| 1. |
- Herlitz, Johan, et al.
(author)
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Adrenaline in out-of-hospital ventricular fibrillation. Does it make any difference?
- 1995
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In: Resuscitation. - : Elsevier Ireland Ltd. - 0300-9572 .- 1873-1570. ; 29:3, s. 195-201
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- BACKGROUND: A large proportion of cardiac arrests outside hospital are caused by ventricular fibrillation. Although it is frequently used, the exact role of treatment with adrenaline in these patients remains to be determined. AIM: To describe the proportion of patients with witnessed out-of-hospital cardiac arrest found in ventricular fibrillation who survived and were discharged from hospital in relation to whether they were treated with adrenaline prior to hospital admission. PATIENTS AND TREATMENT: All the patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest found in ventricular fibrillation in Göteborg between 1981 and 1992 in whom cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) was initiated by our emergency medical service (EMS). During the observation period, some of the EMS staff were authorized to give medication and some were not. RESULTS: In all, 1360 patients were found in ventricular fibrillation and detailed information was available in 1203 cases (88%). Adrenaline was given in 417 cases (35%). Among patients with sustained ventricular fibrillation, those who received adrenaline experienced the return of spontaneous circulation more frequently (P < 0.001) and were hospitalized alive more frequently (P < 0.01). However, the rate of discharge from hospital did not differ significantly between the 2 groups. Among patients who converted to asystole or electromechanical dissociation, those who received adrenaline experienced the return of spontaneous circulation more frequently (P < 0.001) and were hospitalised alive more frequently (P < 0.001). However, the rate of discharge from hospital did not differ significantly between the 2 groups. CONCLUSIONS: On the basis of 2 treatment regimens during a 12-year survey, we explored the usefulness of adrenaline in out-of-hospital ventricular fibrillation. Both patients with sustained ventricular fibrillation and those who converted to asystole or electromechanical dissociation had an initially more favourable outcome if treated with adrenaline. However, the final outcome was not significantly affected. This study does not confirm the hypothesis that adrenaline increases survival among patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest who are found in ventricular fibrillation.
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| 2. |
- Herlitz, Johan, et al.
(author)
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Continuation of CPR on admission to Emergency Department after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. Occurence, characteristics and outcome
- 1997
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In: Resuscitation. - : Elsevier Ireland Ltd. - 0300-9572 .- 1873-1570. ; 33:3, s. 223-231
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- AIM: To describe the occurrence, characteristics and outcome among patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest who required continuation of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on admission to the emergency department. PATIENTS: all patients in the municipality of Göteborg who suffered out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, were reached by the emergency medical service (EMS) system and in whom CPR was initiated. Period for inclusion in study: 1 Oct. 1980-31 Dec. 1992. RESULTS: of 334 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests, 2,319 (68%) were receiving on-going CPR at the time of admission to hospital. Of these, 137 patients (6%) were hospitalized alive and 28 (1.2%) could be discharged from hospital. Of these patients, 39% had a cerebral performance categories (CPC) score of 1 (no cerebral deficiency), 18% had a CPC score of 2 (moderate cerebral deficiency), 36% had a CPC score of 3 (severe cerebral deficiency) and 7% had a CPC score of 4 (coma) at discharge. Among patients discharged. 76% were alive after 1 year. CONCLUSION: among consecutive patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, CPR was ongoing in 68% of them on admission to hospital. Among these patients, 6% were hospitalized alive and 1.2% were discharged from hospital. Thus, among patients with ongoing CPR on admission to hospital, survivors can be found but they are few in numbers and extensive cerebral damage is frequently present.
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| 3. |
- Herlitz, Johan, et al.
(author)
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Lidocaine in out-of-hospital ventricular fibrillation. Does it improve the survival?
- 1997
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In: Resuscitation. - : Elsevier Ireland Ltd. - 0300-9572 .- 1873-1570. ; 33:3, s. 199-205
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- BACKGROUND: A large proportion of cardiac arrests outside hospital are caused by ventricular fibrillation. Although it is frequently used, the exact role for treatment with lidocaine in these patients remains to be determined. AIM: To describe the proportion of patients with witnessed out-of-hospital cardiac arrest found in ventricular fibrillation who survived and were discharged from hospital in relation to whether they were treated with lidocaine prior to hospital admission. Patients and treatment: All the patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest found in ventricular fibrillation in Göteborg between 1980 and 1992 in whom cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) was initiated by our emergency medical service (EMS). During the observation period, some of the EMS staff were authorized to give medication and some were not. RESULTS: In all, 1,360 patients were found in ventricular fibrillation, with detailed information being available in 1,212 cases (89%). Lidocaine was given in 405 of these cases (33%). Among patients with sustained ventricular fibrillation, those who received lidocaine had a return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) more frequently (P < 0.001) and were hospitalized alive more frequently (38% vs. 18%, P < 0.01). However, the rate of discharge from hospital did not significantly differ between the two groups. Among patients who were converted to a pulse-generating rhythm, those who received lidocaine on that indication were more frequently alive than those who did not receive such treatment (94% vs. 84%; P < 0.05). However, the rate of discharge did not significantly differ between the two groups. CONCLUSION: In a retrospective analysis comparing patients who received lidocaine with those who did not in sustained ventricular fibrillation and after conversion to a pulse-generating rhythm, such treatment was associated with a higher rate at ROSC and hospitalization but was not associated with an increased rate of discharge from hospital.
