Åsa Axelsson

Effect of bystander initiated cardiopulmonary resuscitation on ventricular fibrillation and survival after witnessed cardiac arrest outside hospital.

OBJECTIVE--To describe the proportion of patients who were discharged from hospital after witnessed cardiac arrest outside hospital in relation to whether a bystander initiated cardiopulmonary resuscitation. PATIENTS--All patients with witnessed cardiac arrest outside hospital before arrival of the ambulance and in whom cardiopulmonary resuscitation was attempted by the emergency medical service in Gothenburg during 1980-92. RESULTS--Cardiopulmonary resuscitation was initiated by a bystander in 18% (303) of 1,660 cases. In this group 69% had ventricular fibrillation at first recording compared with 51% in the remaining patients (P < 0.001). Among patients in whom cardiopulmonary resuscitation had been initiated by a bystander 25% were discharged alive versus 8% of the remaining patients (P < 0.001). Independent predictors of survival were in order of significance: initial arrhythmia (P < 0.001), interval between collapse and arrival of first ambulance (P < 0.001), cardiopulmonary resuscitation initiated by a bystander (P < 0.001), and age (P < 0.01). Among patients who were admitted to hospital alive 30% of patients in whom cardiopulmonary resuscitation had been initiated by a bystander compared with 58% of remaining patients (P < 0.001) had brain damage and died in hospital. Corresponding figures for death in association with myocardial damage were 18% and 29% respectively (P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS--Cardiopulmonary resuscitation initiated by a bystander maintains ventricular fibrillation and triples the chance of surviving a cardiac arrest outside hospital. Furthermore, it seems to protect against death in association with brain damage as well as with myocardial damage.

Attitudes of trained Swedish lay rescuers toward CPR performance in an emergency.: A survey of 1012 recently trained CPR rescuers

59 years old. Only 1% had attended the course because of their own or a relatives cardiac disease. Ninety-four per cent believed there was a minor to major risk of serious disease transmission while performing CPR. When predicting their willingness to perform CPR in six scenarios, 17% would not start CPR on a young drug addict, 7% would not perform CPR on an unkempt man, while 97% were sure about starting CPR on a relative and 91% on a known person. In four of six scenarios, respondents from rural areas were significantly more positive than respondents from metropolitan areas about starting CPR. In conclusion, readiness to perform CPR on a known person is high among trained CPR rescuers, while hesitation about performing CPR on a stranger is evident. Respondents from rural areas are more frequently positive about starting CPR than those from metropolitan areas.

Rhythm changes during resuscitation from ventricular fibrillation in relation to delay until defibrillation, number of shocks delivered and survival

AIM To describe rhythm changes during the initial phase of resuscitation from ventricular fibrillation in relation to the interval between collapse and defibrillation, to survival and to bystander-initiated cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). PATIENTS All patients who suffered out-of-hospital cardiac arrest between 1980 and 1992, who were reached by the emergency medical service system (EMS), in whom resuscitation attempts were initiated and who were found in ventricular fibrillation. RESULTS In all, 1216 patients were included in the study. Among patients who converted to a pulse-generating rhythm after the first defibrillation (n = 119) were 56% discharged from hospital as compared with 6% among patients who converted to asystole. The corresponding figures after the third defibrillation were 49% and 2%, respectively, and after the fifth defibrillation 28% and 7%, respectively. Among patients in whom the first defibrillation took place less than 5 min after collapse, 28% directly converted to a pulse-generating rhythm as compared with 3% when the first defibrillation took place 12 min or more after collapse. CONCLUSION Among patients who suffer out-of-hospital cardiac arrest and are found in ventricular fibrillation, there is a strong relationship between survival and initial rhythm changes after defibrillation. These rhythm changes are directly related to the interval between collapse and the first defibrillation.

