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Introduction: Cardiac arrest care systems are being designed and implemented to address patients', family members', and survivors' care needs. We conducted a systematic review and a meta-synthesis to understand family experiences and care needs during cardiac arrest care to create treatment recommendations., Methods: We searched eight electronic databases to identify articles. Study findings were extracted, coded and synthesized. Confidence in the quality, coherence, relevance, and adequacy of data underpinning the resulting findings was assessed using GRADE-CERQual methods., Results: In total 4181 studies were screened, and 39 met our inclusion criteria; these studies enrolled 215 survivors and 418 family participants-which includes both co-survivors and bereaved family members. From these studies findings and participant data we identified 5 major analytical themes: (1) When the crisis begins we must respond; (2) Anguish from uncertainty, we need to understand; (3) Partnering in care, we have much to offer; (4) The crisis surrounding the victim, ignore us, the family, no longer; (5) Our family's emergency is not over, now is when we need help the most. Confidence in the evidence statements are provided along with our review findings., Discussion: The family experience of cardiac arrest care is often chaotic, distressing, complex and the aftereffects are long-lasting. Patient and family experiences could be improved for many people. High certainty family care needs identified in this review include rapid recognition and response, improved information sharing, more effective communication, supported presence and participation, or supported absence, and psychological aftercare., (Copyright © 2023 Emergency Nurses Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Critical incident reporting can be applied to cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) events as a means of reducing further occurrences. We hypothesized that local CPR-related events might follow patterns only seen after a long period of analysis., Design: We reviewed 6 years of local incidents associated with cardiac arrest calls. The following search terms were used to identify actual or potential resuscitation events: "resuscitation," "cardio-pulmonary," "CPR," "arrest," "heart attack," "DNR," "DNAR," "DNACPR," "Crash," "2222." All identified incidents were independently reviewed and categorized, looking for identifiable patterns., Setting: Nottingham University Hospitals is a large UK tertiary referral teaching hospital., Results: A total of 1017 reports were identified, relating to 1069 categorizable incidents. During the same time, there were approximately 1350 cardiac arrest calls, although it should be noted that many arrest-related incidents were not associated with cardiac arrest call (e.g., failure to have the correct equipment available in the event of a cardiac arrest). Incidents could be broadly classified into 10 thematic areas: no identifiable incident (n = 189; 18%), failure to rescue (n = 133; 12%), staffing concerns (n = 134; 13%), equipment/drug concerns (n = 133; 12%), communication issues (n = 122; 10%), do-not-attempt-CPR decisions (n = 101; 9%), appropriateness of patient location or transfer (n = 96; 9%), concerns that the arrest may have been iatrogenic (n = 76; 7%), patient or staff injury (n = 43; 4%), and miscellaneous (n = 52; 5%). Specific patterns of events were seen within each category., Conclusions: By reviewing incidents, we were able to identify patterns only noticeable over a long time frame, which may be amenable to intervention. Our findings may be generalizable to other centers or encourage others to undertake this exercise themselves., Competing Interests: The authors disclose no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Aim: The sudden and unexpected cardiac arrest of a family member can be a grief-filled and life-altering event. Every year many hundreds of thousands of families experience the cardiac arrest of a family member. However, care of the family during the cardiac arrest and afteris poorly understood and incompletely described. This review has been performed with persons with lived experience of cardiac arrest to describe, "What are the needs of families experiencing cardiac arrest?" from the moment of collapse until the outcome is known., Methods: This review was guided by specific methodological framework and reporting items (PRISMA-ScR) as well as best practices in patient and public involvement in research and reporting (GRIPP2). A search strategy was developed for eight online databases and a grey literature review. Two reviewers independently assessed all articles for inclusion and extracted relevant study information., Results: We included 47 articles examining the experience and care needs of families experiencing cardiac arrest of a family member. Forty one articles were analysed as six represented duplicate data. Ten family care need themes were identified across five domains. The domains and themes transcended cardiac arrest setting, aetiology, family-member age and family composition. The five domains were i) focus on the family member in cardiac arrest, ii) collaboration of the resuscitation team and family, iii) consideration of family context, iv) family post-resuscitation needs, and v) dedicated policies and procedures. We propose a conceptual model of family centred cardiac arrest., Conclusion: Our review provides a comprehensive mapping and description of the experience of families and their care needs during the cardiac arrest of a family-member. Furthermore, our review was conducted with co-investigators and collaborators with lived experience of cardiac arrest (survivors and family members of survivors and non-survivors alike). The conceptual framework of family centred cardiac arrest care presented may aid resuscitation scientists and providers in adopting greater family centeredness to their work., (Copyright © 2021. