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Aim: Previous studies evaluating the relationship between sex and post-resuscitation care and outcomes following out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) are conflicting. We investigated the association between sex and outcomes as well as neurodiagnostic testing in a prospective multicenter international registry of patients admitted to intensive care units following OHCA., Methods: OHCA survivors enrolled in the International Cardiac Arrest Registry (INTCAR) from 2012 to 2017 were included. We assessed the independent association between sex and survival to hospital discharge, good neurologic outcome (Cerebral Performance Category 1 or 2), neurodiagnostic testing, and withdrawal of life-sustaining therapy (WLST)., Results: Of 2407 eligible patients, 809 (33.6%) were women. Baseline characteristics differed by sex, with less bystander CPR and initial shockable rhythms among women. Women were less likely to survive to hospital discharge, however significance abated following adjusted analysis (30.1% vs 42.7%, adjusted OR 0.85, 95% CI 0.67-1.08). Women were less likely to have good neurologic outcome at discharge (21.4% vs 34.0%, adjusted OR 0.74, 95% CI 0.57-0.96) and at six months post-arrest (16.7% vs 29.4%, adjusted OR 0.73, 95% CI 0.54-0.98) that persisted after adjustment. Neuroimaging (75.5% vs 74.3%, p = 0.54) and other neurophysiologic testing (78.8% vs 78.6%, p = 0.91) was similar across sex. Women were more likely to undergo WLST (55.6% vs 42.8%, adjusted OR 1.35, 95% CI 1.09-1.66)., Conclusions: Women with cardiac arrest have lower odds of good neurologic outcomes and higher odds of WLST, despite comparable rates of neurodiagnostic testing and after controlling for baseline differences in clinical characteristics and cardiac arrest features., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Aim: The Suppression Ratio (SR) estimates the percent of the electroencephalography (EEG) epoch with very low voltage, and is associated with neurological outcome after cardiac arrest. We aimed to compare the SR generated by two monitoring devices and determine the association between SR and patterns on amplitude integrated EEG (aEEG) and full conventional EEG (cEEG)., Methods: Consecutive adult patients treated with TTM after cardiac arrest were enrolled. We compared the SR from the Medtronic Vista monitor (MSR) to the SR generated from the full montage cEEG with Persyst Magic-Marker software (PSR). A blinded neurologist, board certified in epilepsy, scored the 4-channel aEEG pattern and the cEEG background using standardized terminology. Values for SR were compared to aEEG and cEEG categories using Kruskal-Wallis ANOVA, and to each other using Altman-Bland methodology., Results: 23 adults treated with TTM had a mean core temperature of 33.8 °C at the time of SR and EEG background analysis. The MSR was 0% during continuous cEEG background, 23% when cEEG was discontinuous, and 64% during cEEG burst suppression (p = 0.01). The MSR was 0% during aEEG continuous patterns, 34% during aEEG burst suppression, and 46% during flat aEEG (p < 0.001). The MSR and PSR were highly correlated (0.88, p < 0.0001), with minimal bias (0.3%) and excellent 95% limits of agreement (-2.9 to 2.4%)., Conclusion: The Suppression Ratio from the Medtronic Vista monitor is highly correlated with the full montage SR from Persyst software. The MSR values are valid, changing with different aEEG patterns and cEEG background categories., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: Targeted temperature management (TTM) after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) has been recommended in international guidelines since 2005. The TTM-trial published in 2013 showed no difference in survival or neurological outcome for patients randomised to 33 °C or 36 °C, and many hospitals have changed practice. The optimal utilization of TTM is still debated. This study aimed to analyse if a difference in temperature goal was associated with outcome in an unselected international registry population., Methods: This is a retrospective observational study based on a prospective registry - the International Cardiac Arrest Registry 2. Patients were categorized as receiving TTM in the lower range at 32-34 °C (TTM-low) or at 35-37 °C (TTM-high). Primary outcome was good functional status defined as cerebral performance category (CPC) of 1-2 at hospital discharge and secondary outcome was adverse events related to TTM. A logistic regression model was created to evaluate the independent effect of temperature by correcting for clinical and demographic factors associated with outcome., Results: Of 1710 patients included, 1242 (72,6%) received TTM-low and 468 (27,4%) TTM-high. In patients receiving TTM-low, 31.3% survived with good outcome compared to 28.8% in the TTM-high group. There was no significant association between temperature and outcome (p = 0.352). In analyses adjusted for baseline differences the OR for a good outcome with TTM-low was 1.27, 95% CI (0.94-1.73). Haemodynamic instability leading to discontinuation of TTM was more common in TTM-low., Conclusions: No significant difference in functional