Resuscitation
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Randomized Controlled Trial
The impact of alternate defibrillation strategies on shock-refractory and recurrent ventricular fibrillation: A secondary analysis of the DOSE VF cluster randomized controlled trial.
The DOSE VF randomized controlled trial (RCT) employed a pragmatic definition of refractory ventricular fibrillation (VF after three successive shocks). However, it remains unclear whether the underlying rhythm during the first three shocks was shock-refractory or recurrent VF. ⋯ DSED appears to be the superior defibrillation strategy in the DOSE VF trial, irrespective of whether the preceding VF is shock-refractory or recurrent.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Thiamine as a Metabolic Resuscitator after In-hospital Cardiac Arrest.
Elevated lactate is associated with mortality after cardiac arrest. Thiamine, a cofactor of pyruvate dehydrogenase, is necessary for aerobic metabolism. In a mouse model of cardiac arrest, thiamine improved pyruvate dehydrogenase activity, survival and neurologic outcome. ⋯ In this single center trial thiamine had no overall effect on lactate after in-hospital cardiac arrest.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Thiamine as a Metabolic Resuscitator after Out-of-hospital Cardiac Arrest.
Thiamine is a key cofactor for aerobic metabolism, previously shown to improve mortality and neurological outcomes in a mouse model of cardiac arrest. We hypothesized that thiamine would decrease lactate and improve outcomes in post-arrest patients. ⋯ In this single-center randomized trial, thiamine did not affect lactate over 24 hours after OHCA.
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Refractory ventricular fibrillation or pulseless ventricular tachycardia (rVF/pVT) during out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) is associated with poor survival. Double sequential defibrillation (DSED) and vector change (VC) improved survival for rVF/pVT in the DOSE-VF RCT. However, the role of angiography and percutaneous coronary intervention (angiography/PCI) during the trial is unknown. ⋯ We found high rates of angiography/PCI in patients with STE compared to NO-STE, however similar rates of survival. Angiography was an independent predictor of survival. Improved rates of survival employing DSED and VC were independent of angiography/PCI.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Randomized Feasibility Trial of Remote Ischemic Conditioning to Enhance Resuscitation (RICE).
Restoration of blood flow after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) is associated with inflammation that causes cellular injury. The extent of this reperfusion injury (RI) is associated with the duration of ischemia and adequacy of resuscitation. Remote ischemic conditioning (RIC) consists of repeated application of non-lethal ischemia then reperfusion to a limb distal to the heart by inflating a blood pressure (BP) cuff. Trials in animal models in cardiac arrest and in humans with acute infarction show RIC reduces RI. ⋯ Application of RIC to patients resuscitated from CA and transported to an ED is feasible and safe. An adequately powered trial is required to assess whether RIC is effective at decreasing morbidity and mortality after CA.