Post-intensive care syndrome and health-related quality of life in long-term survivors of cardiac arrest: a prospective cohort study.

Patients discharged from intensive care are at risk for post-intensive care syndrome (PICS), which consists of physical, psychological, and/or neurological impairments. This study aimed to analyze PICS at 24 months follow-up, to identify potential risk factors for PICS, and to assess health-related quality of life in a long-term cohort of adult cardiac arrest survivors. This prospective cohort study included adult cardiac arrest survivors admitted to the intensive care unit of a Swiss tertiary academic medical center. The primary endpoint was the prevalence of PICS at 24 months follow-up, defined as impairments in physical (measured through the European Quality of Life 5-Dimensions-3-Levels instrument [EQ-5D-3L]), neurological (defined as Cerebral Performance Category Score > 2 or Modified Rankin Score > 3), and psychological (based on the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and the Impact of Event Scale-Revised) domains. Among 107 cardiac arrest survivors that completed the 2-year follow-up, 46 patients (43.0%) had symptoms of PICS, with 41 patients (38.7%) experiencing symptoms in the physical domain, 16 patients (15.4%) in the psychological domain, and 3 patients (2.8%) in the neurological domain. Key predictors for PICS in multivariate analyses were female sex (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 3.17, 95% CI 1.08 to 9.3), duration of no-flow interval during cardiac arrest (minutes) (aOR 1.17, 95% CI 1.02 to 1.33), post-discharge job-loss (aOR 31.25, 95% CI 3.63 to 268.83), need for ongoing psychological support (aOR 3.64, 95% CI 1.29 to 10.29) or psychopharmacologic treatment (aOR 9.49, 95% CI 1.9 to 47.3), and EQ-visual analogue scale (points) (aOR 0.88, 95% CI 0.84 to 0.93). More than one-third of cardiac arrest survivors experience symptoms of PICS 2 years after resuscitation, with the highest impairment observed in the physical and psychological domains. However, long-term survivors of cardiac arrest report intact health-related quality of life when compared to the general population. Future research should focus on appropriate prevention, screening, and treatment strategies for PICS in cardiac arrest patients.

Emotional distress, social support, and functional dependence predict readiness for hospital discharge in a prospective sample of cognitively intact cardiac arrest survivors.

AIM: To inform screening, referral and treatment initiatives, we tested the hypothesis that emotional distress, social support, functional dependence, and cognitive impairment within 72 hours prior to discharge predict readiness for discharge in awake and alert cardiac arrest (CA) survivors. METHODS: This was a secondary analysis of a prospective single-center cohort of CA survivors enrolled between 4/2021 and 9/2022. We quantified emotional distress using the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist-5 and PROMIS Emotional Distress - Anxiety and Depression Short Forms 4a; perceived social support using the ENRICHD Social Support Inventory; functional dependence using the modified Rankin Scale; and cognitive impairment using the Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status. Our primary outcome was readiness for discharge, measured using the Readiness for Hospital Discharge Scale. We used multivariable linear regression to test the independent association of each survivorship factor and readiness for discharge. RESULTS: We included 110 patients (64% male, 88% white, mean age 59 [standard deviation ± 13.1 years]). Emotional distress, functional dependence, and social support were independently associated with readiness for discharge (adjusted ß's [absolute value]: 0.25-0.30, all p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Hospital systems should consider implementing routine in-hospital screening for emotional distress, social support, and functional dependence for CA survivors who are awake, alert and approaching hospital discharge, and prioritize brief in hospital treatment or post-discharge referrals.

The experiences of cardiac arrest survivors and their key supporters following cardiac arrest: A systematic review and meta-ethnography.

