortem changes, may aid in clinical decision making regarding the continuation or cessation of resuscitation efforts in pediatric OHCA cases.

Incidence, characteristics, and prehospital outcomes of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in Qatar: a nationwide gender-based investigation

BackgroundResearch on incidence and characteristics of Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest (OHCA) in the Middle East is limited. We assessed the incidence, prehospital characteristics, and outcomes of OHCA in Qatar, a Middle Eastern country. Subsequently, we performed gender-specific analysis.MethodsThis was a retrospective examination of data obtained from the OHCA registry at Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) in Qatar from 2017 to 2022. We included adults, non-traumatic, EMS-treatment OHCA. We calculated the incidence of adult OHCA and conducted descriptive analyses for prehospital characteristics, and prehospital outcomes presented by return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC). We evaluated gender differences in prehospital characteristics and ROSC using Student’s t-test and the Chi-Square test as appropriate. Furthermore, we conducted a multivariable logistic regression analysis to investigate the correlation between gender and achieving ROSC.ResultsWe included 4,306 adult OHCA patients, with 869 (20.2%) being females. The mean annual incidence of adult OHCA was 27.4 per 100,000 population-year. Males had a higher annual incidence of OHCA than females. Among all cases, 36.3% occurred in a public location, 25.8% had an initial shockable rhythm, and 28.8% achieved ROSC. Males had a higher proportion of bystander CPR, arrests in public locations, and initial shockable rhythms. While unadjusted analysis showed no significant gender differences in achieving ROSC, adjusted analysis revealed that male gender was associated with higher odds of achieving ROSC (adjusted OR male vs. female 1.38, 95% CI 1.15–1.66, p < 0.001).ConclusionsApproximately 720 adults undergo non-traumatic OHCA in Qatar every year, with a higher incidence observed in males. Male gender was associated with higher odds of achieving ROSC. Further gender-specific research in OHCA intervention and outcome in the Middle East is required.

Geospatial Analysis for Prehospital Extracorporeal Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation in Houston, Texas

Objectives Extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (eCPR) is a promising treatment that could improve survival for refractory out-of-hospital (OHCA) patients. Healthcare systems may choose to start eCPR in the prehospital setting to optimize time to eCPR initiation and decrease low-flow time. We used geospatial modeling to evaluate different eCPR catchment strategies for a forthcoming prehospital eCPR program in Houston, Texas. Methods We studied OHCAs treated by the Houston Fire Department from 2013 to 2021. We included OHCA patients aged 18–65 years old with an initial shockable rhythm that did not have prehospital return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC). Based on the geolocation that each OHCA occurred, we used geospatial modeling to identify eCPR candidates using four mapping strategies based on distance/drive time from the eCPR center: 1) 15-minute drive time, 20-minute drive time, 10-mile drive distance, and 15-mile drive distance. Results Of 18,501 OHCAs during the study period, 881 met the eCPR inclusion criteria. Compared to non-eCPR candidates, eCPR candidates were younger (median age 52.3 years vs 62.7 years, p < 0.01) and had a higher proportion of males (76.6% v 59.8%, p < 0.01). Of eCPR candidate OHCAs, OHCAs occurred more frequently during the weekdays and the daytime, with 5:00 PM being the most common time. Using geospatial modeling and based on drive time, 219 OHCAs (24.9% of 881) were within a 15-minute drive, and 454 (51.5%) were within a 20-minute drive. Using drive distance, 383 eCPR candidates (43.5%) were within 10 miles, and 703 (79.8%) were within 15 miles. Conclusions Using geospatial modeling, we demonstrated a process to estimate potential eCPR patient volumes for a geographic region. Geospatial modeling represents a viable strategy for healthcare systems to delineate eCPR catchment areas.

