Whole-Body CT After Nontraumatic Cardiac Arrest?

This retrospective study identified many findings on whole-body CT, but few had acute clinical implications.

Focused computed tomography (CT) is commonly performed in patients with return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) after nontraumatic cardiac arrest to investigate suspected causes of arrest. Given the increasing availability and speed of CT, interest has emerged in whole-body CT (WBCT) following ROSC.

In a single-center retrospective study from Germany, researchers evaluated the diagnostic yield of WBCT following ROSC in 100 consecutive patients with nontraumatic cardiac arrest. Most patients suffered out-of-hospital cardiac arrest and were male. WBCT findings included acute pathology in the head (15% of patients) and abdomen (6%) as well as cardiopulmonary resuscitation–related injuries (93%). Specific findings included pneumothorax (26%), b…

Reviewing Author

Lauren M. Westafer, DO, MPH, MS

Disclosures

Grant/Research SupportNational Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute

Editorial BoardsAnnals of Emergency Medicine

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesAcademy for Academic Women in Emergency Medicine (Social Media Chair)

Lauren M. Westafer, DO, MPH, MS

Disclosures

Grant/Research SupportNational Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute

Editorial BoardsAnnals of Emergency Medicine

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesAcademy for Academic Women in Emergency Medicine (Social Media Chair)

Whole-Body CT After Nontraumatic Cardiac Arrest?

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Reviewing Author