Increase in end-tidal carbon dioxide after defibrillation predicts sustained return of spontaneous circulation during out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.

Introduction: Guidelines recommend monitoring end-tidal carbon dioxide (ECO) during out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA), though its prognostic value is poorly understood. This study investigated the relationship between ECO and return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) after defibrillation in intubated non-traumatic OHCA patients.

Methods: This retrospective, observational cohort analysis included adult OHCA patients who received a defibrillation shock during treatment by an urban EMS agency from 2015 to 2021.

The association between arterial-end-tidal carbon dioxide difference and outcomes after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.

Aim: We sought to determine if the difference between PCO and ECO is associated with hospital mortality and neurologic outcome following out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA).

Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study of adult patients who achieved return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) after OHCA over 3 years. The primary exposure was the PCO-ECO difference on hospital arrival.

Investigating the Airway Opening Index during cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

Introduction: Chest compressions during CPR induce oscillations in capnography (ECO) waveforms. Studies suggest ECO oscillation characteristics are associated with intrathoracic airflow dependent on airway patency. Oscillations can be quantified by the Airway Opening Index (AOI).

Fewer tracheal intubation attempts are associated with improved neurologically intact survival following out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.

Background: International guidelines emphasize advanced airway management during out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). We hypothesized that increasing endotracheal intubation attempts during OHCA were associated with a lower likelihood of favorable neurologic survival at discharge.

Methods: This retrospective, observational cohort evaluated the relationship between number of intubation attempts and favorable neurologic survival among non-traumatic OHCA patients receiving cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) from January 1, 2015-June 30, 2019 in a large urban emergency medical services (EMS) system.