Organ donation after extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation: a nationwide retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Limited data are available on organ donation practices and recipient outcomes, particularly when comparing donors who experienced cardiac arrest and received extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR) followed by veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) decannulation, versus those who experienced cardiac arrest without receiving ECPR. This study aims to explore organ donation practices and outcomes post-ECPR to enhance our understanding of the donation potential after cardiac arrest. METHODS: We conducted a nationwide retrospective cohort study using data from the Japan Organ Transplant Network database, covering all deceased organ donors between July 17, 2010, and August 31, 2022. We included donors who experienced at least one episode of cardiac arrest. During the study period, patients undergoing ECMO treatment were not eligible for a legal diagnosis of brain death. We compared the timeframes associated with each donor's management and the long-term graft outcomes of recipients between ECPR and non-ECPR groups. RESULTS: Among 370 brain death donors with an episode of cardiac arrest, 26 (7.0%) received ECPR and 344 (93.0%) did not; the majority were due to out-of-hospital cardiac arrests. The median duration of veno-arterial ECMO support after ECPR was 3 days. Patients in the ECPR group had significantly longer intervals from admission to organ procurement compared to those not receiving ECPR (13 vs. 9 days, P = 0.005). Lung graft survival rates were significantly lower in the ECPR group (log-rank test P = 0.009), with no significant differences in other organ graft survival rates. Of 160 circulatory death donors with an episode of cardiac arrest, 27 (16.9%) received ECPR and 133 (83.1%) did not. Time intervals from admission to organ procurement following circulatory death and graft survival showed no significant differences between ECPR and non-ECPR groups. The number of organs donated was similar between the ECPR and non-ECPR groups, regardless of brain or circulatory death. CONCLUSIONS: This nationwide study reveals that lung graft survival was lower in recipients from ECPR-treated donors, highlighting the need for targeted research and protocol adjustments in post-ECPR organ donation.

Association between survival and number of shocks for pulseless ventricular arrhythmias during pediatric in-hospital cardiac arrest in a national registry.

BACKGROUND: Annually 15,200 children suffer an in-hospital cardiac arrest (IHCA) in the US. Ventricular fibrillation or pulseless ventricular tachycardia (VF/pVT) is the initial rhythm in 10-15% of these arrests. We sought to evaluate the association of number of shocks and early dose escalation with survival for initial VF/pVT in pediatric IHCA. METHODS: Using 2000-2020 data from the American Heart Association's (AHA) Get with the Guidelines®-Resuscitation (GWTG-R) registry, we identified children >48 hours of life and ≤18 years who had an IHCA from initial VF/pVT and received defibrillation. RESULTS: There were 251 subjects (37.7%) who received a single shock and 415 subjects (62.3%) who received multiple shocks. Baseline and cardiac arrest characteristics did not differ between those who received a single shock versus multiple shocks except for duration of arrest and calendar year. The median first shock dose was consistent with AHA dosing recommendations and not different between those who received a single shock versus multiple shocks. Survival was improved for those who received a single shock compared to multiple shocks. However, no difference in survival was noted between those who received 2, 3, or ≥4 shocks. Of those receiving multiple shocks, no difference was observed with early dose escalation. CONCLUSIONS: In pediatric IHCA, most patients with initial VF/pVT require more than one shock. No distinctions in patient or pre-arrest characteristics were identified between those who received a single shock versus multiple shocks. Subjects who received a single shock were more likely to survive to hospital discharge even after adjusting for duration of resuscitation.

Survival After Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest Before and After Legislation for Bystander CPR.

