Masahiko Nitta

Nationwide Improvements in Survival From Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest in Japan

Background—Little is known about the nationwide trend in the survival of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) in Japan and the differences in incidence and survival by age group and origin of arrest. Methods and Results—A nationwide, prospective, population-based observation covering the whole population of Japan and involving consecutive OHCA patients with resuscitation attempts was conducted from January 2005 to December 2009. The main outcome measure was 1-month survival with favorable neurological outcome. The nationwide trends in OHCA incidence and outcome by age and origin of arrest were assessed. Multiple logistic regression analysis for bystander-witnessed OHCA was used to adjust for factors that were potentially associated with favorable neurological outcome. During 5 years, 547 153 overall OHCAs and 169 360 bystander-witnessed OHCAs were enrolled. The annual incidence significantly increased among overall OHCAs and bystander-witnessed OHCAs. Neurologically favorable survival significantly increased from 1.6% (1676/102 737) in 2005 to 2.8% (3280/115 250) in 2009 (P<0.001), from 2.1% (638/30 556) to 4.3% (1558/36 361) (P<0.001), and from 9.8% (437/4461) to 20.6% (1215/5906) (P<0.001) among overall OHCA, bystander-witnessed OHCA, and bystander-witnessed ventricular fibrillation OHCA, respectively. Public-access automated external defibrillator use, either bystander-initiated chest compression–only cardiopulmonary resuscitation or conventional cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and earlier emergency medical services response time were associated with a better neurological outcome. Favorable neurological outcome among adult OHCA subjects significantly improved, but the outcome among younger children and very elderly subjects did not improve and was poor irrespective of origin of OHCA. Conclusions—Nationwide improvements of favorable neurological outcome from OHCA were observed in Japan and differed by age group and origin of OHCA.

Age-Specific Differences in Outcomes After Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrests

OBJECTIVE: We assessed out-of-hospital cardiac arrests (OHCAs) for various pediatric age groups. METHODS: This prospective, population-based, observational study included all emergency medical service-treated OHCAs in Osaka, Japan, between 1999 and 2006 (excluding 2004). Patients were grouped as adults (>17 years), infants (<1 year), younger children (1–4 years), older children (5–12 years), and adolescents (13–17 years). The primary outcome measure was 1-month survival with favorable neurologic outcome. RESULTS: Of 950 pediatric OHCAs, resuscitations were attempted for 875 patients (92%; 347 infants, 203 younger children, 135 older children, and 190 adolescents). The overall incidence of nontraumatic pediatric OHCAs was 7.3 cases per 100 000 person-years, compared with 64.7 cases per 100 000 person-years for adults and 65.5 cases per 100 000 person-years for infants. Most infant OHCAs occurred in homes (93%) and were not witnessed (90%). Adolescent OHCAs often occurred outside the home (45%), were witnessed by bystanders (37%), and had shockable rhythms (18%). One-month survival was more common after nontraumatic pediatric OHCAs than adult OHCAs (8% [56 of 740 patients] vs 5% [1677 of 33 091 patients]; adjusted odds ratio: 2.26 [95% confidence interval: 1.63–3.13]). One-month survival with favorable neurologic outcome was more common among children than adults (3% [21 of 740 patients] vs 2% [648 of 33 091 patients]; adjusted odds ratio: 2.46 [95% confidence interval: 1.45–4.18]). Rates of 1-month survival with favorable neurologic outcome were 1% for infants, 2% for younger children, 2% for older children, and 11% for adolescents. CONCLUSION: Survival and favorable neurologic outcome at 1 month were more common after pediatric OHCAs than adult OHCAs.

Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest due to drowning among children and adults from the Utstein Osaka Project

