Outcomes of hanging-induced cardiac arrest patients who underwent therapeutic hypothermia: a multicenter retrospective cohort study

Abstract

Objectives: The aim of this study was to analyze the outcomes of patients with hanging-induced cardiac arrest who underwent therapeutic hypothermia (TH).

Method: In this multicenter, retrospective registry-based study, discharged patients after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest and treatment with TH were enrolled between June 2007 and March 2013. Several prehospital and hospital variables were examined for an outcome analysis with multivariable logistic regression.

Results: A total of 964 patients who had cardiac arrest were enrolled in this study. All patients underwent TH during post-cardiac arrest care after return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC). Of all patients, 105 were assigned to the hanging group and 859 to the non-hanging group. Six patients (6%) with good neurologic outcomes (Cerebral Performance Category 1 or 2) in the hanging group at the time of discharge were found. A shorter time interval between witnessed arrest and ROSC and a Glasgow Coma Scale over 4 after ROSC are statistically significant variables of good neurologic outcomes after hanging-induced cardiac arrest treated with TH.

Conclusion: A small number of patients who underwent TH after a hanging-induced cardiac arrest provided good neurologic outcomes, and some variables influenced these outcomes.

Keywords: Glasgow Coma Scale; Hanging; Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest; Outcome; Therapeutic hypothermia.