outcome at hospital discharge was found in patients receiving lower- versus higher targeted temperature management., (Copyright © 2019 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Aim: "Early" withdrawal of life support therapies (eWLST) within the first 3 calendar days after resuscitation from cardiac arrest (CA) is discouraged. We evaluated a prospective multicenter registry of patients admitted to hospitals after resuscitation from CA to determine predictors of eWLST and estimate its impact on outcomes., Methods: CA survivors enrolled from 2012-2017 in the International Cardiac Arrest Registry (INTCAR) were included. We developed a propensity score for eWLST and matched a cohort with similar probabilities of eWLST who received ongoing care. The incidence of good outcome (Cerebral Performance Category of 1 or 2) was measured across deciles of eWLST in the matched cohort., Results: 2688 patients from 24 hospitals were included. Median ischemic time was 20 (IQR 11, 30) minutes, and 1148 (43%) had an initial shockable rhythm. Withdrawal of life support occurred in 1162 (43%) cases, with 459 (17%) classified as eWLST. Older age, initial non-shockable rhythm, increased ischemic time, shock on admission, out-of-hospital arrest, and admission in the United States were each independently associated with eWLST. All patients with eWLST died, while the matched cohort, good outcome occurred in 21% of patients. 19% of patients within the eWLST group were predicted to have a good outcome, had eWLST not occurred., Conclusions: Early withdrawal of life support occurs frequently after cardiac arrest. Although the mortality of patients matched to those with eWLST was high, these data showed excess mortality with eWLST., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Aim: Shivering may interfere with targeted temperature management (TTM) after cardiac arrest, contributing to secondary brain injury. Early identification of shivering is challenging with existing tools. We hypothesized that shivering detected by continuous surface sEMG monitoring would be validated with calorimetry and detected earlier than by intermittent clinical observation., Methods: This prospective observational study enrolled a convenience sample of comatose adult cardiac arrest patients treated with TTM at 33 °C. Clinical shivering was monitored hourly using the Bedside Shivering Assessment Scale (BSAS) by bedside nurses who administered intermittent neuromuscular blockade (NMB) when BSAS ≥ 1. The research team monitored independently for shivering with BSAS every 15 min during continuous blinded monitoring of oxygen consumption (VO 2 ) via indirect calorimetry and sEMG power during the maintenance phase of TTM. A sustained 20% increase in the 5-min rolling average of VO 2 above baseline identified the Gold Standard shivering threshold (VO 2 -20)., Results: Among 18 patients, clinical shivering was detected 23 times in 14 patients. Hierarchical models to predict a shiver event determined by the VO 2 -20 for sEMG power and BSAS revealed an AUC for sEMG power of 0.92 (95%CI = 0.88-0.95), and 0.90 (CI = 0.87-0.94) for BSAS. The optimal threshold of sEMG to predict VO 2 -20 was 32 decibels (dB), and this was exceeded 38 (29-56) min before nurse-detected shivering., Conclusions: Shivering was detected by sEMG power earlier than by clinical assessment with BSAS, with similar accuracy compared to the indirect calorimetry gold standard. Continuous sEMG monitoring appears useful for clinical assessment and research for shivering during TTM., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: Community consultation (CC) is fundamental to the Exception from Informed Consent (EFIC) process for emergency research, designed to inform and receive feedback from the target study population about potential risks and benefits. To better understand the effectiveness of different techniques for CC, we evaluated EFIC processes at two centers participating in a trial of early cardiac catheterization following out-of-hospital cardiac arrest., Methods: We studied the Institutional Review Board-approved CC activities at Maine Medical Center (MMC) and University of Arizona (AZ) in support of NCT02387398. In Maine, the public was consulted by survey at a professional basketball game and in the emergency department waiting room (in-person group), by multimedia direction to an online website (online group), and by mail (mailing group). Arizona respondents were either approached at a county fair (in-person group) or were directed to an online survey (online group) via social media advertising., Results: Among 2185 survey respondents, approval rates were high for community involvement and personal participation without individual consent. Community consultation using in-person, online, and mailed surveys offered slightly different approval rates, and the rate of responses by modality differed by age and education level but not ethnicity. Print advertising was the least cost effective at $442 per completed survey., Conclusions: Canvassing at public events was the most efficient mode of performing CC, with approval rates similar to mailings, online surveys, and canvassing in other locations. Print