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The Effect of Prehospital Epinephrine in Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 August 2019

K.T. Ng Open the ORCID record for K.T. Ng [Opens in a new window]  and
W.Y. Teoh Open the ORCID record for W.Y. Teoh [Opens in a new window]
K.T. Ng*
Affiliation:
Medical Officer (Doctor), Department of Anaesthesiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Jalan Universiti, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
W.Y. Teoh
Affiliation:
Medical Student, University of Liverpool, School of Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom
*
Correspondence:Ka Ting Ng, Department of Anaesthesiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Jalan Universiti, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia E-mail: katingng1@gmail.com
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Abstract

Introduction:

Epinephrine has been recommended for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) resuscitation for nearly one century, but its efficacy and safety remain unclear in the literature. The primary aim of this review was to determine whether epinephrine increases the return of spontaneous circulation in OHCA patients.

Methods:

A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted using the following databases: MEDLINE, EMBASE, and CENTRAL, from their inception until October 2018. All the randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were included. Observational studies, case reports, case series, and non-systematic reviews were excluded.

Results:

Two trials including 8,548 patients were eligible for inclusion in the data synthesis. In patients who received epinephrine during OHCA, the incidence of return of spontaneous circulation was increased, with an odds ratio (95%CI) of 4.25 (3.79-4.75), P <.001, high-quality of evidence. The number of patients transported to hospital was increased in patients who had prehospital epinephrine, with an odds ratio (95%CI) of 2.31 (2.11-2.53), P <.001, high-quality of evidence. The prehospital use of epinephrine was associated with an increased survival to hospital discharge, the odds ratio (95%CI) being 1.43 (1.10-1.87), P = .008, moderate-quality of evidence. No significant effect was noted on the favorable neurologic state of patient at hospital discharge, with an odds ratio (95%CI) of 1.21 (0.90-1.64), P = .21, moderate-quality of evidence.

Conclusions:

This meta-analysis suggests that the prehospital use of epinephrine increases return of spontaneous circulation, transport of patients to hospital, and survival to hospital discharge for OHCA. However, no significant effects on favorable neurologic function at hospital discharge were demonstrated. The general quality of evidence ranged from moderate to high.

Keywords

cardiac arrestemergency medicineepinephrinefirst aidresuscitation

Information

Type
Comprehensive Review
Information
Prehospital and Disaster Medicine , Volume 34 , Issue 5 , October 2019 , pp. 532 - 539
Copyright
© World Association for Disaster and Emergency Medicine 2019 

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