Survival in Cancer Patients After Out-of-hospital Cardiac Arrest

Overview

Journal Support Care Cancer

Specialties Critical Care
Oncology

Date 2009 Apr 8

PMID 19350284

Citations 8

Authors

Jessica P Hwang

John Patlan

Sofia de Achaval

Carmen P Escalante

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: The survival of cancer patients who undergo cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) after in-hospital cardiac arrest is poor. The survival of cancer patients who undergo CPR after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest is unknown. We sought to determine survival rates in such patients and to identify phrases in patient charts that might have prompted end-of-life discussions.

Methods: We performed a retrospective review of patients who had CPR in our Emergency Center after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in 2000-2002, including an in-depth chart review of outpatient clinic visits by these patients in the 3 months preceding cardiac arrest.

Results: Of the 41 patients who had CPR in the Emergency Center, 18 (43%) had return of spontaneous circulation and were admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU). Seven patients were subsequently discharged alive to another facility. Only two (4.9%) of the 41 patients in our series were discharged alive to their home. More than half of the study patients had at least one clinic note that mentioned "disease progression" (n = 23), 44% mentioned "poor prognosis" (n = 18), and 27% mentioned "poor response" (n = 11).

Conclusions: Survival of cancer patients who underwent CPR after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest was poor. Medical providers should consider discussing end-of-life issues, including out-of-hospital do-not-resuscitate orders, in the outpatient clinic setting with cancer patients nearing the end of life.

Citing Articles

Poorer survival after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest among cancer patients: a population-based register study.

Hagglund H, Jonsson M, Hedayati E, Hedman C, Djarv T Eur Heart J Acute Cardiovasc Care. 2023; 12(8):495-503.

PMID: 37210580 PMC: 10449376. DOI: 10.1093/ehjacc/zuad053.

Impact of Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation on Survival in Cancer Patients: Do Not Resuscitate Before or After CPR?.

Giza D, Graham J, Donisan T, Balanescu D, Crommet J, Botz G JACC CardioOncol. 2021; 2(2):359-362.

PMID: 34396244 PMC: 8352333. DOI: 10.1016/j.jaccao.2020.03.003.

Do-not-resuscitate orders in cancer patients: a review of literature.

Osinski A, Vreugdenhil G, de Koning J, van der Hoeven J Support Care Cancer. 2016; 25(2):677-685.

PMID: 27771786 DOI: 10.1007/s00520-016-3459-9.

Health Care for People Approaching the End of Life: An Evidentiary Framework.

Baidobonsoo S, Costa V, Hulobowich C, Kaulback K, Nevis I, Sehatzadeh S Ont Health Technol Assess Ser. 2015; 14(14):1-45.

PMID: 26351549 PMC: 4561365.

Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation in Patients With Terminal Illness: An Evidence-Based Analysis.

Sehatzadeh S Ont Health Technol Assess Ser. 2015; 14(15):1-38.

PMID: 26339301 PMC: 4552960.

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