Too Much Oxygen Is Associated with Poor Postresuscitation Outcomes

Investigators performed a retrospective analysis of 170 consecutive postarrest patients at a single academic medical center who were treated with therapeutic hypothermia and had at least one PaO₂ measurement within the first 24 hours. After return of spontaneous circulation, patients were externally cooled to 32°C to 34°C for 24 hours and then passively rewarmed at 0.25°C per hour.

Of the total, 77 patients (45%) survived to hospital discharge. Survivors were significantly younger, were more likely to arrest from ventricular dysrhythmias, and had a shorter time to return of spontaneous circulation. The number of hours spent at target temperature, percentage of patients with shock requiring vasoactive medications, and percentage of patients w…