After cardiac arrest (CA), some patients report impressions with highly realistic features, often referred to as near-death experience (NDE). The frequency of such episodes seems to be variable, with ...various types of content. In a prospective study, we subjected 126 CA cases treated at the Department of Emergency Medicine of the Medical University of Vienna under carefully controlled conditions to a structured interview. We included all patients admitted due to CA, whose communicative abilities were restored and who agreed to participate in the study. The questionnaire inquired as to living conditions, attitudes towards issues of life and death, and last recollections before and first impressions after the CA. The majority of the subjects (91 = 76%) replied to inquiries concerning impressions during CA with "nothing" or "blackout", but 20 (16%) gave a detailed account. A German version of the Greyson questionnaire specifically addressing NDE phenomena (included towards the end of the interview) resulted in ≥7 points in five patients (4%). Three patients reported a meeting with deceased relatives (one with 6 Greyson points), one an out-of-body episode, and one having been sucked into a colorful tunnel. Eleven of these twenty cases had their cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) started within the first min of CA, a higher fraction than cases without experience. Reported experience after CA was of high significance for the patients; many of them changed their point of view on issues of life and death.
Background Once the return of spontaneous circulation after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest is achieved, a 12-lead ECG is strongly recommended to identify candidates for urgent coronary angiography. ...ECG has no apparent role in mortality risk stratification. We aimed to assess whether ECG features could be associated with 30-day survival in patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. Methods and Results All the post-return of spontaneous circulation ECGs from January 2015 to December 2018 in 3 European centers (Pavia, Lugano, and Vienna) were collected. Prehospital data were collected according to the Utstein style. A total of 370 ECGs were collected: 287 men (77.6%) with a median age of 62 years (interquartile range, 53-70 years). After correction for the return of spontaneous circulation-to-ECG time, age >62 years (hazard ratio HR, 1.78 95% CI, 1.21-2.61;
=0.003), female sex (HR, 1.5 95% CI, 1.05-2.13;
=0.025), QRS wider than 120 ms (HR, 1.64 95% CI, 1.43-1.87;
<0.001), the presence of a Brugada pattern (HR, 1.49 95% CI, 1.39-1.59;
<0.001), and the presence of ST-segment elevation in >1 segment (HR, 1.75 95% CI, 1.59-1.93;
<0.001) were independently associated with 30-day mortality. A score ranging from 0 to 26 was created, and by dividing the population into 3 tertiles, 3 classes of risk were found with significantly different survival rate at 30 days (score 0-4, 73%; score 5-7, 66%; score 8-26, 45%). Conclusions The post-return of spontaneous circulation ECG can identify patients who are at high risk of mortality after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest earlier than other forms of prognostication. This provides important risk stratification possibilities in postcardiac arrest care that could help to direct treatments and improve outcomes in patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.
Aims
To evaluate the performance of the ABC (Age, Biomarkers, Clinical history) and CHA
2
DS
2
-VASc stroke scores under real-world conditions in an emergency setting.
Methods and Results
The ...performance of the biomarker-based ABC-stroke score and the clinical variable-based CHA
2
DS
2
-VASc score for stroke risk assessment were prospectively evaluated in a consecutive series of 2,108 patients with acute symptomatic atrial fibrillation at a tertiary care emergency department. Performance was assessed according to methods for the development and validation of clinical prediction models by Steyerberg et al. and the Transparent Reporting of a Multivariable Prediction Model for Individual Prognosis or Diagnosis. During a cumulative observation period of 3,686 person-years, the stroke incidence rate was 1.66 per 100 person-years. Overall, the ABC-stroke and CHA
2
DS
2
-VASc scores revealed respective c-indices of 0.64 and 0.55 for stroke prediction. Risk-class hazard ratios comparing moderate to low and high to low were 3.51 and 2.56 for the ABC-stroke score and 1.10 and 1.62 for the CHA
2
DS
2
-VASc score. The ABC-stroke score also provided improved risk stratification in patients with moderate stroke risk according to the CHA
2
DS
2
-VASc score, who lack clear recommendations regarding anticoagulation therapy (HR: 4.35,
P
= 0.001). Decision curve analysis indicated a superior net clinical benefit of using the ABC-stroke score.