A Simple Scoring System for Identifying Favorable Neurologic Outcomes Among Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest Patients With Asystole

Study objectiveAsystole is the most common initial rhythm in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA), but indicates a low likelihood of neurological recovery. This study aimed to develop a novel scoring system to be easily applied at the time of emergency department arrival for identifying favorable neurological outcomes in OHCA survivors with an asystole rhythm. MethodsThis study is a secondary analysis based on a previously collected nationwide database, targeting non-traumatic adult OHCA patients aged ≥ 18 years with an asystole rhythm who achieved Return of Spontaneous Circulation (ROSC) between January 2016 and December 2020. The primary outcome was a favorable neurological outcome defined as Cerebral Performance Categories scores of 1 or 2 at hospital discharge. A prediction model was developed through multivariable logistic regression analysis in a derivation cohort in the form of a scoring system (WBC-ASystole). The performance and calibration of the model were tested using an internal validation cohort. ResultsAmong 19,803 OHCA patients with survival to hospital admission, 6,322 had asystole, and 285 (4.5%) achieved good neurological outcomes. Factors associated with favorable outcomes included age, witness arrest, bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation, time from call to hospital arrival, and prehospital ROSC achievement. The WBC-ASystole score, totaling 11 points, exhibited a predictive performance with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.80 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.76–0.83) and 0.79 (95% CI: 0.74–0.83) in the derivation and validation cohorts, respectively. After categorizing patients into three groups based on probability for good neurological outcomes, the sensitivity and specificity were as follows: 0.98 (95% CI: 0.97–0.99) and 0.09 (95% CI: 0.09–0.10) for the very low (WBC-ASystole: ≤2), 0.85 (95% CI: 0.82–0.89) and 0.54 (95% CI: 0.53–0.55) for the low (WBC-ASystole: 3–4), and 0.36 (95% CI: 0.34–0.39) and 0.93 (95% CI: 0.92–0.93) for fair predicted probability group (WBC-ASystole: ≥5). ConclusionsAlthough external validation studies must be performed, among OHCA with asystole, the WBC-ASystole scoring system may identify those patients who are likely to have a favorable neurological outcome.

Intraosseous versus intravenous vascular access in upper extremity among adults with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest: cluster randomised clinical trial (VICTOR trial)

ObjectiveTo compare the effectiveness of intraosseous versus intravenous vascular access in the treatment of adult patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.DesignCluster randomised controlled trial.SettingThe VICTOR (Venous Injection Compared To intraOsseous injection...

Effect of cardiopulmonary resuscitation training for layperson bystanders on outcomes of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest: A prospective multicenter observational study

BackgroundEffective bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) improves outcomes in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) patients. However, the effect of CPR training on the rate of return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) among laypersons has yet to be thoroughly evaluated. MethodsThis prospective, multicenter observational study was conducted across 42 centers in Japan. We assessed OHCA patients who received bystander CPR from a layperson, excluding those performed by healthcare staff. The primary outcome was the ROSC rate. Secondary outcomes included pre-hospital ROSC, ROSC after hospital arrival, favorable neurological outcomes, and 30-day survival. Propensity score with inverse probability treatment weighting (IPTW) was used to adjust for confounders, including age, sex, presence or absence of witnesses, and past medical history. ResultsA total of 969 OHCA patients were included, divided into CPR-trained (n = 322) and control (n = 647). Before adjustment, the ROSC rate was higher in the trained group than the control (40.1% vs. 30.1%, P < 0.01). After IPTW adjustment, the trained group showed a significantly higher ROSC rate (36.7% vs. 30.6%; P = 0.02). All secondary outcomes in the trained group were significantly improved before adjustment. After IPTW adjustment, the trained group showed improved rates of pre-hospital ROSC and ROSC after hospital arrival (30.7% vs. 24.0%; P < 0.01, 23.9% vs. 20.7%; P = 0.04). There were no differences in neurological outcomes and 30-day survival. ConclusionThis study demonstrated that CPR training for laypersons was associated with increased ROSC rates in OHCA patients, indicating potential advantages of CPR training for non-healthcare professionals.

