Factors influencing outcome of cardiopulmonary resuscitation in children

Incidence, causes, and outcomes of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in children. A comprehensive, prospective, population-based study in the Netherlands

OBJECTIVES

This study sought to determine comprehensively the incidence of pediatric out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) and its contribution to total pediatric mortality, the causes of pediatric OHCA, and the outcome of resuscitation of pediatric OHCA patients.

BACKGROUND

There is a paucity of complete studies on incidence, causes, and outcomes of pediatric OHCA.

METHODS

In this prospective, population-based study, OHCA victims younger than age 21 years in 1 province of the Netherlands were registered through both emergency medical services and coroners over a period of 4.3 years. Death certificate data on total pediatric mortality, survival status, and neurological outcome at hospital discharge also were obtained.

RESULTS

With a total mortality of 923 during the study period and 233 victims of OHCA (including 221 who died and 12 who survived), OHCA caused 24% (221 of 923) of total pediatric mortality. Natural causes of OHCA amounted to 115 (49%) cases, with cardiac causes being most prevalent (n = 90, 39%). The incidence of pediatric OHCA was 9.0 per 100,000 pediatric person-years (95% confidence interval: 7.8 to 10.3), whereas the incidence of pediatric OHCA from cardiac causes was 3.2 (95% confidence interval: 2.5 to 3.9). Of 51 resuscitated patients, 12 (24%) survived; among survivors, 10 (83%) had a neurologically intact outcome.

CONCLUSIONS

Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest accounts for a significant proportion of pediatric mortality, and cardiac causes are the most prevalent causes of OHCA. The vast majority of OHCA survivors have a neurologically intact outcome.

Outcomes after extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR) following refractory pediatric cardiac arrest in the intensive care unit

AIM

To describe our experience using extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR) in resuscitating children with refractory cardiac arrest in the intensive care unit (ICU) and to describe hospital survival and neurologic outcomes after ECPR.

METHODS

A retrospective chart review of a consecutive case series of patients requiring ECPR from 2001 to 2006 at Arkansas Children's Hospital. Data from medical records was abstracted and reviewed. Primary study outcomes were survival to hospital discharge and neurological outcome at hospital discharge.

RESULTS

During the 6-year study period, ECPR was deployed 34 times in 32 patients. 24 deployments (73%) resulted in survival to hospital discharge. Twenty-eight deployments (82%) were for underlying cardiac disease, 3 for neonatal non-cardiac (NICU) patients and 3 for paediatric non-cardiac (PICU) patients. On multivariate logistic regression analysis, only serum ALT (p-value=0.043; OR, 1.6; 95% confidence interval, 1.014-2.527) was significantly associated with risk of death prior to hospital discharge. Blood lactate at 24h post-ECPR showed a trend towards significance (p-value=0.059; OR, 1.27; 95% confidence interval, 0.991-1.627). The Hosmer-Lemeshow tests (p-value=0.178) suggested a good fit for the model. Neurological evaluation of the survivors revealed that there was no change in PCPC scores from a baseline of 1-2 in 18/24 (75%) survivors.

CONCLUSIONS

ECPR can be used successfully to resuscitate children following refractory cardiac arrest in the ICU, and grossly intact neurologic outcomes can be achieved in a majority of cases.

In-hospital versus out-of-hospital pediatric cardiac arrest: a multicenter cohort study

OBJECTIVES

: To describe a large multicenter cohort of pediatric cardiac arrest (CA) with return of circulation (ROC) from either the in-hospital (IH) or the out-of-hospital (OH) setting and to determine whether significant differences related to pre-event, arrest event, early postarrest event characteristics, and outcomes exist that would be critical in planning a clinical trial of therapeutic hypothermia (TH).

DESIGN

: Retrospective cohort study.

SETTING

: Fifteen Pediatric Emergency Care Applied Research Network sites.

PATIENTS

: Patients aged 24 hours to 18 years with either IH or OH CA who had a history of at least 1 minute of chest compressions and ROC for at least 20 minutes were eligible.

INTERVENTIONS

: None.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

: A total of 491 patients met study entry criteria with 353 IH cases and 138 OH cases. Major differences between the IH and OH cohorts were observed for patient prearrest characteristics, arrest event initial rhythm described, and arrest medication use. Several postarrest interventions were used differently, however, the use of TH was similar (<5%) in both cohorts. During the 0-12-hour interval following ROC, OH cases had lower minimum temperature and pH, and higher maximum serum glucose recorded. Mortality was greater in the OH cohort (62% vs. 51%, p = 0.04) with the cause attributed to a neurologic indication much more frequent in the OH than in the IH cohort (69% vs. 20%; p < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

: For pediatric CA with ROC, several major differences exist between IH and OH cohorts. The finding that the etiology of death was attributed to neurologic indications much more frequently in OH arrests has important implications for future research. Investigators planning to evaluate the efficacy of new interventions, such as TH, should be aware that the IH and OH populations differ greatly and require independent clinical trials.

[Characteristics and evolution of cardiopulmonary arrest in children in Spain: comparison between autonomous communities]

INTRODUCTION

In Spain there are many differences between autonomous regions in terms of geography, population distribution and health care organisation. We do not know if these differences could have influenced the characteristics and evolution of cardiopulmonary arrest in children.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A secondary analysis of data from a prospective, multicenter and previously published study, analysing cardiorespiratory arrest in children was made to compare the characteristics and evolution of cardiopulmonary arrest in children depending on the region where the arrest occurred. We studied 283 children aged between 7 days and 17 years who suffered respiratory or cardiopulmonary arrest. Data were recorded according to the international Utstein style recommendations. Patients were classified according to the autonomous region where the cardiac arrest occurred: Catalonia (94 cases), Andalusia (64 cases), Madrid (61 cases) and the rest of the regions (64 patients). A statistical analysis was performed to compare the characteristics of cardiac arrest, resuscitation, evolution and survival between the four groups.

