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Purpose Prognostication of refractory out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) is essential for selecting the population that may benefit from extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR). We aimed to examine the prognostic value of signs of life before or throughout conventional CPR for individuals undergoing ECPR for refractory OHCA. Methods Pooling the original data from three cohort studies, we estimated the prevalence of signs of life, for individuals with refractory OHCA resuscitated with ECPR. We performed multivariable logistic regression to examine the independent associations between the occurrence of signs of life and 30-day survival with a CPC score ≤ 2. Results The analytical sample consisted of 434 ECPR recipients. The prevalence of any sign of life was 61%, including pupillary light reaction (48%), gasping (32%), or increased level of consciousness (13%). Thirty-day survival with favorable neurological outcome was 15% (63/434). In multivariable analysis, the adjusted odds ratios of 30-day survival with favorable neurological outcome were 7.35 (95% confidence interval [CI], 2.71–19.97), 5.86 (95% CI, 2.28–15.06), 4.79 (95% CI, 2.16–10.63), and 1.75 (95% CI, 0.95–3.21) for any sign of life, pupillary light reaction, increased level of consciousness, and gasping, respectively. Conclusion The assessment of signs of life before or throughout CPR substantially improves the accuracy of a multivariable prognostic model in predicting 30-day survival with favorable neurological outcome. The lack of any sign of life might obviate the provision of ECPR for patients without shockable cardiac rhythm.

Introduction: Access time to extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR) refractory out of hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) is a crucial factor. In our region, some patients are not eligible ...

Background Extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (E-CPR) is used for the treatment of refractory cardiac arrest. However, the optimal target to reach for mean arterial pressure (MAP) remains to be determined. We hypothesized that MAP levels critically modify cerebral hemodynamics during E-CPR and tested two distinct targets (65–75 vs 80–90 mmHg) in a porcine model. Methods Pigs were submitted to 15 min of untreated ventricular fibrillation followed by 30 min of E-CPR. Defibrillations were then delivered until return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC). Extracorporeal circulation was initially set to an average flow of 40 ml/kg/min. The dose of epinephrine was set to reach a standard or a high MAP target level (65–75 vs 80–90 mmHg, respectively). Animals were followed during 120-min after ROSC. Results Six animals were included in both groups. During E-CPR, high MAP improved carotid blood flow as compared to standard MAP. After ROSC, this was conversely decreased in high versus standard MAP, while intra-cranial pressure was superior. The pressure reactivity index (PRx), which is the correlation coefficient between arterial blood pressure and intracranial pressure, also demonstrated inverted patterns of alteration according to MAP levels during E-CPR and after ROSC. In standard-MAP, PRx was transiently positive during E-CPR before returning to negative values after ROSC, demonstrating a reversible alteration of cerebral autoregulation during E-CPR. In high-MAP, PRx was negative during E-CPR but became sustainably positive after ROSC, demonstrating a prolonged alteration in cerebral autoregulation after ROSC. It was associated with a significant decrease in cerebral oxygen consumption in high- versus standard-MAP after ROSC. Conclusions During early E-CPR, MAP target above 80 mmHg is associated with higher carotid blood flow and improved cerebral autoregulation. This pattern is inverted after ROSC with a better hemodynamic status with standard versus high-MAP.

