Cardiac arrest

Author(s):  
Gajen Sunthar Kanaganayagam ◽  
Andrew Constantine ◽  
Susanna Price

This chapter will present how advanced life support-compliant focused cardiac ultrasound can help confirm the cardiac rhythm, diagnose reversible causes, and predict favourable outcomes during cardiopulmonary resuscitation. It will describe how to recognize severe hypovolaemia, cardiac tamponade, coronary artery thrombosis, massive pulmonary embolus, and tension pneumothorax, and when to intervene. It will conclude by introducing how echo can assist clinical management during post-resuscitation care.

Circulation ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 132 (suppl_3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rasmus Aagaard ◽  
Philip Caap ◽  
Nicolaj C Hansson ◽  
Morten T Bøtker ◽  
Asger Granfeldt ◽  
...  

Introduction: Survival from non-shockable cardiac arrest is unlikely unless a reversible cause is identified and treated. Guidelines state that ultrasound has the potential to identify reversible causes. Currently, ultrasonographic findings from patients with spontaneous circulation are extrapolated to patients in cardiac arrest. While right ventricular (RV) dilation is a finding normally associated with pulmonary embolism (PE), porcine studies have shown that RV dilation is also seen in ventricular fibrillation (VF) and severe hypoxia. No studies have investigated how causes of cardiac arrest affect RV size during resuscitation. Hypothesis: The RV diameter is larger during resuscitation of cardiac arrest caused by PE when compared to hypoxia and VF. Methods: Pigs were anesthetized and randomized to cardiac arrest induced by VF, hypoxia, or PE. Advanced life support (ALS) was preceded by 7 minutes of untreated cardiac arrest. Cardiac ultrasound images of the RV from a subcostal 5-chamber view were obtained during induction of cardiac arrest and ALS. The RV diameter was measured two centimeters from the aortic valve at end diastole. RV diameter at 3rd rhythm analysis was the primary endpoint. Based on pilot studies a sample size of 8 animals in each group was needed. Results: Eight animals were included in each group. RV diameter was not statistically different at baseline (mean (95%CI)) in VF: 19.8 (18.0-21.5) mm, hypoxia: 19.8 (16.6-22.9) mm, and PE: 21.8 (19.2-24.3) mm. During induction of cardiac arrest the RV diameter increased to 29.6 (27.3-31.9) mm in the hypoxia group and 38.0 (33.4-42.6) mm in the PE group (difference to baseline and between groups, both p<0.01). Induction of VF caused an immediate increase in the RV diameter to 25.0 (21.2-28.8) mm (difference to baseline p<0.01). At 3rd rhythm analysis, RV diameter was 32.4 (28.6-36.2) mm in the PE group, which was significantly larger than both the hypoxia group at 23.3 (19.5-27.0) mm and the VF group at 24.9 (22.2-27.5) mm (difference between groups p<0.01). Conclusions: Cardiac arrest due to VF, hypoxia, and PE all caused an increase in RV diameter. During resuscitation the RV was larger in PE compared to VF and hypoxia. Cardiac ultrasound thus has the potential to detect PE during resuscitation.


Author(s):  
Mark S. Link ◽  
Mark Estes III

Resuscitation on the playing field is at least as important as screening in the prevention of death. Even if a screening strategy is largely effective, individuals will suffer sudden cardiac arrests. Timely recognition of a cardiac arrest with rapid implementation of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and deployment and use of automated external defibrillators (AEDs) will save lives. Basic life support, including CPR and AED use, should be a requirement for all those involved in sports, including athletes. An emergency action plan is important in order to render advanced cardiac life support and arrange for transport to medical centres.


Circulation ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 142 (16_suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Katherine M. Berg ◽  
Jasmeet Soar ◽  
Lars W. Andersen ◽  
Bernd W. Böttiger ◽  
Sofia Cacciola ◽  
...  

This 2020 International Consensus on Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiovascular Care Science With Treatment Recommendations for advanced life support includes updates on multiple advanced life support topics addressed with 3 different types of reviews. Topics were prioritized on the basis of both recent interest within the resuscitation community and the amount of new evidence available since any previous review. Systematic reviews addressed higher-priority topics, and included double-sequential defibrillation, intravenous versus intraosseous route for drug administration during cardiac arrest, point-of-care echocardiography for intra-arrest prognostication, cardiac arrest caused by pulmonary embolism, postresuscitation oxygenation and ventilation, prophylactic antibiotics after resuscitation, postresuscitation seizure prophylaxis and treatment, and neuroprognostication. New or updated treatment recommendations on these topics are presented. Scoping reviews were conducted for anticipatory charging and monitoring of physiological parameters during cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Topics for which systematic reviews and new Consensuses on Science With Treatment Recommendations were completed since 2015 are also summarized here. All remaining topics reviewed were addressed with evidence updates to identify any new evidence and to help determine which topics should be the highest priority for systematic reviews in the next 1 to 2 years.


