Should we perform a coronary angiography in all cardiac arrest survivors?

Abstract

Purpose of review 

Percutaneous coronary revascularization is the cornerstone treatment of acute coronary syndromes. Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) is in most cases related to a culprit coronary occlusion and should be treated as soon as possible.

Recent findings 

To date, no biomarker has been evidenced to correctly predict culprit coronary occlusion in OHCA patients in order to select the best candidates for coronary angiography after OHCA. Moreover, successful percutaneous coronary intervention has been associated with better ICU and long-term survival in such patients. Although all these data are provided by retrospective studies, results can be considered strong enough to support systematic coronary angiography after OHCA. Taken together, these findings strongly suggest the necessity to systematically perform coronary angiography after no obvious noncardiac cause of OHCA.

Summary 

Systematic percutaneous coronary intervention after no obvious noncardiac cause of OHCA appears to be the most secure and the best adapted in these patients.