Abstract 17196: Incidence and Clinical Implications of Pneumonia in Comatose Survivors of Out-of-hospital Cardiac Arrest: Insights From University of Ottawa Heart Institute Cardiac Arrest Registry

Background: Health-care associated pneumonia is a common complication in comatose survivors of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). However, the effect of pneumonia on the hospital course and clinical outcomes of OHCA patients has not been well studied. Methods: We identified consecutive patients undergoing targeted temperature management following OHCA secondary to a shockable rhythm (ventricular tachycardia or fibrillation). To address survival bias we excluded patients who died within 48 hours of hospital admission. We then compared clinical outcomes between patients with and without pneumonia. The primary outcome was severe neurologic dysfunction as defined by a cerebral performance category (CPC) ≥3; secondary outcomes included duration of mechanical ventilation and length of stay in hospital and in the cardiac intensive care unit (CICU). Results: Of 116 patients included (mean age 57 years, mean downtime 24 min, 22% female, 47% STEMI), 87 (75%) developed pneumonia. Patients who developed pneumonia...