Importance: The lack of evidence-based implementation strategies is a major contributor to increasing mortality due to out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) in developing countries with limited resources. Objective: To evaluate whether the implementation of legislation is associated with increased bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and automated external defibrillator (AED) use and improved clinical outcomes for patients experiencing OHCA and to provide policy implications for low-income and middle-income settings. Design, Setting, and Participants: This observational cohort study analyzed a prospective city registry of patients with bystander-witnessed OHCA between January 1, 2010, and December 31, 2022. The Emergency Medical Aid Act was implemented in Shenzhen, China, on October 1, 2018. An interrupted time-series analysis was used to assess changes in outcomes before and after the law. Data analysis was performed from May to October 2023. Exposure: The Emergency Medical Aid Act stipulated the use of AEDs and CPR training for the public and provided clear legal guidance for OHCA rescuing. Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary outcomes were rates of bystander-initiated CPR and use of AEDs. Secondary outcomes were rates of prehospital return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC), survival to arrival at the hospital, and survival at discharge. Results: A total of 13 751 patients with OHCA (median [IQR] age, 59 [43-76] years; 10 011 men [72.83%]) were included, with 7858 OHCAs occurring during the prelegislation period (January 1, 2010, to September 30, 2018) and 5893 OHCAs occurring during the postlegislation period (October 1, 2018, to December 31, 2022). The rates of bystander-initiated CPR (320 patients [4.10%] vs 1103 patients [18.73%]) and AED use (214 patients [4.12%] vs 182 patients [5.29%]) increased significantly after legislation implementation vs rates before the legislation. Rates of prehospital ROSC (72 patients [0.92%] vs 425 patients [7.21%]), survival to arrival at the hospital (68 patients [0.87%] vs 321 patients [5.45%]), and survival at discharge (44 patients [0.56%] vs 165 patients [2.80%]) were significantly increased during the postlegislation period. Interrupted time-series models demonstrated a significant slope change in the rates of all outcomes. Conclusions and Relevance: These findings suggest that implementation of the Emergency Medical Aid Act in China was associated with increased rates of CPR and public AED use and improved survival of patients with OHCA. The use of a systemwide approach to enact resuscitation initiatives and provide legal support may reduce the burden of OHCA in low-income and middle-income settings.

Time Is Life: Golden Ten Minutes on Scene-EuReCa_Serbia 2014-2023.

Background and Objectives: This study analyzed the frequency of factors influencing the course and outcomes of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) in Serbia and the prediction of pre-hospital outcomes and survival. Materials and Methods: Data were collected during the period from 1 October 2014, to 31 September 2023, according to the protocol of the EuReCa_One study (clinical trial ID number NCT02236819). Results: Overall 9303 OHCA events were registered with a median age of 71 (IQR 61-81) years and 59.7% of them being males. The annual OHCA incidence was 85.60 ± 20.73/100,000. Within all bystander-witnessed cases, bystander-initiated cardiopulmonary resuscitation in 15.3%. Within the resuscitation-initiated group, return-of-spontaneous circulation (ROSC) on scene (any ROSC) was present in 1037/4053 cases (25.6%) and ROSC on admission to the nearest hospital in 792/4053 cases (19.5%), while 201/4053 patients survived to hospital discharge (5.0%). Predictive potential on pre-hospital outcomes was shown by several factors. Also, of all patients having any ROSC, 89.2% were admitted to the hospital alive. The probability of any ROSC dropped below 50% after 17 min passed after the emergency call and 10 min after the EMS scene arrival. These time intervals were significantly associated with survival to hospital discharge (p < 0.001). Five-minute time intervals between both emergency calls and any ROSC and EMS scene arrival and any ROSC also had a significant predictive potential for survival to hospital discharge (p < 0.001, HR 1.573, 95% CI 1.303-1.899 and p = 0.017, HR 1.184, 95% CI 1.030-1.361, respectively). Conclusions: A 10-min time on scene to any ROSC is a crucial time-related factor for achieving any ROSC, and indirectly admission ROSC and survival to hospital discharge, and represents a golden time interval spent on scene in the management of OHCA patients. A similar effect has a time interval of 17 min from an emergency call. Further investigations should be focused on factors influencing these time intervals, especially time spent on scene.

Trends in presumed drug overdose out-of-hospital cardiac arrests in San Francisco, 2015-2023.

