Changes in left ventricular systolic and diastolic function on serial echocardiography after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.

Aim: Reversible myocardial dysfunction is common after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). The aim of this study was to determine if changes on serial transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) can predict long-term mortality in OHCA subjects.

Methods: This is a single-center historical cohort study of OHCA subjects undergoing targeted temperature management who received >1 TTE during hospitalization. Two-dimensional and Doppler parameters of systolic and diastolic function were compared between paired TTE. Univariate analysis was used to determine associations between TTE parameters and all-cause mortality.

Results: Fifty-nine patients were included; mean age was 59.4 ± 11.2 years (75% male). Initial rhythm was shockable in 90%. Initial TTE was done a median of 10.4 h after admission and repeat TTE was done 5.7 ± 4.1 days later. Between TTE studies, there were significant increases in left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF, from 32% to 43%), cardiac output, stroke volume, and other Doppler-derived hemodynamic parameters, while systemic vascular resistance decreased (all p < 0.001). Systolic function and hemodynamic parameters on initial TTE were not associated with follow-up mortality. Patients who died during follow-up (n = 16, 27%) had smaller increases in LVEF and cardiac output-derived hemodynamic parameters than long-term survivors (p < 0.05).

Conclusions: Significant changes in systolic function and hemodynamic parameters occur on serial Doppler TTE after OHCA, consistent with reversible post-arrest myocardial dysfunction. The magnitude of those changes is greater in long-term survivors, emphasizing that the degree of recovery from post-arrest myocardial dysfunction may be more important than its initial severity.