Supplemental Digital Content is available in the text., Objectives: To construct a highly detailed yet practical, attainable roadmap for enhancing the likelihood of neurologically intact survival following sudden cardiac arrest. Design, Setting, and Patients: Population-based outcomes following out-of-hospital cardiac arrest were collated for 10 U.S. counties in Alaska, California, Florida, Ohio, Minnesota, Utah, and Washington. The 10 identified emergency medical services systems were those that had recently reported significant improvements in neurologically intact survival after introducing a more comprehensive approach involving citizens, hospitals, and evolving strategies for incorporating technology-based, highly choreographed care and training. Detailed inventories of in-common elements were collated from the ten 9-1-1 agencies and assimilated. For reference, combined averaged outcomes for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest occurring January 1, 2017, to February 28, 2018, were compared with concurrent U.S. outcomes reported by the well-established Cardiac Arrest Registry to Enhance Survival. Interventions: Most commonly, interventions and components from the ten 9-1-1 systems consistently included extensive public cardiopulmonary resuscitation training, 9-1-1 system-connected smart phone applications, expedited dispatcher procedures, cardiopulmonary resuscitation quality monitoring, mechanical cardiopulmonary resuscitation, devices for enhancing negative intrathoracic pressure regulation, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation protocols, body temperature management procedures, rapid cardiac angiography, and intensive involvement of medical directors, operational and quality assurance officers, and training staff. Measurements and Main Results: Compared with Cardiac Arrest Registry to Enhance Survival (n = 78,704), the cohorts from the 10 emergency medical services agencies examined (n = 2,911) demonstrated significantly increased likelihoods of return of spontaneous circulation (mean 37.4% vs 31.5%; p < 0.001) and neurologically favorable hospital discharge, particularly after witnessed collapses involving bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation and shockable cardiac rhythms (mean 10.7% vs 8.4%; p < 0.001; and 41.6% vs 29.2%; p < 0.001, respectively). Conclusions: The likelihood of neurologically favorable survival following out-of-hospital cardiac arrest can improve substantially in communities that conscientiously and meticulously introduce a well-sequenced, highly choreographed, system-wide portfolio of both traditional and nonconventional approaches to training, technologies, and physiologic management. The commonalities found in the analyzed systems create a compelling case that other communities can also improve out-of-hospital cardiac arrest outcomes significantly by conscientiously exploring and adopting similar bundles of system organization and care.

The use of extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR) to resuscitate patients with refractory out-of-hospital cardiac arrest is increasing in the United States and the developed world. This approach to treatment is appealing, because it can restore prearrest levels of perfusion to the brain and vital organs while the cause of the arrest is addressed. In this article, the authors highlight current ECPR program development and discuss controversies.

Background The evaluation process of French medical students will evolve in the next few years in order to improve assessment validity. Script concordance testing (SCT) offers the possibility to assess medical knowledge alongside clinical reasoning under conditions of uncertainty. In this study, we aimed at comparing the SCT scores of a large cohort of undergraduate medical students, according to the experience level of the reference panel. Methods In 2019, the authors developed a 30-item SCT and sent it to experts with varying levels of experience. Data analysis included score comparisons with paired Wilcoxon rank sum tests and concordance analysis with Bland & Altman plots. Results A panel of 75 experts was divided into three groups: 31 residents, 21 non-experienced physicians (NEP) and 23 experienced physicians (EP). Among each group, random samples of N = 20, 15 and 10 were selected. A total of 985 students from nine different medical schools participated in the SCT examination. No matter the size of the panel (N = 20, 15 or 10), students’ SCT scores were lower with the NEP group when compared to the resident panel (median score 67.1 vs 69.1, p p N = 15 and 67.7 vs 68.4, p N = 10) and with EP compared to NEP (65.4 vs 67.1, p p p Conclusions Even though student SCT scores differed statistically according to the expert panels, these differences were rather weak. These results open the possibility of including less-experienced experts in panels for the evaluation of medical students.

In recent years, extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR) has emerged as the second line of treatment for refractory cardiac arrest, at least across industrialized countries. Despite impressive results with high survival rates in case series all over the world, access to ECPR is limited to certain countries and areas. In areas where patients have access to ECPR, precise inclusion criteria and patient care vary substantially from one center to another. This raises a certain number of ethical concerns which will be addressed in this chapter.

Aim: Non-traumatic cardiac arrest is a major public health problem that carries an extremely high mortality rate. The Resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta (REBOA) procedure is currently being discussed as a possible technique to be used during Advanced Life Support (ALS) in humans with Cardiac arrest (CA). The aim of this study was to assess the training of emergency physicians in the procedures related to insertion of a novel REBOA catheter. Methods: We developed a training program using a simulated CA model on human cadavers. CPR was performed using the LUCAS device (Stryker/Jolife AB, Lund, Sweden). All cadavers were hemodynamically monitored. The Neurescue REBOA catheter (Neurescue REBOA device, Neurescue ApS, Copenhagen, Denmark) was inserted using a semi-surgical cut-down and sheath placement technique. Time needed to perform the procedures was measured. The procedures were instructed by 2 experts using video, procedural simulation on manikin and full-scale training on cadavers. Results: Six human cadavers were enrolled and a total of 12 procedures were performed by 2 expert investigators and 10 novice investigators. Eight semi-surgical cut-down producers including placements of the introducer sheath were performed on the first attempt and 4 required a second attempt. The median time required for the semi-surgical cutdown procedure and sheath placement by the novice investigators was: 6 min 48 sec (Min: 3 min 45 sec and Max: 26 min 25 sec). The median time required for the insertion and occlusion of the REBOA catheter by the novice investigators was: 3 min 22 sec (Min: 1 min 22 sec and Max: 7 min 5 sec). The median time required for full insertion for the novice investigators was: 11 min 14 sec (Min: 6 min 49 sec and Max: 28 min 15 sec). The mean aortic pressure during compression was: 31.9 mmHg (±17.0). Conclusions: Semi surgical cut-down and introducer sheath placement were performed in 1 or two 2 attempts for all novice investigators with an insertion time compatible with ALS during refractory CA. Simulation training on cadavers brings clinical realism and could be an important addition to the use of manikin or animal training models.