BACKGROUND Children have better outcomes after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) than adults. However, little is known about the difference in outcomes between children and adults after OHCA due to drowning. OBJECTIVES The aim of this study is to assess the outcome after OHCA due to drowning between children and adults. Our hypothesis is that outcomes after OHCA due to drowning would be in better among children (<18 years old) compared with adults (≥18 years old). METHOD This prospective population-based, observational study included all emergency medical service-treated OHCA due to drowning in Osaka, Japan, between 1999 and 2010 (excluding 2004). Outcomes were evaluated between younger children (0-4 years old), older children (5-17 years old), and adults (≥18 years old). Major outcome measures were one-month survival and neurologically favorable one-month survival defined as cerebral performance category 1 or 2. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to account for potential confounders. RESULTS During the study period, 66,716 OHCAs were documented, and resuscitation was attempted for 62,048 patients (1300 children [2%] and 60,748 adults [98%]). Among these OHCAs, 1737 (3% of OHCAs) were due to drowning (36 younger children [2%], 32 older children [2%], and 1669 adults [96%]). The odds of one-month survival were significantly higher for younger children (28% [10/36]; adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 20.20 [95% confidence interval {CI} 7.45-54.78]) and older children (9% [3/32]; AOR, 4.47 [95% CI 1.04-19.27]) when compared with adults (2% [28/1669]). However, younger children (6% [2/36]; AOR, 5.23 [95% CI 0.52-51.73]) and older children (3% [1/32]; AOR, 2.53 [95% CI 0.19-34.07]) did not have a higher odds of neurologically favorable outcome than adults (1% [11/1669]). CONCLUSION In this large OHCA registry, children had better one-month survival rates after OHCA due to drowning compared with adults. Most survivors in all groups had unfavorable neurological outcomes.

A manikin-based observational study on cardiopulmonary resuscitation skills at the Osaka Senri medical rally

AIM To examine the current status and problems of resuscitation management in Japan as demonstrated at the 2006 and 2007 Osaka Senri medical rallies. METHODS Using manikins, the quality of resuscitation was evaluated in 33 teams that participated in the medical rallies. The challenge was to deliver defibrillation shocks for ventricular fibrillation; data were recorded using the Laerdal PC Skill Reporting System (Norway). The teams were first subjectively (visually) evaluated by a panel of judges and these evaluations were later reaffirmed using video records. RESULTS An approximately 30s delay was observed between the time of contact and initiation of chest compression in the teams that adopted the American Heart Association (AHA) method compared with those that adopted the European Resuscitation Council (ERC) method. Although the overall quality of chest compressions was very good, in several instances, the hand positions were inappropriate and complete chest recoil was not achieved. The left paddle was incorrectly positioned by all teams. Only 15.8% of the teams were able to deliver shocks with less than 10s of interruption between the chest compressions. Regarding interruption of chest compressions at confirmation of correct tracheal tube placement, among the eight teams that adopted the AHA method, pauses of more than 10s were confirmed in five (62.5%). CONCLUSIONS Significant differences in performance between the AHA and ERC methods were observed. The ERC guidelines were more rational and suitable in terms of actual application than the AHA guidelines.

Epidemiological characteristics of sudden cardiac arrest in schools.

AIMS The present study aimed to clarify the incidence and outcomes of sudden cardiac arrests in schools and the clinically relevant characteristics of individuals who experienced sudden cardiac arrests. METHODS AND RESULTS We obtained data on sudden cardiac arrests that occurred in schools between January 1, 2005 and December 31, 2009 from the database of the Utstein Osaka Project, a population-based observational study on out-of-hospital cardiac arrests in Osaka, Japan. The data were analyzed to show the epidemiological features of sudden cardiac arrests in schools in conjunction with prehospital documentation. In total, 44 cases were registered as sudden cardiac arrests in schools during the study period. Of these, 34 cases had nontraumatic cardiac arrests. Twenty-one cases (62%) had pre-existing cardiac diseases and/or collapsed during physical exercise. Twenty-three cases (68%) presented with ventricular fibrillation or pulseless ventricular tachycardia, with cases of survival 1 month after cardiac arrest and those having favourable neurological outcome (Cerebral Performance Category 1 or 2) being 12 (52%) and 10 (43%), respectively. The incidence of sudden cardiac arrests in students was 0.23 per 100,000 persons per year, ranging from 0.08 in junior high school to 0.64 in high school. The incidence of sudden cardiac arrests in school faculty and staff was 0.51 per 100,000 persons per year, a rate approximately 2 times of that observed in the students. CONCLUSIONS Although sudden cardiac arrests in schools is rare, they majorly occurred in individuals with cardiac diseases and/or during physical exercise and presented as ventricular fibrillation or pulseless ventricular tachycardia observed initially as cardiac arrhythmia.

