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JAMA Mar 2019In-hospital cardiac arrest is common and associated with a high mortality rate. Despite this, in-hospital cardiac arrest has received little attention compared with... (Review)
Review
IMPORTANCE
In-hospital cardiac arrest is common and associated with a high mortality rate. Despite this, in-hospital cardiac arrest has received little attention compared with other high-risk cardiovascular conditions, such as stroke, myocardial infarction, and out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.
OBSERVATIONS
In-hospital cardiac arrest occurs in over 290 000 adults each year in the United States. Cohort data from the United States indicate that the mean age of patients with in-hospital cardiac arrest is 66 years, 58% are men, and the presenting rhythm is most often (81%) nonshockable (ie, asystole or pulseless electrical activity). The cause of the cardiac arrest is most often cardiac (50%-60%), followed by respiratory insufficiency (15%-40%). Efforts to prevent in-hospital cardiac arrest require both a system for identifying deteriorating patients and an appropriate interventional response (eg, rapid response teams). The key elements of treatment during cardiac arrest include chest compressions, ventilation, early defibrillation, when applicable, and immediate attention to potentially reversible causes, such as hyperkalemia or hypoxia. There is limited evidence to support more advanced treatments. Post-cardiac arrest care is focused on identification and treatment of the underlying cause, hemodynamic and respiratory support, and potentially employing neuroprotective strategies (eg, targeted temperature management). Although multiple individual factors are associated with outcomes (eg, age, initial rhythm, duration of the cardiac arrest), a multifaceted approach considering both potential for neurological recovery and ongoing multiorgan failure is warranted for prognostication and clinical decision-making in the post-cardiac arrest period. Withdrawal of care in the absence of definite prognostic signs both during and after cardiac arrest should be avoided. Hospitals are encouraged to participate in national quality-improvement initiatives.
CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE
An estimated 290 000 in-hospital cardiac arrests occur each year in the United States. However, there is limited evidence to support clinical decision making. An increased awareness with regard to optimizing clinical care and new research might improve outcomes.
Topics: Adult; Aged; Clinical Decision-Making; Electric Countershock; Female; Heart Arrest; Hospitalization; Humans; Male; Practice Guidelines as Topic; Prognosis; Quality Improvement; Resuscitation; Survival Rate; United States
PubMed: 30912843
DOI: 10.1001/jama.2019.1696 -
Circulation Aug 2019Successful resuscitation from cardiac arrest results in a post-cardiac arrest syndrome, which can evolve in the days to weeks after return of sustained circulation. The...
Successful resuscitation from cardiac arrest results in a post-cardiac arrest syndrome, which can evolve in the days to weeks after return of sustained circulation. The components of post-cardiac arrest syndrome are brain injury, myocardial dysfunction, systemic ischemia/reperfusion response, and persistent precipitating pathophysiology. Pediatric post-cardiac arrest care focuses on anticipating, identifying, and treating this complex physiology to improve survival and neurological outcomes. This scientific statement on post-cardiac arrest care is the result of a consensus process that included pediatric and adult emergency medicine, critical care, cardiac critical care, cardiology, neurology, and nursing specialists who analyzed the past 20 years of pediatric cardiac arrest, adult cardiac arrest, and pediatric critical illness peer-reviewed published literature. The statement summarizes the epidemiology, pathophysiology, management, and prognostication after return of sustained circulation after cardiac arrest, and it provides consensus on the current evidence supporting elements of pediatric post-cardiac arrest care.
Topics: Acute Kidney Injury; Adrenal Insufficiency; Anticonvulsants; Brain Damage, Chronic; Cardiomyopathies; Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation; Cardiovascular Agents; Child; Combined Modality Therapy; Fluid Therapy; Glucose Metabolism Disorders; Heart Arrest; Humans; Hypnotics and Sedatives; Hypothermia, Induced; Hypoxia-Ischemia, Brain; Infections; Inflammation; Monitoring, Physiologic; Multiple Organ Failure; Neuromuscular Blocking Agents; Oxygen Inhalation Therapy; Prognosis; Reperfusion Injury; Respiratory Therapy; Time Factors
PubMed: 31242751
DOI: 10.1161/CIR.0000000000000697 -
Circulation Oct 2023In this focused update, the American Heart Association provides updated guidance for resuscitation of patients with cardiac arrest, respiratory arrest, and refractory... (Review)
Review
2023 American Heart Association Focused Update on the Management of Patients With Cardiac Arrest or Life-Threatening Toxicity Due to Poisoning: An Update to the American Heart Association Guidelines for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiovascular Care.
