Ankur A. Doshi

Prevalence and effect of fever on outcome following resuscitation from cardiac arrest.

OBJECTIVE Evaluate the prevalence of fever in the first 48 h after cardiac arrest and its effect on outcomes. METHODS Review of patients treated between 1/1/2005 and 6/30/2010. Fever was defined as T ≥ 38.0°C. We classified categories of post-cardiac arrest illness severity as (I) awake, (II) coma+mild cardiopulmonary dysfunction (SOFA cardiac+respiratory score <4), (III) coma+moderate-severe cardiopulmonary dysfunction, and (IV) deep coma. Associations between fever and survival or good neurologic outcome were examined between hypothermia (TH) and non-TH groups. RESULTS In 336 patients, mean age was 60 years (SD 16), 63% experienced out-of-hospital cardiac arrest and 65% received TH. A shockable rhythm was present in 40%. Post arrest illness severity was category II in 38%, category III in 20%, and category IV in 42%. Fever was present in 42% of subjects, with a post-arrest median onset of 15 h in the non-TH cohort and 36 h in TH cohort. Fever was not associated with survival within the whole cohort (OR 0.32, CI 0.15, 0.68) or TH cohort (OR 1.21, CI 0.69, 2.14), but was associated with survival in non-TH cohort (OR 0.47, CI 0.20, 1.10). Fever was not associated with good outcomes in the whole cohort (OR 0.83, CI 0.49, 1.40), TH cohort (OR 1.09, CI 0.56, 2.12) or non-TH cohort (OR 0.34, CI 0.11, 1.06). CONCLUSIONS The development of fever within the first 48 h after ROSC is common. Fever is associated with death in non-TH patients. TH treatment appears to mitigate this effect, perhaps by delaying fever onset.

Validation of the Pittsburgh Cardiac Arrest Category illness severity score

BACKGROUND The purpose of this study was to validate the ability of an early post-cardiac arrest illness severity classification to predict patient outcomes. METHODS The Pittsburgh Cardiac Arrest Category (PCAC) is a 4-level illness severity score that was found to be strongly predictive of outcomes in the initial derivation study. We assigned PCAC scores to consecutive in and out-of-hospital cardiac arrest subjects treated at two tertiary care centers between January 2011 and September 2013. We made assignments prospectively at Site 1 and retrospectively at Site 2. Our primary outcome was survival to hospital discharge. Inter-rater reliability of retrospective PCAC assessments was assessed. Secondary outcomes were favorable discharge disposition (home or acute rehabilitation), Cerebral Performance Category (CPC) and modified Rankin Scale (mRS) at hospital discharge. We tested the association of PCAC with each outcome using unadjusted and multivariable logistic regression. RESULTS We included 607 cardiac arrest patients during the study (393 at Site 1 and 214 at Site 2). Site populations differed in age, arrest location, rhythm, use of hypothermia and distribution of PCAC. Inter-rater reliability of retrospective PCAC assignments was excellent (κ=0.81). PCAC was associated with survival (unadjusted odds ratio (OR) for Site 1: 0.33 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.27-0.41)) Site 2: 0.32 (95% CI 0.24-0.43) even after adjustment for other clinical variables (adjusted OR Site 1: 0.32 (95% CI 0.25-0.41) Site 2: 0.31 (95% CI 0.22-0.44)). PCAC was predictive of secondary outcomes. CONCLUSIONS Our results confirm that PCAC is strongly predictive of survival and good functional outcome after cardiac arrest.

Combining NSE and S100B with clinical examination findings to predict survival after resuscitation from cardiac arrest

BACKGROUND Neuron specific enolase (NSE) and astroglial protein S100B are associated with outcome following resuscitation from cardiac arrest. We tested whether NSE and S100B levels are associated with illness severity on hospital arrival, and whether levels are independently associated with survival to hospital discharge after adjusting for initial illness severity. METHODS Levels of NSE and S100B were obtained at arrival, 6, 12, 24, 48, and 72h after successful resuscitation from cardiac arrest. Clinical data included demographics, Pittsburgh Cardiac Arrest Category (PCAC I-IV) and survival to hospital discharge. Univariable and multivariable predictive models including NSE and S-100B were created to predict survival. ROC analyses were performed to determine sensitivity and specificity of NSE and S-100B at each time interval. RESULTS Of 77 comatose subjects, 5 did not receive therapeutic hypothermia and were excluded. Mean age was 59 (SD 16) years, with 58% male (N=42), 72% out-of-hospital arrest (N=52), and 43% VF/VT. Survival was 36% (N=26). PCAC IV was associated with higher levels of NSE at 24h (p=0.001) and S100B at 24h (p=0.005). In the multivariate analysis, survival was associated with initial S100B level (OR 0.24; 95% CI 0.07-0.86). NSE values>49.5ng/mL at 48h and NSE values>10.59ng/mL at 72h predicted mortality. S100B levels>0.414ng/mL at 72h predicted mortality. CONCLUSIONS More severe neurologic injury on initial examination is associated with higher levels of NSE and S100B. Elevated levels of S100B immediately following resuscitation were associated with death. Persistently elevated levels of NSE and S100B at 48 and 72h were associated with death.