Conclusion
In a large, real-world cohort of patients with acute atrial fibrillation in the emergency department, the ABC-stroke score was superior to the guideline-recommended CHA
2
DS
2
-VASc score at predicting stroke risk and refined risk stratification of patients labeled moderate risk by the CHA
2
DS
2
-VASc score, potentially easing treatment decision-making.
Abstract
Aims
Extracellular chromatin and deoxyribonuclease (DNase) have been identified as important players of thrombosis, inflammation, and homeostasis in a murine model. We previously ...demonstrated that activated neutrophils release neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) at the culprit site in ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), which significantly contribute to extracellular chromatin burden, and are associated with larger infarcts. To understand the correlation between neutrophil activation, extracellular chromatin, and infarct size (IS), we investigated these parameters in a porcine myocardial infarction model, and at different time points and sites in a prospective STEMI trial with cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) endpoints.
Methods and results
In a prospective STEMI trial (NCT01777750), 101 STEMI patients were included and blood samples were obtained from first medical contact until 6 months after primary percutaneous coronary intervention (pPCI) including direct sampling from the culprit site. CMR was performed 4 ± 2 days and 6 months after pPCI. Neutrophil counts, markers of extracellular chromatin, and inflammation were measured. Double-stranded deoxyribonucleic acid (dsDNA), citrullinated histone 3, nucleosomes, myeloperoxidase, neutrophil elastase, and interleukin (IL)-6 were significantly increased, while DNase activity was significantly decreased at the culprit site in STEMI patients. High neutrophil counts and dsDNA levels at the culprit site correlated with high microvascular obstruction (MVO) and low ejection fraction (EF). High DNase activity at the culprit site correlated with low MVO and high EF. In correspondence, dsDNA correlated with IS in the porcine myocardial infarction model. In porcine infarcts, neutrophils and extracellular chromatin were detected in congested small arteries corresponding with MVO. Markers of neutrophil activation, extracellular chromatin, DNase activity and CMR measurements correlated with markers of systemic inflammation C-reactive protein and IL-6 in patients.
Conclusions
NETs and extracellular chromatin are important determinants of MVO in STEMI. Rapid degradation of extracellular chromatin by DNases appears to be crucial for microvascular patency and outcome.
Graphical Abstract
Graphical Abstract
Biomarkers of fibrinolysis are elevated during acute immunologic reactions (allergic reactions and angioedema), although it is unclear whether fibrinolysis is associated with disease severity.
We ...investigated a possible association between maximum lysis (ML) measured by thromboelastography and the severity of acute immunologic reactions.
We recruited patients with acute immunologic reactions at a high-volume emergency department. Clinical disease severity at presentation and at the end of the emergency department stay was assessed using a 5-grade scale, ranging from local symptoms to cardiac arrest. We determined ML on admission by thromboelastography (ROTEM's extrinsic EXTEM, and aprotinin APTEM tests), expressed as ML%. Hyperfibrinolysis was defined as an ML of >15% in EXTEM, which was reversed by adding aprotinin (APTEM). We used exact logistic regression to investigate an association between ML% and disease severity (grades 1 and 2 mild vs 3-5 severe) and between hyperfibrinolysis and disease severity.
We included 31 patients (71% female; median age, 52 IQR, 35-58 years; 10 32% with a severe reaction). ML% was higher in patients with severe symptoms (21 IQR, 12-100 vs 10 IQR, 4-17). Logistic regression found a significant association between ML% and symptom severity (odds ratio, 1.07; 95% CI, 1.01-1.21; P = .003). Hyperfibrinolysis was detected in 6 patients and found to be associated with severe symptoms (odds ratio, 17.59; 95% CI, 1.52-991.09; P = .02). D-dimer, tryptase, and immunoglobulin E concentrations increased with the severity of immunologic reactions.