AIM: To review qualitative studies on the experience of sudden cardiac arrest survival from the perspective of both survivors and their key supporters, including family/close friends. METHODS: A seven-step meta-ethnography and synthesis of qualitative evidence was undertaken, informed by the Meta-Ethnography Reporting Guidelines (eMERGe). Four major databases were searched (Medline, EMBASE, CINAHL, PsycINFO; January 1995-January 2022, updated July 2023) for qualitative studies exploring survivors' and/or key supporters' experiences of cardiac arrest survival. The Critical Appraisal Skills Programme checklist and Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation - Confidence in Evidence from Reviews of Qualitative Research (GRADE-CERQual) were applied to evaluate the overall confidence in research findings. Constructs were identified from each paper, informing theme and sub-theme development. RESULTS: From 15,917 unique titles/abstracts and 196 full-text articles, 32 met the inclusion criteria. Three themes captured the survivors' experiences: 1) Making sense of my cardiac arrest; 2) Learning to trust my body and mind; and 3) Re-evaluating my life. A further three themes reflected key supporters' experiences: 1) Emotional turmoil; 2) Becoming a carer: same person but different me; and 3) Engaging with a new and unknown world. However, limited data and some methodological weaknesses in included studies reduced confidence in several themes. The findings were conceived within the overarching concept of 'negotiating a new normal'. CONCLUSIONS: The enduring psychosocial and physical sequelae of cardiac arrest survival substantially impacts the lives of survivors and their key supporters, requiring negotiation of their 'new normality'. The need for sense-making, physical and psychological recovery, and the new roles for key supporters should be strong considerations in the development of future interventions.

The relationship between mindfulness and enduring somatic threat severity in long-term cardiac arrest survivors.

BACKGROUND: Cardiac arrest (CA) survivors experience continuous exposures to potential traumas though chronic cognitive, physical and emotional sequelae and enduring somatic threats (ESTs) (i.e., recurring somatic traumatic reminders of the event). Sources of ESTs can include the daily sensation of an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD), ICD-delivered shocks, pain from rescue compressions, fatigue, weakness, and changes in physical function. Mindfulness, defined as non-judgmental present-moment awareness, is a teachable skill that might help CA survivors cope with ESTs. Here we describe the severity of ESTs in a sample of long-term CA survivors and explore the cross-sectional relationship between mindfulness and severity of ESTs. METHODS: We analyzed survey data of long-term CA survivors who were members of the Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation (collected 10-11/2020). We assessed ESTs using 4 cardiac threat items from the Anxiety Sensitivity Index-revised (items range from 0 "very little" to 4 "very much") which we summed to create a score reflecting total EST burden (range 0-16). We assessed mindfulness using the Cognitive and Affective Mindfulness Scale-Revised. First, we summarized the distribution of EST scores. Second, we used linear regression to describe the relationship between mindfulness and EST severity adjusting for age, gender, time since arrest, COVID-19-related stress, and loss of income due to COVID. RESULTS: We included 145 CA survivors (mean age: 51 years, 52% male, 93.8% white, mean time since arrest: 6 years, 24.1% scored in the upper quarter of EST severity). Greater mindfulness (ß: -30, p = 0.002), older age (ß: -0.30, p = 0.01) and longer time since CA (ß: -0.23, p = 0.005) were associated with lower EST severity. Male sex was also associated with greater EST severity (ß: 0.21, p = 0.009). CONCLUSION: ESTs are common among CA survivors. Mindfulness may be a protective skill that CA survivors use to cope with ESTs. Future psychosocial interventions for the CA population should consider using mindfulness as a core skill to reduce ESTs.

Predicting Long-Term Cognitive Impairments in Survivors after Cardiac Arrest: A Systematic Review.