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| 4. |
- Herlitz, Johan, et al.
(author)
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Prognosis among patients with out of hospital cardiac arrest judged as being caused by deterioration of obstructive pulmonary disease
- 1996
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In: Resuscitation. - : Elsevier Ireland Ltd. - 0300-9572 .- 1873-1570. ; 32:3, s. 177-184
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Aim: To describe the prognosis of patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest judged to be caused by the deterioration of obstructive pulmonary disease. Patients: All patients in the community of Göteborg Sweden who suffered out-of-hospital cardiac arrest between 1980 and 1992 attended by our emergency medical service and in whom cardiopulmonary resuscitation was initiated. Methods: The etiology of cardiac arrest was determined according to clinical history, observations at resuscitation and findings at autopsy. Results: There were 3434 cardiac arrests of which 130 (4%) were judged to have been caused by deterioration of obstructive pulmonary disease. Of these patients 50% were found in asystole, 40% in pulseless electrical activity, and only 7% in ventricular fibrillation. Among patients with cardiac arrest caused by obstructive pulmonary disease 21 (16%) were hospitalized alive and six (5%) were discharged from hospital. Among patients who developed cardiac arrest after arrival of the ambulance, 16% were discharged from hospital versus 0% among patients who had arrest prior to arrival of the ambulance. Conclusion: Among patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest caused by deterioration of obstructive pulmonary disease, half were found in asystole. Overall, the survival rate was low. This highlights the importance of effective treatment early in the course of deterioration of obstructive pulmonary disease in order to avoid cardiac arrest.
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| 5. |
- Herlitz, Johan, et al.
(author)
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Prognosis among survivors of prehospital cardiac arrest
- 1995
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In: Annals of Emergency Medicine. - : Mosby, Inc.. - 0196-0644 .- 1097-6760. ; 25:1, s. 58-63
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- STUDY OBJECTIVE: To describe the prognosis in consecutive patients discharged from hospital after prehospital cardiac arrest. PATIENTS: All patients in the community of Göteborg who were discharged from hospital after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest between 1981 and 1991. RESULTS: Two hundred forty-three patients were discharged from hospital during the observation period, of whom 80% initially experienced ventricular fibrillation. Among patients discharged, 21% died during the first year; after 10 years, 82% had died. Age, sex, previous history of cardiovascular disease, circumstances at the time of cardiac arrest, complications during hospitalization, and discharge medications were assessed as predictors of 1-year mortality. Independent predictors of death during follow-up were history of myocardial infarction (P < .001), no prescription of beta-blockers at discharge (P < .01), age (P < .05), and cerebral performance category (CPC) at discharge (P < .05). CONCLUSION: Among patients who survived out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, one of five died during the first year and one of five survived 10 years after discharge. Prognosis was associated with a history of myocardial infarction, prescription of beta-blockers at discharge, age, and CPC at discharge.
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| 6. |
- Herlitz, Johan, et al.
(author)
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Survival among patients with out of hospital cardiac arrest found in electromechanical dissociation
- 1995
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In: Resuscitation. - : Elsevier Ireland Ltd. - 0300-9572 .- 1873-1570. ; 29:2, s. 97-106
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Many patients who suffer an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest are found in electromechanical dissociation at the time the Emergency Medical Service (EMS) arrives. Since they have a poor prognosis, less attention has been paid to them. AIM: To describe a consecutive population of patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest found in electromechanical dissociation and to try to define indicators for an increased chance of survival in this patient population. SETTING: The municipality of Göteborg. PATIENTS: All the patients who suffered an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest between 1981-1992 and were reached by our EMS system and in whom cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) was attempted. RESULTS: In all, there were 3434 patients with cardiac arrest of whom 748 (22%) were found in electromechanical dissociation. They differed from patients found in ventricular fibrillation as there were more women, a higher frequency of cardiac arrest during the night, a lower frequency of witnessed cardiac arrest and consequently a lower frequency of bystander-initiated CPR. In all, 96 patients (13%) were hospitalized alive and only 16(2%) could be discharged from hospital. In a multivariate analysis relating to age, sex, time of cardiac arrest, interval between collapse and the arrival of the first ambulance, bystander-initiated CPR and treatment with adrenaline, atropine and tribonate, no independent predictor of survival was found. CONCLUSION: Of all the patients with out-of hospital cardiac arrest in whom CPR was attempted by our EMS, 22% were found in electromechanical dissociation. Of these, 13% were hospitalized alive and 2% could be discharged from the hospital. No independent predictor of an increased chance of survival was found.
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