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Aim: To identify and summarize the available science on prone resuscitation. To determine the value of undertaking a systematic review on this topic; and to identify knowledge gaps to aid future research, education and guidelines., Methods: This review was guided by specific methodological framework and reporting items (PRISMA-ScR). We included studies, cases and grey literature regarding prone position and CPR/cardiac arrest. The databases searched were MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, Cochrane CENTRAL, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Scopus and Google Scholar. Expanded grey literature searching included internet search engine, targeted websites and social media., Results: Of 453 identified studies, 24 (5%) studies met our inclusion criteria. There were four prone resuscitation-relevant studies examining: blood and tidal volumes generated by prone compressions; prone compression quality metrics on a manikin; and chest computed tomography scans for compression landmarking. Twenty case reports/series described the resuscitation of 25 prone patients. Prone compression quality was assessed by invasive blood pressure monitoring, exhaled carbon dioxide and pulse palpation. Recommended compression location was zero-to-two vertebral segments below the scapulae. Twenty of 25 cases (80%) survived prone resuscitation, although few cases reported long term outcome (neurological status at hospital discharge). Seven cases described full neurological recovery., Conclusion: This scoping review did not identify sufficient evidence to justify a systematic review or modified resuscitation guidelines. It remains reasonable to initiate resuscitation in the prone position if turning the patient supine would lead to delays or risk to providers or patients. Prone resuscitation quality can be judged using end-tidal CO 2 , and arterial pressure tracing, with patients turned supine if insufficient., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: To compare, quantify, and describe the time-delays associated with four common methods of adrenaline administration in the simulated setting of impending cardiac arrest., Methods: Using sham medication and a high-fidelity simulator, experienced Nurses prepared, then delivered, adrenaline by: i) bolus, ii) lower-concentration infusion iii) higher-concentration infusion, and iv) higher-concentration infusion plus carrier-line. We recorded medication preparation and delivery time, plus administration errors and self-reported competence., Results: Median total delay was i) 120s for bolus (95% CI 112-128s); ii) 179s for lower concentration infusion (95% CI 172-186s); iii) 296s for higher concentration infusion (95% CI 285-307s); and iv) 411s for higher concentration infusion plus carrier line (95% CI 399-423s). Time to prepare/deliver a bolus was less than any infusion (p<0.001). Time to prepare/deliver a lower-concentration infusion was less than either higher-concentration infusion (p<0.001). No substantial equipment failures or medication errors were observed. Participants reported high-competence. The majority of delay was from drug preparation not delivery., Conclusions: We highlight potentially dangerous delays with administration of life-saving medications by all four methods. We should prioritize boluses, and focus on improving drug preparation times and human performance, more than drug delivery and equipment., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Survival outcomes after cardiac or respiratory arrest occurring outside of intensive care units (ICUs) has been well described. We investigated survival outcomes of adults whose arrest occurred in ICUs and determined predictors of decreased survival., Methods: We reviewed all records of adults who experienced cardiac or respiratory arrest from Jan. 1, 2000, to Apr. 30, 2005, in ICUs at four hospitals serving Edmonton, Alberta. We evaluated patient and clinical characteristics, as well as survival outcomes during a five-year follow-up period. We determined risk factors for immediate (within 24 hours) and later death., Results: Of the 517 patients included in the study, 59.6% were able to be resuscitated, 30.4% survived to discharge from ICU, 26.9% survived to discharge from hospital, 24.3% survived to one year, and 15.9% survived to five years. Pulseless electrical activity or asystole was the most common rhythm (45.8% of the arrests). Survival was lowest among patients with an arrest due to pulseless electrical activity or asystole: only 10.6% survived to one year, compared with 36.3% who had other arrest rhythms (p < 0.001). Independent predictors of decreased later survival (eight months or more after arrest) were increasing age (adjusted hazard ratio [HR] 1.06, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.03-1.09) and longer duration of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) (adjusted HR 1.38, 95% CI 1.03-1.83, per additional logarithm of a minute of CPR)., Interpretation: Our study showed no major improvement in survival following cardiac arrest with pulseless electrical activity or asystole as the presenting rhythm in the ICU despite many advances in critical care over the previous two decades. The independent predictors of death within 24 hours after arrest in an ICU were sex, the presenting rhythm and the duration of CPR. Predictors of later death (eight months or more after arrest) were age and duration of CPR.