OBJECTIVE: International guidelines recommend early screening for identification of patients who are at risk of long-term cognitive impairments after cardiac arrest. However, information about predictors is not provided. A systematic review of the literature was performed to identify early predictors of long-term cognitive outcome after cardiac arrest. METHODS: Scopus and PubMed were systematically searched to identify studies on early predictors of long-term cognitive outcome in patients after cardiac arrest. The population included adult cardiac arrest survivors and potential early predictors were demographics, early cognitive screening scores, imaging measures, electroencephalographic measures, and levels of blood biomarkers. Two investigators reviewed studies for relevance, extracted data and assessed risk of bias. RESULTS: Five articles were included. Risk of bias was assessed as low or moderate. Most detected longterm cognitive impairments were in the domain of memory. Coma duration (2 studies), early cognitive impairments by the self-developed clinical Bedside Neuropsychological Test Battery (BNTB) screener (2 studies), and high S-100B levels on day 3 (2 studies) were the most prominent identified determinants of cognitive impairment on the group level. On the individual patient level, a score on the BNTB of ≤ 94.5 predicted cognitive impairments at 6 months after cardiac arrest (1 study without external validation). Studies on brain imaging and electroencephalography are lacking. CONCLUSION: Early bedside cognitive screening can contribute to prediction of long-term cognitive impairment after cardiac arrest. Evidence is scarce for S-100B levels and coma duration and absent for measures derived from brain imaging and electroencephalography.

Mindfulness is inversely associated with psychological symptoms in long-term cardiac arrest survivors.

Identifying correlates of psychological symptoms in cardiac arrest (CA) survivors is a major research priority. In this longitudinal survey study, we evaluated associations between mindfulness, baseline psychological symptoms, and 1-year psychological symptoms in long-term CA survivors. We collected demographic and CA characteristics at baseline. At both timepoints, we assessed posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTS) through the PTSD Checklist-5 (PCL-5) and depression and anxiety symptoms through the Patient Health Questionnaire-4 (PHQ-4). At follow-up, we assessed mindfulness through the Cognitive and Affective Mindfulness Scale-Revised (CAMS-R). We used adjusted linear regression to predict 1-year PCL-5 and PHQ-4 scores, with particular consideration of the CAMS-R as a cross-sectional correlate of outcome. We included 129 CA survivors (mean age: 52 years, 52% male, 98% white). At 1-year follow-up, in adjusted models, CAMS-R (ß: -0.35, p < 0.001) and baseline PCL-5 scores (ß: 0.56, p < 0.001) were associated with 1-year PCL-5 scores. CAMS-R (ß: -0.34, p < 0.001) and baseline PHQ-4 scores were associated with 1-year PHQ-4 scores (ß: 0.37, p < 0.001). In conclusion, mindfulness was inversely associated with psychological symptoms in long-term CA survivors. Future studies should examine the longitudinal relationship of mindfulness and psychological symptoms after CA.

Gaps in the Provision of Cognitive and Psychological Resources in Cardiac Arrest Survivors with Good Neurologic Recovery.

We aimed to elucidate gaps in the provision of cognitive and psychological resources in cardiac arrest survivors. We conducted an online survey study between October 29, 2019, and November 15, 2019 with cardiac arrest survivors and caregiver members of the Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation. We queried survivors as to whether they experienced cognitive or psychological symptoms since their cardiac arrest. Next, we queried both survivors and caregivers on the provision of resources through three metrics: (1) discussions with providers about potential cognitive or psychological symptoms, (2) neurologist or psychologist appointments scheduled by providers, and (3) mental health referrals by providers. We then ran Chi-square goodness-of-fit tests to compare the proportion of survivors and caregivers who reported resource provision (observed values) to the proportion of survivors who reported experiencing cognitive and psychological symptoms, respectively (expected values). We included responses from 167 survivors and 52 caregivers. A total of 73.1% (n = 122) survivors reported experiencing cognitive symptoms and 67.1% (n = 112) psychological symptoms since their cardiac arrest. When compared to these two proportions, provision of resources was significantly lower in all three metrics: (1) fewer discussions with providers about potential for developing cognitive symptoms (31%) and psychological symptoms (26.3%), (2) fewer neurologist appointments scheduled (8.4%) and psychologist appointments scheduled (4.8%), and (3) fewer referrals to mental health (6%). Informal caregivers also reported significantly lower provision of resources in all three metrics, with the exception of discussions about developing cognitive symptoms. Our results suggest that there are discrepancies in the provision of cognitive and psychological resources in cardiac arrest survivors with good neurologic recovery. Systematic referral processes may be needed to standardize resource provision to consistently meet the pervasive cognitive and psychological needs of cardiac arrest survivors.

