Subsequent Shockable Rhythm During Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest in Children With Initial Non-Shockable Rhythms: A Nationwide Population-Based Observational Study

Pediatric Cardiac Arrest and Resuscitation

Pediatric cardiac arrest in the emergency department is rare. We emphasize the importance of preparedness for pediatric cardiac arrest and offer strategies for the optimal recognition and care of patients in cardiac arrest and peri-arrest. This article focuses on both prevention of arrest and the key elements of pediatric resuscitation that have been shown to improve outcomes for children in cardiac arrest. Finally, we review changes to the American Heart Association Guidelines for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiovascular Care that were published in 2020.

Epinephrine vs placebo in neonatal resuscitation: ROSC and brain MRS/MRI in term piglets

BACKGROUND

We aimed to investigate the effect of epinephrine vs placebo on return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) and brain magnetic resonance spectroscopy and imaging (MRS/MRI) in newborn piglets with hypoxic cardiac arrest (CA).

METHODS

Twenty-five piglets underwent hypoxia induced by endotracheal tube clamping until CA. The animals were randomized to CPR + intravenous epinephrine or CPR + placebo (normal saline). The primary outcome was ROSC, and secondary outcomes included time-to-ROSC, brain MRS/MRI, and composite endpoint of death or severe brain MRS/MRI abnormality.

RESULTS

ROSC was more frequent in animals treated with epinephrine than placebo; 10/13 vs 4/12, RR = 2.31 (95% CI: 1.09-5.77). We found no difference in time-to-ROSC (120 (113-211) vs 153 (116-503) seconds, p = 0.7) or 6-h survival (7/13 vs 3/12, p = 0.2). Among survivors, there was no difference between groups in brain MRS/MRI. We found no difference in the composite endpoint of death or severe brain MRS/MRI abnormality; RR = 0.7 (95% CI: 0.37-1.19).

CONCLUSIONS

Resuscitation with epinephrine compared to placebo improved ROSC frequency after hypoxic CA in newborn piglets. We found no difference in time-to-ROSC or the composite endpoint of death or severe brain MRS/MRI abnormality.

IMPACT

In a newborn piglet model of hypoxic cardiac arrest, resuscitation with epinephrine compared to placebo improved the rate of return of spontaneous circulation and more than doubled the 6-h survival. Brain MRS/MRI biomarkers were used to evaluate the effect of epinephrine vs placebo. We found no difference between groups in the composite endpoint of death or severe brain MRS/MRI abnormality. This study adds to the limited evidence regarding the effect and safety of epinephrine; the lack of high-quality evidence from randomized clinical trials was highlighted in the latest ILCOR 2020 guidelines, and newborn animal studies were specifically requested.

Association of subsequent treated shockable rhythm with outcomes after paediatric out-of-hospital cardiac arrests: A nationwide, population-based observational study

Aim

Among patients with paediatric out-of-hospital cardiac arrests (OHCAs), most have an initial non-shockable rhythm with poor outcomes. There is a subset who developed shockable rhythms. This study aimed to investigate the association between subsequent shock delivery and outcomes after paediatric OHCAs.

Methods

We analysed records of 19,095 children (aged <18 years) with OHCA and initial non-shockable rhythm. Data were obtained from a Japanese nationwide database for 13 years (2005-2017). The primary outcome measure was 1-month neurologically intact survival, defined as cerebral performance category 1-2.

Results

Among patients with pulseless electrical activity (PEA, n = 3,326), there was no significant difference between those with subsequent treated shockable rhythm (10.0% [11/109]) and those with sustained non-shockable rhythm (6.0% [192/3,217], p = 0.10) with respect to the neurologically intact survival rate. Among asystole patients (n = 15,769), the neurologically intact survival rate was significantly higher in the subsequent treated shockable rhythm group (4.4% [10/227]) than in the sustained non-shockable rhythm group (0.7% [106/15,542], p < 0.0001). Subsequent treated shockable rhythm with a shock delivery time (time from emergency medical services [EMS]-initiated cardiopulmonary resuscitation [CPR] to shock delivery) ≤9 min was associated with increased odds of neurologically intact survival compared with sustained non-shockable rhythm (PEA, adjusted odds ratio, 2.45 [95% confidence interval, 1.16-5.16], p = 0.018; asystole, 9.77 [4.2-22.5], p < 0.0001).

Conclusion

After paediatric OHCAs, subsequent treated shockable rhythm was associated with increased odds of 1-month neurologically intact survival regardless of whether the initial rhythm was PEA or asystole, only when the shock was delivered ≤9 min of EMS-initiated CPR.

[Paediatric Life Support]

The European Resuscitation Council (ERC) Paediatric Life Support (PLS) guidelines are based on the 2020 International Consensus on Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Science with Treatment Recommendations of the International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation (ILCOR). This section provides guidelines on the management of critically ill or injured infants, children and adolescents before, during and after respiratory/cardiac arrest.

European Resuscitation Council Guidelines 2021: Paediatric Life Support

These European Resuscitation Council Paediatric Life Support (PLS) guidelines, are based on the 2020 International Consensus on Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Science with Treatment Recommendations. This section provides guidelines on the management of critically ill infants and children, before, during and after cardiac arrest.