title: Cardiac arrest secondary to acute coronary syndrome: a 4-year observational study of patient characteristics and outcomes.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cardiac arrest due to ischaemia is frequently the first manifestation of cardiovascular disease. We sought to describe the characteristics and outcomes of patients admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) with a diagnosis of cardiac arrest secondary to acute coronary syndrome (ACS).
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed a retrospective analysis of patients admitted to the intensive care unit over a 4 year period. Baseline demographic characteristics, the use of therapeutic hypothermia, rates of percutaneous coronary intervention, co-morbidities and baseline left ventricular function were all documented. Outcomes included Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) at time of discharge from the ICU, survival to hospital discharge, 6 months survival and left ventricular function at 6 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We identified 31 admissions to the ICU following cardiac arrest due to ACS during the study period. 71 % of patients survived to hospital discharge and all of these were still alive at 6 months. 65 % had good neurological function (GCS > 13) when discharged from ICU. Mean left ventricular ejection fraction remained stable at 6 months.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A significant proportion of patients admitted to the intensive care unit with a diagnosis of cardiac arrest secondary to acute coronary syndrome survive to hospital discharge with meaningful recovery in neurological and cardiac function.
authors.affiliation: Cardiology Department, University College Hospital Galway, Galway, Ireland. miragorecka791@gmail.com.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gorecka
authors.affiliation: Cardiology Department, University College Hospital Galway, Galway, Ireland.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hanley
authors.affiliation: Intensive Care Unit, University College Hospital Galway, Galway, Ireland.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Burke
authors.affiliation: Cardiology Department, University College Hospital Galway, Galway, Ireland.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Nolan
authors.affiliation: Cardiology Department, University College Hospital Galway, Galway, Ireland.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Crowley
mesh_terms: D054058:Acute Coronary Syndrome / Q000150:complications*; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D015600:Glasgow Coma Scale; D006323:Heart Arrest / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007036:Hypothermia, Induced / Q000379:methods*; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010351:Patient Discharge; D062645:Percutaneous Coronary Intervention / Q000379:methods*; D012189:Retrospective Studies
keywords: Acute coronary syndrome; Cardiac outcomes; Patients’ characteristics; Survival post cardiac arrest