Per-Protocol and Pre-Defined population analysis of the LINC study.

Objective: To perform two predefined sub-group analyses within the LINC study and evaluate if the results were supportive of the previous reported intention to treat (ITT) analysis.

Methods: Predefined subgroup analyses from the previously published LINC study were performed. The Per-Protocol population (PPP) included the randomized patients included in the ITT-population but excluding those with violated inclusion or exclusion criteria and those that did not get the actual treatment to which the patient was randomized.

Mechanical chest compressions and simultaneous defibrillation vs conventional cardiopulmonary resuscitation in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest: the LINC randomized trial.

Importance: A strategy using mechanical chest compressions might improve the poor outcome in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, but such a strategy has not been tested in large clinical trials.

Objective: To determine whether administering mechanical chest compressions with defibrillation during ongoing compressions (mechanical CPR), compared with manual cardiopulmonary resuscitation (manual CPR), according to guidelines, would improve 4-hour survival.

Design, Setting, And Participants: Multicenter randomized clinical trial of 2589 patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest conducted between January 2008 and February 2013 in 4 Swedish, 1 British, and 1 Dutch ambulance services and their referring hospitals.

The study protocol for the LINC (LUCAS in cardiac arrest) study: a study comparing conventional adult out-of-hospital cardiopulmonary resuscitation with a concept with mechanical chest compressions and simultaneous defibrillation.

Background: The LUCAS™ device delivers mechanical chest compressions that have been shown in experimental studies to improve perfusion pressures to the brain and heart as well as augmenting cerebral blood flow and end tidal CO2, compared with results from standard manual cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Two randomised pilot studies in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients have not shown improved outcome when compared with manual CPR. There remains evidence from small case series that the device can be potentially beneficial compared with manual chest compressions in specific situations.

Increase in survival and bystander CPR in out-of-hospital shockable arrhythmia: bystander CPR and female gender are predictors of improved outcome. Experiences from Sweden in an 18-year perspective.

Objectives: In a national perspective, to describe survival among patients found in ventricular fibrillation or pulseless ventricular tachycardia witnessed by a bystander and with a presumed cardiac aetiology and answer two principal questions: (1) what are the changes over time? and (2) which are the factors of importance?

Design: Observational register study.

Setting: Sweden.

Patients: All patients included in the Swedish Out of Hospital Cardiac Arrest Register between 1 January 1990 and 31 December 2009 who were found in bystander-witnessed ventricular fibrillation with a presumed cardiac aetiology.

Analysis of initial rhythm, witnessed status and delay to treatment among survivors of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in Sweden.

Background: The characteristics of patients who survive out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) are incompletely known. The characteristics of survivors of OHCA during a period of 16 years in Sweden are described.

Methods: All the patients included in the Swedish Cardiac Arrest Registry between 1992 and 2007 in whom cardiopulmonary resuscitation was attempted and who were alive after 1 month were included in the survey.

Characteristics of cardiac arrest and resuscitation by age group: an analysis from the Swedish Cardiac Arrest Registry.

Aim: The objective of this study was to describe patients who experienced an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) by age group.

Methods: All patients who suffered from an OHCA between 1990 and 2005 and are included in the Swedish Cardiac Arrest Registry (n = 40,503) were classified into the following age groups: neonates, younger than 1 year; young children, between 1 and 4 years; older children, between 5 and 12 years; adolescents, between 13 and 17 years; young adults, between 18 and 35 years; adults not retired, between 36 and 64 years; adults retired, between 65 and 79 years; and older adults, 80 years or older.

Results: Ventricular fibrillation was lowest in young children (3%) and highest in adults (35%).

Characteristics and outcome among patients suffering out-of-hospital cardiac arrest due to drowning.

Aim: To describe the characteristics and outcome among patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) caused by drowning as compared with OHCA caused by a cardiac etiology (outside home).

Patients And Methods: All the patients included in the Swedish OHCA Registry between 1990 and 2005 which were not crew witnessed, in whom cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) was attempted, were evaluated for inclusion. Those caused by drowning were compared with those with a cardiac etiology (outside home).

Characteristics and outcome in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest when patients are found in a non-shockable rhythm.

Aim: To define factors associated with an improved outcome among patients suffering out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) who were found in a non-shockable rhythm.

Patients: All the patients included in the Swedish OHCA registry between 1990 and 2005 in whom resuscitation was attempted, who were found in a non-shockable rhythm and where either the OHCA was witnessed by a bystander or was not witnessed.

Results: In all, 22,465 patients fulfilled the inclusion criteria.

Characteristics and outcome amongst young adults suffering from out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in whom cardiopulmonary resuscitation is attempted.

Objectives: Amongst patients suffering from out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, young adults represent a minority. However, these victims suffer from the catastrophe when they are in a very active phase of life and have a long life expectancy. This survey aims to describe young adults in Sweden who suffer from out-of-hospital cardiac arrest and in whom cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is attempted in terms of characteristics and outcome.

Association between interval between call for ambulance and return of spontaneous circulation and survival in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.

Aim: To describe the association between the interval between the call for ambulance and return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) and survival in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.

Patients: All patients suffering an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in whom cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) was started, included in the Swedish Cardiac Arrest Registry (SCAR) for whom information about the time of calling for an ambulance and the time of ROSC was available.

Results: Among 26,192 patients who were included in SCAR and were not witnessed by the ambulance crew, information about the time of call for an ambulance and the time of ROSC was available in 4847 patients (19%).

Major differences in 1-month survival between hospitals in Sweden among initial survivors of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.

Aim: To explore the rate of survival to hospital discharge among patients who were brought to hospital alive after an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in different hospitals in Sweden.

Patients And Methods: All patients who had suffered an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest which was not witnessed by the ambulance crew, in whom cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) was started and who had a palpable pulse on admission to hospital were evaluated for inclusion. Each participating ambulance organisation and its corresponding hospital(s) required at least 50 patients fulfilling these criteria.