RESULTS

Sixty percent of patients initially survived the cardiac arrest episode and 33% (94 patients) were still alive one year later. No significant differences in the characteristics of arrest, resuscitation and evolution were found when the autonomous regions were compared. Even though the differences were not statistically significant, there was a tendency to less than expected survival in Andalusia and higher than expected survival in Catalonia.

CONCLUSIONS

There are no important differences in the characteristics of pediatric cardiopulmonary arrest, resuscitation, evolution and survival between the autonomous regions in Spain. Additional studies are needed to analyze the hypothetical influence of health care organization and life support training on survival.

Parada cardiorrespiratoria secundaria a traumatismos en niños. Características y evolución

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the characteristics and outcome of cardiorespiratory arrest secondary to trauma in children.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We performed a secondary analysis of data from a prospective, multicenter study of cardiorespiratory arrest in children. Data were recorded according to the Utstein style. Twenty-eight children (age range: 7 days to 16 years) with cardiorespiratory arrest secondary to trauma were evaluated. The outcome variables were return of spontaneous circulation, sustained (more than 20 minutes) return of spontaneous circulation (initial survival), and survival at hospital discharge (final survival) in relation to the characteristics of the cardiorespiratory arrest and cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Neurological and general performance outcome was assessed by means of the Pediatric Cerebral Performance Category scale and the Pediatric Overall Performance Category scale.

RESULTS

Return of spontaneous circulation was obtained in 18 patients (64.2 %), initial survival was achieved in 14 (50 %) and final survival was achieved in three (10.7 %) (two without neurological sequelae and one with vegetative status). Final survival was significantly higher in patients with respiratory arrest (33.3 %) than in those with cardiac arrest (4.5 %), p = 0.04. Final survival was also higher in patients with a duration of cardiopulmonary resuscitation shorter than 20 minutes (27.2 %) than in the remaining patients (0 %), p =0.05. The two survivors without neurologic sequelae had respiratory arrest.

CONCLUSIONS

Survival until hospital discharge in children with cardiorespiratory arrest secondary to trauma is lower than that in children with cardiorespiratory arrest. Patients with respiratory arrest when resuscitation is started and those with a duration of cardiopulmonary resuscitation of less than 20 minutes showed better survival than the remaining patients.

Outcomes of in-hospital ventricular fibrillation in children

BACKGROUND

Ventricular fibrillation and ventricular tachycardia are less common causes of cardiac arrest in children than in adults. These tachyarrhythmias can also begin during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), presumably as reperfusion arrhythmias. We determined whether the outcome is better for initial than for subsequent ventricular fibrillation or tachycardia.

METHODS

All cardiac arrests in persons under 18 years of age were identified from a large, multicenter, in-hospital cardiac-arrest registry. The results from children with initial ventricular fibrillation or tachycardia, children in whom ventricular fibrillation or tachycardia developed during CPR, and children with no ventricular fibrillation or tachycardia were compared by chi-square and multivariable logistic-regression analysis.

RESULTS

Of 1005 index patients with in-hospital cardiac arrest, 272 (27 percent) had documented ventricular fibrillation or tachycardia during the arrest. In 104 patients (10 percent), ventricular fibrillation or tachycardia was the initial pulseless rhythm; in 149 patients (15 percent), it developed during the arrest. The time of initiation of ventricular fibrillation or tachycardia was not documented in 19 patients. Thirty-five percent of patients with initial ventricular fibrillation or tachycardia survived to hospital discharge, as compared with 11 percent of patients with subsequent ventricular fibrillation or tachycardia (odds ratio, 2.6; 95 percent confidence interval, 1.2 to 5.8). Twenty-seven percent of patients with no ventricular fibrillation or tachycardia survived to hospital discharge, as compared with 11 percent of patients with subsequent ventricular fibrillation or tachycardia (odds ratio, 3.8; 95 percent confidence interval, 1.8 to 7.6).

CONCLUSIONS

In pediatric patients with in-hospital cardiac arrests, survival outcomes were highest among patients in whom ventricular fibrillation or tachycardia was present initially than among those in whom it developed subsequently. The outcomes for patients with subsequent ventricular fibrillation or tachycardia were substantially worse than those for patients with asystole or pulseless electrical activity.

Out-of-hospital pediatric cardiac arrest: an epidemiologic review and assessment of current knowledge

STUDY OBJECTIVE

We systematically summarize pediatric out-of-hospital cardiac arrest epidemiology and assess knowledge of effects of specific out-of-hospital interventions.

METHODS

We conducted a comprehensive review of published articles from 1966 to 2004, available through MEDLINE, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, EmBase, and the Cochrane Registry, describing outcomes of children younger than 18 years with an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. Patient characteristics, process of care, and outcomes were compared using pediatric Utstein outcome report guidelines. Effects of out-of-hospital care processes on survival outcomes were summarized.

RESULTS

Forty-one studies met inclusion criteria; 8 complied with Utstein reporting guidelines. Included in the review were 5,363 patients: 12.1% survived to hospital discharge, and 4% survived neurologically intact. Trauma patients (n=2,299) had greater overall survival (21.9%, 6.8% intact); a separate examination of studies with more rigorous cardiac arrest definition showed poorer survival (1.1% overall, 0.3% neurologically intact). Submersion injury-associated arrests (n=442) had greater overall survival (22.7%, 6% intact). Pooled data analysis of bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation and witnessed arrest status showed increased likelihood of survival (relative risk 1.99, 95% confidence interval 1.54 to 2.57) for witnessed arrests. The effect of bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation is difficult to determine because of study heterogeneity.

CONCLUSION

Outcomes from out-of-hospital pediatric cardiac arrest are generally poor. Variability may exist in survival by patient subgroups, but differences are hard to accurately characterize. Conformity with Utstein guidelines for reporting and research design is incomplete. Witnessed arrest status remains associated with improved survival. The need for prospective controlled trials remains a high priority.

Characteristics and outcome of cardiorespiratory arrest in children

OBJECTIVE

To analyse the present day characteristics and outcome of cardio-respiratory arrest in children in Spain.