ML, quantified by thromboelastography, is associated with the severity of acute immunologic reactions.
•Acute immunologic reactions can lead to alterations in blood clotting.•We investigated these alterations in emergency department patients using thromboelastography.•The blood clots of patients with more severe immunologic reactions seem to be more unstable.•Thromboelastography might be helpful to identify patients who need to be monitored closely.
Electrocardiography (ECG) is an important tool to triage patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) after return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC). An immediate coronary angiography after ...ROSC is recommended only in patients with an ECG that is diagnostic of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). To date, the benefit of this approach has not been demonstrated in patients with a post-ROSC ECG that is not diagnostic of STEMI.
To assess whether the time from ROSC to ECG acquisition is associated with the diagnostic accuracy of ECG for STEMI.
This retrospective, multicenter cohort study (the Post-ROSC Electrocardiogram After Cardiac Arrest study) analyzed consecutive patients older than 18 years who were resuscitated from OHCA between January 1, 2015, and December 31, 2018, and were admitted to 1 of the 3 participating centers in Europe (Pavia, Italy; Lugano, Switzerland; and Vienna, Austria).
Only patients who underwent coronary angiography during hospitalization and who acquired a post-ROSC ECG before the angiography were enrolled. Patients with a nonmedical cause of OHCAs were excluded.
The primary end point was false-positive ECG findings, defined as the percentage of patients with post-ROSC ECG findings that met STEMI criteria but who did not show obstructive coronary artery disease on angiography that was worthy of percutaneous coronary angioplasty.
Of 586 consecutive patients who were admitted to the 3 participating centers, 370 were included in the analysis (287 men 77.6%; median age, 62 years interquartile range, 53-70 years); 121 (32.7%) were enrolled in the participating center in Pavia, Italy; 38 (10.3%) in Lugano, Switzerland; and 211 (57.0%) in Vienna, Austria. The percentage of false-positive ECG findings in the first tertile of ROSC to ECG time (≤7 minutes) was significantly higher than that in the second (8-33 minutes) and third (>33 minutes) tertiles: 18.5% in the first tertile vs 7.2% in the second (odds ratio OR, 0.34; 95% CI, 0.13-0.87; P = .02) and 5.8% in the third (OR, 0.27; 95% CI, 0.15-0.47; P < .001). These differences remained significant when adjusting for sex (≤7 minutes: reference; 8-33 minutes: OR, 0.32; 95% CI, 0.12-0.85; P = .02; >33 minutes: OR, 0.26; 95% CI, 0.14-0.47; P < .001), age (≤7 minutes: reference; 8-33 minutes: OR, 0.34; 95% CI, 0.13-0.89; P = .03; >33 minutes: OR, 0.27; 95% CI, 0.15-0.46; P < .001), number of segments with ST-elevation (≤7 minutes: reference; 8-33 minutes: OR, 0.35; 95% CI, 0.15-0.81; P = .01; >33 minutes: OR, 0.28; 95% CI, 0.15-0.52; P < .001), QRS duration (≤7 minutes: reference; 8-33 minutes: OR, 0.35; 95% CI, 0.14-0.87; P = .02; >33 minutes: OR, 0.27; 95% CI, 0.15-0.48; P < .001), heart rate (≤7 minutes: reference; 8-33 minutes: OR, 0.35; 95% CI, 0.13-0.93; P = .04; >33 minutes: OR, 0.29; 95% CI, 0.15-0.55; P < .001), epinephrine administered (≤7 minutes: reference; 8-33 minutes: OR, 0.35; 95% CI, 0.13-0.98; P = .045; >33 minutes: OR, 0.27; 95% CI, 0.16-0.48; P < .001), shockable initial rhythm (≤7 minutes: reference; 8-33 minutes: OR, 0.35; 95% CI, 0.13-0.96; P = .04; >33 minutes: OR, 0.26; 95% CI, 0.15-0.46; P < .001), and 3 or more shocks administered (≤7 minutes: reference; 8-33 minutes: OR, 0.36; 95% CI, 0.13-1.00; P = .05; >33 minutes: OR, 0.27; 95% CI, 0.16-0.48; P < .001) in bivariable analyses.
