Serum Magnesium Levels and Neurological Outcomes in Patients Undergoing Targeted Temperature Management After Cardiac Arrest

Pre-hospital airway management and neurological status of patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest: A retrospective cohort study

“…14 , 15 Cardiac rhythm was confirmed by emergency medical services’ personnel who checked whether the carotid artery was pulsating, and by the readings from a 3-lead electrocardiogram monitor or an automated external defibrillator. 15 , 16 This cardiac rhythm is hereafter called the ‘first confirmed cardiac rhythm’. The first confirmed cardiac rhythm of patients with cardiac arrest was further divided into ‘first confirmed non-shockable cardiac rhythm’ and ‘first confirmed shockable cardiac rhythm’ groups, based on whether or not the rhythm could be altered using an electrical defibrillation from a defibrillator or automated external defibrillator.…”

“…The first confirmed cardiac rhythm of patients with cardiac arrest was further divided into ‘first confirmed non-shockable cardiac rhythm’ and ‘first confirmed shockable cardiac rhythm’ groups, based on whether or not the rhythm could be altered using an electrical defibrillation from a defibrillator or automated external defibrillator. 16 In this study, we abbreviate these two divisions as the “non-shockable” and “shockable” groups, respectively. The first confirmed non-shockable cardiac rhythm is asystole or pulseless electrical activity.…”

Adjunctive Therapeutics in the Management of Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation: A Narrative Literature Review

“…A randomized controlled, multicenter trial by Allegra et al [16] evaluating epinephrine plus magnesium sulfate (2 g IV) vs. placebo, specifically in prehospital ventricular fibrillar arrest, again showed no significant difference in ROSC (25.5% vs. 18.%, p = 0.38), admission (16.4% vs. 16.7%, p = 1.0), or discharge (3.6% vs. 3.7%, p = 1.0) [16]. Shortly after, yet another trial conducted by Hasan et al [14] (n = 105 patients) also did not find improved time to ROSC in ventricular fibrillation arrest after administration of magnesium (17% vs 13%; CI 95% [−10%-+18%]) [14] Moreover, evaluation in a randomized controlled trial by Longstreth et al [17] and a retrospective analysis by Suzuki et al [20] demonstrated no benefit in magnesium sulfate for neurologic outcome in patients with ventricular fibrillation arrest, although found no increased risk of harm [17,20]. Despite this, there have been several case reports describing ROSC after high dose magnesium administration in the specific instance of refractory vfib arrest [21].…”

Diagnostic ability of a newly developed system for recognition of cardiac arrests

“…The diagnosis of cardiac arrest, defined as the cessation of cardiac mechanical activity confirmed by the absence of signs of circulation [21] , was clinically made by the relevant physician or EMS personnel who trained and served as the "gold standard". The signs of circulation were confirmed by determining whether the carotid artery was pulsating and through findings from an electrocardiogram [22] . Cardiac arrest was presumed to be because of medical cause unless instigated by trauma, drowning, drug overdose, electrocution, or asphyxia [21] .…”