Renal dysfunction is common following resuscitation from out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.

BACKGROUND Cardiac arrest patients often suffer from dysfunction of multiple organ systems after return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC). The incidence of renal dysfunction in patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) is not well described. Renal dysfunction has been associated with worse outcomes in critical illness. HYPOTHESIS Renal dysfunction is common after OHCA, and renal dysfunction is independently associated with survival. METHODS We performed a retrospective review of consecutive adult patients admitted to an intensive care unit after successful resuscitation from OHCA between 01/01/2005 and 12/31/2010. Patients were excluded for death or withdrawal of care within 24h, preexisting end-stage renal disease, or OHCA due to hyperkalemia. The RIFLE criteria were used to classify subjects with renal dysfunction into one of three categories - risk, injury, or failure - based on trending of serum creatinine concentration or glomerular filtration rate. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. RESULTS Of 364 patients, 38 were excluded due to death or withdrawal of care within 24h, 11 due to end-stage renal disease, and 4 due to OHCA from hyperkalemia, leaving 311 patients in the final analysis. The mean age was 58 (SD 16) years; 174 (59%) were male, VF/VT was the primary rhythm in 156 (50%), and 236 (80%) were comatose at hospital arrival. Among 311 patients, 32 (10.3%) developed acute renal failure (ARF), 27 (8.7%) developed acute kidney injury (AKI), and 56 (18.0%) developed risk of renal dysfunction. Of the 32 subjects that developed ARF, renal replacement therapy (RRT) was initiated on 13 (40.6%). Development of ARF was not associated with survival (OR 0.73; 95% CI 0.26, 2.05) after adjusting for initial rhythm or illness severity. CONCLUSIONS More than one-third of patients resuscitated from OHCA developed evidence of renal dysfunction, and 19% of patients meeting criteria for AKI or ARF. In this study, development of renal failure was not independently associated with survival.

TRIAD VI: how well do emergency physicians understand Physicians Orders for Life Sustaining Treatment (POLST) forms?

Background Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (POLST) documents are active medical orders to be followed with intention to bridge treatment across health care systems. We hypothesized that these forms can be confusing and jeopardize patient safety. Objectives The aim of this study was to determine whether POLST documents are confusing in the emergency department setting and how confusion impacts the provision or withholding of lifesaving interventions. Methods Members of the Pennsylvania chapter of the American College of Emergency Physicians were surveyed between September and October 2013. Respondents were to determine code status and treatment decisions in scenarios of critically ill patients with POLST documents who emergently arrest. Combinations of resuscitations (do not resuscitate [DNR], cardiopulmonary resuscitation) and levels of treatment (full, limited, comfort measures) were represented. Responses were summarized as percentages and analyzed by subgroup using the Fisher exact test. P = 0.05 was considered significant. We defined confusion in response as absence of consensus (supermajority of 95%). Results Our response rate was 26% (223/855). For scenarios specifying DNR and either full or limited treatment, most chose DNR (59%–84%) and 25% to 75% chose resuscitation. When the POLST specified DNR with comfort measures, 90% selected DNR and withheld resuscitation. When cardiopulmonary resuscitation/full treatment was presented, 95% selected “full code” and resuscitation. Physician age and experience significantly affected response rates; prior POLST education had no impact. In most scenarios depicted, responses reflected confusion over its interpretation. Conclusions Significant confusion exists among members of the Pennsylvania chapter of the American College of Emergency Physicians regarding the use of POLST in critically ill patients. This confusion poses risk to patient safety. Additional training and/or safeguards are needed to allow patient choice as well as protect their safety.

Long-term survival benefit from treatment at a specialty center after cardiac arrest.

INTRODUCTION The Institute of Medicine and American Heart Association have called for tiered accreditation standards and regionalization of post-cardiac arrest care, but there is little data to support that regionalization has a durable effect on patient outcomes. We tested the effect of treatment at a high-volume center on long-term outcome after sudden cardiac arrest (SCA). METHODS We included patients hospitalized at one of 7 medical centers in Southwestern Pennsylvania after SCA from 2005 to 2013. Centers were one regional referral center with an organized systems for post-SCA care, two moderate volume tertiary care centers and 4 low-volume centers. We abstracted clinical characteristics and outcomes at hospital discharge, and for survivors to discharge we queried the National Death Index for long-term survival data. We used Cox regression to determine the unadjusted associations of baseline predictors and survival, and built an adjusted model controlling for baseline predictors. RESULTS Overall, 987 patients survived to discharge. During 2196 person-years of follow-up, median survival was 5.3 years and there were 396 deaths. In unadjusted analysis, treating center, age, arrest location, Charlson Comorbidity Index, initial rhythm, cardiac catheterization, defibrillator placement, discharge disposition, and neurological status at discharge were associated with long-term outcome. In adjusted analysis, treatment at the high-volume cardiac arrest center was associated with improved survival compared to treatment at other centers (hazards ratio 1.49, 95% confidence interval 1.19-1.86). CONCLUSION Treatment at a high-volume cardiac arrest center with organized systems for post-arrest care is associated with a substantial long-term survival benefit after hospital discharge.

