Resuscitation
-
Reversible myocardial dysfunction is common after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). The aim of this study was to determine if changes on serial transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) can predict long-term mortality in OHCA subjects. ⋯ Significant changes in systolic function and hemodynamic parameters occur on serial Doppler TTE after OHCA, consistent with reversible post-arrest myocardial dysfunction. The magnitude of those changes is greater in long-term survivors, emphasizing that the degree of recovery from post-arrest myocardial dysfunction may be more important than its initial severity.
-
Extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR) is a second line treatment for refractory cardiac arrest (R-OHCA). Timing of ECPR before performing coronary angiography (CAG) is still debated. The aim of the study was to describe the clinical and angiographic characteristics of the largest cohort of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) patients undergoing ECPR. ⋯ In 74 refractory OHCA patients treated with ECPR implanted by a prehospital mobile intensive care unit, the rate of CAD was high (54/74) especially in patients with shockable rhythm. The majority of patients presented with double or triple vessel disease and proximal lesions. The severity and extension of CAD may explain the refractory nature of the cardiac arrest.
-
To examine the effects of brief hypoxia (<7 min) due to cardiac arrest on the integrity of the brain and performance on memory and executive functions tasks. ⋯ Significant differences between the two groups were observed on several verbal memory tests. Both hippocampi were significantly reduced (p < 0.05) in the CA patients, relative to MI patients. Hippocampal subfields segmentation showed significantly reduced presubiculum volumes bilaterally. CA patients had on average 10% reduction in volumes bilaterally across hippocampal subfields. No cortical thickness differences survived correction. Significant correlations were observed in the CA group only between the hippocampal volumes and performance on verbal memory tasks, including recollection. Hippocampal volumes and several memory measures (but not other cognitive domains) were strongly correlated with APACHE-II scores on admission in the CA group, but not in the MI group CONCLUSIONS: Chronic patients with cardiac arrest who were discharged from hospital in "good neurological condition" showed an average of 10% reduction in hippocampal volume bilaterally and significant verbal memory deficits relative to matched controls with myocardial infarction, suggesting even brief hypoxic periods suffice to lead to specific hippocampal damage.