Cardiac arrest due to accidental hypothermia--a 20 year review of a rare condition in an urban area.

BACKGROUND: Accidental hypothermic cardiac arrest is associated with unfortunate prognosis and large studies are rare. We therefore have performed an outcome analysis in patients that were admitted to Vienna University Hospital with the diagnosis of accidental hypothermic cardiac arrest. METHODS: This study employed a retrospective outcome analysis of prospectively collected data in a selected cohort of hypothermic cardiac arrest patients. We screened 3800 cardiac arrest patients, treated at our department between 1991 and 2010, for eligibility. Inclusion criteria were cardiac arrest with a body core temperature ≤28 °C and return of spontaneous circulation. RESULTS: A total of 18 patients who achieved return of spontaneous circulation were analysed. Nine patients (50%) achieved survival in good neurologic condition (defined as cerebral performance category CPC 1 or 2). Accidental hypothermia with consecutive cardiac arrest was caused by intoxication in most cases (67%). These patients had a better outcome than patients with other causes of accidental hypothermic cardiac arrest (OR=28; 95%KI 2-37.9; p<0.01). Hypothermia associated typical ECG changes after return of spontaneous circulation (Osborne waves) were more frequent in the surviving population (OR 16; 95%KI 1.3-19.5; p=0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Accidental hypothermic cardiac arrest in a central European urban area is rare. Prognosis was excellent in patients where hypothermic cardiac arrest was caused by intoxication.

Major bleeding complications after cardiopulmonary resuscitation: impact of thrombolytic treatment.

OBJECTIVE: The risk of bleeding complications caused by thrombolysis in patients with cardiac arrest and prolonged cardiopulmonary resuscitation is unclear. We evaluate the complication rate of systemic thrombolysis in patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest caused by acute myocardial infarction, especially in relation to duration of cardiopulmonary resuscitation. DESIGN: The study was designed as retrospective cohort study, the risk factor being systemic thrombolysis and the end-point major haemorrhage, defined as life-threatening and/or need for transfusion. Over 10.5 years, emergency cardiac care data, therapy, major haemorrhage and outcome of 265 patients with acute myocardial infarction admitted to an emergency department after successful cardiopulmonary resuscitation were registered. RESULTS: We observed major haemorrhage in 13 of 132 patients who received thrombolysis (10%, 95% confidence interval 5-15%), five of these survived to discharge, none died because of this complication. Major haemorrhage occurred in seven of 133 patients in whom no thrombolytic treatment had been given (5%, 95% confidence interval 1-9%), two of these survived to discharge. Taking into account baseline imbalances between the groups, the risk of bleeding was slightly increased if thrombolytics were used (odds ratio 2.5, 95% confidence interval 0.9-7.4) but this was not significant (P = 0.09). There was no clear association between duration of resuscitation and bleeding complications (z for trend = 1.52, P = 0.12). Survival was not significantly better in patients receiving thrombolysis (odds ratio 1.6, 0.9-3.0, P = 0.12). CONCLUSIONS: Bleeding complications after cardiopulmonary resuscitation are frequent, particularly in patients with thrombolytic treatment, but do not appear to be related to the duration of resuscitation. In the light of possible benefits on outcome, thrombolytic treatment should not be withheld in carefully selected patients.

Spontaneous subarachnoid haemorrhage as a cause of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.