DESIGN

An 18-month prospective, multicentre study analysing out-of-hospital and in-hospital cardio-respiratory arrest in children.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Two hundred and eighty-three children between 7 days and 17 years of age with cardio-respiratory arrest. Data were recorded according to the Utstein style. The outcome variables were the sustained return of spontaneous circulation (initial survival), and survival at 1 year (final survival). Three hundred and eleven cardio-respiratory arrest episodes, composed of 70 respiratory arrests and 241 cardiac arrests in 283 children were studied. Accidents were the most frequent cause of out-of-hospital arrest (40%), and cardiac disease was the leading cause (31%) of in-hospital arrest. Initial survival was 60.2% and 1 year survival was 33.2%. The final survival was higher in patients with respiratory arrest (70%) than in patients with cardiac arrest (21.1%) (P <0.0001). Although many individual factors correlated with mortality, multivariate logistic regression revealed that the best indicator of mortality was a duration of cardiopulmonary resuscitation of over 20 min (odds ratio: 10.35; 95% CI 4.59-23.32).

CONCLUSIONS

In Spain, the present mortality from cardio-respiratory arrest in children remains high. Survival after respiratory arrest is significantly higher than after cardiac arrest. The duration of cardiopulmonary resuscitation attempt is the best indicator of mortality of cardio-respiratory arrest in children.

The use of high-dose epinephrine for patients with out-of-hospital cardiopulmonary arrest refractory to prehospital interventions

OBJECTIVE

To determine if high-dose epinephrine (HDE) used during out-of-hospital cardiopulmonary arrest refractory to prehospital interventions improves return of spontaneous circulation, 24-hour survival, discharge survival, and neurological outcomes.

METHODS

A multicenter randomized controlled trial was conducted between May 1991 and October 1996 to compare the effectiveness of HDE versus standard-dose epinephrine (SDE) in patients having out-of-hospital cardiopulmonary arrest refractory to prehospital resuscitation efforts. Cardiopulmonary arrest was classified as "medical" or "traumatic." Two hundred thirty patients were enrolled in 7 pediatric emergency departments. Ages ranged from newborn to 22 years. Seventeen patients met exclusion criteria. Patients were assigned to receive HDE (0.1 mg/kg for the initial dose and 0.2 mg/kg for subsequent doses) or SDE (0.01 mg/kg). The main end points evaluated were return of spontaneous circulation, 24-hour survival, discharge survival, and neurological outcome.

RESULTS

One hundred twenty-seven patients received HDE (32 trauma patients), and 86 patients received SDE (27 trauma patients). Among medical patients, 24 (25%) of 95 experienced return of spontaneous circulation in the HDE group as compared with 9 (15%) of 59 in the SDE group (P = 0.14, chi2 = 2.17, relative risk = 1.66 [0.83-3.31]). Sixteen (17%) of 95 HDE patients and 5 (8%) of 59 SDE patients survived at least 24 hours (P = 0.14, chi2 = 2.16, relative risk = 1.99 [0.77-5.14]). Nine survivors to discharge received HDE, and 2 received SDE (P = 0.21, Fisher exact test, relative risk = 2.75 [0.61-12.28]). There were no long-term survivors among the trauma patients. Eight of 11 long-term survivors had severe neurological outcomes defined by the Glasgow Outcome Scale (2/2 SDE, 6/9 HDE; P = 0.51, Fisher exact test).

CONCLUSION

HDE does not improve or diminish return of spontaneous circulation, 24-hour survival, long-term survival, or neurological outcome compared with SDE in out-of-hospital cardiopulmonary arrest.

Survival outcomes after extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation instituted during active chest compressions following refractory in-hospital pediatric cardiac arrest

OBJECTIVE

To report survival outcomes and to identify factors associated with survival following extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation for in-hospital pediatric cardiac arrest.

DESIGN

Retrospective chart review, consecutive case series.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE

Survival to hospital discharge.

RESULTS

During a 7-yr study period, there were 66 cardiac arrest events in 64 patients in which a child was cannulated for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation during active cardiopulmonary resuscitation with chest compressions. A total of 33 of 66 events (50%) resulted in the child being decannulated and surviving at least 24 hrs; 21 of 64 (33%) children undergoing extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation survived to hospital discharge. A total of 19 of 43 children with isolated heart disease compared with two of 21 children with other medical conditions survived to hospital discharge (p <.01). Pediatric Cerebral Performance Category and Pediatric Overall Performance Category were determined for survivors >2 months old. Five of ten extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation survivors >2 months old had no change in Pediatric Cerebral Performance Category or Pediatric Overall Performance Category compared with admission. Three of six extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation patients who survived after receiving >60 mins of chest compressions before extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation had grossly intact neurologic function. During a 2-yr period in the same hospital, no patient who received >30 mins of cardiopulmonary resuscitation without extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation survived. In this case series, age, weight, or duration of chest compressions before extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation did not correlate with survival.

CONCLUSIONS

Extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation can be used to successfully resuscitate selected children following refractory in-hospital cardiac arrest, and can be implemented during active cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Intact neurologic survival can sometimes be achieved, even when the duration of in-hospital cardiopulmonary resuscitation is prolonged. In this series, children with isolated heart disease were more likely to survive following extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation than were children with other medical conditions.

Prehospital care and outcome of pediatric out-of-hospital cardiac arrest

Cardiac arrest in children outside the hospital is associated with high mortality rates. Recent investigations have suggested that the use of advanced life support (ALS) measures by emergency medical services (EMS) personnel may decrease survival. These studies have used the pediatric Utstein style of defining ALS and basic life support (BLS) measures. The pediatric Utstein style defines BLS as "an attempt to restore effective ventilation and circulation" using noninvasive means to open the airway but specifically excludes the use of bag-valve-mask devices. Advanced life support is defined as the "addition of invasive maneuvers to restore effective ventilation and circulation." The authors of the study described below believe that using this definition would categorize some patients into an ALS group who would otherwise be categorized as having received BLS (i.e., "bag-valve-mask only").

