Background: Most research examining out-of-hospital cardiac arrests (OHCA) in residential care facilities (RCF) has not described subsequent hospital care or included cases in residents that occur outside of these facilities. We conducted a retrospective observational study to describe the hospital care and outcomes following non-traumatic OHCA in RCFs and in residents of RCFs that were transported to 12 hospitals between 2014 and 2016 in Victoria, Australia.
Methods: Prehospital and long-term outcomes were provided by the Victorian Ambulance Cardiac Arrest Registry (VACAR) and hospital care was audited from the medical record for these cases.
Results: Over 3-years, 53 OHCAs occurred in a RCF and were transported to hospital: 47 were residents and 6 were non-residents (none of the six OHCAs occurring non-residents survived to hospital discharge). An additional 36 cases occurred in residents outside the RCF (24% private residence, 11% medical facility/ambulance, 8% public). Of the 83 OHCAs in residents, only 9 (11%) had a pre-arrest do-not-resuscitate (DNR) order, and the majority were witnessed (82%), received bystander CPR (82%), were in a non-shockable rhythm (75%), and were due to cardiac (33%) or respiratory (29%) cause. Few patients received coronary angiography (14.5%), and 73% of ICU patients (n=45) received temperature control management. Compared to OHCAs occurring in RCFs, outcomes were better for OHCAs in residents that occurred elsewhere: survival to discharge (11.3% vs. 19.3%), return to prearrest cerebral performance category at discharge (3.8% vs. 15.8%), survival to 12-months (1.9% vs 9.6%) and median EQ-5D VAS at 12 months (25 vs 37.5).
Conclusion: Outcomes in residents of RCFs transported to hospital, are low but may be higher than previously reported when examined by residential status rather than location of OHCA. Advanced care directives should be made for all residents in RCFs.

Outcomes for patients transported to hospital after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in residential care: use of this location does not provide the full picture.

Implementation of the Guidelines - How do we put the new ERC Guidelines into practice?

On 16 and 17 June, we are organising our first-ever hybrid congress. You will be able to join us live at the beautiful conference venue in Antwerp, Belgium and present your Poster. 

We are happy to welcome you to Resuscitation 2022!