Resuscitation
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Observational Study
Lactate and hypotension as predictors of mortality after in-hospital cardiac arrest.
Guidance on post-cardiac arrest prognostication is largely based on data from out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA), despite clear differences between the OHCA and in-hospital cardiac arrest (IHCA) populations. Early prediction of mortality after IHCA would be useful to help make decisions about post-arrest care. We evaluated the ability of lactate and need for vasopressors after IHCA to predict hospital mortality. ⋯ Post-ROSC lactate and need for vasopressors may be helpful in stratifying mortality risk in patients requiring mechanical ventilation after IHCA.
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Emergency Medical Services (EMS) are often involved in end-of-life circumstances, yet little is known about how EMS interfaces with advance directives to forego unwanted resuscitation (Do Not Attempt Resuscitation (DNAR)). We evaluated the frequency of these directives involved in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) and how they impact care. ⋯ Approximately 10% of EMS-attended OHCA involved DNAR. EMS typically fulfilled this end-of-life preference, though wishes were challenged by delayed directive presentation or contradictory family wishes.
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To identify factors associated with the initial rhythm in patients with in-hospital cardiac arrest and to assess whether potential differences in outcomes based on the initial rhythm can be explained by patient and event characteristics. ⋯ In this study, specific patient and cardiac arrest characteristics were associated with initial rhythm in patients with in-hospital cardiac arrest. However, differences in patient and cardiac arrest characteristics did not fully explain the association with survival for initial shockable rhythm compared to a non-shockable rhythm.