Category: EMS
Keywords: Cardiac arrest, resuscitation, emergency medical services (PubMed Search)
Posted: 8/2/2023 by Ben Lawner, DO
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There is room for improvement with respect to rates of meaningful neurological survival in patients experiencing out of hospital cardiac arrest. Post resuscitation blood pressure goals remain a matter of debate. Though a MAP of >65 mm Hg is often cited as "desirable" in the post cardiac arrest setting, some experts have advocated for a higher MAP goal to increase cerebral perfusion pressure and improve outcomes.
This study was a retrospective review and meta-analysis that examined post cardiac arrest patients with MAP goals < 70 mm Hg and > 70 mm Hg. Over 1000 patients were included in the final meta-analysis. The primary outcome was pooled mortality. Secondary outcomes included neurologically meaningful survival, dysrhythmia, and acute kidney injury. The study detected no statistically significant difference in survival. Neurological outcomes were also similar between the two groups of resuscitated patients with out of hospital cardiac arrest. However, the study revealed statistically significant decreases in ICU length of stay and mechanical ventilation time.
As with any retrospective review, there are important limitations to consider. Among them: Few RCTs were included and all of them were conducted in European countries. Generalizability may be limited given the differences in emergency medical services systems and resuscitation protocols.
Study authors recommend tailoring resuscitation goals to the individual patient since arrest physiology, comorbidities, and other factors influence a patient's post cardiac arrest course.
Bottom line:
There is insufficient evidence to recommend arbitrary MAP goals in patients resuscitated from out of hospital cardiac arrest.
Lim SL, Low CJW, Ling RR, Sultana R, Yang V, Ong MEH, Chia YW, Sharma VK, Ramanathan K. Blood Pressure Targets for Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. J Clin Med. 2023 Jul 5;12(13):4497. doi: 10.3390/jcm12134497. PMID: 37445530; PMCID: PMC10342823.