Neurocognitive Outcomes Following Successful Resuscitation from Cardiac Arrest

INTRODUCTION Cardiac arrest commonly results in varying degrees of cognitive injury. Standard outcome measures used in the cardiac arrest cohort do not rigorously evaluate for these injury patterns. We examined the utility of the Computerized Assessment for Mild Cognitive Injury (CAMCI) in cardiac arrest (CA) survivors. We hypothesized that cognitive deficits would be more severe in patients who were comatose on hospital arrival. METHODS Prospective cohort of CA survivors at a single tertiary care facility where participants received neurocognitive testing using CAMCI. CAMCI results were subdivided into memory, attention, and executive functions. Scores between subjects who were initially comatose and were not comatose following resuscitation were compared using the Mann-Whitney test. RESULTS Of 72 subjects included, the majority (N=44) were initially comatose following resuscitation with mean age of 54 (±14) years. The majority experienced a good neurologic outcome based on Cerebral Performance Category (N=47; 66%) and Modified Rankin Scale (N=38; 53%). Time from resuscitation to CAMCI testing was not associated with total CAMCI score in this cohort (Pearsons r(2) value -0.1941, p=0.20). Initially comatose and not comatose subjects did not differ in their CAMCI overall scores (p=0.33), or in any subtest areas. The not comatose cohort had 1 subtest for which there was a Moderate Risk for mild cognitive impairment (Nonverbal Accuracy), and 2 for which there was a Moderately Low Risk (Verbal Accuracy and Executive Accuracy). The Comatose cohort had 4 subtests, which were deemed Moderately Low Risk for cognitive impairment (Verbal Accuracy, Attention Accuracy, Executive Accuracy and Nonverbal Accuracy). CONCLUSIONS In-hospital CAMCI testing suggests memory, attention and executive impairment are commonly in patients following resuscitation from cardiac arrest. Outcome evaluations should test for deficits in memory, attention, and executive function.

The Latest in Resuscitation Science Research: Highlights from the American Heart Association's 2017 Resuscitation Science Symposium

The American Heart Association (AHA)s Resuscitation Science Symposium (ReSS), held November 10 to 12, 2017, during the AHA Scientific Sessions, offered attendees access to reports of cutting‐edge research, networking events, late‐breaking science, and much more. This year, 50 oral abstracts and

Postcardiac Arrest Management

Cardiac arrest afflicts more than 300,000 persons annually in North America alone. Advances in systematic, regimented postresuscitation care have lowered mortality and improved neurologic outcomes in select cohorts of patients over the last decade. Postcardiac arrest care now comprises its own link in the chain of survival. For most patients, high-quality postcardiac arrest care begins in the Emergency Department. This article reviews the evidence and offers treatment strategies for the key components of postcardiac arrest care.

Thrombin-antithrombin levels are associated with survival in patients resuscitated from cardiac arrest

BACKGROUND Following successful resuscitation from cardiac arrest, a prothrombotic state may contribute to end-organ dysfunction. We examined whether the level of serum thrombin-antithrombin (TAT) in patients hospitalized after cardiac arrest was associated with survival or the development of multiple organ failure (MOF). METHODOLOGY A prospective cohort study of subjects with in-hospital cardiac arrest (IHCA) or out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) treated between 1/1/2007 and 5/30/2010 at a single tertiary care referral center. TAT levels were measured at hospital arrival and 24h after cardiac arrest. Logistic regression was used to determine associations between TAT levels and survival and development of MOF. RESULTS Data were available for 86 subjects. TAT levels decreased over time. Initial TAT levels (OR 0.03; 95%CI 0.001, 0.62) and category of illness severity (OR 0.39; 95% CI 0.21, 0.73) were associated with survival. Male gender (OR 3.86; 95% CI 1.17, 12.75) and category of illness severity (OR 1.86; 95% CI 1.09, 3.20), but not TAT levels were associated with development of MOF. Neither the 24-h TAT level, nor the change in TAT from initial to 24h was associated with survival when adjusted for category of illness severity. CONCLUSIONS Initial serum TAT levels and category of illness severity are associated with survival. TAT levels are not associated with development of MOF. Initial TAT levels may be a useful prognostic adjunct in the post arrest population.