Preclinical neurorehabilitation with environmental enrichment confers cognitive and histological benefits in a model of pediatric asphyxial cardiac arrest.

Pediatric asphyxial cardiac arrest (ACA) often leaves children with physical, cognitive, and emotional disabilities that affect overall quality of life, yet rehabilitation is neither routinely nor systematically provided. Environmental enrichment (EE) is considered a preclinical model of neurorehabilitation and thus we sought to investigate its efficacy in our established model of pediatric ACA. Male Sprague-Dawley rat pups (post-natal day 16-18) were randomly assigned to ACA (9.5 min) or Sham injury. After resuscitation, the rats were assigned to 21 days of EE or standard (STD) housing during which time motor, cognitive, and anxiety-like (i.e., affective) outcomes were assessed. Hippocampal CA1 cells were quantified on post-operative day-22. Both ACA + STD and ACA + EE performed worse on beam-balance vs. Sham controls (p < 0.05) and did not differ from one another overall (p > 0.05); however, a single day analysis on the last day of testing revealed that the ACA + EE group performed better than the ACA + STD group (p < 0.05) and did not differ from the Sham controls (p > 0.05). Both Sham groups performed better than ACA + STD (p < 0.05) but did not differ from ACA + EE (p > 0.05) in the open field test. Spatial learning and declarative memory were improved and CA1 neuronal loss was attenuated in the ACA + EE vs. ACA + STD group (p < 0.05). Collectively, the data suggest that providing rehabilitation after pediatric ACA can reduce histopathology and improve motor and cognitive ability.

Perceptions of Risk of Cardiac Arrest in Individuals Living With a Cardiac Inherited Disease: Are the Doctor and the Patient on the Same Page?

BACKGROUND: Risk perceptions influence patient engagement with treatment recommendations, yet it is unknown whether patients with a cardiac inherited disease (CID) hold accurate risk perceptions. The study aimed to examine whether CID patients' and clinician's risk perceptions correlate and factors associated with patient perceptions. METHODS: 202 CID patients (of 618 [36%]) participated in a postal survey assessing perceived risk of aborted cardiac arrest or sudden cardiac death (ACA/SCD). Median age was 53 (16 to 83 years); 86 had Long QT Syndrome (LQTS), 69 had hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, 12 had dilated cardiomyopathy, and 27 had 'other'. Clinical and genetic characteristics were collected from the CID registry; clinical estimate of 5-year risk was determined for LQTS participants (n = 77) using a combination of cardiac arrest or syncope history, maximal QTc length, age, sex and genotype. RESULTS: Patients' risk perceptions of ACA/SCD ranged from 0 to 100%, (median 20%). Greater risk perceptions were associated with: non-New Zealand (NZ) Europeans (p < 0.01), probands (p < 0.05), reporting more physical symptoms (including those unrelated to CID) (p < 0.01), and more symptoms of anxiety (p < 0.05). Median risk assessment by LQTS patients was 15%, and by the clinician was 4.5%. No association was found between patient and clinician assessments of risk (rs = 0.13, ns), 56% of LQTS patients overestimated their risk, 14% underestimated and 30% were accurate. CONCLUSION: Cardiac inherited disease patients' risk perceptions correlate poorly with those of the clinician. Patients overestimating risk tend to have physical symptoms usually unrelated to their CID, and underlying anxiety. Techniques to better communicate risk are needed.

Dyadic effects of type D personality and perceived control on health-related quality of life in cardiac arrest survivors and their spouses using the actor-partner interdependence model.