In this focused update, the American Heart Association provides updated guidance for resuscitation of patients with cardiac arrest, respiratory arrest, and refractory shock due to poisoning. Based on structured evidence reviews, guidelines are provided for the treatment of critical poisoning from benzodiazepines, β-adrenergic receptor antagonists (also known as β-blockers), L-type calcium channel antagonists (commonly called calcium channel blockers), cocaine, cyanide, digoxin and related cardiac glycosides, local anesthetics, methemoglobinemia, opioids, organophosphates and carbamates, sodium channel antagonists (also called sodium channel blockers), and sympathomimetics. Recommendations are also provided for the use of venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. These guidelines discuss the role of atropine, benzodiazepines, calcium, digoxin-specific immune antibody fragments, electrical pacing, flumazenil, glucagon, hemodialysis, hydroxocobalamin, hyperbaric oxygen, insulin, intravenous lipid emulsion, lidocaine, methylene blue, naloxone, pralidoxime, sodium bicarbonate, sodium nitrite, sodium thiosulfate, vasodilators, and vasopressors for the management of specific critical poisonings.
Topics: Humans; Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; American Heart Association; Benzodiazepines; Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation; Digoxin; Heart Arrest; United States
PubMed: 37721023
DOI: 10.1161/CIR.0000000000001161 -
JAMA Pediatrics Mar 2021Pediatric in-hospital cardiac arrest (IHCA) occurs frequently and is associated with high morbidity and mortality. The objective of this narrative review is to summarize... (Review)
Review
IMPORTANCE
Pediatric in-hospital cardiac arrest (IHCA) occurs frequently and is associated with high morbidity and mortality. The objective of this narrative review is to summarize the current knowledge and recommendations regarding pediatric IHCA and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).
OBSERVATIONS
Each year, more than 15 000 children receive CPR for cardiac arrest during hospitalization in the United States. As many as 80% to 90% survive the event, but most patients do not survive to hospital discharge. Most IHCAs occur in intensive care units and other monitored settings and are associated with respiratory failure or shock. Bradycardia with poor perfusion is the initial rhythm in half of CPR events, and only about 10% of events have an initial shockable rhythm. Pre-cardiac arrest systems focus on identifying at-risk patients and ensuring that they are in monitored settings. Important components of CPR include high-quality chest compressions, timely defibrillation when indicated, appropriate ventilation and airway management, administration of epinephrine to increase coronary perfusion pressure, and treatment of the underlying cause of cardiac arrest. Extracorporeal CPR and measurement of physiological parameters are evolving areas in improving outcomes. Structured post-cardiac arrest care focused on targeted temperature management, optimization of hemodynamics, and careful intensive care unit management is associated with improved survival and neurological outcomes.
CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE
Pediatric IHCA occurs frequently and has a high mortality rate. Early identification of risk, prevention, delivery of high-quality CPR, and post-cardiac arrest care can maximize the chances of achieving favorable outcomes. More research in this field is warranted.
Topics: Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation; Heart Arrest; Hospitalization; Humans; Pediatrics; United States
PubMed: 33226408
DOI: 10.1001/jamapediatrics.2020.5039 -
Journal of the American College of... Feb 2019Venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is a rescue therapy that can stabilize patients with hemodynamic compromise, with or without respiratory failure,... (Review)
Review
Venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is a rescue therapy that can stabilize patients with hemodynamic compromise, with or without respiratory failure, for days or weeks. In cardiology, the main indications for ECMO include cardiac arrest, cardiogenic shock, post-cardiotomy shock, refractory ventricular tachycardia, and acute management of complications of invasive procedures. The fundamental premise underlying ECMO is that it is a bridge-to recovery, to a more durable bridge, to definitive treatment, or to decision. As a very resource- and effort-intensive intervention, ECMO should not be used on unsalvageable patients. As the use of this technology continues to evolve rapidly, it is important to understand the indications and contraindications; the logistics of ECMO initiation, management, and weaning; the general infrastructure of the program (including the challenges associated with transferring patients supported by ECMO); and ethical considerations, areas of uncertainty, and future directions.