INTRODUCTION: Estimates of the prevalence of drug-related out of hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) vary, ranging from 1.8% to 10.0% of medical OHCA. However, studies conducted prior to the recent wave of fentanyl deaths likely underestimate the current prevalence of drug-related OHCA. We evaluated recent trends in drug-related OHCA, hypothesizing that the proportion of presumed drug-related OHCA treated by emergency medical services (EMS) has increased since 2015. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective analysis of OHCA patients treated by EMS providers in San Francisco, California between 2015 and 2023. Participants included OHCA cases in which resuscitation was attempted by EMS. The study exposure was the year of arrest. Our primary outcome was the occurrence of drug-related OHCA, defined as the EMS impression of OHCA caused by a presumed or known overdose of medication(s) or drug(s). RESULTS: From 2015 to 2023, 5044 OHCA resuscitations attended by EMS (average 561 per year) met inclusion criteria. The median age was 65 (IQR 50-79); 3508 (69.6%) were male. The EMS impression of arrest etiology was drug-related in 446/5044 (8.8%) of OHCA. The prevalence of presumed drug-related OHCA increased significantly each year from 1% in 2015 to 17.6% in 2023 (p-value for trend = 0.0001). After adjustment, presumed drug-related OHCA increased by 30% each year from 2015-2023. CONCLUSION: Drug-related OHCA is an increasingly common etiology of OHCA. In 2023, one in six OHCA was presumed to be drug related. Among participants less than 60 years old, one in three OHCA was presumed to be drug related.

Foreign body airway obstruction resulting in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in Denmark - Incidence, survival and interventions.

BACKGROUND: Foreign body airway obstruction (FBAO) stands as an important contributor to accidental fatalities, yet prompt bystander interventions have been shown to improve survival. This study aimed to evaluate the incidence, interventions, and survival outcomes of patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) related to FBAO in comparison to patients with non-FBAO OHCA. METHODS: In this population-based cohort study, we included all OHCAs in Denmark from 2016 to 2022. Cases related to FBAO were identified and linked to the patient register. Descriptive and multivariable analyses were performed to evaluate prognostic factors potentially influencing survival. RESULTS: A total of 30,926 OHCA patients were included. The incidence rate of FBAO-related OHCA was 0.78 per 100,000 person-years. Among FBAO cases, 24% presented with return of spontaneous circulation upon arrival of the emergency medical services. The 30-day survival rate was higher in FBAO patients (30%) compared to non-FBAO patients (14%). Bystander interventions were recorded in 26% of FBAO cases. However, no statistically significant association between bystander interventions or EMS personnels' use of Magill forceps and survival was shown, aOR 1.47 (95 % CI 0.6-3.6) and aOR 0.88 (95% CI 0.3-2.1). CONCLUSION: FBAO-related OHCA was rare but has a higher initial survival rate than non-FBAO related OHCA, with a considerable proportion of patients achieving return of spontaneous circulation upon arrival of the emergency medical service personnel. No definitive associations were established between survival and specific interventions performed by bystanders or EMS personnel. These findings highlight the need for further research in this area.

Sleep apnea, the risk of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, and potential benefits of continuous positive airway pressure therapy: A nationwide study.

