Combining therapeutic hypothermia and emergent coronary angiography in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest survivors: Optimal post-arrest care for the best patient.

BACKGROUND

Aggressive post-resuscitation care, in particular combining mild therapeutic hypothermia (MTH) with early coronary angiography (CAG) and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), may improve prognosis after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA).

OBJECTIVES

The study aims to assess the value of immediate CAG or PCI in comatose survivors after OHCA treated with MTH and their association with outcomes.

METHODS

Observational, prospective analysis of all comatose, resuscitated patients treated with MTH at a tertiary centre and undergoing CAG or PCI ≤6 hours after OHCA, or non-invasively managed. Primary outcomes were 30-day and 1-year survival.

RESULTS

From March 2004-December 2012, 141 (51%) out of 278 comatose patients after cardiac OHCA were treated with MTH (median age: 64.5 (interquartile range 55-73) years, males: 67%, first shockable rhythm: 70%, witnessed OHCA: 94%, interval OHCA-resuscitation ≤20 min: 81%). Ninety-seven patients (69%) underwent early CAG, and 45 (32%) of them PCI. Patients undergoing CAG or PCI had a more favourable risk profile than subjects non-invasively managed. PCI treated patients had more bleedings, but no stent thrombosis occurred. Thirty-day and one-year unadjusted total mortality rates were 50% and 72% for non-invasively managed patients, 26% and 38.7% for patients submitted only to CAG and 32% and 36.6% for patients treated with PCI (p=0.0435 for early death, and p<0.0001 for one-year mortality, respectively). However, a propensity-matched score analysis did not confirm the survival advantage of invasive management (p=0.093). At multivariable analysis, clinical and OHCA-related variables as well as CAG, but not PCI, were associated with outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS

Comatose patients cooled after OHCA and submitted to emergency CAG or PCI are a favourable outcome population that receives optimal post-arrest care.