BACKGROUND: There is a lack of knowledge about factors associated with health-related quality of life in cardiac arrest survivors and their spouses. In addition, survivors and spouses are likely to affect each other's health-related quality of life. AIMS: The aim was to investigate if a distressed personality and perceived control among cardiac arrest survivors and their spouses were associated with their own and their partner's health-related quality of life. METHODS: This dyadic cross-sectional study used the actor-partner interdependence model to analyse associations between a distressed personality (type D personality), perceived control (control attitudes scale), and health-related quality of life (EQ index and EQ visual analogue scale). RESULTS: In total, 126 dyads were included in the study. Type D personality and perceived control in cardiac arrest survivors were associated with their own health-related quality of life. In their spouses, a significant association was found for type D personality but not for perceived control. In addition, type D personality and perceived control in survivors were associated with health-related quality of life in their spouses. CONCLUSIONS: Type D personality and perceived control are factors that might be considered during post cardiac arrest, because of the associations with health-related quality of life in survivors and spouses. More research is needed to test psychosocial interventions in the cardiac arrest population in order to improve health-related quality of life.

How to discuss about do-not-resuscitate in the intensive care unit? / Como discutir sobre não ressuscitação cardiopulmonar na unidade de terapia intensiva?

The improvement in cardiopulmonary resuscitation quality has reduced the mortality of individuals treated for cardiac arrest. However, survivors have a high risk of severe brain damage in cases of return of spontaneous circulation. Data suggest that cases of cardiac arrest in critically ill patients with non-shockable rhythms have only a 6% chance of returning of spontaneous circulation, and of these, only one-third recover their autonomy. Should we, therefore, opt for a procedure in which the chance of survival is minimal and the risk of hospital death or severe and definitive brain damage is approximately 70%? Is it worth discussing patient resuscitation in cases of cardiac arrest? Would this discussion bring any benefit to the patients and their family members? Advanced discussions on do-not-resuscitate are based on the ethical principle of respect for patient autonomy, as the wishes of family members and physicians often do not match those of patients. In addition to the issue of autonomy, advanced discussions can help the medical and care team anticipate future problems and, thus, better plan patient care. Our opinion is that discussions regarding the resuscitation of critically ill patients should be performed for all patients within the first 24 to 48 hours after admission to the intensive care unit.

A melhoria da qualidade da ressuscitação cardiopulmonar vem reduzindo a mortalidade dos indivíduos atendidos em parada cardiorrespiratória. Porém, os sobreviventes apresentam risco elevado de dano cerebral grave em caso de retorno à circulação espontânea. Dados sugerem que paradas cardiorrespiratórias, que ocorram em pacientes criticamente doentes com ritmos cardíacos não chocáveis, apresentem somente 6% de chance de retorno à circulação espontânea e, destes, somente um terço consiga recuperar sua autonomia. Optaríamos, assim, pela realização de um procedimento em que a chance de sobrevida é mínima, e os sobreviventes apresentam risco de aproximadamente 70% de morte hospitalar ou dano cerebral grave e definitivo? Valeria a pena discutir se este paciente é ou não ressuscitável, em caso de parada cardiorrespiratória? Esta discussão traria algum benefício ao paciente e a seus familiares? As discussões avançadas de não ressuscitação se baseiam no princípio ético do respeito pela autonomia do paciente, pois o desejo dos familiares e dos médicos, muitas vezes, não se correlaciona adequadamente aos dos pacientes. Não somente pela ótica da autonomia, as discussões avançadas podem ajudar a equipe médica e assistencial a anteciparem problemas futuros, fazendo-os planejar melhor o cuidado dos enfermos. Ou seja, nossa opinião é a de que discussões sobre ressuscitação ou não dos pacientes criticamente doentes devam ser realizadas em todos os casos internados na unidade de terapia intensiva logo nas primeiras 24 a 48 horas de internação.