OBJECTIVE

To compare survival rates among children receiving BLS or ALS following out-of-hospital cardiac arrest using amended definitions of prehospital life support measures. Specifically, the definition of BLS was expanded to include the use of bag-valve-mask devices only.

METHODS

This was a retrospective chart review in an urban, pediatric emergency department. Patients included all children presenting to the emergency department between January 1, 1986, and December 31, 1999, following out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. The main outcome measure was survival to hospital discharge.

RESULTS

Two hundred ten children were identified. Twenty-one patients were excluded from further analysis because of absent or incomplete medical records. One hundred eighty-nine patients were studied. Five children (2.6%) survived to discharge from the hospital. Of 189 children, 39 (20.6%) were provided BLS measures by prehospital personnel; 150 (79.4%) received ALS. There was no significant difference between groups in survival to hospital discharge. Patients who survived to hospital discharge were more likely to be in sinus rhythm upon arrival in the emergency department (p < 0.001) and to have received fewer doses of standard-dose epinephrine in the emergency department (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

The use of ALS by prehospital personnel for children with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest did not improve survival to discharge from the hospital when compared with the use of BLS.

Anesthesia-related cardiac arrest in children. An update

The improvement in mortality rates for anesthetized children over the past 50 years reflects the many improvements that have been made in pediatric perioperative care. The modern pediatric anesthesiologist is better trained than the predecessors of half a century ago, and has a vastly improved arsenal of monitoring devices and anesthetic agents from which to choose. The modern pediatric perioperative environment is better equipped to meet the unique needs of children. Techniques practiced by surgeons, nurses, radiologists, and pharmacologists help create a far more sophisticated infrastructure than existed 50 years ago. Given these changes, it is not surprising that outcomes for patients have improved.

Update in pediatric resuscitation

This article updates research concerning the resuscitation of a pediatric patient. The topics discussed include the state of pediatric life support, the current guidelines, the management of those guidelines, and coping with death.

A prospective investigation into the epidemiology of in-hospital pediatric cardiopulmonary resuscitation using the international Utstein reporting style

OBJECTIVE

Data regarding pediatric in-hospital cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) have been limited because of retrospective study designs, small sample sizes, and inconsistent definitions of cardiac arrest and CPR. The purpose of this study was to prospectively describe and evaluate pediatric in-hospital CPR with the international consensus-derived epidemiologic definitions from the Utstein guidelines.

METHODS

All 129 in-hospital CPRs during 12 months at a 122-bed university children's hospital in Sao Paulo, Brazil, were described and evaluated using Utstein reporting guidelines. These guidelines include standardized descriptions of hospital variables, patient variables, arrest/event variables, and outcome variables. CPR was defined as chest compressions and assisted ventilation provided because of cardiac arrest or because of severe bradycardia with poor perfusion. Outcome variables included sustained return of spontaneous circulation, 24-hour survival, 30-day survival, 1-year survival, and neurologic status of survivors by the Pediatric Cerebral Performance Category Scale.

RESULTS

Of the 6024 children admitted to the hospital, 176 (3%) had an episode that met the criteria for provision of CPR and 129 (2%) received CPR, 86 for clinical cardiac arrest and 43 for bradycardia with poor perfusion. Most of the children (71%) had preexisting chronic diseases. The most common precipitating causes were respiratory failure (61%) and shock (29%). The initial cardiac rhythm was asystole in 71 children (55%), pulseless electrical activity in 12 (9%), ventricular fibrillation in 1, and bradycardia with pulses and poor perfusion in 43 (33%). Eighty-three children (64%) attained sustained return of spontaneous circulation (>20 minutes), 43 (33%) were alive at 24 hours, 24 (19%) were alive at 30 days, and 19 (15%) were alive at 1 year. Although many factors correlated with 24-hour survival, multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed independent association of 24-hour survival with respiratory failure as the precipitating cause (odds ratio [OR]: 4.92; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.73-14.0), bradycardia with pulses as the initial event (OR: 2.68; 95% CI: 1.01-7.1), and shorter duration of CPR (OR: 0.92; 95% CI: 0.89-0.96 for each elapsed minute). Similarly, 30-day survival was independently associated with respiratory failure as the precipitating cause and shorter duration of CPR. Thirty-day survival decreased by 5% with each elapsed minute of CPR. Nineteen (91%) of the 21 survivors to hospital discharge and 16 (83%) of the 19 1-year survivors had no demonstrable long-term change in neurologic function from their pre-CPR status.

CONCLUSIONS

During this study, CPR was uncommon but not rare. Respiratory failure was the most common precipitating cause, followed by shock. Preexisting chronic diseases were prevalent among these children. Asystole was the most common initial cardiac rhythm, and bradycardia with pulses and poor perfusion was the second most common. Ventricular fibrillation was rare, but children with acute cardiac diseases, such as cardiac surgery and acute cardiomyopathies, were not admitted to this children's hospital. CPR was effective: nearly two thirds of these children were initially successfully resuscitated, and one third were alive at 24 hours compared with imminent death without CPR and advanced life support. Nevertheless, survival progressively decreased over time, generally as a result of the underlying disease process. One-year survival was 15%. Importantly, most of these survivors had no demonstrable change in gross neurologic function from their pre-CPR status.

The etiology of cardiac arrest in children and young adults: special considerations for ED management

Children and young adults rarely present to the emergency department (ED) in cardiac arrest. This review examines published series on nontraumatic, cardiac arrest for patients aged 1 to 45 years and discusses the differential diagnosis for cardiovascular collapse. Among the most common entities encountered are cardiac diseases (hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, myocarditis), airway diseases (pneumonia, epiglottitis, and asthma), epilepsy, hemorrhage (gastrointestinal bleeding, ectopic pregnancy), and drug toxicity (tricyclic antidepressants, cocaine). ED management of children and young adults in cardiac arrest requires an understanding of the heterogeneous pathophysiologic mechanisms and etiologies leading to cardiopulmonary dysfunction in these patients. The emergency physician should give particular focus to airway management for toddlers and preadolescents, because respiratory diseases predominate. When treating an adolescent or young adult, the resuscitation team should also consider toxic causes as well as occult hemorrhage. Management considerations unique to this patient population are discussed.

