Cardiac Catheterization in Cardiac Arrest
Cardiac Catheterization in Cardiac Arrest
This is a pilot study that will lead to a large randomized control trial (RCT), to assess
 whether early versus late or no cardiac catheterization is associated with improved outcomes
 in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) patients.
A pilot multicenter RCT.

 The objectives of the study are:

 To assess whether early (within 12 hours) cardiac catheterization is associated with improved
 survival, neurologic and cardiovascular outcomes in OHCA patients.

 Patients will be randomized 1:1 to early cardiac catheterization, performed as early as
 possible, within 12h post return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) following OHCA, or to
 standard practice, which may include medical management without cardiac catheterization or
 late cardiac catheterization after completion of therapeutic hypothermia. Percutaneous
 coronary intervention (PCI) is recommended for culprit lesions found on diagnostic
 angiography. All patients will undergo therapeutic hypothermia started as soon as possible
 with target temperature below 36°C according to local practice. Other medical management will
 be according to standard of care
Inclusion Criteria:

 -  Glasgow Coma Scale score <8 on hospital admission following OHCA of presumed cardiac
 cause.

 -  Initial rhythm ventricular tachycardia (VT) / ventricular fibrillation (VF), who
 achieved ROSC sustained for >20 consecutive minutes

 Exclusion Criteria:

 -  ST-elevation on any of the ECGs post resuscitation

 -  Hypothermia <30°C

 -  Interval from ROSC to screening of >12h

 -  Suspected or known acute intracranial hemorrhage or stroke