OBJECTIVE: Spontaneous subarachnoid haemorrhage as a cause of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest is poorly evaluated. We analyse disease-specific and emergency care data in order to improve the recognition of subarachnoid haemorrhage as a cause of cardiac arrest. DESIGN: We searched a registry of cardiac arrest patients admitted after primarily successful resuscitation to an emergency department retrospectively and analysed the records of subarachnoid haemorrhage patients for predictive features. RESULTS: Over 8.5 years, spontaneous subarachnoidal haemorrhage was identified as the immediate cause in 27 (4%) of 765 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests. Of these 27 patients, 24 (89%) presented with at least three or more of the following common features: female gender (63%), age under 40 years (44%), lack of co-morbidity (70%), headache prior to cardiac arrest (39%), asystole or pulseless electric activity as the initial cardiac rhythm (93%), and no recovery of brain stem reflexes (89%). In six patients (22%), an intraventricular drain was placed, one of them (4%) survived to hospital discharge with a favourable outcome. CONCLUSIONS: Subarachnoid haemorrhage complicated by cardiac arrest is almost always fatal even when a spontaneous circulation can be restored initially. This is due to the severity of brain damage. Subarachnoid haemorrhage may present in young patients without any previous medical history with cardiac arrest masking the diagnosis initially.

Pulmonary embolism as a cause of cardiac arrest: presentation and outcome.

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a possible noncardiac cause of cardiac arrest. Mortality is very high, and often diagnosis is established only by autopsy. METHODS: In a retrospective study, we analyzed clinical presentation, diagnosis, therapy, and outcome of patients with cardiac arrest after PE admitted to the emergency department of an urban tertiary care hospital. RESULTS: Within 8 years, PE was found as the cause in 60 (4.8%) of 1246 cardiac arrest victims. The initial rhythm diagnosis was pulseless electrical activity in 38 (63%), asystole in 19 (32%), and ventricular fibrillation in 3 (5%) of the patients. Pronounced metabolic acidosis (median pH, 6.95, and lactate level, 16 mmol/L) was found in most patients. In 18 patients (30%), the diagnosis of PE was established only postmortem. In 42 (70%) it was diagnosed clinically, in 24 of them the diagnosis of PE was confirmed by echocardiography. In 21 patients, 100 mg of recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator was administered as thrombolytic treatment, and 2 (10%) of these patients survived to hospital discharge. Comparison of patients of the thrombolysis group (n = 21) with those of the nonthrombolysis group (n = 21) showed a significantly higher rate of return of spontaneous circulation (81% vs 43%) in the thrombolysis group (P=.03). CONCLUSIONS: Mortality related to cardiac arrest caused by PE is high. Echocardiography is supportive in determining PE as the cause of cardiac arrest. In view of the poor prognosis, thrombolysis should be attempted to achieve return of spontaneous circulation and probably better outcome.

Acute pulmonary trunk dissection in a patient with primary pulmonary hypertension.

Spiral CT imaging findings including multiplanar reconstructions of an acute dissection of the pulmonary trunk in a 22-year-old female patient with primary pulmonary hypertension (PPH) are presented and discussed.

Acute renal infarction. Clinical characteristics of 17 patients.

We analyzed the medical records of patients with an established diagnosis of acute renal infarction to identify predictive parameters of this rare disease. Seventeen patients (8 male) who were admitted to our emergency department between May 1994 and January 1998 were diagnosed by contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) as having acute renal infarction (0.007% of all patients). We screened the records of the 17 patients for a history with increased risk for thromboembolism, clinical symptoms, and urine and blood laboratory results known to be associated with acute renal infarction. A history with increased risk for thromboembolism with 1 or more risk factors was found in 14 of 17 patients (82%); risk factors were atrial fibrillation (n = 11), previous embolism (n = 6), mitral stenosis (n = 6), hypertension (n = 9), and ischemic cardiac disease (n = 7). All patients reported persisting pain predominantly from the flank (n = 11), abdomen (n = 4), and lower back (n = 2). On admission, elevated serum lactate dehydrogenase was found in 16 (94%) patients, and hematuria was found in 12 (71%) of 17 patients. After 24 hours all patients showed an elevated serum lactate dehydrogenase, and 14 (82%) had a positive test for hematuria. Our findings suggest that in all patients presenting with the triad--high risk of a thromboembolic event, persisting flank/abdominal/lower back pain, elevated serum levels of lactate dehydrogenase and/or hematuria within 24 hours after pain onset--contrast-enhanced CT should be performed as soon as possible to rule out or to prove acute renal infarction.

