Andreas Zajicek

Out of hospital cardiac arrest in Vienna: Incidence and outcome

AIM OF THE STUDY To determine the incidence of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest and the survival rate of those patients who received CPR in the city of Vienna. METHODS A cohort of patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrests and who were treated by the Vienna Ambulance Service between January 1, 2009, and December 31, 2010, were followed up until either death or hospital discharge. The associations of survival and neurological outcome with their potential predictors were analysed using simple logistic regression models. Odds ratios were estimated for each factor. RESULTS During the observation period, a total of 7030 (206.8/100,000 inhabitants/year) patients without signs of circulation were assessed by teams of the Vienna Ambulance Service, and 1448 adult patients were resuscitated by emergency medical service personnel. A sustained return of spontaneous circulation was reported in 361 (24.9%) of the treated patients, and in all 479 (33.0%) of the patients were taken to the emergency department. A total of 164 (11.3%) of the patients were discharged from the hospital alive, and 126 (8.7%) of the patients showed cerebral performance categories of 1 or 2 at the time of discharge. Younger age, an arrest in a public area, a witnessed arrest and a shockable rhythm were associated with a higher probability of survival to hospital discharge. CONCLUSION Survival rates for out-of-hospital cardiac arrests remain low. Efforts should be focused on rapidly initiating basic life support, early defibrillation, and high-quality CPR by emergency medical services and state-of-the art post-resuscitation care.

Age-specific prognostication after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest – The ethical dilemma between ‘life-sustaining treatment’ and ‘the right to die’ in the elderly:

Background: While prognostic values on survival after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest have been well investigated, less attention has been paid to their age-specific relevance. Therefore, we aimed to identify suitable age-specific early prognostication in elderly patients suffering out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in order to reduce the burden of unnecessary treatment and harm. Methods: In a prospective population-based observational trial on individuals suffering out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, a total of 2223 patients receiving resuscitation attempts by the local emergency medical service in Vienna, Austria, were enrolled. Patients were stratified according to age as follows: young and middle-aged individuals (<65 years), young old individuals (65–74 years), old individuals (75–84 years) and very old individuals (>85 years). Results: There was an increasing rate of 30-day mortality (+21.8%, p < 0.001) and unfavourable neurological outcome (+18.8%, p < 0.001) with increasing age among age groups. Established predictive variables lost their prognostic potential with increasing age, even after adjusting for potential confounders. Independently, an initially shockable electrocardiogram proved to be directly associated with survival, with an adjusted hazard ratio (HR) of 2.04 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.89–2.38, p = 0.003) for >85-year-olds. Frailty was directly associated with mortality (HR 1.22, 95% CI 1.01–1.51, p = 0.049), showing a 30-day survival of 5.6% and a favourable neurological outcome of 1.1% among elderly individuals. Conclusion: An initially shockable electrocardiogram proved to be a suitable tool for risk assessment and decision making in order to predict a successful outcome in elderly victims of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. However, the outcomes of elderly patients seemed to be exceptionally poor in frail individuals and need to be considered in order to reduce unnecessary treatment decisions.

Strategic target temperature management in myocardial infarction—a feasibility trial

Objective The purpose of this study was to demonstrate the feasibility of a combined cooling strategy started out of hospital as an adjunctive to percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in the treatment of ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome (STE-ACS). Design Non-randomised, single-centre feasibility trial. Setting Department of emergency medicine of a tertiary-care facility, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria. In cooperation with the Municipal ambulance service of the city of Vienna. Patients Consecutive patients with STE-ACS presenting to the emergency medical service within 6 h after symptom onset. Interventions Cooling was initiated with surface cooling pads in the out-of-hospital setting, followed by the administration of 1000–2000 mL of cold saline at hospital arrival and completed by endovascular cooling in the catheterisation laboratory. Main outcome measures Feasibility of lowering core temperature below 35.0°C prior to immediately performed revascularisation. Safety and tolerability of the cooling procedure. Results In enrolled 19 patients (one woman, median age 51 years (IQR 45–59)), symptom onset to first medical contact (FMC) was 45 min (IQR 31–85). A core temperature below 35.0°C at reperfusion of the culprit lesion was achieved in 11 patients (78%) within 100 min (IQR 90–111) after FMC without any cooling-related serious adverse event. Temperature could be lowered from baseline 36.4°C (IQR 36.2–36.5°C) to 34.4°C (IQR 34.1–35.0°C) at the time of reperfusion. Conclusions With limitations an immediate out-of-hospital therapeutic hypothermia strategy was feasible and safe in patients with STE-ACS undergoing primary PCI. Clinical trial registration http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01864343; clinical trials unique identifier: NCT01864343

Editor’s Choice-Progress in the chain of survival and its impact on outcomes of patients admitted to a specialized high-volume cardiac arrest center during the past two decades

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.

