END-TIDAL CARBON-DIOXIDE AND OUTCOME OF OUT-OF-HOSPITAL CARDIAC-ARREST

Background Survival after cardiac arrest occurring outside the hospita l averages less than 3 percent, Unfortunately, the outcome of prolonge d resuscitative attempts cannot be predicted. End-tidal carbon dioxide levels reflect cardiac output during cardiopulmonary resuscitation. W e prospectively determined whether death could be predicted by monitor ing end-tidal carbon dioxide during resuscitation after cardiac arrest . Methods We performed a prospective observational study in 150 consec utive victims of cardiac arrest outside the hospital who had electrica l activity but no pulse. The patients were intubated and evaluated by mainstream end-tidal carbon dioxide monitoring. Our hypothesis was tha t an end-tidal carbon dioxide level of 10 mm Hg or less after 20 minut es of standard advanced cardiac life support would predict death. Resu lts There was no difference in the mean age or initial end-tidal carbo n dioxide level between patients who survived to hospital admission (s urvivors) and those who did not (nonsurvivors). After 20 minutes of ad vanced cardiac life support, end-tidal carbon dioxide (+/-SD) averaged 4.4+/-2.9 mm Hg in nonsurvivors and 32.8+/-7.4 mm Hg in survivors (P< 0.001). A 20-minute end-tidal carbon dioxide value of 10 mm Hg or less successfully discriminated between the 35 patients who survived to ho spital admission and the 115 nonsurvivors. When a 20-minute end-tidal carbon dioxide value of 10 mm Hg or less was used as a screening test to predict death, the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive va lue, and negative predictive value were all 100 percent. Conclusions A n end-tidal carbon dioxide level of 10 mm Hg or less measured 20 minut es after the initiation of advanced cardiac life support accurately pr edicts death in patients with cardiac arrest associated with electrica l activity but no pulse. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation may reasonably be terminated in such patients. (C) 1997, Massachusetts Medical Societ y.