A needs assessment of resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta (REBOA) in non-traumatic out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in Norway.

introductionOut of hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) carries an 86% mortality rate in Norway. Resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta (REBOA) is a potential adjunct in management of non-traumatic cardiac arrest and is feasible in pre-hospital setting without compromising standard cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). However, number of patients potentially eligible for REBOA remain unknown. In preparation for a clinical trial to investigate any benefit of pre-hospital REBOA, we sought to assess the need for REBOA in Norway as an adjunct treatment in OHCA.

methodsRetrospective observational cohort study of data from the Norwegian Cardiac Arrest Registry in the 3-year period 2016-2018. We identified number of patients potentially eligible for pre-hospital REBOA during CPR, defined by suspected non-traumatic origin, age 18-75 years, witnessed arrest, ambulance response time less than 15 min, treated by ambulance personnel and resuscitation effort over 30 min.

resultsIn the 3-year period, ambulance personnel resuscitated 8339 cases. Of these, a group of 720 patients (8.6%) were eligible for REBOA. Only 18% in this group achieved return of spontaneous circulation and 7% survived for 30 days or more.

conclusionThis national registry data analysis constitutes a needs assessment of REBOA in OHCA. We found that each year approximately 240 patients, or nearly 9% of ambulance treated OHCA, in Norway is potentially eligible for pre-hospital REBOA as an adjunct treatment to standard resuscitation. This needs assessment suggests that there is sufficient patient population in Norway to study REBOA as an adjunct treatment in OHCA.