Search

Background: Optimal hemodynamic goals in post-resuscitation patients are not clear. Previous studies have reported an association between lower heart rate and good outcome in patients receiving targeted temperature management (TTM) after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.Methods: We analyzed heart rate (HR) and outcome data of 504 post-resuscitation patients from the prospectively collected database of the FINNRESUSCI study. One-year neurologic outcome was dichotomized by the Cerebral Performance Category (CPC) to good (1-2) or poor (3-5).Results: Of 504 patients, 40.1% (202/504) had good and 59.9% (302/ 504) had poor one-year neurologic outcome. Patients with good outcome had lower time-weighted mean HR during the first 48 h in the ICU (69.2 bpm [59.2-75.1] vs. 76.6 bpm [65.72-89.6], p < 0.001) and the first 72 h in the ICU (71.2 bpm [65.0-79.0] vs. 77.1 bpm [69.1-90.1, p < 0.001]). The percentage of HR registrations below HR threshold values (60, 80 and 100 bpm) were higher for patients with good neurologic outcome, p < 0.001 for all. Lower time-weighted HR for 0-48 h and 0-72 h, and a higher percentage of HR recordings below threshold values were independently associated with good neurological one-year outcome (p < 0.05 for all). When TTM and non-TTM patients were analyzed separately, HR parameters were independently associated with one-year neurologic outcome only in non-TTM patients.Conclusion: Lower heart rate was independently associated with good neurologic outcome. Whether HR in post-resuscitation patients is a prognostic indicator or an important variable to be targeted by treatment, needs to be assessed in future prospective controlled clinical trials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim Prognosis after cardiac arrest in the era of modern critical care is still poor with a high mortality of approximately 90%. Around 30% of the survivors have neurological impairments. Targeted temperature management (TTM) is the only treatment option which can improve mortality and neurological outcome. It is so far unclear if bleeding complications occur more often in patients undergoing TTM treatment. Methods We conducted a systematic literature research in September 2013 including three major databases i.e. MEDLINE, EMBASE and CENTRAL. All studies were rated in respect to the ILCOR Guidelines and concerning their level of evidence and quality. We then performed a meta-analysis on bleeding disposition under TTM. Results We initially found 941 studies out of which 34 matched our requirements and were thus included in our overview. Five studies including 599 patients were summarized in a meta-analysis concerning bleeding complications of all severities. There was a trend toward higher bleeding in patients treated with TTM (RR: 1.30, 95% CI: 0.97–1.74) which did not reach significance ( p = 0.085). Seven studies with an overall 599 patients were included in our meta-analysis on bleeding requiring transfusion. There was no significant difference in the incidence of severe bleeding with a risk ratio of 0.97 (95% CI: 0.61–1.56, p = 0.909). Conclusions The data included in our meta-analysis indicate that, concerning the risk of bleeding, TTM is a safe method for patients after cardiac arrest. We did not observe a significantly higher risk for bleeding in patients undergoing TTM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]