ABSTRACT
This chapter presents a case study of a 55-year-old man who is brought to the Emergency Department after collapsing while hiking with his son. This patient presents with an out of hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) with successful resuscitation after a relatively prolonged period. The main aims of management in OHCA are to minimise secondary neurologic injury, to appropriately support cardiac function and to look for a cause. Key initial investigations that should be performed include an electrocardiogram, bedside ultrasonography and a chest radiograph. Current recommendations state that patients with shockable OHCA should be cooled to prevent secondary brain injury. In this patient, given the presence of a ventricular fibrillation (VF) arrest and anterior Q-waves on the electrocardiogram, the medical students and junior doctors should liaise with the local cardiology service. After successful resuscitation from an OHCA, only 10" of patients will survive to discharge, and many of these individuals will have significant neurologic disability.