Accuracy and impact of presumed cause in patients with cardiac arrest.

BACKGROUND: International guidelines recommend differentiation between cardiac and noncardiac causes of cardiac arrest. The aim of this study was to find the rate of agreement between primarily postulated and definitive causes of cardiac arrest. METHODS AND RESULTS: We retrospectively analyzed the primarily presumed cause of cardiac arrest as determined by the emergency room physician on admission in all patients admitted to the emergency department of one urban tertiary care hospital. This was compared with the definitive cause as established by clinical evidence or autopsy. Within 4 years, the initially presumed cause was unclear in 24 (4%) of 593 patients. In the remaining 569 patients, the presumed cause was correct in 509 (89%) and wrong in 60 (11%) cases. Cardiac origin was presumed in 421 (71%) and the definitive cause in 408 (69%) cases. Noncardiac origin was presumed in 148 (25%) and the definitive cause in 185 (31%) patients. Presumed cardiac cause was sensitive (96%) but less specific (77%). Noncardiac causes such as pulmonary embolism, cerebral disorders, or exsanguination were those most frequently overlooked. Asystole occurred significantly more often in patients in whom presumed cause remained undetermined or differed from the definitive cause. CONCLUSIONS: Cause of cardiac arrest is not as easily recognized as anticipated, especially when the initial rhythm is different from ventricular fibrillation. This might affect comparability of study results, therapeutic strategies, prognosis, and outcome. Patients in whom the presumed cause was confirmed as being correct had significantly better survival and neurological outcome.

Measurement of myocardial contractility following successful resuscitation: quantitated left ventricular systolic function utilising non-invasive wall stress analysis.

After successful resuscitation from cardiac arrest, prolonged contractile failure has been demonstrated in animal experiments. No systematic evaluation of myocardial contractility following successful resuscitation after human cardiac arrest exists. The aim of this study was to assess left ventricular contractility following human cardiac arrest with successful resuscitation. In 20 adult patients after cardiac arrest and in four control patients, the relation between meridional wall stress (MWS) and rate-corrected mean velocity of circumferential fibre shortening (Vcf(c)), a load independent and rate corrected index of left ventricular contractility was measured within 4 h after return of spontaneous circulation and after 24 h by means of transoesophageal echocardiography. As the normal values of Vcf(c) depend on MWS, a normal deviate (z) was calculated. A normal z-score is defined as 0+/-2, < -2 indicates reduced contractility, > + 2 increased contractility. Data are presented as median and the interquartile range (IQR). For the comparison of related samples the Wilcoxon sign test was used. In most patients after cardiac arrest contractility was severely impaired within 4 h after successful resuscitation [z - 7.0 (IQR - 8.9 - (-2.5))]. Contractility did not significantly improve within the observational period [z after 24 h - 3.7 (IQR - 7.9 - (-1.8))] (P = 0.3). The four control patients had normal left ventricular contractility on arrival (z 0.0, range - 0.9-0.8) and after 24 h (z 0.7, range - 1.5-2.7). In conclusion non-invasive wall stress analysis can be applied to quantitate systolic left ventricular function, which was severely compromised in most patients within the first 24 h after successful resuscitation. Whether depression of left ventricular function is caused by cardiac arrest itself or by the underlying disease remains speculative.

Sudden, unexpected death of a young marathon runner as a result of bronchial malformation.

Deaths of young athletes are mainly caused by cardiac problems. Noncardiac deaths are infrequent and related to heat stress, drugs, sickle cell trait, and asthma. Herein, we report the case of a 28-year-old man, who collapsed during a marathon race, within sight of the finish line. Despite immediate resuscitation, he died shortly after hospitalization. Autopsy findings revealed neither unambiguous cardiac nor previously published noncardiac causes. Traumatic or drug-related death was excluded as well. We did find, however, focally hyperinflated pulmonary areas adjacent to atelectasis, interstitial emphysema, and mucosal infoldings of several bronchi. Histologically, two-thirds of medium-sized bronchi presented paucity of cartilages. Hence, the resulting flaccidity of the bronchial wall might cause bronchial obstruction, which we related to the genesis of this sudden and unexpected death.

