Authors: Shashank Patil, Saqib Parwez / Editors: Kris Moothian Pillay, Michael Perry / Reviewer: Rebecca Ford / Code: / Published: 16/09/2022
In United Kingdom, approximately 76,000 patients per year sustain Cardiac Arrest following a non-traumatic cause in an inpatients and out-of-hospital settings. This is associated with high mortality, but a considerable proportion of those who survive the event have a poor neurological recovery.
The Chain of Survival conceptualises the important components of successful resuscitation. This is achieved by development, implementation and standardisation of national guidelines and treatment protocols. The links in the chain need to be strengthened by research, community programmes and raising awareness. This will automatically improve the survival to discharge.
These medical interventions are associated with excessive costs and the current evidence shows varied outcomes. This also has a significant impact on family members financially and emotionally.
It is, therefore, imperative for the medical professionals who are involved in delivering this care, have a strategy, tools to recognise and prognosticate the outcome in these patients.
There are several factors prior, during and post cardiac arrest which can influence the outcome of cardiac arrest. The prognostication strategy follows some key principles; Early communication, Delay timing of prognostication, Multimodal evaluation and Being patient.
The medical professionals have a great responsibility of ensuring the survivals of Cardiac Arrest have an excellent quality of life.
Learning Objectives:
- Current Prevalence of Cardiac Arrest
- Concept of Chain of Survival
- Factors influencing survival to hospital discharge
- Principles of Prognostication Strategy
- Multimodal evaluation technique
- Brain Stem Death
References
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