The Role of Point-of-Care Testing in Cardiac Arrest Patients
Authors: Vishnu M Rampersaud, Trinity Barberis, Henry C Thode, Adam J Singer
Journal: American Journal of Emergency Medicine
Publication Date: September 11, 2023
Conclusions:
- POCT is frequently used in the ED for patients with OHCA, and its results often lead to changes in therapies.
- However, the use of POCT did not demonstrate a significant association with ROSC or survival to discharge in this study.
Methods:
- A retrospective chart review was conducted on patients transferred by EMS to the ED for OHCA in 2019.
- Data were collected on baseline information, Utstein criteria for cardiac arrest, POCT usage, abnormal POCT results, and resulting treatments.
- The primary outcomes were Return of Spontaneous Circulation (ROSC) and survival to hospital discharge.
- Outcomes of patients with and without POCT were compared using chi-square and t-tests.
Results:
- The study included 119 patients, with a mean age of 65 years, and 65% were male.
- Cardiac arrest was witnessed in 48% of cases, and the initial rhythm was asystole in 66%.
- ROSC and survival rates were 22.7% and 3.4%, respectively.
- POCT was used in 66 patients (55.4%), all of whom had at least one abnormality.
- Abnormal POCT results led to a change in therapy in 60 patients (91.0%).
- The ROSC rates in patients with and without POCT were nearly identical (22.6% vs 22.7%).
- The survival to discharge rates were 0% in patients with POCT and 3.8% in those without.
Rampersaud Jr, V.M., Barberis, T., Thode Jr, H.C. and Singer, A.J., 2023. The role of point-of-care testing in cardiac arrest patients. The American Journal of Emergency Medicine.