A prospective, population-based study of the demographics, epidemiology, management, and outcome of out-of-hospital pediatric cardiopulmonary arrest

STUDY OBJECTIVES

To perform a population-based study addressing the demography, epidemiology, management, and outcome of out-of-hospital pediatric cardiopulmonary arrest (PCPA).

METHODS

Prospective, population-based study of all children (17 years of age or younger) in a large urban municipality who were treated by EMS personnel for apneic, pulseless conditions. Data were collected prospectively for 3(1/2) years using a comprehensive data collection tool and on-line computerized database. Each child received standard pediatric advanced cardiac life support.

RESULTS

During the 3(1/2)-year period, 300 children presented with PCPA (annual incidence of 19. 7/100,000 at risk). Of these, 60% (n=181) were male (P =.0003), and 54% (n=161) were patients 12 months of age or younger (152,500 at risk). Compared with the population at risk (32% black patients, 36% Hispanic patients, 26% white patients), a disproportionate number of arrests occurred in black children (51.6% versus 26.6% in Hispanics, and 17% in white children; P <.0001). Over 60% of all cases (n=181) occurred in the home with family members present, and yet those family members initiated basic CPR in only 31 (17%) of such cases. Only 33 (11%) of the total 300 PCPA cases had a return of spontaneous circulation, and 5 of the 6 discharged survivors had significant neurologic sequelae. Only 1 factor, endotracheal intubation, was correlated positively with return of spontaneous circulation (P =.032).

CONCLUSION

This population-based study underscores the need to investigate new therapeutic interventions for PCPA, as well as innovative strategies for improving the frequency of basic CPR for children.

Pediatric cardiopulmonary resuscitation: a collective review

Little information is available about the effects of CPR in children, although it is known that the outcomes are dismal. Examples of unanswered questions include which advanced life support (ALS) procedures should be performed out-of-hospital, whether high-dose epinephrine improves survival, and the true prevalence of ventricular fibrillation as a presenting rhythm. Children differ from adults as to the cause and pathophysiology of cardiopulmonary arrest, but prehospital EMS and hospital resuscitation teams were initially designed for the care of adults. Because pediatric cardiopulmonary arrest is rare, prospective data are difficult to gather, and there are few large published studies. The purpose of this collective review was to review the current body of knowledge regarding survival rates and outcomes in pediatric CPR and, based on this review, to outline a course for future research.

Paediatric resuscitation--by phone

OBJECTIVE

To ascertain the training and knowledge of paediatric resuscitation amongst all paediatric residents in New Zealand.

METHOD

A validated national telephone survey.

RESULTS

Interviews were conducted with 96 out of a possible 109 paediatric residents. Most had been qualified less than 5 years and a third had received some training in paediatric resuscitation in the last year. The initial dose of intravenous adrenaline was known by 61% but only 10% knew the recommended ten-fold increase in subsequent doses. Recognition of the importance of cervical spine management in trauma was poor. Correct resuscitation fluids and volumes were selected by 90%, though infusion rates were frequently too slow. Residents with paediatric qualifications and greater experience scored significantly higher.

CONCLUSION

Many junior paediatric staff are inadequately prepared for resuscitating children. We believe improved regular training is required and that the introduction of a nation-wide Advanced Paediatric Life Support course, subsequent to the completion of this survey, will lead to improved standards. Its effectiveness needs to be audited.

Paediatric life support. An advisory statement by the Paediatric Life Support Working Group of the International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation

This document reflects the deliberations of ILCOR. The epidemiology and outcome of paediatric cardiopulmonary arrest and the priorities, techniques and sequence of paediatric resuscitation assessments and interventions differ from those of adults. The working group identified areas of conflict and controversy in current paediatric basic and advanced life support guidelines, outlined solutions considered and made recommendations by consensus. The working group was surprised by the degree of conformity already existing in current guidelines advocated by the American Heart Association (AHA), the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada (HSFC), the European Resuscitation Council (ERC), the Australian Resuscitation Council (ARC), and the Resuscitation Council of Southern Africa (RCSA). Differences are currently based upon local and regional preferences, training networks and customs, rather than scientific controversy. Unresolved issues with potential for future universal application are highlighted. This document does not include a complete list of guidelines for which there is no perceived controversy and the algorithm/decision tree figures presented attempt to follow a common flow of assessments and interventions, in coordination with their adult counterparts. Survival following paediatric prehospital cardiopulmonary arrest occurs in only approximately 3-17% and survivors are often neurologically devastated. Most paediatric resuscitation reports have been retrospective in design and plagued with inconsistent resuscitation definitions and patient inclusion criteria. Careful and thoughtful application of uniform guidelines for reporting outcomes of advanced life support interventions using large, randomized, multicenter and multinational clinical trials are clearly needed. Paediatric advisory statements from ILCOR will, by necessity, be vibrant and evolving guidelines fostered by national and international organizations intent on improving the outcome of resuscitation for infants and children worldwide.

High-dose epinephrine is not superior to standard-dose epinephrine in pediatric in-hospital cardiopulmonary arrest

OBJECTIVE

To compare the efficacy of high-dose epinephrine (HDE) with that of standard-dose epinephrine (SDE) for resuscitation from in-hospital pediatric cardiopulmonary arrest (CPA).

DESIGN

Fifty-four-month retrospective study of all pediatric patients who had a CPA while hospitalized at a tertiary care children's hospital. Standard pediatric advanced life support techniques were used for all patients. Patients received HDE or SDE in accordance with physician orders and standard protocols at the time of CPA. Primary outcome measures were the return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC), the duration of survival after resuscitation, survival to hospital discharge, and Pediatric Overall Performance Category scores at the time of discharge.

