EP10 A service evaluation calculating the length of resuscitation before return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) or termination of resuscitation (TOR) based on existing TOR guidance in South West England

Zorab, Ollie; McNee, Katherine; Sainsbury, Amy; Kirby, Kim

Abstract

Background
Annually in South West England 3,500 people receive a resuscitation attempt following an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). Paramedics use Termination of Resuscitation (TOR) guidelines to identify patients no longer benefiting from further resuscitation. This facilitates a dignified death and enables resource deployment to other patients. Historically, TOR was only supported for patients who
remained continuously asystolic for 20 mins, however, the impact this guidance had on total resuscitation duration was unknown.

Methods
This retrospective registry-based evaluation reviewed adult OHCA cases between 1st April 2016 – 31st March 2022. OHCA witnessed by ambulance personnel were excluded along with cases containing missing time, demographic, or outcome data. Patients who re-arrested following return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) were excluded.
Resuscitation Duration (RD) was calculated as the time between the arrival of the first ambulance resource to either ROSC or TOR. Routinely collected 30-day survival data was included in the evaluation.

Results
13,092 cases were eligible for analysis. 9,392 patients received prehospital TOR (median RD 34.50mins) whilst 3,700 achieved ROSC (median RD 20.10 mins), 861 patients survived to 30-days (median RD 12.17 mins). A total of 7,989 patients presented with an initial rhythm of asystole, 6,701 of these patients had TOR (median RD 34.5 mins) whilst 1,288 achieved ROSC (median RD 23.33 mins), only 49 asystole patients survived to 30-days (0.6%). 24.0% of the sample (n=3,144) presented in a shockable rhythm, 1,517 of these patients had TOR (median RD 42.85 mins) whilst 22.5% (n=708) survived to 30-days (median RD 14.73 mins)

Conclusion
Existing TOR guidance delivers resuscitation for greater than 30mins to most patients, regardless of initial presenting rhythm. Resuscitation attempts ending in TOR exceed the average duration needed to achieve ROSC for patient who survive to 30-days. This evaluation suggests that total resuscitation duration could be considered in future TOR guidance, irrespective of presenting or continuous arrythmia.

• Presentation Conference Type: Conference Paper (unpublished)
• Conference Name: 999 EMS Research Forum 2023 meeting abstracts
• Start Date: Jun 20, 2023
• End Date: Jun 21, 2023
• Publication Date: 2023-10
• Deposit Date: Dec 13, 2023
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/emermed-2023-999.9
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/11514905