Efficacy of different antihypertensive drugs in the emergency department.

Hypertensive crises are a commonly observed problem in an emergency department. The aim of the study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of different antihypertensive agents in the treatment of patients with hypertensive crises. 168 patients (mean age: 52 +/- 12 years) admitted to the emergency department with a hypertensive urgency (systolic (SBP) blood pressure > 210 mm Hg and/or diastolic (DBP) blood pressure > 110 mm Hg) or a hypertensive emergency (DBP > 100 mm Hg and evidence of end-organ damage) were included into the study protocol. Blood pressure (BP) was measured every 5 min automatically using a noninvasive BP measurement unit. After a resting period of 30 min the patients received the following drugs: 5 mg enalaprilat intravenous (n = 43) or 25 mg urapidil intravenous (n = 48) or 10 mg nifedipine-capsule sublingual (n = 47) or 2 x 5 mg nifedipine-spray sublingual (n = 30). The aim of treatment was to reduce SBP below 180 mm Hg and DBP below 95 mm Hg within 45 min after start of treatment. When evaluating the response rates the highest rate was observed in the urapidil group (96%). The response rate of enalaprilat and both preparations of nifedipine were similar (70-72%). The rate of major side effects was higher in the urapidil compared to the other drugs (4% vs 2% in the nifedipine-group or 0% in the enalaprilat-group). All four drugs are suitable in the treatment of patients with hypertensive crisis in the emergency department. Urapidil should be used as a first choice drug in critically ill patients with hypertensive crisis due to its higher response rate.

Creatine kinase and creatine kinase-MB release after nontraumatic cardiac arrest.

The aim of the study was to describe the course of serum creatine kinase (CK) and its MB fraction (CK-MB) in patients surviving cardiac arrest, and to identify factors influencing CK and CK-MB release. The study was set in the community of Vienna, Austria. Data concerning cardiopulmonary resuscitation, collected within a period of 33 months, were evaluated retrospectively and compared with laboratory blood investigations collected prospectively (on admission and after 6, 12, and 24 hours) in 107 adult patients surviving a witnessed cardiac arrest for 24 hours. CK and CK-MB were elevated in >75% of the patients within 24 hours. Release of CK and CK-MB was mainly associated with electrocardiographic evidence of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) cumulative energy administered during defibrillation, and duration of chest trauma by compression. The CK-MB/CK ratio was elevated in 32% of the patients. Of patients with electrocardiographic evidence of AMI, only 49% had an elevated CK-MB/CK ratio. In conclusion, the elevation in serum CK and CK-MB fraction in patients after nontraumatic cardiac arrest is a frequent finding, and is associated with ischemic myocardial injury, as well as physical trauma to the chest. This should be considered when interpreting the course of CK and CK-MB fraction for the diagnosis of AMI.

Conservative management of foreign bodies in the gastrointestinal tract.

There are at present no clear guidelines whether foreign body ingestion in the gastrointestinal tract should be managed conservatively, endoscopically or surgically. Retrospectively we have, therefore, analyzed 78 foreign body ingestion's in 42 patients (age 15-72 years) admitted to the Emergency Department of the University Hospital in Vienna. Our intention was to assess the value of a conservative management, defined as daily follow-up visits until the foreign body spontaneously appeared in the feces and to find criteria when endoscopic or surgical management is required. Of 78 foreign bodies, 67 (86%) passed the gastrointestinal tract spontaneously without complications, 9 (11%) were removed endoscopically, and only 2 (3%) required surgery. There were no gastrointestinal perforations. Even foreign bodies with a maximal length of 13.5 cm appeared in the feces spontaneously within a few days. Our data suggests that more than 80% of adults with foreign body ingestion can be managed safely as outpatients by means of conservative treatment. Endoscopic or surgical removal is only indicated in very rare circumstances.

