Epidemiology, outcomes and coronary angiography findings of patients following out-of-hospital cardiac arrest : a single-centre experience from Oman

: Objectives: Out-of-hospital cardiac arrests (OHCAs) are a leading cause of death worldwide. However, data regarding the management and outcomes of affected patients are lacking in the Middle East. The current study aimed to present the angiographic findings and outcomes of patients presenting with OHCA in Muscat, Oman. Methods: This retrospective study took place between January 2012 and December 2016 at the Sultan Qaboos University Hospital (SQUH), Muscat, Oman. All adult patients who presented following an OHCA to the Emergency Department of SQUH during the study period were included. Demographic and clinical data were collected from electronic medical records. Results: A total of 216 patients were included in the study. The majority (63.9%) presented after having collapsed, while 22.3% presented with chest pains. Asystole was the most frequent initial cardiac rhythm (62.5%), with only 10% having ventricular tachycardia/fibrillation. Very few patients (1.4%) had received cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) prior to presentation. In total, 85 patients (39.4%) returned to spontaneous circulation (RSC); of these, post-RSC electrocardiography revealed an ST-segment elevation in 41.2% and normal findings in 23.5%. There were 63 patients who underwent coronary angiography, with 28 requiring stenting. Overall, 13% of patients survived and were discharged, although three survivors suffered permanent hypoxic brain damage. Conclusion: The overall survival rate of patients who had experienced an OHCA was low. Education programmes should focus on the benefits of immediate CPR for individuals experiencing an OHCA, with more opportunities for CPR training to be made available to the general public in Oman.