Thombolysis Fails to Improve Outcomes of Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest

Despite suspicions that a large proportion of cardiac arrests are thrombosis-induced, thrombolysis during resuscitation conferred no benefit.

Researchers have hypothesized that up to 70% of out-of-hospital cardiac arrests are caused by thrombotic occlusion of a coronary or pulmonary artery. Promising findings from previous studies of thrombolytics for treatment of patients in cardiac arrest led to this international, manufacturer-sponsored trial. Investigators randomized adults with witnessed out-of-hospital cardiac arrest to receive tenecteplase or placebo during resuscitation. Patients with asystolic, pulseless electrical activity (PEA) or ventricular fibrillation (VF) arrest were included; those with presumed noncardiac causes of arrest or at increased risk for adverse effects of thrombolytic treatment were excluded.

After enrollment of 443 patients, survival of those with asys…

Reviewing Author

Mark S. Link, MD

Disclosures

Editorial BoardsCirculation; UpToDate

Mark S. Link, MD

Disclosures

Editorial BoardsCirculation; UpToDate