OBJECTIVE: Patients with sleep apnea (SA) are at increased cardiovascular risk. However, little is known about the risk of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) in patients with SA. Therefore, we studied the relation between SA patients who did and did not receive continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy with OHCA in the general population. METHODS: Using nationwide databases, we conducted a nested case-control study with OHCA-cases of presumed cardiac causes and age/sex/OHCA-date matched non-OHCA-controls from the general population. Conditional logistic regression models with adjustments for well-known OHCA risk factors were performed to generate odds ratio (OR) of OHCA comparing patients with SA receiving and not receiving CPAP therapy with individuals without SA. RESULTS: We identified 46,578 OHCA-cases and 232,890 matched non-OHCA-controls [mean: 71 years, 68.8% men]. Compared to subjects without SA, having SA without CPAP therapy was associated with increased odds of OHCA after controlling for relevant confounders (OR:1.20, 95%-Cl:1.06-1.36), while having SA with CPAP therapy was not associated with OHCA (OR:1.04, 95%-Cl:0.93-1.36). Regardless of CPAP therapy, age and sex did not significantly influence our findings. Our findings were confirmed in: (I) patients with neither ischemic heart disease nor heart failure (untreated SA, OR:1.24, 95%-CI:1.04-1.47; SA with CPAP, OR:1.08, 95%-CI:0.93-1.25); and (II) in patients without cardiovascular disease (untreated SA, OR:1.33, 95%-CI:1.07-1.65; SA with CPAP, OR:1.14, 95%-CI:0.94-1.39). CONCLUSION: SA not treated with CPAP was associated with OHCA, while no increased risk of OHCA was found for SA patients treated with CPAP.

Resuscitation (un-)wanted: Does anyone care? A retrospective real data analysis.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: In case of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) personnel of the emergency medical services (EMS) are regularly confronted with advanced directives (AD) and do-not-attempt-resuscitation (DNACPR) orders. The authors conducted a retrospective analysis of EMS operation protocols to examine the prevalence of DNACPR in case of OHCA and the influence of a presented DNACPR on CPR-duration, performed Advanced-Life-Support (ALS) measures and decision making. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective analysis of prehospital medical documentation of all resuscitation incidents in a German county with 250,000 inhabitants from 1 January 2016 to 31 December 2022. Combined with data from the structured CPR team-feedback database patients characteristics, measures and course of the CPR were analysed. Statistic testing with significance level p < 0.05. RESULTS: In total n = 1,474 CPR events were analysed. Patients with DNACPR vs. no DNACPR: n = 263 (17.8%) vs. n = 1,211 (82.2%). Age: 80.0 ± 10.3 years vs. 68.0 ± 13.9 years; p < 0.001. Patients with ASA-status III/IV: n = 214 (81.3%) vs. n = 616 (50.9%); p < 0.001. Initial layperson-CPR: n = 148 (56.3%) vs. n = 647 (55.7%); p = 0.40. Airway management: n = 185 (70.3%) vs. n = 1,069 (88.3%); p < 0.001. With DNACPR CPR-duration initiated layperson-CPR vs. no layperson-CPR: 19:14 min (10:43-25:55 min) vs. 12:40 min (06:35-20:03 min); p < 0.001. CONCLUSION: In case of CPR EMS-personnel are often confronted with DNACPR-orders. Patients are older and have more previous diseases than patients without DNACPR. Initiated layperson-CPR might lead to misinterpretation of patients will with impact on CPR-duration and unwanted measures. Awareness of this issue should be created through measures such as training programs in particular to train staff in the interpretation and legal admissibility of ADs.

Limitation of life support treatments in Spanish Intensive Care Units: Analysis of the ETHICUS II study.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to describe the results of Spanish ICUs in ETHICUS II study. DESIGN: Planned substudy of patients from ETHICUS II study. SETTING: 12 Spanish ICU. PATIENTS OR PARTICIPANTS: Patients admitted to Spanish ICU who died or in whom a limitation of life-sustaining treatment (LLST) was decided during a recruitment period of 6 months. INTERVENTIONS: Follow-up of patients was performed until discharge from the ICU and 2 months after the decision of LLST or death. MAIN VARIABLES OF INTEREST: Demographic characteristics, clinical profile, type of decision of LLST, time and form in which it was adopted. Patients were classified into 4 categories according to the ETHICUS II study protocol: withholding or withdrawing life-sustaining therapy, active shortening of the dying process, failed cardiopulmonary resuscitation and patients with brain death. RESULTS: A total of 795 patients were analyzed; 129 patients died after CPR, 129 developed brain death. LLST was decided in 537 patients, 485 died in the ICU, 90.3%. The mean age was 66.19 years ± 14.36, 63.8% of male patients. In 221 (41%) it was decided to withdraw life-sustaining treatments and in 316 (59%) withholding life-sustaining treatments. Nineteen patients (2.38%) had advance living directives. CONCLUSIONS: The predominant clinical profile when LTSV was established was male patients over 65 years with mostly cardiovascular comorbidity. We observed that survival was higher in LLST decisions involving withholding of treatments compared to those in which withdrawal was decided. Spain has played a leading role in both patient and ICU recruitment participating in this worldwide multicenter study.

