The CAHP (cardiac arrest hospital prognosis) score: A tool for risk stratification after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in elderly patients.

BACKGROUND: Older age is associated with worse outcome after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). Therefore, we tested the performance of CAHP score, to predict neurological outcome in elderly OHCA patients and to select patients most likely to benefit from coronary angiogram (CAG). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The present study was a retrospective multicentre observational study at 3 non-university hospitals and 1 university hospital. CAHP score was calculated, and its performance to predict outcomes was evaluated. Factors associated with the use of CAG were analysed and the rate of CAG across each CAHP score risk group reported. RESULTS: One hundred seventy-six patients fulfilled inclusion criteria (median age of 81, [79-84]), among which a cardiac cause was presumed for 99 patients. The hospital unfavourable outcome was 91%. The ROC-AUC values for hospital neurological outcome prediction of CAHP score was 0.81 [0.68-0.94], showing good discrimination performance. ST-segment elevation in ECG and initial shockable rhythm were independent factors for performing early CAG, whereas age and distance from the percutaneous coronary intervention centre were independently associated with the absence of early CAG. The percentages of patients receiving early CAG in the low, medium and high CAHP score risk groups were 64%, 33% and 34%, respectively, and differed significantly between low CAHP score risk group and other groups (p = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: The CAHP score exhibited a good discrimination performance to predict neurological outcome in elderly OHCA patients. This score could represent a helpful tool for treatment allocation. A simple prognostication score could permit avoiding unnecessary procedures in patients with minimal chances of survival.

Assessment of macro- and micro-oxygenation parameters during fractional fluid infusion: A pilot study.

PURPOSE: The main goal of this study was to assess whether maximal fluid infusion improves both oxygen delivery (DO2) and micro-circulatory parameters during hemodilution. The secondary objective was to assess the ability of baseline micro-circulatory parameters to predict oxygen consumption (VO2) response following fluid infusion. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In a postoperative cardiac ICU, patients received repeated fluid infusion until stroke volume (SV) was maximized. Before and after each fluid expansion, macro- (DO2, VO2) and micro-circulatory oxygenation parameters were recorded [central venous oxygen saturation (ScVO2), blood lactate, difference in veno-arterial carbon dioxide tension (P(v-a)CO2), somatic and cerebral oxygen saturation (rSO2)]. Patients were classified as VO2-Responders or VO2-Non-Responders according to an increase in VO2 above or below 15%, respectively. RESULTS: After maximal fluid infusion, all patients showed improved macro- and micro-circulatory oxygenation parameters, but VO2-Responders had lower values (especially for ScVO2 and cerebral rSO2). Only baseline ScVO2 and cerebral rSO2 were useful to predict the VO2 response to maximal fluid infusion (ROCAUC 0.80 (95% CI: 0.54-0.95, P=0.012) and 0.83 (95% CI: 0.57-0.96, P=0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Maximal fluid infusion improves macro- and micro-circulatory oxygenation parameters. For VO2-Responders, only ScVO2 and cerebral rSO2 could serve as markers of tissue hypoxia.

Perioperative Ventilatory Management in Cardiac Surgery: A French Nationwide Survey.

Protective ventilation is associated with a lower incidence of pulmonary complications. However, there are few published data on routine pulmonary management in adult cardiac surgery. The present study's primary objective was to survey pulmonary management in this high-risk population, as practiced by anesthesiologists in France. All 460 registered France-based cardiac anesthesiologists were invited (by e-mail) to participate in an online survey in January-February 2015. The survey's questionnaire was designed to assess current practice in pre-, per-, and postoperative pulmonary management. In all, 198 anesthesiologists (43% of those invited) participated in the survey. Other than during the cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) per se, 179 anesthesiologists (91% of respondees) [95% confidence interval (CI): 87-95] used a low-tidal-volume approach (6-8 mL/kg), whereas techniques based on positive end-expiratory pressure and recruitment maneuvers vary greatly from 1 anesthesiologist to another. During CPB, 104 (53%) [95% CI: 46-60] anesthesiologists withdrew mechanical ventilation (with disconnection, in some cases) and 97 (49%) [95% CI: 42-56] did not prescribe positive end-expiratory pressure. One hundred sixty-five (83%) [95% CI: 78-88] anesthesiologists stated that a written protocol for peroperative pulmonary management was not available. Twenty (10%) [95% CI: 6-14] and 11 (5%) [95% CI: 2-8] anesthesiologists stated that they did use protocols for ventilator use and recruitment maneuvers, respectively. The preoperative period (pulmonary examinations and prescription of additional assessments) and the postoperative period (extubation, and noninvasive ventilation) periods vary greatly from 1 anesthesiologist to another. The great majority of French cardiac anesthesiologists use a low tidal volume during cardiac surgery (other than during CPB per se). However, pulmonary management procedures varied markedly from 1 anesthesiologist to another. There is a clear need for large clinical studies designed to identify best practice in pulmonary management.