Document Detail


Pulseless electrical activity and unsuccessful out-of-hospital resuscitation: what is the cause of death?
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  18249482     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
AIMS: To study the cause of deaths after witnessed cardiac arrest followed by pulseless electrical activity and unsuccessful of out-of-hospital resuscitation; and to detect any differences between causes of death determined at autopsy and those inferred from clinical history. METHODS: In this prospective observational study, data were collected from 91 individuals treated by the emergency medical services in three urban communities in southern Finland. RESULTS: Cause of death was determined at autopsy in 59 cases and without autopsy in 32 cases. There were significantly more diagnoses of acute myocardial infarction and fewer of pulmonary embolism and aortic dissection and rupture among cases without autopsy compared with those followed by autopsy. CONCLUSION: In unsuccessful resuscitation from out-of-hospital cardiac arrest with pulseless electrical activity as initial rhythm, an autopsy should be performed to determine the correct cause of death.
Authors:
Ilkka Virkkunen; Laura Paasio; Sanna Ryynänen; Arno Vuori; Antti Sajantila; Arvi Yli-Hankala; Tom Silfvast
Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't     Date:  2008-02-04
Journal Detail:
Title:  Resuscitation     Volume:  77     ISSN:  0300-9572     ISO Abbreviation:  Resuscitation     Publication Date:  2008 May 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2008-04-08     Completed Date:  2008-08-26     Revised Date:  2009-08-25    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  0332173     Medline TA:  Resuscitation     Country:  Ireland    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  207-10     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Tampere University Hospital, Department of Surgery and Anaesthesiology, PO Box 2000, FIN-33521 Tampere, Finland. ilkka.virkkunen@uta.fi
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Aged
Autopsy
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation*
Cause of Death*
Electrophysiologic Techniques, Cardiac / mortality*
Emergency Medical Services
Female
Finland / epidemiology
Heart Arrest / mortality*,  therapy*
Humans
Male
Pulse / mortality*
Treatment Failure

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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