Como discutir sobre não ressuscitação cardiopulmonar na unidade de terapia intensiva? / How to discuss about do-not-resuscitate in the intensive care unit?

RESUMO A melhoria da qualidade da ressuscitação cardiopulmonar vem reduzindo a mortalidade dos indivíduos atendidos em parada cardiorrespiratória. Porém, os sobreviventes apresentam risco elevado de dano cerebral grave em caso de retorno à circulação espontânea. Dados sugerem que paradas cardiorrespiratórias, que ocorram em pacientes criticamente doentes com ritmos cardíacos não chocáveis, apresentem somente 6% de chance de retorno à circulação espontânea e, destes, somente um terço consiga recuperar sua autonomia. Optaríamos, assim, pela realização de um procedimento em que a chance de sobrevida é mínima, e os sobreviventes apresentam risco de aproximadamente 70% de morte hospitalar ou dano cerebral grave e definitivo? Valeria a pena discutir se este paciente é ou não ressuscitável, em caso de parada cardiorrespiratória? Esta discussão traria algum benefício ao paciente e a seus familiares? As discussões avançadas de não ressuscitação se baseiam no princípio ético do respeito pela autonomia do paciente, pois o desejo dos familiares e dos médicos, muitas vezes, não se correlaciona adequadamente aos dos pacientes. Não somente pela ótica da autonomia, as discussões avançadas podem ajudar a equipe médica e assistencial a anteciparem problemas futuros, fazendo-os planejar melhor o cuidado dos enfermos. Ou seja, nossa opinião é a de que discussões sobre ressuscitação ou não dos pacientes criticamente doentes devam ser realizadas em todos os casos internados na unidade de terapia intensiva logo nas primeiras 24 a 48 horas de internação.

Abstract The improvement in cardiopulmonary resuscitation quality has reduced the mortality of individuals treated for cardiac arrest. However, survivors have a high risk of severe brain damage in cases of return of spontaneous circulation. Data suggest that cases of cardiac arrest in critically ill patients with non-shockable rhythms have only a 6% chance of returning of spontaneous circulation, and of these, only one-third recover their autonomy. Should we, therefore, opt for a procedure in which the chance of survival is minimal and the risk of hospital death or severe and definitive brain damage is approximately 70%? Is it worth discussing patient resuscitation in cases of cardiac arrest? Would this discussion bring any benefit to the patients and their family members? Advanced discussions on do-not-resuscitate are based on the ethical principle of respect for patient autonomy, as the wishes of family members and physicians often do not match those of patients. In addition to the issue of autonomy, advanced discussions can help the medical and care team anticipate future problems and, thus, better plan patient care. Our opinion is that discussions regarding the resuscitation of critically ill patients should be performed for all patients within the first 24 to 48 hours after admission to the intensive care unit.

Reference frame and emotions may contribute to discrepancies in patient and clinician risk estimates in Long QT syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: Patients and clinicians need to have similar understandings of cardiac risk, so patients can make informed decisions. The aim of this study was to assess the concordance of risk estimates between Long-QT-Syndrome (LQTS) patients and an experienced clinician. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 86 LQTS patients recruited from a clinical registry. Participants completed two questions on their risk of cardiac arrest; likelihood (1=very-unlikely to 5=very-likely), and chance (%), and an experienced clinician computed the same based on risk factors. RESULTS: 30% and 55% of patients had concordant perceptions with the clinician estimate on the chance and likelihood questions respectively. The patients who overestimated their risk (%) had significantly greater emotional responses and concerns about their LQTS. 22 (29%) patients reported a risk of 50% or greater, in contrast to the clinician's risk estimates not exceeding 30%. CONCLUSION: Many LQTS patients had discordant risk perceptions to the clinician's. Patients and clinicians may have different frames of reference, and patients' estimates are linked with emotions. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: Clinicians need to take into account LQTS patients' different frame of reference when discussing risk information. This will support shared decision making.

