Summary

Background:

Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) poses a considerable health burden and offers poor prognosis. Information about OHCA in Israel is scarce.

Objectives:

To present a pilot registry of prehospital and in-hospital characteristics of patients with OHCA.

Methods:

A descriptive study was conducted of consecutive adult patients with OHCA treated in the field by Magen David Adom (MDA) paramedics and treated at the Sheba Medical Center.

Results:

The study included 99 patients with OHCA who were brought by MDA to the Sheba Medical Center. The median age was 79 years (IQR 67–89(, 61% were male. In total, 69% of the events occurred at home, 16% at nursing facilities, 10% on streets, and 2% in public buildings. Most events (80%) were witnessed. Bystander-basic life support (BLS) was administered to 28%, 45% received BLS from an emergency medical service first responder. Automated external defibrillation was used in 40% of cases. In our cohort, 51 patients (51%) survived initial treatment in the emergency department (ED) and were hospitalized. Electrocardiography at arrival demonstrated ST-elevation in 22% of cases. Coronary angiography was performed in 19% (n=19) of patients, and 12% (n=12) underwent percutaneous intervention. Eventually, 26 patients (26%) survived to discharge with a Cerebral performance categories were as follows: 13% (n=13) with good cerebral performance, 10% (n=10) with moderate disability, and 3% (n=3) with severe disability or unconscious.

Conclusions:

Among those admitted after surviving ED resuscitation, half survived to discharge. Most of those who survived hospitalization and were discharged with good neurological performance were young males.