Early Cardiac Catheterization Benefits Survivors of Out-Of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest

Survivors of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) often have a recent coronary lesion. Researchers performed a meta-analysis of 50 studies of OHCA survivors who underwent early coronary angiography to assess outcomes with and without early percutaneous coronary intervention.

In 15 studies with a control group (none were randomized), early angiography was associated with improved survival (59% vs. 31%; odds ratio, 2.77). The rate of survival with good neurological outcome was also improved in the early angiography group (58% vs. 36%; OR, 2.20).