The association between mechanical CPR and outcomes from in-hospital cardiac arrest: An observational cohort study.

AIM: We sought to investigate the relationship between mechanical cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) during in-hospital cardiac arrest and survival to hospital discharge. METHODS: Utilizing the prospectively collected American Heart Association's Get With The Guidelines database, we performed an observational study. Data from 153 institutions across the United States were reviewed with a total of 351,125 patients suffering cardiac arrest between 2011 and 2019 were screened. After excluding patients with cardiac arrests lasting less than 5 minutes, and patients who had incomplete data, a total of 111,143 patients were included. Our primary exposure was mechanical vs. manual CPR, and the primary outcome was survival to hospital discharge. Multivariate logistic regression models and propensity weighted analyses were used. RESULTS: 11.8% of patients who received mechanical CPR survived to hospital discharge versus 16.9% in the manual CPR group. Patients who received mechanical CPR had a lower probability of survival to discharge compared to patients who received manual CPR (OR 0.66 95% CI 0.58-0.75; p < 0.001). This association persisted with multi-variable adjustment (OR 0.57 95% CI 0.46-0.70, p < 0.0001) and propensity weighted analysis (OR 0.68 95% CI 0.44-0 0.92, p < 0.0001). Mechanical CPR was associated with decrease likelihood of return of spontaneous circulation after multivariate adjustment (OR 0.68, 95% CI 0.60-0.76; p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Mechanical CPR was associated with a decreased likelihood of survival to hospital discharge and ROSC compared to manual CPR. This finding should be interpreted within the context of important limitations of this study and randomized trials are needed to better investigate this relationship.

Effectiveness of Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation at the Workplace.

BACKGROUND: Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest (OHCA) is a medical emergency whose chances of survival can be increased by rapid Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and early use of Public Access Defibrillators (PAD). Basic Life Support (BLS) training became mandatory in Italy to spread knowledge of resuscitation maneuvers in the workplace. Basic Life Support (BLS) training became mandatory according to the DL 81/2008 law. To improve the level of cardioprotection in the workplace, the national law DL 116/2021 increased the number of places required to be provided with PADs. The study highlights the possibility of a Return to spontaneous circulation in OHCA in the workplace. METHODS: A multivariate logistic regression model was fitted to the data to extrapolate associations between ROSC and the dependent variables. The associations' robustness was evaluated through sensitivity analysis. RESULTS: The chance to receive CPR (OR 2.3; 95% CI:1.8-2.9), PAD (OR 7.2; 95% CI:4.9 - 10.7), and achieve Return to spontaneous circulation (ROSC) (crude OR 2.2; 95% CI:1.7-3.0, adjusted OR 1.6; 95% CI:1.2-2.2) is higher in the workplace compared to all other places. CONCLUSION: The workplace could be considered cardioprotective, although further research is necessary to understand the causes of missed CPRs and identify the best places to increase BLS and defibrillation training to help policymakers implement correct programming on the activation of PAD projects.

Arterial oxygen and carbon dioxide tension and acute brain injury in extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation patients: Analysis of the extracorporeal life support organization registry.