2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (4_suppl) ◽  
pp. S82-S89
Author(s):  
Michael Poppe ◽  
Mario Krammel ◽  
Christian Clodi ◽  
Christoph Schriefl ◽  
Alexandra-Maria Warenits ◽  
...  

Objective Most western emergency medical services provide advanced life support in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest aiming for a return of spontaneous circulation at the scene. Little attention is given to prehospital time management in the case of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest with regard to early coronary angiography or to the start of extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation treatment within 60 minutes after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest onset. We investigated the emergency medical services on-scene time, defined as emergency medical services arrival at the scene until departure to the hospital, and its association with 30-day survival with favourable neurological outcome after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. Methods All patients of over 18 years of age with non-traumatic, non-emergency medical services witnessed out-of-hospital cardiac arrest between July 2013 and August 2015 from the Vienna Cardiac Arrest Registry were included in this retrospective observational study. Results Out of 2149 out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients, a total of 1687 (79%) patients were eligible for analyses. These patients were stratified into groups according to the on-scene time (<35 minutes, 35–45 minutes, 45–60 minutes, >60 minutes). Within short on-scene time groups, out-of-hospital cardiac arrest occurred more often in public and bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation was more common (both P<0.001). Patients who did not achieve return of spontaneous circulation at the scene showed higher rates of 30-day survival with favourable neurological outcome with an on-scene time of less than 35 minutes (adjusted odds ratio 5.00, 95% confidence interval 1.39–17.96). Conclusion An emergency medical services on-scene time of less than 35 minutes was associated with higher rates of survival and favourable outcomes. It seems to be reasonable to develop time optimised advance life support protocols to minimise the on-scene time in view of further treatments such as early coronary angiography as part of post-resuscitation care or extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation in refractory out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.


Medicina ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 46 (9) ◽  
pp. 571 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrius Pranskūnas ◽  
Paulius Dobožinskas ◽  
Vidas Pilvinis ◽  
Živilė Petkevičiūtė ◽  
Nedas Jasinskas ◽  
...  

Despite advances in cardiac arrest care, the overall survival to hospital discharge remains poor. The objective of this paper was to review the innovations in cardiopulmonary resuscitation that could influence survival or change our understanding about cardiopulmonary resuscitation. We have performed a search in the MEDLINE and the Cochrane databases for randomized controlled trials, meta-analyses, expert reviews from December 2005 to March 2010 using the terms cardiac arrest, basic life support, and advanced life support. The lack of randomized trials during the last 5 years remains the main problem for crucial decisions in cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Current trends in cardiopulmonary resuscitation are toward minimizing the interruptions of chest compressions and improving the quality of cardiopulmonary resuscitation. In addition, attention should be paid to all the parts of chain of survival, which remains essential in improving survival rates.


2014 ◽  
Vol 22 (4) ◽  
pp. 562-568 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniela Aparecida Morais ◽  
Daclé Vilma Carvalho ◽  
Allana dos Reis Correa

OBJECTIVE: to analyze determinant factors for the immediate survival of persons who receive cardiopulmonary resuscitation from the advanced support units of the Mobile Emergency Medical Services (SAMU) of Belo Horizonte.METHOD: this is a retrospective, epidemiological study which analyzed 1,165 assistance forms, from the period 2008 - 2010. The collected data followed the Utstein style, being submitted to descriptive and analytical statistics with tests with levels of significance of 5%.RESULTS: the majority were male, the median age was 64 years, and the ambulance response time, nine minutes. Immediate survival was observed in 239 persons. An association was ascertained of this outcome with "cardiac arrest witnessed by persons trained in basic life support" (OR=3.49; p<0.05; CI 95%), "cardiac arrest witnessed by Mobile Emergency Medical Services teams" (OR=2.99; p<0.05; CI95%), "only the carry out of basic life support" (OR=0.142; p<0.05; CI95%), and "initial cardiac rhythm of asystole" (OR=0.33; p<0.05; CI 95%).CONCLUSION: early access to cardiopulmonary resuscitation was related to a favorable outcome, and the non-undertaking of advanced support, and asystole, were associated with worse outcomes. Basic and advanced life support techniques can alter survival in the event of cardiac arrest.


Membranes ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 270
Author(s):  
Viviane Zotzmann ◽  
Corinna N. Lang ◽  
Xavier Bemtgen ◽  
Markus Jaeckel ◽  
Annabelle Fluegler ◽  
...  

