Prediction of return of spontaneous circulation in outof-hospital cardiac arrest with non-shockable initial rhythm using point-of-care testing: a retrospective observational study

BACKGROUND:Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest(OHCA) is a public health concern, and many studies have been conducted on return of spontaneous circulation(ROSC) and its prognostic factors.Rotational thromboelastometry(ROTEM?), a point-of-care testing(POCT) method, has been useful for predicting ROSC in patients with OHCA, but very few studies have focused on patients with non-shockable rhythm. We examined whether the parameters of POCT could predict ROSC in patients with OHCA and accompanying non-shockable rhythm.METHODS:This is a single-center, retrospective observational study. Complete blood count,blood gas, and ROTEM POCT measurements were used. This study included patients with nontraumatic OHCA aged 18 years or older who were transported to the emergency department and evaluated using POCT between January 2013 and December 2021. The patients were divided into the ROSC and non-ROSC groups. Prehospital information and POCT parameters were compared using receiver operating characteristic(ROC) curve analysis, and further logistic regression analysis was performed.RESULTS:Sixty-seven and 135 patients were in the ROSC and non-ROSC groups,respectively. The ROC curves showed a high area under the curve(AUC) for K^(+) of 0.77(95%confidence interval [CI]:0.71–0.83) and EXTEM amplitude 5 min after clotting time(A5) of 0.70(95%CI:0.62–0.77). The odds ratios for ROSC were as follows:female sex 3.67(95%CI:1.67–8.04);K^(+)0.64(95%CI:0.48–0.84);and EXTEM A5 1.03(95%CI:1.01–1.06).CONCLUSION:In OHCA patients with non-shockable rhythm, K^(+) level and the ROTEM parameter EXTEM A5 may be useful in predicting ROSC.

Patient Blood Management in Craniosynostosis Surgery

Background: Craniosynostosis surgery is one of the most hemorrhagic interventions, where transfusion rates vary from 20% to 100% depending on the study. Objective: To describe intraoperative and postoperative outcomes in a secondary analysis of children who underwent craniosynostosis surgery included in the initial retrospective study with the aim of proposing intraoperative implementation optimization protocols for postoperative outcome improvement. Methods: Secondary analysis. The study was approved by the Ethics Committee. Results: There were 69 children with a median age of 10 [0 - 207] months. Eight (11.6%) patients had intraoperative and/or postoperative complications. One patient (1.5%) had intraoperative hemorrhagic shock, and two patients (2.9%) had intraoperative broncholaryngospasm. One patient (1.5%) had postoperative anaphylaxis. One patient (1.5%) had postoperative hemorrhagic shock. One patient (1.5%) had postoperative respiratory failure. Two patients (2.9%) had postoperative neurologic failure. One patient (1.5%) had neuro-meningeal sepsis. One patient (1.5%) had a re-operation. There was no in-hospital mortality. Fourty-eight patients (69.6%) had intraoperative transfusions. Conclusion: Transfusion protocols guided with point-of-care tests should be included in patient blood management programs in craniosynostosis surgery.