This study suggests that early ECG acquisition after ROSC in patients with OHCA is associated with a higher percentage of false-positive ECG findings for STEMI. It may be reasonable to delay post-ROSC ECG by at least 8 minutes after ROSC or repeat the acquisition if the first ECG is diagnostic of STEMI and is acquired early after ROSC.
Abstract only
Background:
Based on demographic changes in the western world, the number of patients with cardiac arrest due to a cardiovascular event is continuously rising. A large variety of ...factors impacting on favorable neurological outcome (CPC 1-2) and the 6-month survival, are well established. The question whether the knowledge about these predictive factors result in improved outcome over the last 20 years, has not been proven within a long-term study so far.
Methods:
We prospectively identified 2670 patients (out-of hospital OOH, n = 1822; in-hospital IH, n = 848) with cardiac arrest of cardiac etiology and ventricular fibrillation as a first rhythm treated at our emergency department between January 1992 and December 2012. Chi-square test and Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel test have been used to assess differences in CPC and 6-month survival within the observation-period.
Results:
Within our total cohort, 2189 patients (82.0%) survived the initial event. After a follow-up period of 6 months, 1007 patients (46%) with ROSC deceased. A favorable CPC (1-2) after 6 months has been detected in 1197 patients (54.7%). Within the last 20 years there was an improvement of favorable neurological outcome (CPC 1-2) (p<0.001) and as well a reduction of 6-month mortality rates (p=0.004).
Independently in patients with IH cardiac arrest, 78.5% (n=666) survived the initial event, but the 6-month survival rate (n=381, 57.2%) and the favorable CPC outcome (n=443, 66.5%) were approximately higher. Independently within IH cardiac arrest patients a reduction of 6-month mortality rates (p=0.048) was found. Still there were constantly high rates of favorable neurological outcome (CPC 1-2) after 6 months, but there was no improvement within the past 20 years (p=0.665).
Conclusion:
We were able to demonstrate, that outcome of patients with cardiac arrest of a cardiac etiology has improved significantly within the last 20 years. This gives the impression, that critical care medicine on a high level for patients with cardiac arrest even in the emergency department could be important for outcome. If such specific cardiac arrest centers merged with emergency departments prove to be valuable for ideal patient care has to be further evaluated in detail.
Aim:
Cardiac arrest (CA) is still associated with high mortality and morbidity. Data on the changes in management and outcomes over a long period of time are limited. Using data from a single ...emergency department (ED), we assessed changes over two decades.
Methods:
In this single-center observational study, we prospectively included 4133 patients receiving cardiopulmonary resuscitation and being admitted to the ED of a tertiary care hospital between January 1992 and December 2012.
Results:
There was a significant improvement in both 6-month survival rates (+10.8%; p < 0.001) and favorable neurological outcome (+4.7%; p < 0.001). While the number of witnessed CA cases decreased (-4.7%; p < 0.001) the proportion of patients receiving bystander basic life support increased (+8.3%; p < 0.001). The proportion of patients with initially shockable ECG rhythms remained unchanged, but cardiovascular causes of CA decreased (-9.6%; p < 0.001). Interestingly, the time from CA until ED admission increased (+0.1 hours; p = 0.024). The use of percutaneous coronary intervention and therapeutic hypothermia were significantly associated with survival.
Conclusions:
Outcomes of patients with CA treated at a specialized ED have improved significantly within the last 20 years. Improvements in every link in the chain of survival were noted.
PDF