RESULTS

During the study period, 51 patients met entry criteria and had a total of 58 CPAs. Twenty-one patients received HDE during resuscitation from 24 arrests, at a dose of 0.12 +/- 0.05 mg/kg (mean +/- SD); 30 patients received SDE during resuscitation from 34 arrests, at a dose of 0.01 +/- 0.01 mg/kg (mean +/- SD). The HDE and SDE groups were not significantly different in terms of gender, initial cardiac rhythm, location of CPA, primary diagnoses at the time of CPA, initial pH, or additional resuscitation medications received; the SDE group had a significantly higher mean age, although the median ages were not different. Fourteen of 24 resuscitations using HDE resulted in ROSC (58%) with a mean time to ROSC of 19 minutes; 7 (29%) of 24 led to survival for 24 hours, and 6 (26%) of 23 patients survived to hospital discharge, all with moderate to severe neurologic and functional impairment. Twenty-four of 34 resuscitations using SDE resulted in ROSC (71%) with a mean time to ROSC of 12 minutes; 17 (50%) of 34 led to survival for 24 hours; and 7 (23%) of 30 patients survived to hospital discharge, 4 with mild to moderate neurologic impairment. No significant differences in rates of ROSC, survival rates, or Pediatric Overall Performance Category scores of survivors were found between the two groups. The mean time to ROSC was significantly longer in the HDE group.

CONCLUSIONS

In this study, the use of HDE did not improve the rates of ROSC, short-term survival, or long-term survival after pediatric in-hospital CPA, nor did it improve overall outcome scores. Given the conflicting evidence surrounding possible detrimental effects of HDE use, a large, blinded, prospective trial of HDE use in this setting is necessary to clarify the appropriate role for HDE in pediatric resuscitation.

Additive impact of in-hospital cardiac arrest on the functioning of children with heart disease

OBJECTIVE

This study examined the impact of a sudden cardiac arrest (CA) on the neurodevelopmental and adaptive functioning of young children with congenital heart disease (CHD).

METHODOLOGY

Sixteen children with CHD who had sustained an in-hospital CA were compared with a medically similar group of children with CHD who had not incurred a CA. The contribution of CA, disease severity, and family socioeconomic status on the prediction of developmental outcome variables was evaluated.

RESULTS

Children in the CA group displayed more impairments in general cognitive, motor, and adaptive behavior functioning as well as greater disease severity as measured by a cumulative medical risk index. With respect to all children in the study, a higher socioeconomic status was related to higher scores on cognitive functioning, lower levels of child maladjustment, and lower levels of stress within the parent-child relationship. Although the occurrence of a CA alone did not contribute to the prediction of outcome measures, a significant interactional effect between CA and cumulative medical risk index was found. Specifically, among children who had incurred a CA, as disease severity increased, decrements in abilities were observed. Few significant correlations between specific CA-related variables (eg, length of CA) and outcome indices were found.

CONCLUSIONS

Results from this study indicate that the impact of cardiac arrest on neuropsychological functioning may be mediated by the child's overall disease severity. These findings have implications for the identification of CA survivors at greatest risk for developmental difficulties.

Outcome of out-of-hospital cardiac or respiratory arrest in children

BACKGROUND

Among adults who have a cardiac arrest outside the hospital, the survival rate is known to be poor. However, less information is available on out-of-hospital cardiac arrest among children. This study was performed to determine the survival rate among children after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest and to identify predictors of survival.

METHODS

We reviewed the records of 101 children (median age, two years) with apnea or no palpable pulse (or both) who presented to the emergency department at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto. The characteristics of the patients and the outcomes of illness were analyzed. We assessed the functional outcome of the survivors using the Pediatric Cerebral and Overall Performance Category scores.

RESULTS

Overall, there was a return of vital signs in 64 of the 101 patients; 15 survived to discharge from the hospital, and 13 were alive 12 months after discharge. Factors that predicted survival to hospital discharge included a short interval between the arrest and arrival at the hospital, a palpable pulse on presentation, a short duration of resuscitation in the emergency department, and the administration of fewer doses of epinephrine in the emergency department. No patients who required more than two doses of epinephrine or resuscitation for longer than 20 minutes in the emergency department survived to hospital discharge. The survivors who were neurologically normal after arrest had had a respiratory arrest only and were resuscitated within five minutes after arrival in the emergency department. Of the 80 patients who had had a cardiac arrest, only 6 survived to hospital discharge, and all had neurologic sequelae.

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that out-of-hospital cardiac arrest among children has a very poor prognosis, especially when efforts at resuscitation continue for longer than 20 minutes and require more than two doses of epinephrine.

Resuscitating the pediatric patient

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation in the pediatric patient population is a rare and often terminal event. This article addresses the anticipatory approach to the sick child with a focus on recognizing illness before resuscitation becomes necessary. An appreciation of the unique developmental, anatomic, and physiologic differences in children in terms of their relation to the assessment of illness is emphasized. Definitive interventions for the child who progresses to extremis also are described.

Birth asphyxia: incidence, clinical course and outcome in a Swedish population

A total of 42,203 live infants were born in Göteborg in 1985-1991, and 292 term infants had Apgar scores < 7 at 5 min. Infants with congenital malformations, infections and opioid-induced respiratory depression were excluded and thus 227 infants were included in the birth asphyxia group, which formed the basis of this retrospective study. Clinical signs of mild, moderate or severe hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) were present in 65 infants, and in another 10 infants, sedated and on controlled ventilation, HIE was assumed but grading was not possible. The incidences of Apgar scores < 7 at 5 min, birth asphyxia and birth asphyxia with HIE were 6.9, 5.4 and 1.8 per 1,000 live born infants: 95% of infants resuscitated with bag and mask ventilation only, did well, compared with 1 of 11 in whom resuscitation included adrenaline. Seizures occurred in 27 of 227 infants, beginning in 18 infants within 12 h of birth. Small-for-gestational-age (SGA) infants were overrepresented in the birth asphyxia group but not in the birth asphyxia-HIE group. All infants with severe HIE died or developed neurological damage. Half of the infants with moderate, and all of the infants with mild, HIE were reported to be normal at 18 months of age. A total of 0.3 per 1,000 live born infants died and 0.2 per 1,000 developed a neurological disability related to birth asphyxia. The disabilities were dyskinetic (4), tetraplegic (2), spastic diplegic (2), cerebral palsy and mild neuromotor dysfunction (1). The relatively low incidences of birth asphyxia and HIE were probably due to effective antenatal care.