The epidemiology of cardiac arrest in children and young adults

AIM To describe the epidemiology of children and young adults suffering from out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. PATIENTS All patients suffering from out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in whom, resuscitation efforts were attempted in the community of Göteborg between 1980 and 2000. METHODS Between 31 October 1980 and 31 October 2000, all consecutive cases of cardiac arrest in which the emergency medical service (EMS) system responded and attempted resuscitation were reported and followed-up to discharge from hospital. RESULTS Among 5505 cardiac arrests information on age was available in 5290 cases (96%). Of these 5290 cases 98 (2%) were children (age 0-17 years), 197 (4%) were young adults (age 18-35 years) and the remaining 4995 (94%) were adults (age >35 years). Children and young adults differed from adults by suffering from a witnessed arrest less frequently, being found by the ambulance crew in ventricular fibrillation/tachycardia less frequently and being judged as having an underlying cardiac aetiology less frequently. Of the children only 5% were discharged from hospital alive compared with 8% for young adults and 9% for adults. Among survivors the cerebral performance categories (CPC) score at discharge tended to differ with 38% of young adults registering a CPC score of 1 (no neurological deficit) compared with 52% among adults. CONCLUSION Children and young adults suffering from out-of-hospital cardiac arrest differed from adults in terms of aetiology and observed initial arrhythmia. Children had a particularly bad outcome whereas young adults had a similar outcome as adults.

Continuation of CPR on admission to emergency department after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. Occurrence, characteristics and outcome

AIM To describe the occurrence, characteristics and outcome among patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest who required continuation of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on admission to the emergency department. PATIENTS all patients in the municipality of Göteborg who suffered out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, were reached by the emergency medical service (EMS) system and in whom CPR was initiated. Period for inclusion in study: 1 Oct. 1980-31 Dec. 1992. RESULTS of 334 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests, 2,319 (68%) were receiving on-going CPR at the time of admission to hospital. Of these, 137 patients (6%) were hospitalized alive and 28 (1.2%) could be discharged from hospital. Of these patients, 39% had a cerebral performance categories (CPC) score of 1 (no cerebral deficiency), 18% had a CPC score of 2 (moderate cerebral deficiency), 36% had a CPC score of 3 (severe cerebral deficiency) and 7% had a CPC score of 4 (coma) at discharge. Among patients discharged. 76% were alive after 1 year. CONCLUSION among consecutive patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, CPR was ongoing in 68% of them on admission to hospital. Among these patients, 6% were hospitalized alive and 1.2% were discharged from hospital. Thus, among patients with ongoing CPR on admission to hospital, survivors can be found but they are few in numbers and extensive cerebral damage is frequently present.

Hospital mortality after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest among patients found in ventricular fibrillation.

The aim of this study was to describe factors associated with in-hospital mortality among patients being hospitalised after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest and who were found in ventricular fibrillation. The study was set in the community of Göteborg, Sweden. The subjects consisted of all patients who were hospitalised alive after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, being reached by our mobile coronary care unit and who were found in ventricular fibrillation, between 1981 and 1992. In all, 488 patients fulfilled the inclusion criteria of which 262 (54%) died during initial hospitalization. In a multivariate analysis including age, sex, history of cardiovascular disease, chronic medication prior to arrest and circumstances at the time of arrest, the following appeared as independent predictors of hospital mortality: (1) interval between collapse and first defibrillation (P < 0.001); (2) on chronic medication with diuretics (P < 0.01); (3) age (P < 0.01); (4) bystander initiated CPR (P < 0.05); and (5) a history of diabetes (P < 0.05). In a multivariate analysis considering various aspects of status on admission to hospital, the following were independently associated with death: (1) degree of consciousness (P < 0.001) and (2) systolic blood pressure (P < 0.05). In conclusion, among patients with out of hospital cardiac arrest found in ventricular fibrillation and being hospitalised alive, 54% died in hospital. The in-hospital mortality was related to patient characteristics before the cardiac arrest as well as to factors at the resuscitation itself.

Predictors of early and late survival after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in which asystole was the first recorded arrhythmia on scene