The impact of airway strategy on the patient outcome after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest: A propensity score matched analysis:

Background: While guidelines mentioned supraglottic airway management in the case of out-of- hospital cardiac arrest, robust data of their impact on the patient outcome remain scare and results are inconclusive. Methods: To assess the impact of the airway strategy on the patient outcome we prospectively enrolled 2224 individuals suffering cardiac arrest who were treated by the Viennese municipal emergency medical service. To control for potential confounders, propensity score matching was performed. Patients were matched in four groups with a 1:1:1:1 ratio (n=210/group) according to bag-mask-valve, laryngeal tube, endotracheal intubation and secondary endotracheal intubation after primary laryngeal tube ventilation. Results: The laryngeal tube subgroup showed the lowest 30-day survival rate among all tested devices (p<0.001). However, in the case of endotracheal intubation after primary laryngeal tube ventilation, survival rates were comparable to the primary endotracheal tube subgroup. The use of a laryngeal tube was independently and directly associated with mortality with an adjusted odds ratio of 1.97 (confidence interval: 1.14–3.39; p=0.015). Additionally, patients receiving laryngeal tube ventilation showed the lowest rate of good neurological performance (6.7%; p<0.001) among subgroups. However, if patients received endotracheal intubation after initial laryngeal tube ventilation, the outcome proved to be significantly better (9.5%; p<0.001). Conclusion: We found that the use of a laryngeal tube for airway management in cardiac arrest was significantly associated with poor 30-day survival rates and unfavourable neurological outcome. A primary endotracheal airway management needs to be considered at the scene, or an earliest possible secondary endotracheal intubation during both pre-hospital and in-hospital post-return of spontaneous circulation critical care seems crucial and most beneficial for the patient outcome.

Laryngeal Tube Practice in a Metropolitan Ambulance Service: A Five-year Retrospective Observational Study (2009–2013)

Abstract Background: The endotracheal tube (ETT) is considered the gold standard in emergency airway management, although supraglottic airway devices, especially the laryngeal tube (LT), have recently gained in importance. Although regarded as an emergency device in case of failure of endotracheal intubation in most systems, we investigated the dynamics of the use of the LT in a metropolitan ambulance service without any regulations on the choice of airway device. Methods: A retrospective, observational study on all patients from the Municipal Ambulance Service, Vienna in need of advanced airway management over a 5-year period. Differences between years were compared; influencing factors for the use of the LT were analyzed using multivariable logistic regression. Results: In total 5,175 patients (mean age 62 ± 20 years, 36.6% female) underwent advanced airway management. Of these, 15.6% received the LT. LT use increased from 20 out of 1,001 (2.0%) in 2009 to 292 of 1,085 (26.9%) in 2013 (p < 0.001). The increase between each consecutive year was also significant. Paramedics more frequently inserted the LT than physicians (RR 1.80 (95%CI 1.48–2.16); p < 0.001). Female patients received a LT less frequently (RR 0.84 (95%CI 0.72–0.97), p = 0.013). There was no difference regarding airway device due to underlying causes requiring airway management and no relationship to the NACA-score. Conclusion: In a European EMS system of physician and paramedic response, the proportion of airway managed by LT over ETT rose considerably over five years. Although the ET is still the gold standard, the LT is gaining in importance for EMS physicians and paramedics.

Safety and feasibility of the RhinoChill immediate transnasal evaporative cooling device during out-of-hospital cardiopulmonary resuscitation: A single-center, observational study.

AbstractWe investigated feasibility and safety of the RhinoChill (RC) transnasal cooling system initiated before achieving a protected airway during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) in a prehospital setting.In out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA), transnasal evaporative cooling was initiated during CPR, before a protected airway was established and continued until either the patient was declared dead, standard institutional systemic cooling methods were implemented or cooling supply was empty. Patients were monitored throughout the hypothermia period until either death or hospital discharge. Clinical assessments and relevant adverse events (AEs) were documented over this period of time.In total 21 patients were included. Four were excluded due to user errors or meeting exclusion criteria. Finally, 17 patients (f = 6; mean age 65.5 years, CI95%: 57.7–73.4) were analyzed. Device-related AEs, like epistaxis or nose whitening, occurred in 2 patients. They were mild and had no consequence on the patients outcome. According to the field reports of the emergency medical services (EMS) personnel, no severe technical problems occurred by using the RC device that led to a delay or the impairment of quality of the CPR.Early application of the RC device, during OHCA is feasible, safe, easy to handle, and does not delay or hinder CPR, or establishment of a secure intubation. For efficacy and further safety data additional studies will be needed.

Improvements in the quality of advanced life support and patient outcome after implementation of a standardized real-life post-resuscitation feedback system

BACKGROUND Educational aspects in the training of advanced life support (ALS) represent a key role in critical care management of patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) and received special attention in guidelines of various international societies. While a positive association of feedback on ALS performance in training conditions is well established, data on the impact of a real-life post-resuscitation feedback on both ALS quality and outcome remain scarce and inconclusive. We aimed to elucidate the impact of a standardized post-resuscitation feedback on quality of ALS and improvements in patient outcome, in a real-life out-of-hospital setting. METHODS We prospectively enrolled and analyzed 2209 patients presenting with OHCA receiving resuscitation attempts by the municipal emergency medical service (EMS) of Vienna over a two-year period. A standardized post-resuscitation feedback protocol was delivered to the respective EMS-team to elucidate its impact on the quality of ALS. RESULTS We observed that both chest compression rates and ratios were in accordance to recommendations of recent guidelines. While interruptions of chest compressions longer than 30s declined during the observation period (-6.5%) rates of the recommended chest compressions during defibrillator-charging periods increased (+8.9%). Since the percentage of ROSC and 30-day survival remained balanced, the frequencies of both survival until hospital discharge (+6.3%) and favorable neurological outcome (+16%) in survivors significantly increased during the observation period. CONCLUSION Improvements in the quality of advanced life support as well the patient outcome were observed after the implementation of a standardized post-resuscitation feedback protocol.