BACKGROUND: Acute brain injury (ABI) remains common after extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR). Using a large international multicenter cohort, we investigated the impact of peri-cannulation arterial oxygen (PaO2) and carbon dioxide (PaCO2) on ABI occurrence. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed adult (≥18 years old) ECPR patients in the Extracorporeal Life Support Organization registry from 1/2009 through 12/2020. Composite ABI included ischemic stroke, intracranial hemorrhage (ICH), seizures, and brain death. The registry collects 2 blood gas data pre- (6 hours) and post- (24 hours) cannulation. Blood gas parameters were classified as: hypoxia (<60mm Hg), normoxia (60-119mm Hg), and mild (120-199mm Hg), moderate (200-299mm Hg), and severe hyperoxia (≥300mm Hg); hypocarbia (<35mm Hg), normocarbia (35-44mm Hg), mild (45-54mm Hg) and severe hypercarbia (≥55mm Hg). Missing values were handled using multiple imputation. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to assess the relationship of PaO2 and PaCO2 with ABI. RESULTS: Of 3,125 patients with ECPR intervention (median age=58, 69% male), 488 (16%) experienced ABI (7% ischemic stroke; 3% ICH). In multivariable analysis, on-ECMO moderate (aOR=1.42, 95%CI: 1.02-1.97) and severe hyperoxia (aOR=1.59, 95%CI: 1.20-2.10) were associated with composite ABI. Additionally, severe hyperoxia was associated with ischemic stroke (aOR=1.63, 95%CI: 1.11-2.40), ICH (aOR=1.92, 95%CI: 1.08-3.40), and in-hospital mortality (aOR=1.58, 95%CI: 1.21-2.06). Mild hypercarbia pre-ECMO was protective of composite ABI (aOR=0.61, 95%CI: 0.44-0.84) and ischemic stroke (aOR=0.56, 95%CI: 0.35-0.89). CONCLUSIONS: Early severe hyperoxia (≥300mm Hg) on ECMO was a significant risk factor for ABI and mortality. Careful consideration should be given in early oxygen delivery in ECPR patients who are at risk of reperfusion injury.

Racial and Ethnic Differences in Bystander CPR for Witnessed Cardiac Arrest.

BACKGROUND: Differences in the incidence of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) provided by bystanders contribute to survival disparities among persons with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. It is critical to understand whether the incidence of bystander CPR in witnessed out-of-hospital cardiac arrests at home and in public settings differs according to the race or ethnic group of the person with cardiac arrest in order to inform interventions. METHODS: Within a large U.S. registry, we identified 110,054 witnessed out-of-hospital cardiac arrests during the period from 2013 through 2019. We used a hierarchical logistic regression model to analyze the incidence of bystander CPR in Black or Hispanic persons as compared with White persons with witnessed cardiac arrests at home and in public locations. We analyzed the overall incidence as well as the incidence according to neighborhood racial or ethnic makeup and income strata. Neighborhoods were classified as predominantly White (>80% of residents), majority Black or Hispanic (>50% of residents), or integrated, and as high income (an annual median household income of >$80,000), middle income ($40,000-$80,000), or low income (<$40,000). RESULTS: Overall, 35,469 of the witnessed out-of-hospital cardiac arrests (32.2%) occurred in Black or Hispanic persons. Black and Hispanic persons were less likely to receive bystander CPR at home (38.5%) than White persons (47.4%) (adjusted odds ratio, 0.74; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.72 to 0.76) and less likely to receive bystander CPR in public locations than White persons (45.6% vs. 60.0%) (adjusted odds ratio, 0.63; 95% CI, 0.60 to 0.66). The incidence of bystander CPR among Black and Hispanic persons was less than that among White persons not only in predominantly White neighborhoods at home (adjusted odds ratio, 0.82; 95% CI, 0.74 to 0.90) and in public locations (adjusted odds ratio, 0.68; 95% CI, 0.60 to 0.75) but also in majority Black or Hispanic neighborhoods at home (adjusted odds ratio, 0.79; 95% CI, 0.75 to 0.83) and in public locations (adjusted odds ratio, 0.63; 95% CI, 0.59 to 0.68) and in integrated neighborhoods at home (adjusted odds ratio, 0.78; 95% CI, 0.74 to 0.81) and in public locations (adjusted odds ratio, 0.73; 95% CI, 0.68 to 0.77). Similarly, across all neighborhood income strata, the frequency of bystander CPR at home and in public locations was lower among Black and Hispanic persons with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest than among White persons. CONCLUSIONS: In witnessed out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, Black and Hispanic persons were less likely than White persons to receive potentially lifesaving bystander CPR at home and in public locations, regardless of the racial or ethnic makeup or income level of the neighborhood where the cardiac arrest occurred. (Funded by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.).

