Reoxygenation After Cardiac Arrest (REOX Study)

Specific Aim 1: Test if the degree and duration of hyperoxia following ROSC from cardiac arrest is associated with the degree of in vivo oxidative stress during the post-resuscitation phase of therapy.

Approach: We will conduct a multicenter prospective observational study of adult patients resuscitated from cardiac arrest. We will record data pertaining to oxygenation parameters and other factors and measure biomarkers of oxidative stress (isoprostanes and isofurans) in the plasma at 0 and 6 hours after ROSC using gas chromatography negative ion chemical ionization mass spectrometry. We will determine the exposure to post-ROSC hyperoxia by calculating the time-weighted average PaO2 and SaO2 for the post-resuscitation phase of therapy, and will test the association with plasma isoprostane and isofuran levels.

Specific Aim 2: Test if the degree and duration of hyperoxia following ROSC from cardiac arrest is associated with the degree of neurological disability at hospital discharge.

Approach: In the study described above, we will determine the Modified Rankin Scale at hospital discharge. We will perform multivariable analyses adjusted for numerous covariates known to be associated with outcome in post-cardiac arrest patients to determine if post-ROSC hyperoxia exposure is independently associated with neurological disability.

Specific Aim 3: Test if the degree and duration of hyperoxia following ROSC from cardiac arrest is associated with neuropsychological outcomes among survivors at 180 days.

Approach: In the study described above, we will assess neuropsychological outcome among survivors at 180 days. Neuropsychological testing will use validated instruments across five cognitive domains (attention, Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-IV-digit span; (2) reasoning, Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-IV-similarities; (3) immediate and delayed memory, Wechsler Memory Scale-III-logical memory I and II; (4) verbal fluency, Controlled Oral Word Association Test; and (5) executive functioning, Hayling Sentence Completion Test). We will perform multivariable analyses to determine if post-ROSC hyperoxia exposure is independently associated with neuropsychological deficits.

Inclusion criteria

• Age >17 years
• Cardiac arrest
• Return of spontaneous circulation
• Not following commands immediately after ROSC
• Endotracheal intubation
• Clinician intent to treat with therapeutic hypothermia (or absence of clinician intent to withhold therapeutic hypothermia)

Exclusion criteria

• Presumed etiology of arrest is trauma
• Presumed etiology of arrest is hemorrhage
• Presumed etiology of arrest is sepsis
• Permanent resident of nursing home or other long-term care facility
• Any other condition, that in the opinion of the investigator, would preclude the subject from being a suitable candidate, e.g. end stage chronic illness with no reasonable expectation of survival to hospital discharge