Mortality and Neurological Outcomes in Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest Patients With and Without Targeted Temperature Management in a Multiethnic Asian Population.

INTRODUCTION: The use of targeted temperature management (TTM) is increasing although adoption is still variable. We describe our 6-year experience and compare the mortality and neurological outcomes of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) patients with and without the use of TTM in a multiethnic Asian population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed a retrospective observational study at a tertiary academic medical centre. OHCA survivors admitted to our hospital between April 2010‒December 2016 were included. Outcomes of interest were 30-day mortality postresuscitation, Cerebral Performance Category (CPC) and Overall Performance Category (OPC) scores. RESULTS: A total of 121 of 261 patients (46.3%) underwent TTM. TTM patients were younger (TTM 60.0 years old vs no TTM 63.7 years old, P = 0.047). There was no difference in the initial arrest rhythm of shockable origin between the 2 groups (P = 0.289). There was suggestion of lower 30-day mortality (TTM 24.3% vs no TTM 31.4%, P = 0.214), higher and good CPC/OPC scores (TTM 19.0% vs no TTM 15.7%, P = 0.514) with TTM although this did not reach statistical significance. On multivariable logistic regression analysis, TTM was not associated with 30-day mortality (P = 0.07). However, older age, initial non-shockable rhythm and increased duration from arrest to return of spontaneous circulation were associated with increased mortality. Malay ethnicity was associated with a poorer CPC/ OPC score. CONCLUSION: Adoption and outcomes of TTM postresuscitation is variable and there is still a need to optimise management of the identified predictors of survival and good neurological outcomes while TTM is being used.

Impact of Direct Cardiovascular Laboratory Activation by Emergency Physicians on False-Positive Activation Rates.

INTRODUCTION: Door-to-balloon (DTB) time is critical to ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients' survival. Although DTB time is reduced with direct cardiovascular laboratory (CVL) activation by emergency physicians, concerns regarding false-positive activation remain. We evaluate false-positive rates before and after direct CVL activation and factors associated with false-positive activations. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a retrospective single centre study of all emergency CVL activation 3 years before and after introduction of direct activation in July 2007. False-positive activation is defined as either: 1) absence of culprit vessel with coronary artery thrombus or ulceration, or 2) presence of chronic total occlusion of culprit vessel, with no cardiac biomarker elevations and no regional wall abnormalities. All false-positive cases were verified by reviewing their coronary angiograms and patient records. RESULTS: A total of 1809 subjects were recruited; 84 (4.64%) identified as false-positives. Incidence of false-positive before and after direct activation was 4.1% and 5.1% respectively, which was not significant (P = 0.315). In multivariate logistic regression analysis, factors associated with false-positive were: female (odds ratio (OR): 2.104 [1.247-3.548], P = 0.005), absence of chest pain (OR: 5.369 [3.024-9.531], P <0.0001) and presence of only left bundle branch block (LBBB) as indication for activation (OR: 65.691 [19.870-217.179], P <0.0001). CONCLUSION: Improvement in DTB time with direct CVL activation by emergency physicians is not associated with increased false-positive activations. Factors associated with false-positive, especially lack of chest pain or LBBB, can be taken into account to optimise STEMI management.