Mild resuscitative hypothermia and outcome after cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

Recovery without residual neurological damage after cardiac arrest with global cerebral ischemia is still a rare event. Severe impairment of bodily or cognitive functions is often the result. The individual, emotional, and social aspects of brain damage and rehabilitation are seldom taken into account. Efforts to improve the prevention of brain damage immediately after successful resuscitation of patients are missing. The efficacy of hypothermia in preserving neurologic function when instituted before and during certain no-flow cardiovascular states has been well documented both clinically and experimentally since the 1950s. Most studies have used moderate (28-33 degrees C) to deep (20-28 degrees C) hypothermia to demonstrate these protective effects. Considering the use of hypothermia for preservation and resuscitation, the lack of controlled outcome trials, the long period of time required to reach therapeutic hypothermia, and the incidence of rewarming complications such as infection, arrhythmia, and coagulopathy have made it difficult to apply these methods to emergency situations such as cardiac arrest. Recent experimental evidence in dogs has shown that hypothermia induced after cardiac arrest does indeed mitigate the effects of the postresuscitation syndrome and improves neurologic function and reduces histologic brain damage. More importantly, such benefits can be demonstrated with mild (34-36 degrees C) hypothermia, thus minimizing complications and requiring less time for induction of hypothermia. Ice water nasal lavage, direct carotid infusion of cold fluids, use of a cooling helmet, and peritoneal cooling are promising techniques for clinical cerebral cooling. External auditory canal temperature (e.g., tympanic membrane temperature changes) could provide an approximation to brain temperatures. For accurate temperature monitoring, however, a central pulmonary artery thermistor probe should be inserted. Temperature monitoring is needed to avoid temperature < 30 degrees C. Mild hypothermia may prove to be an important and secure component for cerebral preservation and resuscitation during and after global ischemia; it may also prove to be a useful method of cerebral resuscitation after global ischemic states, thereby promoting the prevention of neuromental diseases.

Possibilities of brain protection with tirilazad after cardiac arrest.

Cardiac arrest and resuscitation often create a cerebral insult caused by the initial cessation of blood flow, followed by the incomplete ischemia of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (low flow), and, following the return of spontaneous circulation, by the post-resuscitation syndrome. A cascade of physiologic, vascular, and biochemical events is set in motion, including changes in neuropeptides, electrolytes such as calcium and magnesium, excitatory neurotransmitters such as glutamate and acetylcholine, lymphokines such as interleukin-1, and arachidonic acid metabolites such as prostaglandins and leukotrienes; and formation of oxygen free radicals and lactic acid. Oxygen free radical-induced lipid peroxidation appears to increase tissue injury during and after brain ischemia. The 21-aminosteroid U74006F (tirilazad mesylate) is a novel inhibitor of lipid membrane peroxidation induced by oxygen free radicals, which has been shown, in animal models of subarachnoid hemorrhage, central nervous system trauma, and cerebral ischemia, to limit the extent of secondary tissue damage, thus improving functional recovery. Since tirilazad appears to have little or no behavioral or physiologic side effects, it appears to be an ideal agent for widespread brain ischemia prophylaxis. Tirilazad mesylate studies in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest are currently being planned.

A new preparation of nifedipine for sublingual application in hypertensive urgencies.