Incidence, risk factors, and impact of post-return of spontaneous circulation events in patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest: A population-based study in Tokyo, Japan

AimPatients with the return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) are unstable and often experience rearrest, after which ROSC may be reattained. This study investigated the incidence and risk factors of post-ROSC events (rearrest and subsequent reattainment of ROSC) and their impact on outcomes in patients with prehospital ROSC following OHCA. MethodsPatients with OHCA and prehospital ROSC were identified from the Tokyo Fire Department database between 1 January 2018 and 31 December 2022. The factors associated with post-ROSC events and their impact on 1-month favourable neurological outcome (cerebral performance category scale: 1 or 2) were assessed using multivariable logistic regression analysis. ResultsOverall, 64,000 individuals experienced OHCA, and 6,190 (9.7%) had ROSC. Rearrest was confirmed in 28.4% of patients with ROSC, and was associated with age, time of emergency call, location of cardiac arrest, dispatcher instruction regarding cardiopulmonary resuscitation, first recorded cardiac rhythm, bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation, defibrillation by a bystander, response time, and prehospital interventions. ROSC reattainment was confirmed in 34.5% of patients with rearrest and associated with the first recorded cardiac rhythm and defibrillation by a bystander. Patients without rearrests had the highest proportion of favourable neurological outcomes, followed by those with solved and unsolved rearrests (38.6% vs. 22.4% and 4.4%, P < 0.001). The difference remained significant after adjustment for confounders. ConclusionThis study revealed population-based incidence and risk factors of post-ROSC events. Rearrest was common, leading to unfavourable neurological outcome; however, its deleterious impact may be mitigated by successful resuscitation efforts.

Comparison of pre-hospital management of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest and its outcomes between the COVID-19 and pre-COVID-19 periods

Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) is a time-sensitive medical emergency that needs immediate interventions. COVID-19 affected the performance of the emergency medical service (EMS) system in pre-hospital care, including the management of cardiac arrest. This study aimed to identify the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on pre-hospital management of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest and its outcome in Qom City, Iran. In this descriptive-analytical study, the data were collected from the electronic registration system of the EMS center in Qom, Iran. All OHCA patients who received resuscitation during COVID-19 and before COVID-19 were enrolled in the study. Data consisted of the characteristics of OHCA patients, EMS interventions and response times, and the outcome of OHCA. A P-value of <0.05 was deemed statistically significant. 630 OHCA patients in the COVID-19 period and 524 OHCA patients in the pre-COVID-19 period were included in the study. Endotracheal intubation and defibrillation were done more in the COVID-19 period than in the pre-COVID-19 period (50.2 % vs. 17 %, p<0.001 %, and 40.1 % vs. 22.5 %, p < 0.001, respectively). The EMS response time was longer during the COVID-19 pandemic (9.1 ± 3.9 min vs. 7.6 ± 1.4 min, p < 0.001). The rate of pre-hospital return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) was lower in the COVID-19 period (15.6 % vs. 8.4 %, p < 0.001). According to univariate analysis, ROSC was predicted by COVID-19 (p < 0.001). However, COVID-19 was not the statistically significant independent predictor after multivariate analysis (p < 0.67). The COVID-19 pandemic period influenced OHCA and ROSC. Also, it affected pre-hospital management in the OHCA situation. The negative impact of COVID-19 on the EMS response reflected the need to know and remove barriers to managing crises such as COVID-19.

Association Between Emergency Medical Services Intervention Volume and Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest Survival: A Propensity Score Matching Analysis

BackgroundOut of hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) survival rates are very low. An association between institutional OHCA case volume and patient outcomes has been documented. However, whether this applies to prehospital emergency medicine services (EMS) is unknown. ObjectivesTo investigate the association between the volume of interventions by mobile intensive care units (MICU) and outcomes of patients experiencing an OHCA. MethodsA retrospective cohort study including adult patients with OHCA managed by medical EMS in five French centers between 2013 and 2020. Two groups were defined depending on the overall annual numbers of MICU interventions: low and high-volume MICU. Primary endpoint was 30-day survival. Secondary endpoints were prehospital return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC), ROSC at hospital admission and favorable neurological outcome. Patients were matched 1:1 using a propensity score. Conditional logistic regression was then used. Results2,014 adult patients (69% male, median age 68 [57-79] years) were analyzed, 50.5% (n = 1,017) were managed by low-volume MICU and 49.5% (n = 997) by high-volume MICU. Survival on day 30 was 3.6% in the low-volume group compared to 5.1% in the high-volume group. There was no significant association between MICU volume of intervention and survival on day 30 (OR = 0.92, 95%CI [0.55;1.53]), prehospital ROSC (OR = 1.01[0.78;1.3]), ROSC at hospital admission (OR = 0.92 [0.69;1.21]), or favorable neurologic prognosis on day 30 (OR = 0.92 [0.53;1.62]).

