This was a population based observational study in Japan that enrolled pediatric patients age 8-17 years with out-of-hospital cardiac arrests (OHCA). The primary end point was 1 month survival and secondary end points were favorable 1 month neurological outcomes and pre-hospital return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC). In Japan, prehospital administration of epinephrine is allowed in children 8 years and older with appropriate training.
3961 pediatric OHCA were eligible (306 received epinephrine and 3655 patients did not).
There were no differences between the epinephrine and no epinephrine groups in regards to 1 month survival or favorable neurological outcome. The epinephrine group had a slightly higher likelihood of achieving pre-hospital ROSC.
References
Matsuyama et al. Pre-Hospital Administration of Epinephrine in Pediatric Patients with Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrests. JACC: 75 (2); 2020.
