Author: Aaron Lessen, MD

Educational Pearls:

Shockable rhythms like V-fib or V-tach have a better prognosis than patients with PEA or asystole.

Recent study has shown an initial electrical frequency in PEA between 10-24/min had worse outcomes than PEA with initial rhythm over 60/min.

Patients with an initial electrical frequency in PEA over 60/min did just as well as patients with shockable rhythms. Of them, there was a 22% survival rate with 15% having a good neurologic outcome.

References:

Weiser, C., et al. (2018). Initial electrical frequency predicts survival and neurological outcome in out of hospital cardiac arrest patients with pulseless electrical activity. Resuscitation. 125:34-38

Podcast #319: Cardiac Arrest Survival Factors