Topics: Adult; Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation; Heart Arrest; Humans; Patient Selection; Shock, Cardiogenic; Tachycardia, Ventricular
PubMed: 30765037
DOI: 10.1016/j.jacc.2018.11.038 -
Circulation. Heart Failure Sep 2018Venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO)-also referred to as extracorporeal life support-is a form of temporary mechanical circulatory support and... (Review)
Review
Venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO)-also referred to as extracorporeal life support-is a form of temporary mechanical circulatory support and simultaneous extracorporeal gas exchange. The initiation of VA-ECMO has emerged as a salvage intervention in patients with cardiogenic shock, even cardiac arrest refractory to standard therapies. Analogous to veno-venous ECMO for acute respiratory failure, VA-ECMO provides circulatory support and allows time for other treatments to promote recovery or may be a bridge to a more durable mechanical solution in the setting of acute or acute on chronic cardiopulmonary failure. In this review, we provide a brief overview of VA-ECMO, the attendant physiological considerations of peripheral VA-ECMO, and its complications, namely that of left ventricular distention, bleeding, heightened systemic inflammatory response syndrome, thrombosis and thromboembolism, and extremity ischemia or necrosis.
Topics: Cardiovascular System; Clinical Decision-Making; Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation; Heart Arrest; Hemodynamics; Humans; Lung; Patient Selection; Recovery of Function; Respiration; Risk Assessment; Risk Factors; Shock, Cardiogenic; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 30354364
DOI: 10.1161/CIRCHEARTFAILURE.118.004905 -
Anesthesiology Sep 2023Opioids are effective analgesics, but they can have harmful adverse effects, such as addiction and potentially fatal respiratory depression. Naloxone is currently the... (Review)
Review
Opioids are effective analgesics, but they can have harmful adverse effects, such as addiction and potentially fatal respiratory depression. Naloxone is currently the only available treatment for reversing the negative effects of opioids, including respiratory depression. However, the effectiveness of naloxone, particularly after an opioid overdose, varies depending on the pharmacokinetics and the pharmacodynamics of the opioid that was overdosed. Long-acting opioids, and those with a high affinity at the µ-opioid receptor and/or slow receptor dissociation kinetics, are particularly resistant to the effects of naloxone. In this review, the authors examine the pharmacology of naloxone and its safety and limitations in reversing opioid-induced respiratory depression under different circumstances, including its ability to prevent cardiac arrest.
Topics: Humans; Naloxone; Analgesics, Opioid; Narcotic Antagonists; Opiate Overdose; Respiratory Insufficiency; Drug Overdose; Heart Arrest
PubMed: 37402248
DOI: 10.1097/ALN.0000000000004622 -
Circulation Jan 2024The critical care management of patients after cardiac arrest is burdened by a lack of high-quality clinical studies and the resultant lack of high-certainty evidence.... (Review)
Review
The critical care management of patients after cardiac arrest is burdened by a lack of high-quality clinical studies and the resultant lack of high-certainty evidence. This results in limited practice guideline recommendations, which may lead to uncertainty and variability in management. Critical care management is crucial in patients after cardiac arrest and affects outcome. Although guidelines address some relevant topics (including temperature control and neurological prognostication of comatose survivors, 2 topics for which there are more robust clinical studies), many important subject areas have limited or nonexistent clinical studies, leading to the absence of guidelines or low-certainty evidence. The American Heart Association Emergency Cardiovascular Care Committee and the Neurocritical Care Society collaborated to address this gap by organizing an expert consensus panel and conference. Twenty-four experienced practitioners (including physicians, nurses, pharmacists, and a respiratory therapist) from multiple medical specialties, levels, institutions, and countries made up the panel. Topics were identified and prioritized by the panel and arranged by organ system to facilitate discussion, debate, and consensus building. Statements related to postarrest management were generated, and 80% agreement was required to approve a statement. Voting was anonymous and web based. Topics addressed include neurological, cardiac, pulmonary, hematological, infectious, gastrointestinal, endocrine, and general critical care management. Areas of uncertainty, areas for which no consensus was reached, and future research directions are also included. Until high-quality studies that inform practice guidelines in these areas are available, the expert panel consensus statements that are provided can advise clinicians on the critical care management of patients after cardiac arrest.