In France, there are 40 000 sudden deaths each year and the cardiac arrest survival rate is less than 10%. The arrival of extracorporeal cardio pulmonary resuscitation (ECPR) offers hope in the event of refractory cardiac arrest in prehospital care. Extending ECPR programmes requires more scientific evidence, training and an evolution of the role of paramedics.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the epidemiological characteristics of blood or fluid exposure (BFE) and occupational infection risk among emergency medicine (EM) residents and young physicians (

Aims Mechanical chest compression (CC) during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) with AutoPulse or LUCAS devices has not improved survival from cardiac arrest. Cohort studies suggest risk of excess damage. We studied safety of mechanical CC and determined possible excess damage compared with manual CC. Methods and results This is a randomized non-inferiority safety study. Randomization to AutoPulse, LUCAS, or manual CC with corrective depth and rate feedback was performed. We included patients with in-hospital cardiac arrest or with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest arriving with manual CPR at the emergency department. The primary outcome was serious or life-threatening visceral resuscitation-related damage, assessed blind by post-mortem computed tomography scan and/or autopsy or by clinical course until discharge. Non-inferiority hypothesis: mechanical CC compared with manual control does not increase the primary outcome by a risk difference of > 10% [upper 95% confidence interval (CI)]. We included 115 patients treated with AutoPulse, 122 with LUCAS, and 137 patients received manual CC. Safety outcome analysis was possible in 337 of 374 (90.1%) included patients. The primary outcome was observed in 12 of 103 AutoPulse patients (11.6%), 8 of 108 LUCAS patients (7.4%), and 8 of 126 controls (6.4%). Rate difference AutoPulse—control: +5.3% (95% CI − 2.2% to 12.8%), P = 0.15. Rate difference LUCAS—control +1.0% (95% CI − 5.5% to 7.6%), P = 0.75. Conclusion LUCAS does not cause significantly more serious or life-threatening visceral damage than manual CC. For AutoPulse, significantly more serious or life-threatening visceral damage than manual CC cannot be excluded.

Introduction: ECPR, « extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation » is a second line treatment for refractory cardiac arrest (CA), and low-flow time is clearly identified as a prognostic factor. Our prehospital ECPR team is made of a physician, an anesthetic nurse and a paramedic. During the day (8am to 6pm), the physician, specifically dedicated to the ECPR team, is on site at the EMS call center, where he can have other clinical or research activities; at night and during the weekend, he is on call at home. The nurse and paramedic are on site 24/7, dedicated to the mobile ICU activities, but available for the ECPR team if necessary. Triggering of the ECPR team occurs as early as possible after cardiac arrest, if possible at the same time as the BLS and ALS teams are sent out. Our ECPR team operates inside the city limits but also outside the city in surrounding cities, without access to ECPR. After ECPR team activation, cancellation can occur during transportation or on site of the CA in several situations including return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC), or absence of inclusion criteria for ECPR. Methods: Retrospective monocentric study from January to December 2017. The following data were collected: number of ECPR team activation calls, place and time of intervention, reason for cancellation, number of patients implemented with ECPR. Results: Over the 12 month period, ECPR team was activated 336 times; ECPR triggering occurred during the on call period in 185 cases (55%). Most of the time, interventions were within the city limits (N=209, 62%). Reasons for cancelation were as follows: ROSC (N=116, 34%), no inclusion criteria for ECPR (N=102, 30%), absence of CA (N=25, 7%), unknown (N=42, 12%). All together, 61 patients were actually implemented with ECPR for refractory CA (18%). Conclusion: In the end, 18% of ECPR activation calls lead to actual ECPR implementation. The necessity of early ECPR implementation justifies for early triggering of the ECPR team, despite the high risk of cancellation, whether it be for ROSC or absence of CA. This intense activity justifies for a dedicated complete ECPR team available 24/7. ECPR process requires specific training and precise coordination of personnel in the EMS call center and in the prehospital setting (ALS and ECPR teams).

