Effect of replacing ambulance physicians with paramedics on outcome of resuscitation for prehospital cardiac arrest.

INTRODUCTION: Limited evidence suggests that the presence of a prehospital physician improves survival from cardiac arrest. A retrospective study is undertaken to examine this question. In Reykjavik, Iceland, prehospital physicians on ambulances were replaced by emergency medical technicians (EMTs) in 2007. The aim of this study is to compare the outcome of prehospital resuscitation from cardiac arrest during periods of time with and without prehospital physician involvement. METHODS: All cardiac arrests that underwent prehospital resuscitation by emergency medical systems between 2004 and 2014 were included. The primary outcome was survival to hospital discharge, and the secondary outcome was return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC). Subgroup analyses were performed according to the type of cardiac arrest. RESULTS: A total of 471 cardiac arrests were included for analysis, 200 treated by prehospital physicians from 2004 to 2007 and 271 treated by EMTs from 2008 to 2014. The overall rate of survival to hospital discharge and ROSC was 23 and 50% during the study period. No significant difference was observed in the rate of survival to hospital discharge [25 vs 22%, difference 3% (95% confidence interval (CI): 11-5%)] or ROSC [53 vs 47%, difference -6% (95% CI: 15-3%)] between these two time periods. In the subgroup of patients with pulseless electrical activity, survival to hospital discharge did not differ between the two periods, but the rate of ROSC was higher in the 'physician period' [50 vs 30%, difference -20% (95% CI: -40 to -1%)]. CONCLUSIONS: The presence of a prehospital physician on the ambulance was not found to result in a significant improvement in survival or ROSC after cardiac arrest compared to care by EMTs. Patients with pulseless electrical activity experienced an increase in ROSC when a physician was present but without improvement in survival to hospital discharge.

[Acute coronary syndromes in Landspítali 2003-2012].

BACKGROUND: Marked changes in the epidemiology of acute coronary syndromes (ACS) have been observed over the last few decades in the Western Hemisphere. Incidence rates of ACS in Iceland 2003-2012 are presented. METHODS: All patients with unstable angina (UA), non ST-elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) and ST-elevation myocardial infarc-tion (STEMI) admitted to Landspitali were included in the study. Data were obtained from hospital records and changes during the period were examined. RESULTS: The total number of ACS cases was 7,502. STEMI incidence was reduced from 98/100,000 inhabitants in 2003 to 63 in 2012, a reduction of nearly 36%. Age standardized incidence rates of STEMI declined annually by 5.5% in men and 5.3% in women (p <0.05). Incidence of NSTEMI increased from 54 /100,000 inhabitants in 2003 to 93 in 2012. UA patients were 56/100,000 inhabitants in 2003, 115 in 2008 and 50 in 2012. No significant annual change in age-standardized incidence rates of NSTEMI and UA was observed. About 35% of patients with NSTEMI and 30% with STEMI and UA were female. The mean age of NSTEMI patients was 72 years, five years higher than patients with STEMI and UA. About 30% of -pat-ients were living outside of the capital region. CONCLUSIONS: 2003-2012 there was a significant 5% annual -decrease in the number of STEMI cases and a tendency to -increasing incidence of NSTEMI which by the end of the research period was the most common of the syndromes. An unusual development in the incidence of UA was observed. Possible effect of psychological stress in the society should be considered.

[Transport and treatment of patients with STEMI in rural Iceland--Only a few patients receive PPCI within 120 minutes]. / Flutningstími og gæði meðferðar hjá sjúklingum með ST-hækkunar-hjartadrep á landsbyggðinni--fair ná í kransæðavíkkun innan 120 mínútna.

INTRODUCTION: ST-segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI) is a life-threatening disease and good outcome depends on early restoration of coronary blood flow. Primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) is the treatment of choice if performed within 120 minutes of first medical contact (FMC) but in case of anticipated long transport or delays, pre-hospital fibrinolysis is indicated. The aim was to study transport times and adherence to clinical guidelines in patients with STEMI transported from outside of the Reykjavik area to Landspitali University Hospital in Iceland. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective chart review was conducted of all patients diagnosed with STEMI outside of the Reykjavik area and transported to Landspitali University Hospital in Reykjavik in 2011-2012. Descriptive statistical analysis and hypothesis testing was applied. RESULTS: Eighty-six patients had signs of STEMI on electrocardiogram (ECG) at FMC. In southern Iceland nine patients (21%) underwent PPCI within 120 minutes (median 157 minutes) and no patient received fibrinolysis. In northern Iceland and The Vestman Islands, where long transport times are expected, 96% of patients eligible for fibrinolysis (n=31) received appropriate therapy in a median time of 57 minutes. Significantly fewer patients received appropriate anticoagulation treatment with clopidogrel and enoxaparin in southern Iceland compared to the northern part. Mortality rate was 7% and median length of stay in hospital was 6 days. CONCLUSIONS: Time from FMC to PPCI is longer than 120 minutes in the majority of cases. Pre-hospital fibrinolysis should be considered as first line treatment in all parts of Iceland outside of the Reykjavik area. Directly electronically transmitted ECGs and contact with cardiologist could hasten diagnosis and decrease risk of unnecessary interhospital transfer. A STEMI database should be established in Iceland to facilitate quality control.

