Patients referred for primary PCI and TH between July 2004 and April 2011 were identified from the University of Ottawa Heart Institute STEMI database. The primary endpoint was survival to hospital discharge with sufficient neurologic recovery to enable discharge home.
Among 2467 consecutive patients referred for primary PCI, we identified 50 patients treated with TH following OHCA. Forty-nine underwent PCI, of which 47 (96 % ) received a stent. Median door-to-balloon time was 113 min (IQR 91-151). Patients with good neurologic recovery were younger, mean 51 ¡À 9 years versus 64 ¡À 12, p < 0.001, and had higher baseline creatinine clearance, 70 ¡À 19 mL/min/1.73 m2 versus 53 ¡À 23 mL/min/1.73 m2, p = 0.007. The primary endpoint of survival with sufficient neurologic recovery to enable discharge home was reached in 30 patients (60 % ). Four survivors required levels of assistance that precluded discharge home.
Therapeutic hypothermia in conjunction with primary PCI is associated with a favorable neurologic outcome in the majority of STEMI patients surviving OHCA. Our results suggest that TH is an important adjunctive therapy for STEMI patients suffering OHCA.