Sudden death in ambulatory is a major public health issue: only few survivors, severe brain damage, high socio-economic cost. To improve survival and neurological recovery of these patients, an early therapeutic moderate hypothermia could be promising, as strongly suggested by previous preclinical studies on small animals through hypothermic total liquid ventilation (TLV) with perfluorocarbons (PFC) that maintain normal gas exchanges, and where lungs act as a heat exchanger (INSERM U955-E3, partner and pioneer of this project). Before translation of hypothermic TLV to humans, studies on large animals are necessary. The project ABYSS concerns the development and validation of a total liquid ventilator prototype suitable for large animals (no suitable devices exist on the market). ABYSS involves a consortium of 4 partners: an industrial company (Bertin Technologies) and three academic laboratories (INSERM U955-E3, INSERM U955-E13 and IR4M CNRS UMR8081). The study, which lasted three years, has led to: 1) Realize a prototype of total liquid ventilator for ventilating and cooling large animals, 2) Study the cooling on large animals with TLV, both on beating heart and under external cardiac massage, 3) Study another therapeutic indication: organ preservation of dead patients, 4) Compare three PFC already used as medical devices and analyze the impact of using PFCs with quite unusual physical properties on respiratory flows and airway resistance, 5) Study the miniaturization of the ventilator to enable its use in mobile intensive care unit. The next task will be to improve the understanding of the broncho-alveolar response (at various scales from organ to pulmonary cells) under total liquid ventilation on large animals, in order to get knowledge to improve and to optimize the tolerance of the respiratory system to liquid ventilation with PFC.

Purpose Extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR) is a second line treatment for refractory cardiac arrest (R-OHCA). Timing of ECPR before performing coronary angiography (CAG) is still debated. The aim of the study was to describe the clinical and angiographic characteristics of the largest cohort of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) patients undergoing ECPR. Methods All refractory OHCA patients with ECPR managed by the prehospital mobile intensive care unit (MoICU of the SAMU) in Paris (France) were prospectively included from October 2014 to December 2016. Results Among 74 patients included over the period, 54 patients had coronary artery disease (CAD). There is a trend toward the CAD patients being older but it did not meet statistical significance (55.3 ± 11.8 vs. 50.6 ± 12.8, p = 0,14). Patients were more frequently men and smokers (p = 0.03 for both). The proportion of initial shockable rhythm tended to be higher in patients with CAD (71% vs. 55%). The rate of 1-, 2-, and 3-vessel disease were 43%, 35% and 22% respectively. The Syntax Score was 18 ± 9 and the lesions in each epicardial vessel were mainly proximal. Percutaneous coronary intervention was performed ad hoc in 49 patients (91%). Complete revascularization was performed in 64%. Inhospital death was numerically lower (65% vs. 75%) in patients with CAD, especially in patients with initial shockable rhythm. Conclusion In 74 refractory OHCA patients treated with ECPR implanted by a prehospital mobile intensive care unit, the rate of CAD was high (54/74) especially in patients with shockable rhythm. The majority of patients presented with double or triple vessel disease and proximal lesions. The severity and extension of CAD may explain the refractory nature of the cardiac arrest.

Out of hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) mortality rates remain very high with poor neurological outcome in survivors. Extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR) is one of the treatments of refractory OHCA. This study used data from the mobile intensive care unit (MOICU) as part of the emergency medical system of Paris, and included all consecutive patients treated with ECPR (including pre-hospital ECPR) from 2011 to 2015 for the treatment of refractory OHCA, comparing two historical ECPR management strategies.We consecutively included refractory OHCA patients. In Period 1, ECPR was indicated in selected patients after 30min of advanced life support; in- or pre-hospital implementation depended on estimated transportation time and ECPR team availability. In Period 2, patient care relied on early ECPR initiation after 20min of resuscitation, stringent patient selection, epinephrine dose limitation and deployment of ECPR team with initial response team. Primary outcome was survival with good neurological function Cerebral Performance Category score (CPC score) 1 and 2 at ICU discharge or day 28.A total of 156 patients were included. (114 in Period 1 and 42 in Period 2). Baseline characteristics were similar. Mean low-flow duration was shorter by 20min (p0.001) in Period 2. Survival was significantly higher in Period 2: 29% vs 8% (P0.001), as confirmed by the multivariate analysis and propensity score. When combining stringent patient selection with an aggressive strategy, the survival rate increased to 38%. Pre-hospital ECPR implementation in itself was not an independent predictor of improved survival, but it was part of the strategy in Period 2.Our data suggest that ECPR in specific settings in the management of refractory OHCA is feasible and can lead to a significant increase in neurological intact survivors. These data, however, need to be confirmed by a large RCT.

