Mullins, Margaret

Introduction: Coronary angiography (CA) is recommended after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) when ST-elevation is present but the ideal timing and benefit of CA when ST-elevation is not present are unknown. Methods: Prospective observational study of adult (age >17) OHCA of presumed cardiac etiology from 1/01/2010-12/31/2014 who were admitted to one of 40 recognized cardiac receiving centers within a state resuscitation center network. DNR patients, those who did not achieve ROSC, and/or those who died in the ED were excluded since the likelihood of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) impacting outcome in these patients is low. An in-hospital database was linked with a statewide OHCA database. Results: Among 6,615 cases, 1,247 remained for analysis after exclusion [DNR (1254); failed to achieve ROSC/died in ED (4,020); missing prehospital variable (92); and missing outcome (2)]. Median age was 63 and 70% were male. There were 62% witnessed arrests, 54% received bystander CPR and the initial rhythm was VF/VT in 55%. Sixty-four percent survived to hospital discharge, 82% of which had a CPC score of 1 or 2. Of the 326 STEMI cases, 298 (91%) underwent CA with resultant PCI in 206 (63%). Of the 849 non-STEMI cases, 361 (43%) underwent CA with resultant PCI in 107 (13%). Overall survival was: 54% in cases without CA; 73% in cases with CA but without PCI; and 73% in those with PCI. Survival in non-STEMI cases was: 55% in cases without CA; 82% in cases with CA but without PCI; and 80% in those with PCI. In non-STEMI cases, the adjusted odds of survival for CA without PCI vs no CA was 2.70 (95% CI: 1.81, 4.02) and for PCI versus no CA it was 2.01 (95% CI: 1.16, 3.48). Conclusion: In this statewide analysis over 90% of OHCA cases with STEMI underwent CA. In cases that were not STEMI, CA was strongly and independently associated with survival regardless of whether PCI was performed. Since there is no reason to believe that CA without PCI confers a survival benefit, these findings suggest a component of selection bias in those without STEMI who undergo CA.

Background: High quality manual chest compressions (CC) can be achieved on scene during resuscitation of cardiac arrest patients, but manual CC quality can deteriorate during patient extrication and transport. The purpose of this study was to describe the effect on CC quality of an integrated manual/mechanical chest compression protocol developed to maintain CC quality and patient/provider safety throughout resuscitation. Methods: CC quality was monitored using a monitor with accelerometer-based CC sensing (E Series/X Series, ZOLL Medical) during the treatment of consecutive out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients between 3/1/2013-4/30/2015. The EMS agency performed manual CC guided by real-time audiovisual feedback on scene but deployed the AutoPulse load-distributing band CC device (LDB, ZOLL Medical) in a choreographed manner for extrication and transport. The LDB was also placed prophylactically on patients after ROSC. Descriptive statistics are reported as median (IQR). Results: A total of 71 OHCA patients were treated (median age 58 yrs, 66 % male) of which 39 received only manual CC and 32 received both manual and LDB CCs (22 with LDB deployed during ongoing manual CC and 10 with LDB placed after ROSC). With real-time CC feedback, high quality CCs were performed [depth 2.38 in (2.17-2.64), rate 100.3 cpm (99.2-102.5), CC fraction 87.0% (83.8-89.5)]. For patients requiring transport, the LDB was started after 14.2 min (11.6-19.2) of manual CC and was placed with minimal interruptions- total of 27.5 sec (23-42) pause time in 2 minutes prior to LDB deployment. During transport, CC fraction remained high (91.7%; 89.3-95.4) with use of LDB. Seven of 10 patients prophylactically placed on the LDB rearrested, 3 rearrested during transport. Conclusion: A choreographed and rehearsed integrated chest compression protocol featuring both manual and mechanical compressions, allows for high quality resuscitation with minimal compression interruptions. Placement of a mechanical device on patients after ROSC may be beneficial as over two-thirds of patients in this study rearrested, one-third of which occurred during transport when delivery of manual compressions is difficult and potentially dangerous.

