[Coronary angiography should be considered after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest]

Abstract

Cardiac arrest has a poor prognosis. Ischaemic heart disease is the main cause of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. This paper is a review of the essential studies on acute coronary angiography and angioplasty in post resuscitation care. No randomised studies were found. Observational studies support the use of acute angiography in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction. The negative predictive value of ST-segment elevation can be low after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, and acute angiography should be considered regardless of electrocardiographic findings.