The purpose of this study was to examine continuous oxygen insufflation (COI) in a swine model of cardiac arrest. The primary hypothesis was COI during standard CPR (S-CPR) should result in higher intrathoracic pressure (ITP) during chest compression and lower ITP during decompression versus S-CPR alone. These changes with COI were hypothesized to improve hemodynamics. The second hypothesis was that changes in ITP with S-CPR+COI would result in superior hemodynamics compared with active compression decompression (ACD) + impedance threshold device (ITD) CPR, as this method primarily lowers ITP during chest decompression.After 6min of untreated ventricular fibrillation, S-CPR was initiated in 8 female swine for 4min, then 3min of S-CPR+COI, then 3min of ACD+ITD CPR, then 3min of S-CPR+COI. ITP and hemodynamics were continuously monitored.During S-CPR+COI, ITP was always positive during the CPR compression and decompression phases. ITP compression values with S-CPR+COI versus S-CPR alone were 5.5±3 versus 0.2±2 (p0.001) and decompression values were 2.8±2 versus -1.3±2 (p0.001), respectively. With S-CPR+COI versus ACD+ITD the ITP compression values were 5.5±3 versus 1.5±2 (p0.01) and decompression values were 2.8±2 versus -4.7±3 (p0.001), respectively.COI during S-CPR created a continuous positive pressure in the airway during both the compression and decompression phase of CPR. At no point in time did COI generate a negative intrathoracic pressures during CPR in this swine model of cardiac arrest.

Background Extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation ( ECPR ) is widely proposed for the treatment of refractory cardiac arrest. It should be associated with coronary angiography if coronary artery disease is suspected. However, the prioritization of care remains unclear in this situation. Our goal was to determine whether coronary reperfusion should be instituted as soon as possible in such situations in a pig model. Methods and Results Anesthetized pigs were instrumented and submitted to coronary artery occlusion and ventricular fibrillation. After 5 minutes of untreated cardiac arrest, conventional cardiopulmonary resuscitation ( CPR ) was started. Fifteen minutes later, ECPR was initiated for a total duration of 240 minutes. Animals randomly underwent either early or late coronary reperfusion at 20 or 120 minutes of ECPR , respectively. This timing was adapted to the kinetic of infarct extension in pigs. Return of spontaneous circulation was determined as organized electrocardiogram rhythm with systolic arterial pressure above 80 mm Hg. During conventional CPR , hemodynamic parameters were not different between groups. Carotid blood flow then increased by 70% after the onset of ECPR in both groups. No animal (0 of 7) elicited return of spontaneous circulation after late reperfusion versus 4 of 7 after early reperfusion ( P =0.025). The hemodynamic parameters, such as carotid blood flow, were also improved in early versus late reperfusion groups (113±20 vs 43±17 mL/min after 240 minutes of ECPR , respectively; P =0.030), along with infarct size decrease (71±4% vs 84±2% of the risk zone, respectively; P =0.013). Conclusions Early reperfusion improved hemodynamic status and facilitated return of spontaneous circulation in a porcine model of ischemic cardiac arrest treated by ECPR .

Objectives. To determine whether homeless patients experience suboptimal care in the emergency department (ED) by the provision of fewer health care resources. Methods. We conducted a prospective multicenter cohort study in 30 EDs in France. During 72 hours in March 2015, all homeless patients that visited the participating EDs were included in the study. The primary health care service measure was the order by the physician of a diagnostic investigation or provision of a treatment in the ED. Secondary measures of health care services included ED waiting time, number and type of investigations per patient, treatment in the ED, and discharge disposition. Results. A total of 254 homeless patients and 254 nonhomeless patients were included. After excluding homeless patients that attended the ED for the sole purpose of housing, we analyzed 214 homeless and 214 nonhomeless. We found no significant difference between the 2 groups in terms of health care resource consumption, and for our secondary endpoints. Conclusions. We did not find significant differences in the level of medical care delivered in French EDs to homeless patients compared with matched nonhomeless patients.