Topics: Humans; Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation; American Heart Association; Heart Arrest; Emergency Medical Services; Critical Care
PubMed: 38014539
DOI: 10.1161/CIR.0000000000001163 -
Clinical Medicine (London, England) Jun 2018Over the last decade there has been increasing interest and enthusiasm in point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) as an aide to traditional examination techniques in assessing... (Review)
Review
Over the last decade there has been increasing interest and enthusiasm in point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) as an aide to traditional examination techniques in assessing acutely unwell adult patients. However, it currently remains the domain of a relatively small handful of physicians within the UK. There are numerous reasons for this, notably a lack of training pathways and supervisors but also a lack of understanding of the evidence base behind this imaging modality. This review article aims to explore some of the evidence base behind POCUS for a number of medical pathologies, and where possible compare it to evidenced traditional examination techniques. We discuss the issues around training in bedside ultrasound and recommend a push to integrate POCUS training into internal medicine curricula and support trainers to comprehensively deliver this.
Topics: Abdominal Injuries; Echocardiography; Evidence-Based Medicine; Heart Arrest; Humans; Pneumothorax; Point-of-Care Testing; Respiratory Insufficiency; Shock; Surgery, Computer-Assisted; Ultrasonography; United Kingdom
PubMed: 29858431
DOI: 10.7861/clinmedicine.18-3-219 -
Circulation. Cardiovascular Quality and... Dec 2021Survival outcomes following in-hospital cardiac arrest vary significantly across hospitals. Research suggests clinician education and training may play a role. We sought...
BACKGROUND
Survival outcomes following in-hospital cardiac arrest vary significantly across hospitals. Research suggests clinician education and training may play a role. We sought to identify best practices related to the education and training of resuscitation teams.
METHODS
We conducted a descriptive qualitative analysis of semistructured interview data obtained from in-depth site visits conducted from 2016 to 2017 at 9 diverse hospitals within the American Heart Association "Get With The Guidelines" registry, selected based on in-hospital cardiac arrest survival performance (5 top-, 1 middle-, 3 low-performing). We assessed coded data related to education and training including systems learning, informal feedback and debrief, and formal learning through advanced cardiopulmonary life support and mock codes. Thematic analysis was used to identify best practices.
RESULTS
In total, 129 interviews were conducted with a variety of hospital staff including nurses, chaplains, security guards, respiratory therapists, physicians, pharmacists, and administrators, yielding 78 hours and 29 minutes of interview time. Four themes related to training and education were identified: engagement, clear communication, consistency, and responsive leadership. Top-performing hospitals encouraged employee engagement with creative marketing of new programs and prioritizing hands-on learning over passive didactics. Clear communication was accomplished with debriefing, structured institutional review, and continual, frequent education for departments. Consistency was a cornerstone to culture change and was achieved with uniform policies for simulation practice as well as reinforced, routine practice (weekly, monthly, quarterly). Finally, top-performing hospitals had responsive leadership teams across multiple disciplines (nursing, respiratory therapy, pharmacy and medicine), who listened and adapted programs to fit the needs of their staff.
CONCLUSIONS
Among top-performing hospitals excelling in in-hospital cardiac arrest survival, we identified core elements for education and training of resuscitation teams. Developing tools to expand these areas for hospitals may improve in-hospital cardiac arrest outcomes.
Topics: Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation; Clinical Competence; Heart Arrest; Hospitals; Humans; Leadership; Resuscitation
PubMed: 34779653
DOI: 10.1161/CIRCOUTCOMES.121.008587