BACKGROUND A large proportion of patients who suffer out-of-hospital cardiac arrest have asystole as the initial recorded arrhythmia. Since they have a poor prognosis, less attention has been paid to this group of patients. AIM To describe a consecutive population of patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest with asystole as the first recorded arrhythmia and to try to define indicators for an increased chance of survival in this population. SETTING The community of Gothenburg. PATIENTS All patients who suffered out-of-hospital cardiac arrest during 1981 to 1992 and were reached by our emergency medical service (EMS) system and where cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) was attempted. RESULTS In all there were 3434 cardiac arrests of which 1222 (35%) showed asystole as the first recorded arrhythmia. They differed from patients with ventricular fibrillation by being younger, including more women and having a longer interval between collapse and arrival of the first ambulance. In all 90 patients (7%) were hospitalized alive and 20 (2%) could be discharged from hospital. Independent predictors for an increased chance of survival were: (a) a short interval between the collapse and arrival of the first ambulance (P < 0.001) and the time the collapse occurred (P < 0.05). Initial treatment given in some cases with adrenaline, atropine and tribonate were not associated with an increased survival. CONCLUSIONS Of all the patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, 35% were found in asystole. Of these, 7% were hospitalized alive and 2% could be discharged from hospital. Efforts should be made to improve still further the interval between collapse and arrival of the first ambulance.

Factors surrounding cardiopulmonary resuscitation influencing bystanders' psychological reactions.

The incidence of Swedens out-of-hospital cardiac arrests averages 10000 annually. Each year bystanders initiate cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) approximately 2000 times prior to arrival of emergency medical service (EMS). The aim of this study was to identify factors influencing the bystanders psychological reactions to performing CPR. We mailed a questionnaire to all bystanders who reported performing CPR to the CPR Centre of Sweden from autumn 1992 to 1995. The study included 544 bystander reports. Nine factors were found to be associated with bystanders experience in a univariate analysis. Among these were victim outcome (p < 0.0001), CPR duration (p = 0.0009) and their experience of the attitude of the EMS personnel (p = 0.004). In a multivariate logistic regression model, lack of debriefing following the intervention (p = 0.0001) and fatal victim outcome (p = 0.03) were independent predictors of a negative bystander psychological reaction. The importance of having someone to talk to following an intervention and the EMS personnel concern for the rescuer should be emphasised. The goal should be that critical incident debriefing is available to every bystander following his or her CPR attempt.

Experience with the use of automated external defibrillators in out of hospital cardiac arrest

AIM To describe the sequences of arrhythmias, number of shocks delivered and the number of failures in a consecutive series of patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest attended by our emergency medical service (EMS) and in whom cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) was initiated and in whom automated external defibrillators (AEDs) were used. PATIENTS All patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest attended by the EMS and in whom AEDs were used. Time for inclusion in the study: January 1st, 1987 to December 31st, 1992. RESULTS In all there were 1781 out of hospital cardiac arrests during the study period. Among them AEDs were used in 383 cases (22%). The total number of interpreted rhythms delivered in these patients was 2719. Among all rhythm sequences coarse ventricular fibrillation (VF) was found on 375 occasions (14%); fine VF on 107 occasions (4%) and ventricular tachycardia (VT) on 12 occasions (0.4%). In ten cases with coarse VF (nine patients) the AED did not advise a shock (2.7%). In five of those nine patients a human error was interpreted as the explanation and in four there was a possible technical error. In these four patients defibrillation was delayed by 33-43 s, respectively. Among the 2225 rhythm sequences not judged as VF/VT the AED advised a shock on one occasion (0.04%). CONCLUSION Among patients with coarse VF AED gave inaccurate instructions in 2.7%. However, the majority of the failures were judged to be caused by human errors.

Measurement of skills in cardiopulmonary resuscitation--do professionals follow given guidelines?

Since it is suggested that only effective cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) improves survival rates, quality control of training outcomes is important and comparisons between different training methods are desirable. The aim of this study was to test a model of quality assurance, consisting of a computer program combined with the Brennan et al. checklist, for evaluation of CPR performance. A small group of trained medical professionals (cardiac care unit nurses) (n  = 10) was used in this pilot study. The result points out several points of concern: half of the participants did not open the airway prior to breathing control. Over 90% of all inflations were ‘too fast’ and 71% were ‘too much’. Only 6.5% of the inflations were correct. On average, the participants made 5.4 inflations per minute. Concerning chest compressions, 40% were ‘too deep’ while only 4% were ‘too shallow’. In spite of the fact that the participants had an average rate at 95 compressions per minute the number of compressions varied between 32 and 51 during 1 minute. When new guidelines are discussed, it would be beneficial if they were tested by a number of people to investigate if following the guidelines is at all possible.