Out-of-hospital ventricular fibrillation in children and adolescents: causes and outcomes

STUDY OBJECTIVE

To compare causes and outcomes of patients younger than 20 years with an initial rhythm of ventricular fibrillation versus asystole and pulseless electrical activity.

DESIGN

Retrospective cohort study.

SETTING

Urban/suburban prehospital system.

PARTICIPANTS

Pulseless, nonbreathing patients less than 20 years who underwent out-of-hospital resuscitation. Patients with lividity or rigor mortis or who were less than 6 months old and died of sudden infant death syndrome were excluded.

RESULTS

Ventricular fibrillation was the initial rhythm in 19% (29 of 157) of the cardiac arrests. Rhythm assessment was performed by the first responder in only 44% (69 of 157) of patients. All three rhythm groups were similar in age distribution, frequency of intubation (96%), and vascular access (92%); 93% of ventricular fibrillation patients were defibrillated. The causes of ventricular fibrillation were distributed evenly among medical illnesses, overdoses, drownings, and trauma, only two patients had congenital heart defects. Seventeen percent were discharged with no or mild disability, compared with 2% of asystole/pulseless electrical activity patients (P = .003).

CONCLUSION

Ventricular fibrillation is not rare in child and adolescent prehospital cardiac arrest, and these patients have a better outcome than those with asystole or pulseless electrical activity. Earlier recognition and treatment of ventricular fibrillation might improve pediatric cardiac arrest survival rates.

Mastering pediatric cardiopulmonary resuscitation

Premature and unexpected death, especially in children, is tragic and very unacceptable. Effective treatments for sudden death of pediatric patients continue to emerge. Modern cardiopulmonary resuscitation function began with the widespread introduction of closed-chest cardiac massage in 1960; however, despite 35 years of research and refinement, more than 90% of children who receive cardiopulmonary resuscitation do not survive. This article summarizes and expands on current treatment concepts for pediatric sudden death. Emphasis is placed on procedures and techniques that likely are accessible in most medical centers caring for critically ill and injured children.

Prognostic significance of prehospital cardiac or pulmonary resuscitation in paediatric burns patients

Cardiac or pulmonary arrest at the scene of a house fire can be associated with cerebral anoxia in burn patients, and this may influence further treatment decisions. Our experience with such patients supports an aggressive initial approach to resuscitation in paediatric burn patients with a history of prehospital cardiac or respiratory arrest.

CPR challenges in pediatrics

The concept of the chain of survival for children has been extended to include prevention, bystander CPR, prehospital CPR, and acute care. Two clinical cases are presented as examples. The current status and possible weaknesses in each link of the chain are discussed, and suggestions are made for possible research initiatives.

Citizen response to cardiopulmonary emergencies

Since 1985, it has become apparent that the key to survival from adult sudden cardiac death is prompt defibrillation. Any delay from the time of collapse to the initial countershock will decrease the likelihood of survival. It also has been determined that CPR performed by lay rescuers is not begun promptly and, once started, often is performed for more than one minute before the emergency medical services (EMS) system is accessed, which significantly delays the time to defibrillation. In adults, therefore, the rescuer should phone first to activate the EMS system before performing CPR. In the pediatric population, respiratory arrests are far more common than cardiac arrests. Therefore, a rescuer should perform one minute of rescue support before activating the EMS system (a concept termed phone fast). It is recognized that this change is dependent upon a national EMS system that is still evolving. It is hoped that this change to phone first and phone fast will provide an impetus for rapid development of the EMS infrastructure.

Pediatric resuscitation pharmacology. Members of the Medications in Pediatric Resuscitation Panel

The goal of resuscitation pharmacology is to restart the heart as quickly as possible while preserving vital organ function during chest compression. Unfortunately, the application of advanced life support to pediatric cardiac arrest patients is often unsuccessful. The goal of this paper is to review the scientific rationale and educational considerations used to derive the guidelines for medication use in the pediatric patient during CPR. The first step in drug delivery during CPR is to achieve vascular access. The endotracheal route and intraosseous route may be used, although the former is not reliable. To maximize endotracheal drug effect, a larger dose should be instilled into the airway as deeply as possible. Any vascular access, including intraosseous, is preferable to endotracheal drug administration. Although other alpha-adrenergic agents are theoretically superior, epinephrine remains the drug of choice in pediatric resuscitation. The previously recommended dose, however, may be inadequate; a dose 10 to 20 times larger (100-200 micrograms/kg) should be considered, particularly if the standard dose is ineffective. Lacking convincing data, the indications and dose for calcium are unchanged. Similarly, there are no data advocating a change in the indications or dose for lidocaine, bretylium, or atropine. The treatment of arrest-induced acidosis remains controversial. The mainstay of therapy consists of efforts to maximize oxygenation and tissue perfusion. Bicarbonate is not a first-line drug; its use should be considered when the patient fails to respond to advanced life support efforts, including the administration of high-dose epinephrine. Bicarbonate may be helpful in the postresuscitation setting, but its use should not supplant efforts to maximize tissue perfusion. Adenosine is an effective and generally safe medication for the treatment of supraventricular tachycardia in infants and children. Therefore, its indications, dose, and toxicities should be included in the new guidelines. Finally, a summary of research initiatives are included, including a call for the development of a multi-institutional pediatric clinical resuscitation research group. Large numbers of patients must be enrolled in a standardized manner to better evaluate the benefits and adverse effects of various therapies. This includes the use of high-dose epinephrine, calcium, bicarbonate, and other buffer agents such as Carbicarb and THAM. Animal models simulating the etiology and pathophysiology of pediatric arrest also are needed. In both clinical and animal studies, neurologic outcome and long-term survival should be assessed rather than simply the rate of restoration of spontaneous circulation.