Introduction: Extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR) might be a lifesaving therapy for patients with cardiac arrest and no return of spontaneous circulation during advanced life support. However, even with ECPR, mortality of these severely sick patients is high. Little is known on the exact mode of death in these patients. Methods: Retrospective registry analysis of all consecutive patients undergoing ECPR between May 2011 and May 2020 at a single center. Mode of death was judged by two researchers. Results: A total of 274 ECPR cases were included (age 60.0 years, 47.1% shockable initial rhythm, median time-to-extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) 53.8min, hospital survival 25.9%). The 71 survivors had shorter time-to-ECMO durations (46.0 ± 27.9 vs. 56.6 ± 28.8min, p < 0.01), lower initial lactate levels (7.9 ± 4.5 vs. 11.6 ± 8.4 mg/dL, p < 0.01), higher PREDICT-6h (41.7 ± 17.0% vs. 25.3 ± 19.0%, p < 0.01), and SAVE (0.4 ± 4.8 vs. −0.8 ± 4.4, p < 0.01) scores. Most common mode of death in 203 deceased patients was therapy resistant shock in 105/203 (51.7%) and anoxic brain injury in 69/203 (34.0%). Comparing patients deceased with shock to those with cerebral damage, patients with shock were significantly older (63.2 ± 11.5 vs. 54.3 ± 16.5 years, p < 0.01), more frequently resuscitated in-hospital (64.4% vs. 29.9%, p < 0.01) and had shorter time-to-ECMO durations (52.3 ± 26.8 vs. 69.3 ± 29.1min p < 0.01). Conclusions: Most patients after ECPR decease due to refractory shock. Older patients with in-hospital cardiac arrest might be prone to development of refractory shock. Only a minority die from cerebral damage. Research should focus on preventing post-CPR shock and treating the shock in these patients.


2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (18) ◽  
pp. 298-303
Author(s):  
Srđan Nikolovski ◽  
Lovćenka Čizmović

Adult advanced life support guidelines 2021 provided by the European Resuscitation Council in its largest extent do not differ significantly from equivalent guidelines published six years ago. However, some important points were further emphasized, and some protocols show new additions and structural changes. According to the new guidelines, there is a greater recognition that patients with both in-hospital and out-of-hospital cardiac arrest have premonitory signs, and that many of these arrests may be preventable. High-quality chest compressions with minimal interruption, early defibrillation, and treatment of reversible causes remained high priority steps in resuscitation process. New guidelines also recommend that, if an advanced airway is required, rescuers with a high tracheal intubation success rate should use this technique. With regard to using diagnostic procedures, medications, and special methods of cardiopulmonary resuscitation, newest guidelines also made new suggestions. According to these guidelines, when adrenaline is used, it should be used as soon as possible when the cardiac arrest rhythm is non-shockable, and after three defibrillation attempts for a shockable cardiac arrest rhythm. The guidelines recognise the increasing role of point-of-care ultrasound in peri-arrest care for diagnosis, but emphasis that it requires a skilled operator, and the need to minimise interruptions during chest compression. Additionally, 2015 guidelines suggested use of point-of-care ultrasound in diagnosing several various conditions with potential of causing cardiac arrest. However, 2021 guidelines limited indications in diagnosing only cardiac causes, such as tamponade or pneumothorax. The guidelines also reflect the increasing evidence for extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation as a rescue therapy for selected patients with cardiac arrest when conventional advanced life support measures are failing or to facilitate specific interventions. Additionally, newest guidelines made significant changes in the order of steps used in the In/hospital resuscitation algorithm, as well as changes in several very important steps of treating tachycardias and high heart rate associated arrhythmias.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dominique Savary ◽  
François Morin ◽  
Delphine Douillet ◽  
Thierry Roupioz ◽  
François Xavier Ageron ◽  
...  

Abstract The management of Out of hospital Traumatic Cardiac Arrest (TCA) for professional rescuers combines advanced life support with specifics actions to treat potential reversible causes of the arrest: hypovolemia, hypoxemia, Tension Pneumothorax (TPx) and tamponade. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of specific rescue gestures on short-term outcomes in the context of resuscitation of patients with a pre-hospital TCA.Methods: We conducted a retrospective study of all TCA treated in two emergency medical units (EM unit), which are part of the Northern Alps emergency network, from January 2004 to December 2017. Utstein variables and specific rescue actions in TCA were compiled: advanced airway management, fluid administration, pelvic stabilization or tourniquet application, bilateral thoracostomy, and thoracotomy procedures. The primary end point was the survival rate at day 30 with good neurologic outcome (cerebral performance category [CPC] score 1 & 2).Results: 287 resuscitations attempt in TCA were included and 279 specific interventions were Identified: 262 Fluid expansion, 41 External Pelvic stabilizations, 5 tourniquets, 175 bilateral thoracostomies, (including 44 with TPx).Conclusion: Among standard resuscitation measures to treat reversible causes of cardiac arrest, we were able to show that bilateral thoracostomy and tourniquet application on a limb hemorrhage improves survival of TCA. A larger sample for pelvic stabilization is necessary.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document