The presence of psychological trauma symptoms in resuscitation providers and an exploration of debriefing practices.

INTRODUCTION: Witnessing traumatic experiences can cause post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The true impact on healthcare staff of attending in-hospital cardiac arrests (IHCAs) has not been studied. This cross-sectional study examined cardiac arrest debriefing practices and the burden of attending IHCAs on nursing and medical staff. METHODS: A 33-item questionnaire-survey was sent to 517 doctors (of all grades), nurses and health-care assistants (HCAs) working in the emergency department, the acute medical unit and the intensive care unit of a district general hospital between April and August 2018. There were three sections: demographics; cardiac arrest and debriefing practices; trauma-screening questionnaire (TSQ). RESULTS: The response rate was 414/517 (80.1%); 312/414 (75.4%) were involved with IHCAs. Out of 1463 arrests, 258 (17.6%) were debriefed. Twenty-nine of 302 (9.6%) staff screened positively for PTSD. Healthcare assistants and Foundation Year 1 doctors had higher TSQ scores than nurses or more senior doctors (p = 0.02, p = 0.02, respectively). Debriefing was not associated with PTSD risk (p = 0.98). Only 8/67 (11.9%) of resuscitation leaders had prior debriefing training. CONCLUSIONS: Nearly 10% of acute care staff screened positively for PTSD as a result of attending an IHCA, with junior staff being most at risk of developing trauma symptoms. Very few debriefs occurred, possibly because of a lack of debrief training amongst cardiac arrest team leaders. More support is required for acute care nursing and medical staff following an IHCA.

Long-term survivors of cardiac arrest: A narrative inquiry.

BACKGROUND: Despite extensive knowledge and research in cardiac health there is limited understanding in how a cardiac arrest influences the life of long-term survivors. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to explore how long-term survivors of a cardiac arrest adjusted to their new reality, expressed in their re-storied narratives. METHODS: Seven individuals surviving a cardiac arrest 5-26 years ago were interviewed through in-depth conversations over a six-month period. These interviews were analysed using Clandinin and Connelly's framework of narrative inquiry. RESULTS: Seven threads were found: Disbelief, Surveillance of their body, Loss of control and desire for normality, Keeping fit and informing others, Gratefulness, Spirituality - luck and fate, and Fragility of life and dying. CONCLUSIONS: All seven long-term survivors of cardiac arrest expressed a positive attitude. Despite the nature of the cardiac arrest and the hurdles that followed, they have a heightened appreciation for life. This indicates that after the adaptation to their new reality of being a cardiac arrest survivor life returns to a new normality.

Dimensional structure of posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms after cardiac arrest.

BACKGROUND: Considerable evidence suggests that posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a heterogeneous construct despite often being treated as a homogeneous diagnostic entity. PTSD in response to cardiac arrest is common and may differ from PTSD following other medical traumas. Most patients are amnesic from the cardiac event, and it is unclear if and how certain PTSD symptoms may manifest. METHODS: We examined the latent structure of PTSD symptoms in 104 consecutive cardiac arrest survivors who were admitted to Columbia University Medical Center. PTSD symptoms were assessed via the PTSD Checklist-Specific at hospital discharge. We performed a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) to compare 4-factor dysphoria, 4-factor numbing, and 5-factor dysphoric arousal models of PTSD with our data. RESULTS: The CFA showed that each of the models had good fit. We chose the 4-factor numbing model (χ2 (113) = 151.59, p < .01, CFI = 0.94, RMSEA = 0.057, 90% CI: [0.032, 0.081]) as most representative of the data, after considering a between-factor correlation of 0.99 in the 5-factor dysphoric arousal model, and greater fit statistics than the 4-factor dysphoria model. LIMITATIONS: Certain factors were defined by only two items. Additionally, PTSD was assessed at discharge (median = 21 days); those assessed before 30 days could be displaying symptoms of acute stress disorder. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that PTSD symptoms after cardiac arrest are best represented by a 4-factor numbing model of PTSD. PTSD assessment and intervention efforts for cardiac arrest survivors should consider the underlying dimensions of PTSD.