[Descriptive analysis of triggers, outcomes and the response of the health systems of child drowning in Galicia (Spain). A 17-year retrospective study.] / Análisis descriptivo de las causas, consecuencias y respuesta de los sistemas de Salud Pública en los ahogamientos pediátricos en Galicia. Un estudio retrospectivo de 17 años.

OBJECTIVE: Drowning is one of major public health problem in childhood. The aim of this paper was to describe the characteristics, locations, interventions and outcomes of child drowning in Galicia over 17 years. METHODS: Retrospective study of 100% of data of drowning amongst children aged 0-14 in the 2004-2020 period who were attended by the 061 emergency services in Galicia (Spain) was made. The characteristics of the incident, the victim's profile, location, type of medical care given and whether the victim survived or died were analysed using the Chi Square test to compare relative frequencies, and Odds Ratio to estimate the risk. RESULTS: During the period under study, 100 child drownings were recorded. In 55%, the main cause was lack of supervision. Young children (aged 0-4) primarily drowned in pools, and pre-teens and teenagers (aged 10-14) in the sea. In 42% of the incidents, bystanders performed CPR (37% included ventilation). Emergency services took 12 minutes on average to arrive at the scene. 6% died in situ and of the rest, were taken to hospital and admitted in 47% PICU, 26% ward, 8% discharged from Accident and Emergency (43% with pulmonary oedema, 41% with supplemental oxygen, 13% with IMV/NIMV [invasive mechanical ventilation/non-invasive]). Pneumonia was the most common complication and survival to discharge was 77%. CONCLUSIONS: Small children usually drown in pools and water facilities because of lack of supervision, whereas adolescents usually drown in the sea. CPR started by bystanders and the fast response of emergency services contributed to a high rate of survival. A large amount of data was lost during the process: accurate, standardized coding of drowning is necessary.

OBJETIVO: El ahogamiento es un importante problema de Salud Pública en la etapa infantil. El objetivo de este trabajo fue describir las características, localizaciones, intervenciones y resultados del ahogamiento pediátrico en Galicia durante 17 años. METODOS: Se realizó un estudio retrospectivo del 100% de los datos de ahogamiento de personas entre 0 y 14 años de edad del año 2004 a 2020, que fueran atendidos por los servicios de emergencias de Galicia 061. Se analizaron las características del incidente, perfil de la víctima, localización, tipo de asistencia sanitaria recibida y supervivencia respecto a muerte mediante el test Chi Cuadrado para comparar frecuencias relativas, y Odds Ratio para estimar el riesgo. RESULTADOS: Se registraron 100 ahogamientos pediátricos. En el 55% la principal causa fue la falta de supervisión. Los niños y niñas de 0-4 años se ahogaban mayoritariamente en piscinas, mientras que los/las adolescentes (10-14 años) en playas. En el 42% de los incidentes el testigo hizo reanimación cardiopulmonar (un 37% incluyó ventilaciones). Los servicios de emergencia tardaron 12 minutos de media en llegar. Un 6% falleció in situ y el resto fueron trasladados al hospital e ingresaron el 47% en UCI, 26% en planta, y 8% cursaron alta en Urgencias (43% con edema pulmonar, 41% con oxígeno suplementario, 13% con VMI/VMNI [ventilación mecánica invasiva/no invasiva]). La neumonía fue una complicación habitual y la supervivencia al alta fue del 77%. CONCLUSIONES: Los niños/as más pequeños se ahogan habitualmente en instalaciones acuáticas por falta de supervisión mientras que los/las adolescentes se suelen ahogar en playas marítimas. El inicio de la reanimación por parte de testigos y la rápida respuesta de los servicios de emergencias se asocia a una alta tasa de supervivencia. Numerosos datos fueron perdidos durante el proceso por lo que es necesaria una correcta y unificada codificación del ahogamiento.

