Kylie Dyson

Drowning related out-of-hospital cardiac arrests: Characteristics and outcomes

AIM There are few studies on drowning-related out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) in which patients are followed from the scene through to hospital discharge. This study aims to describe this population and their outcomes in the state of Victoria (Australia). METHODS The Victorian Ambulance Cardiac Arrest Registry was searched for all cases of OHCA with a precipitating event of drowning attended by emergency medical services (EMS) between October 1999 and December 2011. RESULTS EMS attended 336 drowning-related OHCA during the study period. Cases frequently occurred in summer (45%) and the majority of patients were male (70%) and adult (77%). EMS resuscitation was attempted on 154 (46%) patients. Of these patients, 41 (27%) survived to hospital arrival and 12 (8%) survived to hospital discharge (5 adults [6%] and 7 [12%] children). Few patients were found in a shockable rhythm (6%), with the majority presenting in asystole (79%) or pulse-less electrical activity (13%). An initial shockable rhythm was found to positively predict survival (AOR 48.70, 95% CI: 3.80-624.86) while increased EMS response time (AOR 0.73, 95% CI: 0.54-0.98) and salt water drowning (AOR 0.69, 95% CI: 0.01-0.84) were found to negatively predict survival. CONCLUSIONS Rates of survival in OHCA caused by drowning are comparable to other OHCA causes. Patients were more likely to survive if they did not drown in salt water, had a quick EMS response and they were found in a shockable rhythm. Prevention efforts and reducing EMS response time are likely to improve survival of drowning patients.

Regions of High Out-Of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest Incidence and Low Bystander CPR Rates in Victoria, Australia

Background Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) remains a major public health issue and research has shown that large regional variation in outcomes exists. Of the interventions associated with survival, the provision of bystander CPR is one of the most important modifiable factors. The aim of this study is to identify census areas with high incidence of OHCA and low rates of bystander CPR in Victoria, Australia Methods We conducted an observational study using prospectively collected population-based OHCA data from the state of Victoria in Australia. Using ArcGIS (ArcMap 10.0), we linked the location of the arrest using the dispatch coordinates (longitude and latitude) to Victorian Local Government Areas (LGAs). We used Bayesian hierarchical models with random effects on each LGA to provide shrunken estimates of the rates of bystander CPR and the incidence rates. Results Over the study period there were 31,019 adult OHCA attended, of which 21,436 (69.1%) cases were of presumed cardiac etiology. Significant variation in the incidence of OHCA among LGAs was observed. There was a 3 fold difference in the incidence rate between the lowest and highest LGAs, ranging from 38.5 to 115.1 cases per 100,000 person-years. The overall rate of bystander CPR for bystander witnessed OHCAs was 62.4%, with the rate increasing from 56.4% in 2008–2010 to 68.6% in 2010–2013. There was a 25.1% absolute difference in bystander CPR rates between the highest and lowest LGAs. Conclusion Significant regional variation in OHCA incidence and bystander CPR rates exists throughout Victoria. Regions with high incidence and low bystander CPR participation can be identified and would make suitable targets for interventions to improve CPR participation rates.

Paramedic Exposure to Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest Resuscitation Is Associated With Patient Survival

Background—Although out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) is a major public health problem, individual paramedics are rarely exposed to these cases. In this study, we examined whether previous paramedic exposure to OHCA resuscitation is associated with patient survival. Methods and Results—For the period 2003 to 2012, we linked data from the Victorian Ambulance Cardiac Arrest Registry to Ambulance Victoria’s employment data set. We defined exposure as the number of times a paramedic attended an OHCA where resuscitation was attempted in the 3 years preceding each case. Using a multivariable model adjusting for known predictors of survival, we measured the association between paramedic OHCA exposure and patient survival to hospital discharge. During the study period, there were 4151 paramedics employed and 48 291 OHCAs (44% with resuscitation attempted). The median exposure of all paramedics was 2 (interquartile range 1–3) OHCAs/year. Eleven percent of paramedics were not exposed to any OHCA cases. Increased paramedic exposure was associated with reduced odds of attempted resuscitation (P<0.001). In the 3 years preceding each OHCA where resuscitation was attempted, the median exposure of the treating paramedics was 11 (interquartile range 6–17) OHCAs. Compared with patients treated by paramedics with a median of ⩽6 exposures during the previous 3 years (7% survival), the odds of survival were higher for patients treated by paramedics with >6 to 11 (12%, adjusted odds ratio 1.26, 95% confidence interval 1.04–1.54), >11 to 17 (14%, adjusted odds ratio 1.29, 95% confidence interval 1.04–1.59), and >17 exposures (17%, adjusted odds ratio 1.50, 95% confidence interval 1.22–1.86). Paramedic years of experience were not associated with survival. Conclusions—Patient survival after OHCA significantly increases with the number of OHCAs that paramedics have previously treated.

Paramedic Intubation Experience Is Associated With Successful Tube Placement but Not Cardiac Arrest Survival

Study objective: Paramedic experience with intubation may be an important factor in skill performance and patient outcomes. Our objective is to examine the association between previous intubation experience and successful intubation. In a subcohort of out‐of‐hospital cardiac arrest cases, we also measure the association between patient survival and previous paramedic intubation experience. Methods: We analyzed data from Ambulance Victoria electronic patient care records and the Victorian Ambulance Cardiac Arrest Registry for January 1, 2008, to September 26, 2014. For each patient case, we defined intubation experience as the number of intubations attempted by each paramedic in the previous 3 years. Using logistic regression, we estimated the association between intubation experience and (1) successful intubation and (2) first‐pass success. In the out‐of‐hospital cardiac arrest cohort, we determined the association between previous intubation experience and patient survival. Results: During the 6.7‐year study period, 769 paramedics attempted intubation in 14,857 patients. Paramedics typically performed 3 intubations per year (interquartile range 1 to 6). Most intubations were successful (95%), including 80% on the first attempt. Previous intubation experience was associated with intubation success (odds ratio 1.04; 95% confidence interval 1.03 to 1.05) and intubation first‐pass success (odds ratio 1.02; 95% confidence interval 1.01 to 1.03). In the out‐of‐hospital cardiac arrest subcohort (n=9,751), paramedic intubation experience was not associated with patient survival. Conclusion: Paramedics in this Australian cohort performed few intubations. Previous experience was associated with successful intubation. Among out‐of‐hospital cardiac arrest patients for whom intubation was attempted, previous paramedic intubation experience was not associated with patient survival.

Paramedic resuscitation competency: A survey of Australian and New Zealand emergency medical services

We have previously established that paramedic exposure to out‐of‐hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) is relatively rare, therefore clinical exposure cannot be relied on to maintain resuscitation competency. We aimed to identify the current practices within emergency medical services (EMS) for developing and maintaining paramedic resuscitation competency.

Controversial Issues: Pro Mechanical Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation

High-quality cardiopulmonary resuscitation, in particular chest compressions, is a key aspect of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) resuscitation. Manual chest compressions remain the standard of care; however, the extrication and transport of patients with OHCA undermine the quality of manual chest compressions and risk the safety of paramedics. Therefore, in circumstances whereby high-quality manual chest compressions are difficult or unsafe, paramedics should consider using a mechanical device. By combining high-quality manual chest compressions and judicious application of mechanical chest compressions, emergency medical service agencies can optimize paramedic safety and patient outcomes.