[Results of pre-hospital cardiac resuscitation in the Reykjavik area 2004-2007]. / Árangur endurlífgunartilrauna utan spítala a Reykjavíkursvæðinu árin 2004-2007.

INTRODUCTION: In the Reykjavik area, a physician staffed ambulance -responded to cardiac arrests from 1982-2007. The aim of this study was to assess the outcome of attempted pre-hospital cardiac resuscitations in the period from 2004-2007 and compare to previous studies. MATERIAL AND METHODS: All cases of attempted prehospital resuscitations in cardiac arrests of presumed cardiac etiology. Data was gathered according to the Utstein template. RESULTS: Of a total of 289 cases in cardiac arrest, resuscitation was attempted in 279 and 200 of those were presumed to have a cardiac etiology. Men were 76% of the patients and the average age was 67.7 years. Average response time was 6.3 min. One hundred and seven (54%) survived to hospital admission and 50 (25%) survived to discharge compared to 16-19% in previous studies (p=0.16). The presenting rhythm was ventricular fibrillation/ventricular tachycardia (VF/VT) in 50% of the cases, 30% was in asystole and 20% in pulseless electrical activity (PEA). Of those admitted to intensive care unit/ department and had ventricular fibrillation on the first rhythm strip 70% were discharged during 2004-2007 compared to 49% during 1999-2002 (p=0.01). Bystander CPR was provided in 62% of witnessed cases compared to 54% in a previous study (p=0.26). One hundred and twenty (60%) were witnessed cases of which 37 (31%) survived to hospital discharge compared to 5 (8%)of non witnessed cases (p<0.01). CONCLUSION: One in every four cardiac arrest patients in the Reykjavik area survives to discharge. This is similar to previous studies in the area (16-19%) and high compared to international studies 3-16%. Survival of those admitted to intensive care unit/ department and had ventricular fibrillation on the first rhythm strip was significantly higher compared to previous studies. Survival was found to be significantly higher if the cardiac arrest was witnessed.

Physician experience in addition to ACLS training does not significantly affect the outcome of prehospital cardiac arrest.

BACKGROUND: Little data exists on whether the physicians' skills in responding to cardiac arrest are fully developed after the advanced cardiac life support (ACLS) course, or if there is a significant improvement in their performance after an initial learning curve. OBJECTIVE: To estimate the effect of physician experience on the results of prehospital cardiac arrests. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Prospective data were collected on all prehospital resuscitative attempts in the area by ACLS-trained ambulance physicians. RESULTS: Of 232 attempted cardiac resuscitations, 96 (41%) patients survived to hospital admission and 44 (19%) were discharged alive. A group of 39 physicians responded to from one up to 29 cases with a mean of four cases. Physicians responding to five or fewer cases had a trend to fewer patients surviving to admission compared with those responding to six or more (36 vs. 45%, P=0.31) but no difference was found on survival to discharge (19 vs. 20%, P=0.87). CONCLUSION: In this study, resuscitative experience of the physician did not have a significant effect on survival suggesting that experience does not significantly add to the current ACLS training in responding to ventricular fibrillation/ventricular tachycardia. More studies are needed.

[Management of patients with STEMI transported with air-ambulance to Landspitali University Hospital in Reykjavík]. / Flutningstími og gaedi medferdar hjá sjúklingum med ST-haekkunar hjartadrep á Nordur- og Austurlandi.