Lived experiences of surviving in-hospital cardiac arrest.

BACKGROUND: Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest survivors suffer from psychological distress and cognitive impairments. They experience existential insecurity and vulnerability and are striving to return to a life in which well-being and the meaning of life have partly changed. However, research highlighting the experiences of in-hospital cardiac arrest survivors is lacking. This means that evidence for postresuscitation care has largely been extrapolated from studies on out-of-hospital cardiac arrest survivors, without considering potential group differences. Studies investigating survivors' experiences of an in-hospital cardiac arrest are therefore needed. AIM: To illuminate meanings of people's lived experiences of surviving an in-hospital cardiac arrest. DESIGN: An explorative, phenomenological hermeneutic method to illuminate meanings of lived experiences. METHOD: Participants were identified through the Swedish national register of cardiopulmonary resuscitation and recruited from two hospitals. A purposive sample of eight participants, 53-99 years old, who survived an in-hospital cardiac arrest 1-3 years earlier, was interviewed. FINDINGS: The survivors were striving to live in everyday life and striving for security. The struggle to reach a new identity meant an existence between restlessness and a peace of mind, searching for emotional well-being and bodily abilities. The search for existential wholeness meant a quest for understanding and explanation of the fragmented cardiac arrest event and its existential consequences. The transition from hospital to home meant a transition from care and protection to uncertainty and vulnerability with feelings of abandonment, which called for a search for security and belonging, away from isolation and loneliness. CONCLUSION: Surviving an in-hospital cardiac arrest can be further understood by means of the concept of hospital-to-home transition. Following hospital discharge, patients felt vulnerable and abandoned when pending between denial and acceptance of the 'new' life. Hence, the healthcare system should play a significant role when it comes to facilitate cardiac arrest survivors' security during hospital-to-home transition.

One-Year Survival and Neurologic Outcomes After Pediatric Open-Chest Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation.

BACKGROUND: Limited data exist about neurobehavioral outcomes of children treated with open-chest cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Our objective was to describe neurobehavioral outcomes 1 year after arrest among children who received open-chest CPR during in-hospital cardiac arrest and to explore factors associated with 1-year survival and survival with good neurobehavioral outcome. METHODS: The study is a secondary analysis of the Therapeutic Hypothermia after Pediatric Cardiac Arrest In-Hospital Trial. Fifty-six children who received open-chest CPR for in-hospital cardiac arrest were included. Neurobehavioral status was assessed using the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales, Second Edition (VABS-II) at baseline before arrest and 12 months after arrest. Norms for VABS-II are 100 ± 15 points. Outcomes included 12-month survival, 12-month survival with VABS-II decreased by no more than 15 points from baseline, and 12-month survival with VABS-II of 70 or more points. RESULTS: Of 56 children receiving open-chest CPR, 49 (88%) were after cardiac surgery and 43 (77%) were younger than 1 year. Forty-four children (79%) were cannulated for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) during CPR or within 6 hours of return of spontaneous circulation. Thirty-three children (59%) survived to 12 months, 22 (41%) survived to 12 months with VABS-II decreased by no more than 15 points from baseline, and of the children with baseline VABS-II of 70 or more points 23 (51%) survived to 12 months with VABS-II of 70 or more points. On multivariable analyses, use of ECMO, renal replacement therapy, and higher maximum international normalized ratio were independently associated with lower 12-month survival with VABS-II of 70 or more points. CONCLUSIONS: Approximately one-half of children survived with good neurobehavioral outcome 1 year after open-chest CPR for in-hospital cardiac arrest. Use of ECMO and postarrest renal or hepatic dysfunction may be associated with worse neurobehavioral outcomes.