Advances in the hospital management of patients following an out of hospital cardiac arrest. Issue 16 (30th May 2012)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Nolan, Jerry P; Lyon, Richard M; Sasson, Comilla; Rossetti, Andrea O; Lansky, Alexandra J; Fox, Keith A A; Meier, Pascal
• Is Part Of: Heart. Volume 98:Issue 16(2012)
• Page Start: 1201
• Page End: 1206
• Publication Date: 2012-05-30
• Subjects: Cardiac arrest -- resuscitation -- hypothermia -- post-arrest management -- angiography, anaesthetics -- intensive care -- emergency medicine -- neurology -- acute coronary syndrome -- reperfusion -- NSTEMI -- angina—unstable -- atherosclerosis -- coronary collateral circulation -- coronary intervention (PCI) -- coronary stenting -- carotid stenting; Heart -- Diseases -- Treatment -- Periodicals; Cardiology -- Periodicals; 616.12
• DOI: 10.1136/heartjnl-2011-301293
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1355-6037

Abstract

Abstract : The outcome for patients after an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) has been poor over many decades and single interventions have mostly resulted in disappointing results. More recently, some regions have observed better outcomes after redesigning their cardiac arrest pathways. Optimised resuscitation and prehospital care is absolutely key, but in-hospital care appears to be at least as important. OHCA treatment requires a multidisciplinary approach, comparable to trauma care; the development of cardiac arrest pathways and cardiac arrest centres may dramatically improve patient care and outcomes. Besides emergency medicine physicians, intensivists and neurologists, cardiologists are playing an increasingly crucial role in the post-resuscitation management, especially by optimising cardiac output and undertaking urgent coronary angiography/intervention.