Neurological prognosis prediction upon arrival at the hospital after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest: R-EDByUS score

AimTo develop a new scoring model for patients with cardiogenic out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) to facilitate neurological prognosis prediction upon hospital arrival by using prehospital resuscitation features alone. MethodsBetween 2005 and 2019, we enrolled 942,891 adult patients with OHCA of presumed cardiac aetiology from the All-Japan Utstein Registry. Scoring models applied prehospital resuscitation features a priori from the variables the American College of Cardiology algorithm including age, duration to return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) or hospital arrival, no bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), unwitnessed arrest, and nonshockable rhythm (R-EDByUS score) to predict unfavorable neurological outcomes defined as Cerebral Performance Category 3, 4, or 5 at 1 month. We created nomograms as a “Regression-based model,” and created a “Simplified model” in which points were assigned by category for predicting unfavorable neurological outcomes for both the prehospital ROSC cohort (67,064 patients) and the ongoing CPR cohort (875,827 patients). For internal validation, bootstrap optimism-corrected estimates of predictive performance were calculated. ResultsA total of 46,971 (70.0%) and 870,991 (99.4%) patients in the prehospital ROSC and ongoing CPR cohorts, respectively, had unfavorable neurological outcomes. In the prehospital ROSC cohort, the C-statistics of the Regression-based and Simplified models were 0.851 and 0.842, and the bootstrap-validated C-statistics were 0.852 and 0.841, respectively. In the ongoing CPR cohort, the C-statistics of the Regression-based and Simplified models were 0.872 and 0.865, and the bootstrap-validated C-statistics were 0.852 and 0.841, respectively. ConclusionsThe R-EDByUS score accurately predicted the neurological prognosis of cardiogenic OHCA upon hospital arrival.

Assessing feasibility of proposed extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation programmes for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in Scotland via geospatial modelling

BackgroundExtracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR) can improve survival for refractory out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). We sought to assess the feasibility of a proposed ECPR programme in Scotland, considering both in-hospital and pre-hospital implementation scenarios. MethodsWe included treated OHCAs in Scotland aged 16–70 between August 2018 and March 2022. We defined those clinically eligible for ECPR as patients where the initial rhythm was ventricular fibrillation, ventricular tachycardia, or pulseless electrical activity, and where pre-hospital return of spontaneous circulation was not achieved. We computed the call-to-ECPR access time interval as the amount of time from emergency medical service (EMS) call reception to either arrival at an ECPR-ready hospital or arrival of a pre-hospital ECPR crew. We determined the number of patients that had access to ECPR within 45 min, and estimated the number of additional survivors as a result. ResultsA total of 6,639 OHCAs were included in the geospatial modelling, 1,406 of which were eligible for ECPR. Depending on the implementation scenario, 52.9–112.6 (13.8–29.4%) OHCAs per year had a call-to-ECPR access time within 45 min, with pre-hospital implementation scenarios having greater and earlier access to ECPR for OHCA patients. We further estimated that an ECPR programme in Scotland would yield 11.8–28.2 additional survivors per year, with the pre-hospital implementation scenarios yielding higher numbers. ConclusionAn ECPR programme for OHCA in Scotland could provide access to ECPR to a modest number of eligible OHCA patients, with pre-hospital ECPR implementation scenarios yielding higher access to ECPR and higher numbers of additional survivors.