Purpose: To propose a strategy for the management of patients admitted to critical care units after resuscitation from cardiac arrest., Source: Prior to the conference relevant studies were identified via literature searches and brief reviews circulated on the following topics: glucose and blood pressure management; therapeutic hypothermia; prearrest outcome prediction; post-arrest outcome prediction; and management of myocardial ischemia. Two days were devoted to assessing evidence and developing a management strategy at the conference. Consensus opinion of conference participants [intensive care unit (ICU) physicians] was used when high grade evidence was unavailable. Additional literature searches and data grading were performed post-conference., Principal Findings: High grade evidence was lacking in most areas. Specific goals of treatment were proposed for: general care; neurologic care; respiratory care; cardiac care; and gastrointestinal care. There was adequate evidence to recommend therapeutic hypothermia for comatose patients who had witnessed ventricular fibrillation or ventricular tachycardia arrests. Conference participants supported extending therapeutic hypothermia to other presenting rhythms in selected circumstances. Additional goals included mean arterial pressure 80 to 100 mmHg, glucose 5 to 8 mmol.L(-1) using insulin infusions, and PaO(2) > 100 mmHg for the first 24 hr. Absent withdrawal to pain 72 hr after resuscitation should prompt consideration of palliative care. The level of evidence for other recommendations was low., Conclusions: The proposed management strategy represents an approach to manage patients in the ICU following resuscitation from cardiac arrest. Most of the recommendations are based on low grade evidence. Additional research is needed to improve the evidence base. A standard post-arrest management strategy could help facilitate future research.

Background: This study was undertaken to provide up-to-date survival data for Canadian adult in-patients following attempted resuscitation from cardiac or respiratory arrest. We hope that objective data might encourage more meaningful dialogue between physicians, patients and their families regarding resuscitation wishes., Methods: We reviewed all records of adult cardiopulmonary arrest that occurred between Jan. 1, 1997, and Jan. 31, 1999, at the 3 main teaching hospitals in Edmonton. We then abstracted data from the full inpatient medical records to describe patient characteristics, type of arrest and survival details. The family physicians of survivors were contacted to confirm the outcomes. We included only adults admitted to hospital but not to a critical care bed., Results: There were 247 arrests during the study period; 143 (57.9%) were witnessed, and 104 (42.1%) were unwitnessed). Of the patients whose arrests were witnessed, 48.3% (95% confidence interval [CI] 39.8%-56.8%) were able to be resuscitated, 22.4% (95% CI 1 5.8%-30.1%) survived to hospital discharge, and 18.9% (95% CI 12.8%-26.3%) were able to return home. Survival was highest after primary respiratory arrest and lowest after pulseless electrical activity or asystole. Of the patients with unwitnessed arrests, 21.2% (95% CI 13.8%-30.3%) were able to be resuscitated, but only 1 patient (1.0% [95% CI 0.0%-5.2%]) survived to hospital discharge and was able to return home. This patient survived an unwitnessed respiratory arrest. No patient who had an unwitnessed cardiac arrest survived to discharge. Most of the respiratory arrests were witnessed (93.1%), and most of the pulseless electrical activity or asystole arrests were unwitnessed (54.6%). We did not find age or sex to be independent predictors of survival. However, the risk of not returning home was higher among patients whose arrest occurred between 2301 and 0700 than among those whose arrest was between 0701 and 1500 (adjusted OR 3.2, 95% CI 1.0-10.1). Survival was significantly decreased after pulseless ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation arrest (adjusted OR 4.2, 95% CI 1.4-12.5) and even more so after pulseless electrical activity or asystole arrest (adjusted OR 21.0, 95% CI 6.2-71.7) than after respiratory arrest., Interpretation: Overall, survival following cardiopulmonary resuscitation in hospital does not appear to have changed markedly in 40 years. The type of arrest is highly predictive of survival, whereas age and sex are not.