Wroclaw Out-Of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest Registry

Patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest included in the program will be treated with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) assisted cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) with additional invasive procedures including coronary/pulmonary angiography and intervention. This type of treatment was not provided in institutionalized fashion in Wroclaw, Poland. Implementation of this program should improve survival in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients, which currently is less than 10%.

Inclusion criteria

• Age < 60 years
• witnessed sudden cardiac arrest with immediate CPR
• supposed cardiac cause of the event
• ventricular fibrillation (VF) or pulseless ventricular tachycardia (VT) at first medical contact with 3 unsuccessful defibrillations (no ROSC)
• CPR conducted with Lund University Cardiopulmonary Assist System (LUCAS™)
• Estimated transfer time from the scene to the Emergency Department < 30 minutes.
• End tidal carbon dioxide (ETCO2) > 10 mmHg

Exclusion criteria

• Total presumed time from 112 call to ECMO implantation longer than 60 minutes
• Age < 18 years old or > 60 years old;
• Non-shockable initial rhythm
• Unavailability of the automated CPR device
• Unavailability of the catheterisation laboratory
• Severe concomitant illness with decreased life expectancy
• Severe body injury
• Severe active bleeding
• Drowning
• Terminal cancer