Background: Previous observational studies have demonstrated that outcomes after OHCA can be significantly improved with therapies such as mild therapeutic hypothermia and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). However, the optimal candidate and timing for PCI in OHCA remains unknown. This study aimed to assess the impact of emergent PCI on survival and neurological outcome after OHCA. Methods: This is a prospective observational study from a statewide OHCA database in Arizona. Patients included were greater than 18 years old who received CPR and were admitted to one of 34 recognized cardiac receiving centers. Patients who did not achieve ROSC, died within 2 hours of hospital arrival, and DNAR patients were excluded since the likelihood of PCI impacting outcome in these patients is questionable. An in-hospital post-arrest database, including PCI (Y/N), was linked with an Utstein-style OHCA database. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression were utilized to assess the association between PCI and survival to hospital discharge and neurological outcome. Results: During this study period (1-1-2011-12-31-2013), there were a total of 6,543 adult OHCA patients. After exclusions, 782 patients with suspected cardiac etiology OHCA were analyzed. The median age of patients was 64.0 years (Q1:54.0, Q3:73.0) and 70.2% were male. Among them 458 (58.6%) and 238 (30.4%) patients underwent the emergency coronary angiogram (CAG), and Primary PCI, respectively. Among PCI patients, the rate of survival to hospital discharge was 75.2%, vs. 60.4% for those without PCI (p<0.001) and good cerebral outcome (CPC 1-2) was found in 67.6%, vs. 44.3% of those without PCI (p<0.001). After adjusting for age, gender, initial rhythm, bystander CPR, and hypothermia, the Odds Ratio was 1.2 (95% CI:0.8-1.8) for survival and 2.8 (95% CI:1.5-5.1) for good neurologic outcome (CPC 1-2) among PCI patients. Conclusion: This study shows an association with emergent PCI and good neurologic outcome after OHCA. Further study is necessary to determine a potential causal relationship between PCI and outcome.

Background: Higher chest compression release velocity (CCRV) is associated with better outcomes after OHCA. Patient age and gender have been associated with variations in chest wall compliance and compressibility which may impact outcomes. Hypothesis: To evaluate the association between CCRV and OHCA patient age, weight, and gender. Methods: Observational study of prospectively collected OHCA quality improvement data in two suburban EMS agencies in Arizona between 10/1/2008 and 12/31/2016. Patient age and weight were categorized into quartiles for the analysis. CCRV was summarized at each level of the categorical variable by median and inter-quartile range (IQR), and was then compared between different levels by the Kruskal-Wallis test. Results: During the study period, 2,661 OHCA cases were treated. After exclusion criteria, 1,140 cases remained for analysis. Median duration of compressions was 8.70 minutes. Mean CCRV was negatively correlated with age and positively correlated with weight (Table). Male patients exhibited a greater mean CCRV compared to female patients [344.4 mm/s (IQR 307.3-384.6) vs. 331.5 (285.3-385.5), p=0.0133]. Conclusion: Patient characteristics including younger age, male gender, and increased weight were associated with a higher CCRV during OHCA resuscitation.

Background: Extended care facilities (ECFs) house unique patient populations with increased risk of out of hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) and with unique, generally medically trained first responders initiating care prior to arrival of emergency medical services (EMS). However, little is known about bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and resuscitation outcomes in this population. Our aim is to assess rate of CPR delivery prior to EMS arrival in cases of OHCA among residents ECFs across the state of Arizona. Methods: Cases of OHCA between 2016-2018, cared for by participating Arizona EMS agencies, were included if OHCA occurred at an ECF, age 18+, and was of presumed cardiac etiology. Association between survival status at discharge and bystander CPR was examined first by Chi-squared test then by logistic regression, which adjusted for important risk factors and potential confounders including: age, gender, witnessed arrest, shockable initial rhythm, and return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) in EMS care. Results: There were 1,046 cases included in this study after excluding 32 cases with DNR and 11 with unknown bystander CPR status. Median patient age was 74 (interquartile range 64, 83). The overall rate of CPR prior to EMS arrival was 78.4% (95% CI, 75.8%, 80.9%). Survival to hospital discharge and survival with favorable neurologic outcome were not different between nursing home patients who received CPR prior to EMS arrival and those who did not [6.2% vs. 4.4% (p = 0.34) and 3.1% vs. 1.8% (p = 0.29)]. There was no statistically significant difference in the adjusted analysis. Conclusions: In this study population CPR was commonly delivered prior to EMS arrival. However, delivery of CPR prior to EMS arrival was not associated with survival to hospital discharge or favorable neurologic outcome. The lack of positive association between CPR prior to arrival and survival to hospital discharge may be related to comorbid factors present in ECF patients or differences in the time between collapse and initiation of CPR. Further study is needed to identify factors that might improve survival in this unique population.