Sandra Langkjær1, Christian Hassager1, Jesper Kjaergaard1, Idrees Salam1, Jakob Hartvig Thomsen1, Freddy K Lippert2, Michael Wanscher3, Lars Køber1, Niklas Nielsen4, Helle Søholm5. 1. Department of Cardiology 2142, The Heart Centre, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark. 2. Emergency Medical Services, Copenhagen, The Capital Region of Denmark, Denmark. 3. Department of Cardiothoracic Anaesthesiology 4142, The Heart Centre, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark. 4. Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care, Skåne University Hospital, Lund University, Lund, Sweden. 5. Department of Cardiology 2142, The Heart Centre, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark. Electronic address: helle.soholm@gmail.com.
Abstract
PURPOSE: Assessment of prognosis after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) is challenging. Cerebral computed tomography (cCT) scans are widely available, but the use in prognostication of comatose OHCA-patients is unclear. We evaluated the prognostic value of cCT in a clinical cohort of OHCA-patients. METHOD: A total of 1120 consecutive OHCA-patients with cardiac aetiology and successful or on-going resuscitation at hospital arrival were included (2002-2011). Utstein-criteria for registration of pre-hospital data and review of patient-charts for post-resuscitation care including cCT results were used. The primary endpoint was 30-day mortality analysed by log-rank and multivariate Cox-regression analyses. RESULTS: A cCT scan was performed in 341(30%) of the clinical OHCA-cohort, and an early CT (<24h) was performed in 188 patients. The early CT was found 'normal' in 163(89%) and with reduced discrimination in 7(4%) of patients, which was independently associated with higher 30-day mortality compared with OHCA-patients with an early cCT (HR(adjusted) = 3.5 (95%CI: 1.0-11.5), p = 0.04). A late CT (≥ 24 h) was performed in 153 patients in a median of 3 days (IQR: 2-5) and was 'normal' in 89(60%), 'cerebral bleeding' in 4(3%), 'new cerebral infarction' in 10(7%), and 'reduced discrimination between white and grey matter and/or oedema' in 45(30%) patients. 'Reduced discrimination and/or oedema' by late cCT was independently associated with higher 30-day mortality compared to patients with a normal late CT (HR(adjusted) = 2.6 (95%CI: 1.4-4.8, p = 0.002). CONCLUSION: Our observations suggest that a cCT may be useful as part of the neurological prognostication in patients with OHCA. 'Reduced discrimination between white and grey matter and/or oedema' on cCT was independently associated with a poor prognosis.
PURPOSE: Assessment of prognosis after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) is challenging. Cerebral computed tomography (cCT) scans are widely available, but the use in prognostication of comatose OHCA-patients is unclear. We evaluated the prognostic value of cCT in a clinical cohort of OHCA-patients. METHOD: A total of 1120 consecutive OHCA-patients with cardiac aetiology and successful or on-going resuscitation at hospital arrival were included (2002-2011). Utstein-criteria for registration of pre-hospital data and review of patient-charts for post-resuscitation care including cCT results were used. The primary endpoint was 30-day mortality analysed by log-rank and multivariate Cox-regression analyses. RESULTS: A cCT scan was performed in 341(30%) of the clinical OHCA-cohort, and an early CT (<24h) was performed in 188 patients. The early CT was found 'normal' in 163(89%) and with reduced discrimination in 7(4%) of patients, which was independently associated with higher 30-day mortality compared with OHCA-patients with an early cCT (HR(adjusted) = 3.5 (95%CI: 1.0-11.5), p = 0.04). A late CT (≥ 24 h) was performed in 153 patients in a median of 3 days (IQR: 2-5) and was 'normal' in 89(60%), 'cerebral bleeding' in 4(3%), 'new cerebral infarction' in 10(7%), and 'reduced discrimination between white and grey matter and/or oedema' in 45(30%) patients. 'Reduced discrimination and/or oedema' by late cCT was independently associated with higher 30-day mortality compared to patients with a normal late CT (HR(adjusted) = 2.6 (95%CI: 1.4-4.8, p = 0.002). CONCLUSION: Our observations suggest that a cCT may be useful as part of the neurological prognostication in patients with OHCA. 'Reduced discrimination between white and grey matter and/or oedema' on cCT was independently associated with a poor prognosis.