Survival following witnessed pediatric out-of-hospital cardiac arrests during nights and weekends

BACKGROUND The relationship between survival rate following pediatric out-of-hospital cardiac arrests (OHCAs) and time of day or day of week is unknown. METHODS A nationwide, prospective, population-based observational investigation of consecutive witnessed pediatric OHCAs (<18 years) with resuscitation attempts was conducted from January 2005 to December 2011. Days were defined as 9:00 am to 4:59 pm, nights as 5:00 pm to 8:59 am, weekdays as Mondays to Fridays, and weekends as Saturdays, Sundays, and national holidays. Primary outcome was one-month survival and secondary outcome was survival with favorable neurologic outcome, defined as cerebral performance category 1 or 2. RESULTS A total of 3278 bystander-witnessed pediatric OHCAs were registered. One month survival rate was significantly lower during nights than days (15.5% [95% CI: 13.8-17.2%] versus 23.3% [95% CI: 21.1-25.6%]; P<0.001 and during weekends/holidays (15.7% [95% CI: 13.6-18.0%] than weekdays (20.4% [95% CI: 18.7-22.2%]; P=0.001. Survival rate with favorable neurologic outcome was substantially lower during nights 7.5% [95% CI: 6.3-8.8%] than days (12.2% [95% CI: 10.6-14.1%]; P<0.001), and during weekends/holidays (7.7% [95% CI: 6.2-9.5%] than weekdays (10.4% [95% CI: 9.2-11.8%]; P=0.012). After adjusting for potential confounding factors, one-month survival rate remained significantly lower during nights compared to days (odds ratio 0.68; 95% CI: 0.56-0.82), and during weekends/holidays compared to weekdays (odds ratio 0.79; 95% CI, 0.65-0.97). CONCLUSIONS One-month survival rate following bystander-witnessed pediatric OHCAs was lower during nights and weekends/holidays than days and weekdays, even when adjusted for potentially confounding factors.

Targeted age, device deployment, and problems associated with pediatric defibrillation in pediatric prehospital emergency medical care settings in Japan

The use of automated external defibrillators was expanded to include infants according to the 2010 cardiopulmonary resuscitation guidelines in Japan. However, deployment has been slower for pediatric patients in Japan, because there are fewer appropriate pediatric patients for automated external defibrillators than adults. This study aimed to investigate the targeted age range for pediatric defibrillation and device deployment of defibrillators for pediatric patients in prehospital emergency medical care settings in Japan, and present the issues associated with automated external defibrillators.

Actual treatments for out-of-hospital ventricular fibrillation at critical care medical centers in Osaka: a pilot descriptive study

Although advanced treatments are provided to improve outcomes after out‐of‐hospital ventricular fibrillation, including shock‐resistant ventricular fibrillation, the actual treatments in clinical settings have been insufficiently investigated. The aim of the current study is to describe the actual treatments carried out for out‐of‐hospital ventricular fibrillation patients, including shock‐resistant ventricular fibrillation patients, at critical care medical centers.

Medical equipment deployment in pediatric emergency prehospital medical units in Japan

The deployment status of pediatric emergency equipment in ambulances in Japan is unknown. To investigate the status of and issues associated with prehospital emergency medical care for pediatric patients, we conducted a descriptive epidemiological study. We carried out a Web‐based survey of 767 fire defense headquarters in Japan, of which 671 responded (valid response rate, 88%). Most of the fire defense headquarters equipped all of their ambulances with oxygen masks (82%), bag‐valve masks (for neonates, 83%; for children, 84%), straight laryngoscope blades (for neonates, 47%; for children 68%), blood pressure cuffs for children (91%), oximeter probes (78%), and stiff neck collars (91%); but despite the need for other equipment such as nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal airways, and Magill forceps, they were insufficiently deployed. In Japan, prehospital emergency medical equipment deployment does not meet the needs of pediatric patients. Minimum equipment standards need to be established for pediatric prehospital care.

An atypical case of atypical pneumonia

Atypical pneumonia has been thought to account for 7%‐20% of community‐acquired pneumonia (CAP). The treatment for the pathogens that cause atypical pneumonia is different from that of other bacterial pneumonia. Therefore, identification of the causative pathogen in a primary care situation is crucial for adequate treatment of CAP. Mycoplasma infection is prevalent in the general population, but Mycoplasma pneumoniae with extrapulmonary symptoms is relatively rare. Herein, we report a case of CAP because of M. pneumoniae that presented with a wide variety of extrapulmonary diseases. Delayed administration of appropriate antibiotics may contribute to development of extrapulmonary manifestations.