The ethics of cardiopulmonary resuscitation. II. Medical logistics and the potential for good response

Mismatches between provision of paediatric cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and potential to benefit are examined. Deficiencies are most likely to occur in peripheral maternity units but futile CPR is more common in emergency departments where the child is unknown. Decision making in individual cases is best retained by the medical profession for the sake of the child and family. American style intervention by the legislature is likely to dissipate scarce resources and perhaps harm infants not capable of benefiting.

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation in paediatric intensive care patients

To identify the success of cardiopulmonary resuscitation in the paediatric ICU patient we undertook a retrospective study in an 11-bed medical and a 14-bed surgical paediatric ICU over a 32-month period. Thirty-four patients suffered an arrest in the ICU. Only 4 patients could be resuscitated successfully; 1 died after 24 h. Of the 3 long-term survivors 1 suffered from severe neurologic sequelae. All patients were in CCS classes III or IV. All but 3 patients had PSI scores greater than 8. The decision to resuscitate or to withhold therapy in individual patients who are deteriorating in the course of a critical, preceding illness should not be based on the risk index of these scoring systems. Both medical and ethical considerations should be guidelines in the process of decision-making.

High-dose epinephrine improves outcome from pediatric cardiac arrest

STUDY OBJECTIVE

Animal studies suggest that the standard dose of epinephrine (SDE) for treatment of cardiac arrest in human beings may be too low. We compared the outcome after SDE with that after high-dose epinephrine (HDE) in children with refractory cardiac arrest.

DESIGN

Prospective intervention versus historic control groups.

TYPE OF PARTICIPANTS

Two similar groups of 20 consecutive patients each (median ages, 2.5 and 3 years) with witnessed cardiac arrest who remained in arrest after at least two SDEs (0.01 mg/kg).

INTERVENTIONS

Treatment with an additional SDE versus HDE (0.2 mg/kg).

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

The rates of return of spontaneous circulation and long-term survival were compared. Fourteen of the HDE group (70%) had return of spontaneous circulation, whereas none of the SDE group did (P less than .001). Eight children survived to discharge after HDE, and three were neurologically intact at follow-up. No significant toxicity from HDE was observed.

CONCLUSION

HDE provided a higher return of spontaneous circulation rate and a better long-term outcome than SDE in our series of pediatric cardiac arrest. HDE may warrant incorporation into standard resuscitation protocols at an early enough point to prevent irreversible brain injury.

Systemic atropine administration during cardiac arrest does not cause fixed and dilated pupils

OBJECTIVES

Systemic administration of atropine during CPR may postpone brain death determination because of its reputed ability to produce fixed and dilated pupils. We studied the effect of atropine administered in the usual doses as an adjunct to endotracheal intubation and for cardiac arrest to determine if it would interfere with neurological assessment.

DESIGN

Two groups of children were studied. Group 1 consisted of 28 patients who received atropine (0.03 +/- 0.003 mg/kg) prior to endotracheal intubation. Group 2 consisted of 21 patients previously without evidence of brainstem disease who suffered a witnessed arrest and had prompt return of spontaneous circulation and received an atropine dose of 0.03 +/- 0.01 mg/kg.

RESULTS

In group 1, pupillary size averaged 4.02 +/- 0.78 mm before and 4.75 mm +/- .84 mm after atropine (P less than .001). In group 2, the pupillary examination was conducted 30 minutes after return of spontaneous circulation. The pupillary diameter was 4.80 +/- 0.91 mm. All pupils were reactive to light in both groups.

CONCLUSION

Atropine administration in conventional dose causes slight pupillary dilation but does not abolish pupillary light reactivity.

Practical aspects of advanced paediatric cardiopulmonary resuscitation

Successful cardiopulmonary resuscitation in the paediatric age group necessitates the acquisition of technical skills for rapid tracheal intubation, external cardiac compression and access to the circulation. Skills and equipment must be adapted to each age group. For optimal mechanical ventilation and the avoidance of complications, correct selection of endotracheal tube diameter and length is necessary. New techniques in resuscitation incorporate an understanding of the mechanism of blood flow during cardiac compression, the use of the intratracheal route for drug administration, and a revision of the use of catecholamines, sodium bicarbonate and calcium solutions in the treatment of asystole-bradycardia, electromechanical dissociation, ventricular fibrillation and tachycardia. Early intubation, adequate ventilation with oxygen, well performed external cardiac compression, prompt defibrillation and administration of adrenaline remain the cornerstones of advanced cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

CPR in children

CPR has not been well studied in children and little is known about factors predictive of outcome. We conducted a study with three goals: longitudinal determination of demographic and laboratory data characterizing pediatric arrest victims; identification of factor(s) predictive of outcome; and determination of the prevalence of ionized hypocalcemia in pediatric arrest victims. All resuscitation efforts were documented during a one-year period in a 240-bed tertiary care children's hospital. Patients were classified into two groups--respiratory arrest (RA, requiring only assisted ventilation), and cardiac arrest (CA, absence of palpable cardiac activity requiring closed-chest CPR). Collected data and laboratory tests were analyzed using a step-wise discriminant analysis to determine which factors were predictive of outcome. There were 113 arrests in 93 children; 53 were CA victims and 40 were RA victims. CA had a high in-hospital mortality (90.6%) compared to RA (32.5%). The population was young (55% less than 1 year old) and 87% had at least one chronic underlying disease. No laboratory or demographic value was significantly associated with eventual outcome. The number of doses of epinephrine in CA victims, or bicarbonate in RA victims, was associated with eventual outcome. None of 31 CA victims receiving more than two doses of epinephrine survived to discharge. Low ionized calcium concentrations (less than 3.5 mg/dL) were identified in ten patients; septic shock was present in seven, and chronic renal failure in two.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Emergencies from hazardous materials. An overview

Hazardous materials are ubiquitous in modern society. The weak link in the safety chain is transportation. Despite the remarkable safety record in the United States, the potential for disaster is real, as has been seen in Mexico, India, and the Soviet Union. Careful planning and cooperation between federal and local governments, industry, and healthcare providers will decrease the potential for serious accidents and also lessen the impact in terms of morbidity and mortality if disaster does occur.