advertisements in local papers had a low yield and cost more than other approaches., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: Prophylactic antibiotics (PRO) reduce the incidence of early-onset pneumonia in comatose patients with structural brain injury, but have not been examined in cardiac arrest survivors undergoing targeted temperature management (TTM). We investigated the effect of PRO on the development of pneumonia in that population., Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study comparing patients treated with PRO to those not receiving PRO (no-PRO) using Northern Hypothermia Network registry data. Cardiac arrest survivors ≥ 18 years of age with a GCS<8 at hospital admission and treated with TTM at 32-34 °C were enrolled in the registry. Differences were analyzed in univariate analyses and with logistic regression models to evaluate independent associations of clinical factors with incidence of pneumonia and good functional outcome., Results: 416 of 1240 patients (33.5%) received PRO. Groups were similar in age, gender, arrest location, initial rhythm, and time from collapse to return of spontaneous circulation. PRO patients had less pneumonia (12.6% vs. 54.9%, p < 0.001) and less sepsis (1.2 vs. 5.7%, p < 0.001) compared to no-PRO patients. ICU length of stay (98 vs. 100 h, p = 0.2) and incidence of a good functional outcome (41.1 vs. 36.6%, p = 0.19) were similar between groups. Backwards stepwise logistic regression demonstrated PRO were independently associated with a lower incidence of pneumonia (OR 0.09, 95% 0.06-0.14, p < 0.001) and a similar incidence of good functional outcome., Conclusions: Prophylactic antibiotics were associated with a reduced incidence of pneumonia but a similar rate of good functional outcome., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: Triage after resuscitation from cardiac arrest is hindered by reliable early estimation of brain injury. We evaluated the performance of a triage model based on early bispectral index (BIS) findings and cardiac risk classes., Methods: Retrospective evaluation of serial patients resuscitated from cardiac arrest, unable to follow commands, and undergoing hypothermia. Patients were assigned to a cardiac risk group: STEMI, VT/VF shock, VT/VF no shock, or PEA/asystole, and to a neurological dysfunction group, based on the BIS score following first neuromuscular blockade (BISi), and classified as BISi>20, BISi 10-20, or BISi<10. Cause of death was described as neurological or circulatory., Results: BISi in 171 patients was measured at 267(±177)min after resuscitation and 35(±1.7)°C. BISi<10 suffered 82% neurological-cause and 91% overall mortality, BISi 10-20 35% neurological and 55% overall mortality, and BISi>20 12% neurological and 36% overall mortality. 33 patients presented with STEMI, 15 VT/VF-shock, 41 VT/VF-no shock, and 80 PEA/asystole. Among BISi>20 patients, 75% with STEMI underwent urgent cardiac catheterization (cath) and 94% had good outcome. When BISi>20 with VT/VF and shock, urgent cath was infrequent (33%), and 4 deaths (44%) were uniformly of circulatory etiology. Of 56 VT/VF patients without STEMI, 24 were BISi>20 but did not undergo urgent cath - 5(20.8%) of these had circulatory-etiology death. Circulatory-etiology death also occurred in 26.5% BIS>20 patients with PEA/asystole. When BISi<10, a neurological etiology death dominated independent of cardiac risk group., Conclusions: Neurocardiac triage based on very early processed EEG (BIS) is feasible, and may identify patients appropriate for individualized post-resuscitation care. This and other triage models warrant further study., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Aim: Patients sustain a range of neurologic injuries after cardiac arrest, and determining which patients should be treated with therapeutic hypothermia (TH) is complex, often confounded by sedation and neuromuscular blockade (NMB). We evaluated bispectral index (BIS) monitoring as a tool to identify adult patients that awakened during therapeutic hypothermia., Methods: Review of prospectively collected registry data, with retrospective chart review of patient descriptions during hypothermia. Data are presented as median (interquartile range)., Results: 7 of 309 patients (2.2%) treated with TH over 6 years awoke (followed commands) prior to completing hypothermia. Median age was 58 (54-66) years; 71% were male, cardiac arrest was witnessed in 6 (86%) and out-of-hospital in 6 (86%), and 4 patients (57%) were transferred from another hospital. 5 patients (71%) had an initial rhythm of ventricular tachycardia or fibrillation, time to return of spontaneous circulation was 17 (12-23)min. The BIS value after first NMB dose during TH was 63, 45, 43, 52, 62, 54, and 42 (median 52, IQR 44-58, 95% confidence interval 46-58). The median BIS value in the remaining data set (n=302) was 18 (6-36), p<0.001, and only 6% of BIS1 values were >46., Conclusion: Patients who awakened early had higher BIS values after the first dose of NMB. Processed EEG values after cardiac arrest may provide additional information that could assist with determining best treatment., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.)