The Relationship of Shockable ECG Rhythm During Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation to Outcomes in Cardiac Arrest Patients

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship of ECG change during CPR to outcomes in cardiac arrest patients. METHODS: A total of 170 patients who received cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) in the emergency department from January 2005 to December 2006 were included for analysis. Medical records of study patients were reviewed, retrospectively. Age, sex, cause of arrest, location of arrest, arrest time, CPR time, initial ECG rhythme, changes in ECG during CPR, ROSC, 24 h survival, and number discharged alive were extracted from the medical records. Outcomes studied were ROSC rate and , survival rate at 24 h and at discharge. Student's t-test, the Chi-square test and one-way ANOVA were used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: The patients were divided into three groups according to the initial EKG rhythm. The groups showed no difference in ROSC rate, but the initial VF/VT group and the initial PEA group showed higher survival discharge rates than the initial asystole group (p=0.002). Patients whose rhythm changed from asystole to VF/VT showed significantly higher ROSC and 24 h survival rates but showed no difference in the survival to discharge rate. Patients whose rhythm changed from initial PEA to VF/VT showed no significance difference in ROSC rate, 24 h survival rate, or survival discharge rate. CONCLUSIONS: Although patients whose rhythm changed from initial asystole or PEA to shockable rhythm (VF/VT) showed no significant difference in survival discharge rate compared to those without change to shockable rhythm, in the long run, they may benefit from essential therapies to increase survival because of their higher ROSC rate and 24 h survival rate.