A new preparation of nifedipine for sublingual application in hypertensive urgencies was investigated in a prospective study. Patients admitted to the Emergency Department with a persistent elevation of systolic blood pressure (SBP) greater than 190 mmHg and/or a diastolic blood pressure (DBP) greater than 100 mmHg received nifedipine 10 mg sublingual with a sprayer. A second dose was administrated fifteen minutes later if an adequate response defined as a stable reduction of SBP below 180 mmHg and DBP below 100 mmHg had not occurred. Of 30 patients, 21 (70%) responded to the first nifedipine application, 7 responded to the second dose, and 2 nonresponders had to be treated with urapidil. Overall mean SBP was 206 +/- 19 mmHg and mean DBP was 113 +/- 15 mmHg before treatment, and a significant antihypertensive effect was noted within fifteen minutes after nifedipine spray (p < 0.05). The maximum antihypertensive effect was for SBP in sixty minutes (146 +/- 19 mmHg) and for DBP after one hundred twenty minutes (78 +/- 18 mmHg). The average reduction in SBP was 29% and in DBP 31%. In first-dose responders (n = 21) a significant antihypertensive effect was noted within fifteen minutes. SBP declined from 205 +/- 21 to a minimum of 142 +/- 15 mmHg (22.3%) after sixty minutes and DBP from 113 +/- 13 to a minimum of 77 +/- 11 mmHg (22.2%) after one hundred twenty minutes. In second-dose responders (n = 7) a significant antihypertensive effect was noted within thirty minutes.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Sudden cardiac death of a teenage girl.

Anomalies of coronary artery origin can be of little clinical significance and only an incidental autopsy finding. However recent case reports have shown that a wide range of potential pathologic alterations of congenital coronary anomalies are associated with clinical symptoms and exercise related sudden death. We describe the case of a 16-year-old girl who sustained a cardiac arrest and died after cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) of intractable cardiogenic shock. The sporty and previously healthy girl suddenly fainted after swimming in a tributary of the Danube. Autopsy revealed an anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the anterior sinus of Valsalva and its course between aorta and pulmonary artery. The cause of this anomalous origin and possible mechanism for sudden death is discussed. We conclude that this congenital anomaly should be considered in cases of major cardiac events in young people.

[Multiple organ failure syndrome in protracted tachycardia (based on 4 cases)]. / Multiorgandysfunktionssyndrom bei protrahierter Tachykardie (anhand von 4 Fällen).

The multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) is mainly caused by sepsis--community acquired or more frequently by nosocomial infections acquired on the intensive care unit. Further causes are intoxications, burns and multiple trauma. MODS worsens the prognosis of intensive care patients. We report on four cases of MODS developing outside hospital as a result of sustained tachycardia. Severity of MODS was apparently dependent on the duration of tachycardia and was rapidly reversible after termination of the tachycardia. Our observations show that sustained tachycardia may also cause MODS.

[Concomitant perforated ulcer and acute myocardial infarct--a diagnostic challenge in emergency medicine]. / Gleichzeitiges Auftreten von Ulkusperforation und akutem Myokardinfarkt--eine diagnostische Herausforderung in der Notfallmedizin.

Clinical differentiation between acute myocardial infarction and peptic ulcer perforation may sometimes be difficult. We report on a sixty-five year-old patient who presented at the Emergency Department with upper abdominal pain and local tenderness suggestive of acute perforation of a gastric ulcer. However, the initial electrocardiogram (ECG) showed acute inferior wall myocardial infarction. Although abdominal pain is a major symptom of acute inferior wall myocardial infarction the history of gastritis and abdominal findings on admission of our patient required further exploration. The first plain abdominal radiograph was inconspicuous, therefore we performed a gastroscopy, which showed a prepyloric gastric ulcer. The second plain abdominal radiograph revealed air in the peritoneal cavity as sign of perforation. Echocardiography, ECG and the increase of heart enzymes confirmed acute inferior wall infarction. After successful surgical treatment of the perforated ulcer the patient recovered and progressed satisfactorily at the intensive care unit. He was discharged after three weeks and remains in good health. This case shows that rapid diagnosis and good interdisciplinary therapeutic management prevented a fatal outcome of acute myocardial infarction and concomitant gastric ulcer perforation in an elderly patient.