INTRODUCTION: A good outcome of patients presenting with STEMI (ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction) depends on early restoration of coronary blood flow. Pre-hospital fibrinolysis is recommended if primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) cannot be performed within 90 minutes of first medical contact (FMC). The purpose of this study was to study transport times for patients with STEMI who were transported with air-ambulance from the northern rural areas of Iceland to Landspitali University Hospital in Reykjavík, and to assess if the medical management was in accordance with clinical guidelines. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective chart review identified 33 patients with STEMI who were transported with air-ambulance to Landspitali University Hospital in Reykjavík during the years 2007 and 2008. RESULTS: The total time from first medical contact to arrival at Landspitali University Hospital emergency room was 3 hours and 7 minutes (median). All patients received aspirin and 26 (78.8%) received clopidogrel and enoxaparin. 16 patients (48.5%) received thrombolytic therapy in median 33 minutes after FMC and 15 patients had PPCI performed in median 4 hours and 15 minutes after FMC. Estimated PCI related delay was 3 hours and 42 minutes (median). One patient died and one was resuscitated within 30 hospital days. Mean hospital stay was 6.0 days. CONCLUSIONS: First medical contact to balloon time of less than 90 minutes is impossible for patients with STEMI transported from the northern rural areas to Landspitali University Hospital in Reykjavík. Medical therapy was in many cases suboptimal and PCI related delay too long.

Effects of a 5-lipoxygenase-activating protein inhibitor on biomarkers associated with risk of myocardial infarction: a randomized trial.

CONTEXT: Myocardial infarction (MI) is the leading cause of death in the world. Variants in the 5-lipoxygenase-activating protein (FLAP) gene are associated with risk of MI. OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of an inhibitor of FLAP on levels of biomarkers associated with MI risk. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PATIENTS: A randomized, prospective, placebo-controlled, crossover trial of an inhibitor of FLAP (DG-031) in MI patients who carry at-risk variants in the FLAP gene or in the leukotriene A4 hydrolase gene. Of 268 patients screened, 191 were carriers of at-risk variants in FLAP (87%) or leukotriene A4 hydrolase (13%). Individuals were enrolled in April 2004 and were followed up by designated cardiologists from a university hospital in Iceland until September 2004. INTERVENTIONS: Patients were first randomized to receive 250 mg/d of DG-031, 500 mg/d of DG-031, 750 mg/d of DG-031, or placebo. After a 2-week washout period, patients received DG-031 if they had received placebo first or placebo if they had received DG-031 first. Treatment periods lasted for 4 weeks. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Changes in levels of biomarkers associated with risk of MI. RESULTS: In response to 750 mg/d of DG-031, production of leukotriene B4 was significantly reduced by 26% (95% confidence interval [CI], 10%-39%; P = .003) and myeloperoxidase was significantly reduced by 12% (95% CI, 2%-21%; P = .02). The higher 2 doses of DG-031 produced a nonsignificant reduction in C-reactive protein (16%; 95% CI, -2% to 31%; P = .07) at 2 weeks. However, there was a more pronounced reduction (25%; 95% CI, 5%-40%; P = .02) in C-reactive protein at the end of the washout period that persisted for another 4 weeks thereafter. The FLAP inhibitor DG-031 was well tolerated and was not associated with any serious adverse events. CONCLUSION: In patients with specific at-risk variants of 2 genes in the leukotriene pathway, DG-031 led to significant and dose-dependent suppression of biomarkers that are associated with increased risk of MI events.

Risk factors for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest: the Reykjavik Study.

AIMS: To examine risk factors for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in the Reykjavik Study, a long-term, prospective, population-based cohort study that started in 1967. METHODS AND RESULTS: From 1987 to 1996, 137 men and 44 women out of the 8006 men and 9435 women in the study sustained out-of-hospital cardiac arrest due to cardiac causes. Determinants included coronary artery disease (CAD), its classical risk factors, and age, body mass index (BMI), heart rate, cardiomegaly, and erythrocyte sedimentation rate. Electrocardiograms (ECGs) were examined for various abnormalities. Significance was determined by Cox regression analysis. In multivariable analysis, the risk in men was significantly associated with age, diastolic blood pressure, cholesterol, current smoking, and previous diagnosis of myocardial infarction (MI). In women, the risk was associated with diastolic blood pressure, elevated levels of cholesterol and triglycerides, and increased voltage on ECG. Increased BMI was inversely related to women's risk of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. CONCLUSION: In this prospective, population-based cohort study previous MI and the classical risk factors for CAD significantly increased the risk of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, the endpoint of this study. Increased voltage on ECG additionally increased women's risk.

Endocarditis caused by Lactococcus cremoris.

We describe a case of subacute endocarditis due to Lactococcus cremoris associated with consumption of unpasteurized milk. Treatment with amoxicillin-clavulanic acid and subsequently penicillin resulted in prompt sterilization of this patient's bloodstream and full recovery.