Activation of Citizen Responders to Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest During the COVID-19 Outbreak in Denmark 2020.

Background Little is known about how COVID-19 influenced engagement of citizen responders dispatched to out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) by a smartphone application. The objective was to describe and analyze the Danish Citizen Responder Program and bystander interventions (both citizen responders and nondispatched bystanders) during the first COVID-19 lockdown in 2020. Methods and Results All OHCAs from January 1, 2020, to June 30, 2020, with citizen responder activation in 2 regions of Denmark were included. We compared citizen responder engagement for OHCA in the nonlockdown period (January 1, 2020, to March 10, 2020, and April 21, 2020, to June 30, 2020) with the lockdown period (March 11, 2020, to April 20, 2020). Data are displayed in the order lockdown versus nonlockdown period. Bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation rates did not differ in the 2 periods (99% versus 92%; P=0.07). Bystander defibrillation (9% versus 14%; P=0.4) or return-of-spontaneous circulation (23% versus 23%; P=1.0) also did not differ. A similar amount of citizen responders accepted alarms during the lockdown (6 per alarm; interquartile range, 6) compared with the nonlockdown period (5 per alarm; interquartile range, 5) (P=0.05). More citizen responders reported performing chest-compression-only cardiopulmonary resuscitation during lockdown compared with nonlockdown (79% versus 59%; P=0.0029), whereas fewer performed standardized cardiopulmonary resuscitation, including ventilations (19% versus 38%; P=0.0061). Finally, during lockdown, more citizen responders reported being not psychologically affected by attending an OHCA compared with nonlockdown period (68% versus 56%; P<0.0001). Likewise, fewer reported being mildly affected during lockdown (26%) compared with nonlockdown (35%) (P=0.003). Conclusions The COVID-19 lockdown in Denmark was not associated with decreased bystander-initiated resuscitation in OHCAs attended by citizen responders.

Evolution of Incidence, Management, and Outcomes Over Time in Sports-Related Sudden Cardiac Arrest.

BACKGROUND: Major efforts have been made to reduce the burden of sports-related sudden cardiac arrest (SrSCA). The extent to which the incidence, management, and outcomes changed over time has not been investigated. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to assess temporal trends in SrSCA incidence, management, and survival. METHODS: Using data from the French National Institute of Health and Medical Research, we evaluated the evolution of incidence, prehospital management, and survival at hospital discharge of SrSCA among subjects aged 18 to 75 years, over 6 successive 2-year periods between 2005 and 2018. RESULTS: Among the 377 SrSCA, 20 occurred in young competitive athletes (5.3%), whereas 94.7% occurred in middle-aged recreational sports participants. Comparing the last 2-year to the first 2-year period, SrSCA incidence remained stable (6.24 vs 7.00 per million inhabitants/y; P = 0.51), with no significant differences in patients' mean age (46.6 ± 13.8 years vs 51.0 ± 16.4 years; P = 0.42), sex (men 94.7% vs 95.2%; P = 0.99), and history of heart disease (12.5% vs 15.9%; P = 0.85). However, frequency of bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation and public automated external defibrillator use increased significantly (34.9% vs 94.7%; P < 0.001 and 1.6% vs 28.8%; P = 0.006, respectively). Survival to hospital discharge improved steadily, reaching 66.7% in the last study period compared with 23.8% in the first (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Incidence of SrSCA remained relatively stable over time, suggesting a need for improvement in screening strategies. However, major improvements in on-field resuscitation led to a 3-fold increase in survival, underlining the value of public education in basic life support that should serve as an example for SCA in general.