Effect of timing of advanced life support on out-of-hospital cardiac arrests at home

AimIn cases of out-of-hospital cardiac arrests (OHCA) occurring at home, Japanese emergency medical services personnel decide whether to provide treatment on the scene or during transport based on their judgment. This study aimed to evaluate the association between the timing of advanced life support (ALS) (i.e., endotracheal intubation [ETI] or adrenaline administration) for OHCA at home and prognosis. MethodThis retrospective cohort study used data from the Japan Utstein Registry and emergency transport data collected from patients who underwent pre-hospital ETI (n = 6806) and received adrenaline (n = 22,636) between 2016 and 2019. The timing of ETI or adrenaline administration was determined as “on the scene” or “in the ambulance.” Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to estimate the association among the timing of ALS implementation, pre-hospital return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC), and survival at 1 month. ResultETI on the scene was significantly positively associated with pre-hospital ROSC (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 1.81; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.57–2.09) and survival at 1 month (AOR, 1.81; 95% CI, 1.47–2.23). Adrenaline administration on the scene was significantly positively associated with pre-hospital ROSC (AOR, 2.51; 95% CI, 2.33–2.70) and survival at 1 month (AOR, 2.13; 95% CI, 1.89–2.40). ConclusionOur analysis suggests performing ALS on the scene was associated with pre-hospital ROSC and survival at 1 month. Further efforts are needed to increase the rate of ALS implementation on the scene by emergency life-saving technicians.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on pediatric out-of-hospital cardiac arrest outcomes in Japan

This study investigates the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on pediatric out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) outcomes in Japan, aiming to address a critical research gap. Analyzing data from the All-Japan Utstein registry covering pediatric OHCA cases from 2018 to 2021, the study observed no significant changes in one-month survival, neurological outcomes, or overall performance when comparing the pre-pandemic (2018–2019) and pandemic (2020–2021) periods among 6765 cases. However, a notable reduction in pre-hospital return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) during the pandemic (15.1–13.1%, p = .020) was identified. Bystander-initiated chest compressions and rescue breaths declined (71.1–65.8%, 22.3–13.0%, respectively; both p < .001), while bystander-initiated automated external defibrillator (AED) use increased (3.7–4.9%, p = .029). Multivariate logistic regression analyses identified factors associated with reduced pre-hospital ROSC during the pandemic. Post-pandemic, there was no noticeable change in the one-month survival rate. The lack of significant change in survival may be attributed to the negative effects of reduced chest compressions and ventilation being offset by the positive impact of widespread AED availability in Japan. These findings underscore the importance of innovative tools and systems for safe bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation during a pandemic, providing insights to optimize pediatric OHCA care.

Advanced airway management in the prehospital setting during traumatic out-of-hospital cardiac arrest following traffic collision in Japan, 2013-2019

Abstract Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: Private grant(s) and/or Sponsorship. Main funding source(s): Okinaka Memorial Institute for Medical Research; Toranomon Hospital. Background The European guideline on management of major bleeding and coagulopathy following trauma (sixth edition) recommend that endotracheal intubation or alternative airway management be performed without delay to facilitate adequate ventilation and oxygenation during trauma resuscitation. However, controversy remains as to whether advanced airway management should be provided for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) in the prehospital setting. Purpose This study aimed to examine the association of prehospital advanced airway management with outcomes after traumatic OHCA. Methods This observational study analyzed the Japanese government-led nationwide population-based registry data of OHCA patients. Patients with traumatic OHCA following traffic collision who received advanced life support in the prehospital setting from 2013 to 2019 were included. Propensity score matching was used to examine the association of advanced airway management with outcomes after traumatic OHCA following traffic collision. The primary outcome was one-month survival. Results A total of 5,617 patients (mean [SD] age, 60.1 [21.6] years; 68.6% male) were included. 3,822 (68.0%) received advanced airway management, and 1,795 (32.0%) did not. After adjusting for potential confounders using propensity score matching, advanced airway management was associated with decreased chance of one-month survival (23/1452 [1.6%] vs 43/1452 [3.0%]; RR, 0.53; 95%CI, 0.32-0.88; P=0.0128). Similar association was observed for prehospital return of spontaneous circulation (88/1452 [6.1%] vs 139/1452 [9.6%]; RR, 0.63; 95%CI, 0.49-0.82; P=0.0004). Conclusion Among patients with traumatic OHCA following traffic collision, advanced airway management was associated with decreased chance of one-month survival and prehospital return of spontaneous circulation.

