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Introduction: Patients successfully resuscitated from cardiac arrest (CA) are admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) for post-resuscitation care. These patients’ prognosis remains dismal, with only a minority surviving to hospital discharge. Understanding the clinical factors involved in the management of these patients is essential to improve their prognosis. Objectives: To characterize the population admitted after successful reanimation from CA, and to analyze the factors associated with their outcomes. Methods: We performed a retrospective descriptive study of patients admitted to an ICU after CA over a five-year period from January 2014 to December 2018. Demographic factors, CA characteristics, early management, mortality and neurologic outcomes were analyzed. Results: A total of 187 patients, median age 67 years, were admitted after CA, of whom 39% suffered out-of-hospital CA; 87% had an initial non-shockable rhythm and the most frequent presumed cause was cardiac (31%). In-hospital mortality was 63%. Significant neurologic dysfunction (cerebral performance category 3 or 4) was seen in 31% of survivors at hospital discharge. Non-immediate initiation of basic life support (BLS), higher Simplified Acute Physiology Score II score and longer relative duration of vasopressor support were independent predictors of in-hospital mortality, while shockable rhythms were associated with improved survival. Higher Glasgow coma scale at ICU discharge and shorter length of ICU stay were predictors of better neurologic outcome. Conclusion: This study highlights the positive prognostic impact of shockable rhythms, and confirms the importance of immediate initiation of BLS and prompt defibrillation, supporting the need for better training both outside and inside hospitals. Resumo: Introdução: Doentes ressuscitados de uma paragem cardiorrespiratória (PCR) são admitidos em Unidades de Cuidados Intensivos (UCI) para receber cuidados pós-reanimação, mas apenas uma minoria sobrevive até à alta hospitalar. Compreender os fatores clínicos envolvidos na sua abordagem é essencial para melhorar o prognóstico. Objetivos: Caracterizar a população admitida na UCI após reanimação bem-sucedida e analisar os fatores associados aos outcomes. Métodos: Realizamos um estudo retrospetivo e descritivo com doentes admitidos após PCR na UCI, de janeiro de 2014 a dezembro de 2018. Analisaram-se os fatores demográficos, caraterísticas da PCR, abordagem precoce e outcomes neurológico e de mortalidade. Resultados: Foram admitidos 187 doentes, com uma mediana de 67 anos; 39% sofreram PCR pré-hospitalar, 87% apresentavam ritmo inicial não desfibrilhável e a etiologia presumida mais frequente foi a cardíaca (31%). A mortalidade intra-hospitalar foi 63%; 31% dos sobreviventes tinha disfunção neurológica significativa à data da alta hospitalar (CPC 3 ou 4). O atraso no início do suporte básico de vida (SBV), score SAPS II mais elevado e maior duração indexada de suporte vasopressor foram preditores independentes de mortalidade intra-hospitalar. O ritmo desfibrilhável foi associado a melhoria da sobrevida. Um valor de Escala de Coma de Glasgow mais elevado na alta da UCI e menor duração de internamento na UCI foram preditores de melhor outcome neurológico. Conclusão: Este estudo salienta o impacto prognóstico do ritmo desfibrilhável e confirma a importância do início imediato de SBV e da rápida desfibrilhação, reforçando a necessidade de capacitar a população intra e extra-hospitalar.

Introduction: Patients successfully resuscitated from cardiac arrest (CA) are admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) for post-resuscitation care. These patients' prognosis remains dismal, with only a minority surviving to hospital discharge. Understanding the clinical factors involved in the management of these patients is essential to improve their prognosis., Objectives: To characterize the population admitted after successful reanimation from CA, and to analyze the factors associated with their outcomes., Methods: We performed a retrospective descriptive study of patients admitted to an ICU after CA over a five-year period from January 2014 to December 2018. Demographic factors, CA characteristics, early management, mortality and neurologic outcomes were analyzed., Results: A total of 187 patients, median age 67 years, were admitted after CA, of whom 39% suffered out-of-hospital CA; 87% had an initial non-shockable rhythm and the most frequent presumed cause was cardiac (31%). In-hospital mortality was 63%. Significant neurologic dysfunction (cerebral performance category 3 or 4) was seen in 31% of survivors at hospital discharge. Non-immediate initiation of basic life support (BLS), higher Simplified Acute Physiology Score II score and longer relative duration of vasopressor support were independent predictors of in-hospital mortality, while shockable rhythms were associated with improved survival. Higher Glasgow coma scale at ICU discharge and shorter length of ICU stay were predictors of better neurologic outcome., Conclusion: This study highlights the positive prognostic impact of shockable rhythms, and confirms the importance of immediate initiation of BLS and prompt defibrillation, supporting the need for better training both outside and inside hospitals., (Copyright © 2021 Sociedade Portuguesa de Cardiologia. Published by Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)