Congratulations to Dr. Brian Grunau and Dr. Jim Christenson on their recent publication in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA)!
The study, entitled Association of Intra-arrest Transport vs Continued On-Scene Resuscitation With Survival to Hospital Discharge Among Patients With Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest, set out to determine whether intra-arrest transport compared with continued on-scene resuscitation is associated with survival to hospital discharge among patients experiencing out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA).
According to the study, there has been wide variability among emergency medical systems (EMS) with respect to transport to hospital during out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) resuscitative efforts. As a result, the benefit of intra-arrest transport during resuscitation compared with continued on-scene resuscitation has been unclear.
To address this fundamental debate, the study examined out-of-hospital cardiac arrest cases in North America who were unable to be revived with initial resuscitative efforts by paramedics. Results indicated that among patients experiencing out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, intra-arrest transport to hospital compared with continued on-scene resuscitation was associated with lower probability of survival to hospital discharge.
“Overall these results support a strategy that paramedics dedicate effort and expertise at the scene of the cardiac arrest, rather than prioritizing transport to hospital” says Dr. Grunau.
This work is of immense clinical importance and will impact care for cardiac arrest patients worldwide. The UBC Department of Emergency Medicine congratulates Dr. Grunau, Dr. Christenson, and their colleagues for their incredible work on this original research.
Learn more:
- Abstract: Association of Intra-arrest Transport vs Continued On-Scene Resuscitation With Survival to Hospital Discharge Among Patients With Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest
- JAMA Editorial: Challenging the “Scoop and Run” Model for Management of Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest
- JAMA Editorial: Estimating Risk Ratios and Risk Differences – Alternatives to Odds Ratios
- UBC Media Relations: On-scene care saves more lives than transporting cardiac arrest patients to hospital