Association between defibrillation-to-adrenaline interval and short-term outcomes in patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest and an initial shockable rhythm

AimThe optimal timing of adrenaline administration after defibrillation in patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) and an initial shockable rhythm is unknown. We investigated the association between the defibrillation-to-adrenaline interval and clinical outcomes. MethodsBetween 2011 and 2020, we enrolled 1,259,960 patients with OHCA into a nationwide prospective population-based registry in Japan. After applying exclusion criteria, 20,905 patients with an initial shockable rhythm documented at emergency medical services (EMS) arrival who received adrenaline after defibrillation were eligible for this study. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to predict favourable short-term outcomes: prehospital return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC), 30-day survival, or a favourable neurological outcome (Cerebral Performance Category 1 or 2) at 30 days. Patients were categorised into 2-minute defibrillation-to-adrenaline intervals up to 18 min, or more than 18 min. ResultsAt 30 days, 1,618 patients (8%) had a favourable neurological outcome. The defibrillation-to-adrenaline interval in these patients was significantly shorter than in patients with an unfavourable neurological outcome [8 (5–12) vs 11 (7–16) minutes; P < 0.001]. The proportion of patients with prehospital ROSC, 30-day survival, or a favourable neurological outcome at 30 days decreased as the defibrillation-to-adrenaline interval increased (P < 0.001 for trend). Multivariable analysis revealed that a defibrillation-to-adrenaline interval of > 6 min was an independent predictor of worse prehospital ROSC, 30-day survival, or neurological outcome at 30 days when compared with an interval of 4–6 min. ConclusionA longer defibrillation-to-adrenaline interval was significantly associated with worse short-term outcomes in patients with OHCA and an initial shockable rhythm.

Survival After Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest Before and After Legislation for Bystander CPR

The lack of evidence-based implementation strategies is a major contributor to increasing mortality due to out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) in developing countries with limited resources. To evaluate whether the implementation of legislation is associated with increased bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and automated external defibrillator (AED) use and improved clinical outcomes for patients experiencing OHCA and to provide policy implications for low-income and middle-income settings. This observational cohort study analyzed a prospective city registry of patients with bystander-witnessed OHCA between January 1, 2010, and December 31, 2022. The Emergency Medical Aid Act was implemented in Shenzhen, China, on October 1, 2018. An interrupted time-series analysis was used to assess changes in outcomes before and after the law. Data analysis was performed from May to October 2023. The Emergency Medical Aid Act stipulated the use of AEDs and CPR training for the public and provided clear legal guidance for OHCA rescuing. The primary outcomes were rates of bystander-initiated CPR and use of AEDs. Secondary outcomes were rates of prehospital return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC), survival to arrival at the hospital, and survival at discharge. A total of 13 751 patients with OHCA (median [IQR] age, 59 [43-76] years; 10 011 men [72.83%]) were included, with 7858 OHCAs occurring during the prelegislation period (January 1, 2010, to September 30, 2018) and 5893 OHCAs occurring during the postlegislation period (October 1, 2018, to December 31, 2022). The rates of bystander-initiated CPR (320 patients [4.10%] vs 1103 patients [18.73%]) and AED use (214 patients [4.12%] vs 182 patients [5.29%]) increased significantly after legislation implementation vs rates before the legislation. Rates of prehospital ROSC (72 patients [0.92%] vs 425 patients [7.21%]), survival to arrival at the hospital (68 patients [0.87%] vs 321 patients [5.45%]), and survival at discharge (44 patients [0.56%] vs 165 patients [2.80%]) were significantly increased during the postlegislation period. Interrupted time-series models demonstrated a significant slope change in the rates of all outcomes. These findings suggest that implementation of the Emergency Medical Aid Act in China was associated with increased rates of CPR and public AED use and improved survival of patients with OHCA. The use of a systemwide approach to enact resuscitation initiatives and provide legal support may reduce the burden of OHCA in low-income and middle-income settings.